Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

On Social Currency, Sammi Cohen unpacks the stories that are shaping business, culture and the intersection of the two. From boardrooms to Instagram trends, Sammi speaks with business leaders to connect the dots between brand, consumer and influence, so you don’t just keep up—you get ahead. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday. Follow now to stay in the know. Want more? Find Sammi on Instagram @sammicohentalks.

Social Currency with Sammi Cohen is a business podcast hosted by Social Currency, with 119 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Social Currency hosts Social Currency with Sammi Cohen, a business show with 119 episodes published.

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  Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

  Ankur Jain (Bilt) on the AI Commerce Race, Celebrity Rent Day Collabs and Neighborhood Concierge

  Aug 18, 202656 min

  Last year, $100 billion in housing payments flowed through Bilt's platform, and one in four apartment buildings in the US now runs on its system. So how did a rewards card for rent turn into one of the biggest players in AI-powered commerce? This week, Sammi welcomes back Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain to unpack how the company has evolved from a direct-to-consumer card product into a full ecosystem connecting apartment buildings, local merchants and now AI agents. Ankur explains why the card now represents a small fraction of the business, how Bilt responded when a portion of customers started gaming the rewards system, and why listening to customer feedback in real time reshaped the recent Card 2.0 rollout. Then, Ankur breaks down Bilt's viral Rent Day celebrity collaborations with stars like Madonna and A$AP Rocky, the strategy behind its unbranded scripted series "Roomies," and why the company is investing in original entertainment instead of traditional advertising. Later, he makes the case for why Bilt, Google and Anthropic are the only companies positioned to power agentic commerce in the physical world, and how its new Neighborhood Concierge tool can plan your night out, book your workout classes and even pay your restaurant bill automatically. Plus, Ankur shares how Bilt builds trust with landlords and merchants by making them co-owners in the business, what he thinks is next for AI hardware in the home, and the productivity system that's changed how he works. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Follow Ankur Jain Here's What Sammi Covers with Ankur: 00:00 Ankur Jain's Social Currency 03:38 A Full-Circle Moment at Bilt's New NYC Headquarters 04:19 Where Bilt Started and the Affordability Problem 06:17 How the Bilt Card Became Just 11% of the Business 07:29 Building Housing's First Unified Platform 08:54 The Hotel Experience Analogy 11:36 Card 2.0 and the Trade-Offs of Cutting Off Bad Actors 13:46 Listening to Customer Feedback in Real Time 17:00 Inside the Rent Day Celebrity Collabs 19:41 Stories From Madonna and A$AP Rocky 22:07 The Martha Stewart vs. Ryan Reynolds Moment 22:25 Why "Roomies" Was Launched Without Bilt's Branding 25:16 Building Community Through Bilt's Comedy Series 25:56 Neighborhood Concierge and the Agentic AI Future 27:23 Why Even the Big AI Models Aren't Integrated Locally 29:23 How Consumer AI Behavior Is Shifting 31:31 Why Bilt Belongs in the Same Sentence as Google and Anthropic 34:03 Building the Pipes for Both Sides of the Ecosystem 35:15 What Wins Over Landlords and Local Merchants 37:00 The Seamless Checkout Experience at The Corner Store 40:26 The Disney and Amazon Comparison 42:37 How Small Businesses Compete Like the Big Guys 44:26 Lightning Round 45:30 Ankur's AI-Powered Productivity System 46:44 Social Currency Corner: Could Bilt Enter AI Hardware? 48:50 Listener Question: Building Credibility as an Outsider Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

  Everlane, Reformation and the Cracks in "Ethical Fashion"

  Aug 11, 202615 min

  They launched a year apart with nearly identical pitches: shop online without the guilt. Everlane sold radical transparency about factory costs and markups. Reformation sold sustainable, vintage-inspired style with a wink. Both became the "ethical option" for a generation of shoppers, both took private equity money within months of each other in 2019 and 2020, and both saw their founders step back from day-to-day operations around the same time. Then their paths split. Today, Sammi breaks down how a public reckoning over workplace culture nearly sank Reformation in 2020, and why it recovered anyway. Meanwhile, Everlane's unraveling was quieter: leadership turnover, stagnant product, mounting debt and a liquidation loan that eventually led to Shein acquiring a majority stake in a deal that wiped out shareholders. Sammi also digs into Reformation's July 2026 IPO on the NYSE, including a $92 million loan taken out just before filing that funded a dividend to existing investors, and what that means for the public investors buying in now. Plus, why the brand whose entire pitch was "know your factory" ended up owned by one of the biggest names in fast fashion, and what Everlane founder Michael Preysman is doing next. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Here's What Sammi Covers Today: 00:00 Two Brands, One Ethical Fashion Pitch 02:26 Partner Message: Bilt 02:28 Everlane's Radical Transparency Origin Story 03:59 Reformation's Vintage, Style-First Beginnings 04:38 Style First vs. Story First 04:15 The Private Equity Fork in the Road 05:20 Reformation's 2020 Cultural Reckoning 06:41 The Founder's Exit and the Aftermath 07:56 Everlane's Quiet Decline 08:29 Layoffs, Debt and Fading Relevance 08:44 Partner Message: Shopify 09:05 Shein Acquires Everlane 09:48 Reformation's Path to an IPO 10:16 The $92 Million Dividend Before Going Public 11:52 Reformation Debuts on the NYSE 12:16 What Really Keeps a Mission-Driven Brand Alive 12:38 Michael Preysman's New Brand, "Still Radical" Thanks to Our Sponsors! Bilt: joinbilt.com/socialcurrency Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

