Joe Zappa, Founder and CEO of Sharp Pen Media, joins the AdTechGod Pod to break down how modern media has shifted power from institutions to individuals and why executives must become evangelists for their own brands.

From building in public to leveraging social platforms effectively, Joe shares how CEOs and industry leaders can drive awareness, generate inbound leads, and shape narratives in today’s ad tech landscape. The conversation also explores AI in content creation, the rise of commerce media, and where the industry is heading next.

Takeaways

- Power in media has shifted from institutions to individuals

- CEOs should act as chief evangelists for their companies

- A consistent narrative is key to effective personal branding

- Sharing insights builds trust more than self-promotion

- Social media drives inbound leads when used authentically

- AI is a tool, but human input is essential

- Commerce media, AI, and CTV are key industry trends

- Differentiation comes from people as much as products

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Joe Zappa and Sharp Pen Media

01:10 Joe’s background and founding his company

02:00 The shift from institutions to individuals

03:40 Why executive evangelism works

05:00 Building a strong brand narrative

06:00 Social media as a growth engine

08:00 Personal vs professional content strategy

09:30 Traditional PR vs modern communication

11:00 Differentiation in ad tech

12:40 AI content: value vs “AI slop.”

15:30 Trends: CTV, AI, and commerce media

17:20 Joe’s business growth and future focus

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 130 The Power Flip: Joe Zappa on Why Leaders Must Become the Media