There’s A RYOT Going On, And The Ringleader Is CMO Molly Swenson
Recognized by Adweek as one of 2016’s “Young Influentials,” Molly Swenson is leading the way in virtual reality and immersive storytelling at RYOT, which was recently acquired by AOL and The Huffington Post.
Molly Swenson is CMO of RYOT, an immersive media company founded in Los Angeles in 2012 and recently acquired by AOL and The Huffington Post.
She’s also a badass.
Swenson was a White House intern in the Obama administration, performed as a contestant on “American Idol” (season 10), and designed philanthropic strategies for Kobe Bryant, Shakira, and Ben Stiller. More recently, Adweek recognized her as one of 2016’s “Young Influentials” —game changers under the age of 40 in the worlds of media, marketing, technology, and entertainment.
Swenson believes that virtual reality’s impact as a medium for storytelling and the effect it has on people can’t be overestimated; she calls it “the tip of the spear” for RYOT.
Highlights from this week’s “Marketing Today” podcast include:
- The “lightbulb” moment: How RYOT’s focus shifted to VR films. (3:19)
- How RYOT judges success: Moving the audience from passive observer to active participant. (5:30)
- Moving into the CMO role: From wearing many hats to choosing the one that fits. (8:46)
- What joining forces with AOL, Verizon, and The Huffington Post means to RYOT. (17:00)
- Hacking the advertising ecosystem. (23:06)
- A down-and-dirty tutorial about 360-degree video, VR, and AR. (26:35)
- Balancing unfaltering confidence with humility: From Steve Jobs to Kabbalah—and Charlie Chaplin, too. (38:50)
Note: Alan Hart and Molly Swenson will appear together at the session “There’s a RYOT going on” at Adobe Summit 2017. This free-form chat will include how 360-degree video and VR films have the power to drive empathy and action for causes and brands.