  Raina Moskowitz (The Knot) on the Wedding Economy, the Taylor Swift Effect and AI Planning

  Aug 4, 20261 hour

  About two million couples get married in the U.S. every year… and despite economic pressure, they continue to spend an average of $34,000 on the big day. So, why has the wedding industry remained so resilient? This week, Sammi sits down with The Knot CEO Raina Moskowitz to unpack the business of saying “I do.” Raina shares what it was like leaving Etsy to replace The Knot’s longtime founder, how weddings have changed in the last decade, and how Gen Z is reshaping the industry. Then, Raina breaks down the economics of the modern wedding, from the growing divide between elaborate celebrations and intimate ceremonies to why guest count remains the biggest driver of cost. Later, Raina addresses the New Yorker story that questioned The Knot’s business practices and explains how customer criticism influenced the company’s product roadmap, including its new “Close the Loop” feature designed to reduce ghosting between couples and wedding professionals. Plus, she shares how The Knot is integrating with ChatGPT, what AI could take off couples’ plates during the planning process and why trusted data may become even more important as wedding searches increasingly begin inside AI platforms. Finally, Raina weighs in on wedding trends, the influence of celebrity weddings and how she knew she was ready to stop being the strong number two and take the CEO seat. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Follow Raina’s work Here’s What Sammi Covers with Raina: 00:00 Raina Moskowitz’s Social Currency  02:03 Partner Message: Shopify 02:58 Raina’s Career Story 05:37 Scaling Etsy During the Pandemic 07:08 Leaving Etsy to Become CEO of The Knot 10:03 Is There a “Right Time” To Take the Leap? 11:47 Replacing a Longtime Founder 13:45 How Weddings Have Changed 16:08 Traditions Couples Are Ditching and Keeping 18:10 Partner Message: Bilt 21:36 Wedding Planning 25:39 How the K-Shaped Economy is Reshaping Weddings 32:30 The Push for Greater Vendor Pricing Transparency 35:55 The Social Media Effect37:55 The “Fake Brides” Story 40:04 The “Close the Loop” Feature and Reducing Vendor Ghosting 45:13 How WeddingPro Helps Small Businesses Grow 48:08 The Knot’s ChatGPT Integration and the Future of AI Planning 51:47 Lightning Round 53:06 Social Currency Corner Thanks to Our Sponsors! Bilt: joinbilt.com/socialcurrency  Shopify: shopify.com/socialcurrency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

  Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f. Beauty) on Acquiring Rhode, Building a Billion-Dollar Brand and Responding When Campaigns Don’t Land

