Ashley Mayer - Better stories about the future | E82

Episode #82 of the AdQuick Madvertising Podcast features Ashley Mayer, co-founder of Coalition Operators and former comms leader at Box and Glossier. Ashley shares her unconventional path from building IPO-bound and cult brands to investing in early-stage startups, and how her background in narrative and communications shapes how she evaluates founders today. The conversation discusses into her core thesis on the power—and current failure—of storytelling in tech, why startups have an advantage in shaping compelling narratives, and how founders can better position themselves in an AI-driven world. They also explore the tension between investor incentives and public storytelling, the evolving role of PR, and what it takes to give people a reason to believe in the future.