On Strategy Showcase Life in the Valley live from Uber in San Francisco
Mar 29, 2026
Garrett Kay, VP Brand at Coinbase, expands brand across product and experience. Whitney McGraw, Global Head of Brand Marketing for Airbnb, aligns product and marketing for travelers. Brian Wakabayashi, Head of Brand at CoLab/WestCap, simplifies storytelling for startups. Danielle Hawley, Global Head of Creative and Brand at Uber, ties brand to rides and Eats. They debate tech culture, in-house vs agency influence, product-brand tensions, and practical AI uses.
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Client Side Lets You Influence Beyond Ads
- Client-side roles expand the range of strategic problems you can affect beyond single ads to product, experience and service design.
- Garrett Kay values building operating systems that align product, events and customer service to the brand.
Joining A PE Studio Multiplies Brand Opportunities
- Brian Wakabayashi moved into a PE creative studio to avoid being tied to one brand and to work across many startups.
- At CoLab he advises ~35 portfolio companies, offering rapid, founder-driven marketing support.
Sell Brand As Clear Stories Not Big Strategy Decks
- Stop selling abstract 'strategy' and present brand as clear messaging and stories founders understand.
- Brian began offering stripped-down brand and messaging work investors, customers and press could use immediately.