  Jul 28, 20261h 6m

  When Kory Marchisotto joined e.l.f. Beauty, the company had less than 10% brand awareness and roughly $200 million in revenue. Today, e.l.f.’s brands generate approximately $1.8 billion in global consumption—and have become some of the most culturally relevant names in beauty. In this episode, Kory joins Sammi from the Cannes Lions Festival to explain how she brought the rigor of luxury brand-building to an affordable beauty company designed for the “happy many” rather than the “happy few.” She shares why every major decision at e.l.f. begins with its community, how the company turns comments and cultural signals into campaigns, and the story behind the e.l.f. language that helped create the brand’s cult following. Kory also takes Sammi inside e.l.f.’s billion-dollar acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, including the business metrics and shared values that made the partnership stand out. She explains why e.l.f. publicly addressed its first global price increase, how the company maintains premium quality and strict safety standards at accessible prices, and why it continues to enter unexpected spaces like Twitch, Roblox, gaming, sports, and the Super Bowl. Plus, Kory reveals how her team created a Jennifer Coolidge Super Bowl campaign in less than three weeks, the framework she uses when a marketing campaign doesn’t land, and why e.l.f. has granted $250 million in stock to employees outside the C-suite. Toward the end, she opens up about the deeply personal ambition inspired by her father and shares the simple three-step system e.l.f. uses to move from an idea to execution. Follow Sammi Cohen on Instagram  Read more about e.l.f. x Rhode, e.l.f. x Twitch, the Super Bowl ad, and So Many Dicks Here’s What Sammi Covers with Kory: 00:00 Kory Marchisotto’s Social Currency 02:27 What Cannes Taught Kory About Great Creative Work 04:44 How e.l.f. Grew From $200 Million to $1.8 Billion 06:36 Bringing Luxury Brand-Building to Affordable Beauty 09:48 Serving the “Happy Many,” Not the “Happy Few” 10:56 Why Every e.l.f. Idea Starts With the Community 12:53 Finding the Answers Between the Comments 16:44 What Kory Initially Thought of the Name e.l.f. 17:30 How e.l.f. Created Its Own Language 20:18 The F-Bomb That Inspired an e.l.f. Bomb 22:22 Does Hair Still Fit Into Eyes, Lips, Face? 24:29 Inside e.l.f.’s Billion-Dollar Acquisition of Rhode 25:47 Why Rhode’s Growth Was So Rare 27:00 The Dinner That Sealed the Partnership 28:31 Why e.l.f. Publicly Announced Its Price Increase 31:00 How e.l.f. Delivers Prestige Quality Under $10 31:43 What “Clean Beauty” Actually Means at e.l.f. 32:48 Why e.l.f. Entered Twitch and Roblox 33:30 The Brand Ethos Behind Every Marketing Decision 35:36 Creating a Safe Space for Women in Gaming 38:03 Making a Super Bowl Ad in Three Weeks 40:11 Building the Muscle to Move at e.l.f. Speed 41:40 The Cultural Insight Behind an 11-Day Campaign 43:17 What to Do When a Marketing Campaign Misses 44:24 Kory’s Three-Part Crisis Framework 47:25 Why Every e.l.f. Employee Receives Stock 48:00 Operating Like a Startup at a $2 Billion Company 50:48 The Personal Story Behind Kory’s Ambition 53:46 The Accomplishments She Wishes Her Father Could See 54:30 Lightning Round 54:54 The Beauty Trend Kory Would Retire Tomorrow 55:23 Kory’s Favorite e.l.f. Collaboration 57:00 Vision, Alignment, Execution58:19 How Young Is Too Young for Beauty Products? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

  Jennifer Wong (Aritzia) on Rising from Sales Associate to CEO, the Styling Suite Experience, and Building a Generational Brand

  Jul 21, 202653 min

  Jennifer Wong started as a Sales Associate at Aritzia… 39-years later, she’s running the company as CEO. Today, Jennifer joins Sammi to share how she almost left Aritzia for a career in banking, why founder Brian Hill convinced her to stay, and what it was like succeeding him after nearly four decades working alongside him. She explains the philosophy behind Aritzia's "everyday luxury," why the company has continued investing in physical retail while others have pulled back, and the thinking behind some of its most distinctive experiences (think mirrorless fitting rooms and complimentary personal styling appointments). Jennifer also breaks down how Aritzia navigated tariffs and supply chain disruptions, why timeless design is central to the brand's sustainability strategy, and what she thinks so many direct-to-consumer brands got wrong. Plus, she shares the leadership principles that have helped Aritzia retain employees for decades and why she still visits boutiques every few months. Follow ⁠Sammi Cohen on Instagram ⁠ Subscribe to ⁠the Social Currency newsletter⁠ Follow Jennifer Wong and ⁠Aritzia⁠ Here's What Sammi Covers with Jennifer: 00:00 Jennifer Wong's Social Currency 02:14 How Jennifer Went From Sales Associate to CEO 04:03 The Banking Job She Almost Took 06:08 The Conversation That Changed Her Career 07:22 Saying Yes to Every Opportunity08:41 Aritzia's "40-Year Overnight Success" 10:28 Succeeding Founder Brian Hill as CEO 14:12 Why Aritzia Is Still Betting on Physical Retail 15:35 The Strategy Behind Mirrorless Fitting Rooms 18:17 Inside Aritzia's Styling Experience 20:47 Defining "Everyday Luxury" 21:09 How Aritzia Built a Multi-Generational Brand 23:33 Designing Clothes That Feel Timeless 25:27 Why Aritzia Creates Its Own Brands 27:14 Jennifer's Take on Sustainable Fashion 29:25 How Aritzia Prepared for the Tariffs 31:00 The Supply Chain Pivot That Happened in One Month 33:28 Why Aritzia Keeps Menswear Separate 35:01 The Secret to 39 Years of Employee Retention 37:04 What Jennifer Looks for When Hiring 39:25 The Future of Fred Segal 42:44 Jennifer's Leadership System 43:40 Why She Visits Every Boutique 44:44 What Aritzia Thinks Other Retailers Get Wrong 45:41 Why Brand Has Always Come First 47:48 Never Losing Sight of the Customer 49:08 What's Missing From Most In-Store Shopping Experiences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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