Caleb Gardner

No longer can brands and businesses operate outside of politics, or “not get political.” In the current environment, a lack of grounding in political nuance can either be an opportunity (Nike, Patagonia) or a threat (Pepsi, Papa John’s, Target). In this talk, Caleb outlines: • data points about how consumers are making values-driven decisions every day • when and how to communicate confidently about sociopolitical topics • how to prevent your own PR crisis

Caleb leans on his experience running one of the largest digital programs in existence—engaging with tens of millions of people every day via the @BarackObama Twitter account and email list— as well as his experience working with startups and early stage ventures to show how the principles of building trusted relationships at any scale are the same. Major takeaways include: • why trust matters and how to earn it • sociological principles of mission-driven engagement and community development • the digital data points that indicate trust-building (and those that don’t)