Jacob Stark

As AI reshapes our industry, I'm proud of the thoughtful approach our team at Vanilla is taking. Our CTO, Amjad Hussain, recently shared our guiding principles for AI integration:  - Productivity: Simplifying workflows to focus on high-impact work  - Accuracy: Ensuring transparency and user control  - Customer Trust: Prioritizing security without using customer data to train models These principles aren't just words - they're the foundation of V/AI, our purpose-built AI engine for estate planning. What excites me most is how these innovations are already enhancing our ability to serve clients. We're seeing faster onboarding, deeper insights, and more time for advisors to focus on strategic planning. But we're not stopping here. As Amjad emphasized, we're committed to building in partnership with our customers and the broader wealth management industry.  #justvanilla https://lnkd.in/gf2Wfe44 

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🌟 Incredible moment at Nasdaq's Purpose Forum! 🌟 We're still buzzing with excitement after hearing the inspiring Allyson Felix speak at our annual event. As an Olympic champion, maternal health advocate, and entrepreneur, Allyson embodies what it means to lead with purpose. Her conversation with our amazing Chair and CEO, Adena Friedman, was truly enlightening. Allyson's commitment to authenticity and meaningful work resonates deeply with Nasdaq's values. It's moments like these that make us proud to be part of Nasdaq. We're not just about markets; we're about making a real difference in the world. 💪🌎 Curious to learn more about how Nasdaq is driving purpose-driven leadership? Check out the full recap of our Purpose Forum here: https://lnkd.in/gZBhfZYK #NasdaqPurposeForum #LeadWithPurpose #ProudNasdaqEmployee

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🌟 Incredible moment at Nasdaq's Purpose Forum! 🌟 We're still buzzing with excitement after hearing the inspiring Allyson Felix speak at our annual event. As an Olympic champion, maternal health advocate, and entrepreneur, Allyson embodies what it means to lead with purpose. Her conversation with our amazing Chair and CEO, Adena Friedman, was truly enlightening. Allyson's commitment to authenticity and meaningful work resonates deeply with Nasdaq's values. It's moments like these that make us proud to be part of Nasdaq. We're not just about markets; we're about making a real difference in the world. 💪🌎 Curious to learn more about how Nasdaq is driving purpose-driven leadership? Check out the full recap of our Purpose Forum here: https://lnkd.in/gud2Mxsm #NasdaqPurposeForum #LeadWithPurpose #ProudNasdaqEmployee

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Ethan Sailers is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced in the privacy and consent space - and invaluable to the team. In this video he highlights the necessity of providing consumers with choice and honoring those choices to build trust and enhance digital engagements. Watch the video to explore how integrating a consent and preferences solution can: 📈 Amplify the value of digital investments 📊 Unify consumer data across touchpoints 👏 Ensure a cohesive consumer experience #CustomerExperience #ConsumerPreferences

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Neurodivergent people are capable of starting cultural revolutions. Brian Kass is a multiply neurodivergent software engineer for Amazon Web Services (AWS) who single handedly shifted the Seattle offices culture with rubber duckies. Autistic people aren’t typically known for their cultural or social prowess and Brian’s story shows exactly why it’s important for us not to use the same brush for all autistic people. I loved hearing this story from Brian. It’s a reminder that leadership is possible without having direct responsibility of a team. Leadership is a set of principles that we can all embody. #Leadership #Neurodiversity #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAtWork #ADHDAtWork #OCD #DEIB

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Introducing great people you suspect will complement each other–and then watching the magic happen–is one of my very favorite things. It’s also one of the reasons the Operator Collective 🔆 model works. It's not just about making introductions - it's about weaving together networks that don't naturally overlap, thinking about who might be a force multiplier for the other, and creating meaningful connections that drive real results. Bonney Pelley joining Scott Clark and the Distributional team as COO is a perfect example of the OpCo force multiplier in action. When we first started getting to know Scott and Distributional as part of our investment process, it was clear “you need to meet Bonney Pelley.” We made the intro even before our investment closed, and even though Bonney was about to start a summer sabbatical. Scott was savvy enough to know that he wanted her on board in whatever capacity made sense, bringing her wealth of experience scaling operations at mParticle (as COO) and New Relic (where she helped double both revenue and headcount as SVP of Strategy and Operations). What began as strategic consulting evolved into something bigger - the best partnerships often do. Now as COO, among other things, Bonney will focus on unifying strategy across the company, bringing her 25+ years of building experience to bear on Distributional's next phase of growth. Bonney's journey with Distributional from Operator LP to advisor to COO shows what's possible when operators and founders align around solving hard problems together (in this case, helping companies harness AI's power without creating operational risk). Congratulations Bonney, Scott, Nick Payton, Michael McCourt and the entire Distributional team! We at Operator Collective are proud investors and can't wait to support you in this next chapter. 🔆 More, in Bonney’s own words on why Distributional was worth ending her Chief Summer Vacation Officer gig for: https://lnkd.in/gKSZemAN

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Cool to see one of our accounting ecosystem apps, Gusto, featured explaining how they are leveraging AI via their knowledge workers, rather than IT team. This is definitely a model that I think will provide much more scalable competitive advantage to all types of knowledge work. #accelerateinnovation https://lnkd.in/gMT8ydi7

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As someone who's navigated both on-site and remote work environments, my interest is always piqued when I learn about a business getting remote-first right. Dropbox made a bold move by fully embracing remote work in 2020, and it's paid off big time. They’ve reimagined their entire operating model to prioritize a remote-first workforce. Here's what caught my attention: 1️⃣ Nearly 70% of their employees say working remotely helps them work more effectively than in an office. “It's not about where we work, but how we work.” 2️⃣ They also use employee feedback to continuously refine their model. As a marketer, I’m always beating the ‘data shapes strategy’ drum. 3️⃣ They're developing tools based on their own distributed work challenges. It's a perfect example of how internal pain points can drive product innovation and marketing positioning. What strikes me most is how Dropbox has turned their work model into a competitive advantage. As marketing leaders, we often focus on external strategies. But Dropbox reminds us that our internal practices can be powerful differentiators. They're living their brand promise of enabling better ways to work. How is your company adapting to remote work, and how is it impacting your marketing strategy? CC: Melanie Rosenwasser https://lnkd.in/eirXp3S6 #FutureOfWork #RemoteWork #MarketingStrategy #EmployeeExperience #Leadership

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Scale at ease, Lower cost & Future proof

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🚀 Ever felt like technology is advancing at breakneck speed? You're not alone! 🤯 In my latest exploration, "The Exponential Leap Forward," I dive into the whirlwind world of generative AIs like ChatGPT and Midjourney. 🌐💡 It's a journey from the incremental steps of AI's past to the transformative strides made possible by a simple yet revolutionary algorithm: Transformers. Transformers have not just accelerated AI development; they've redefined it. By treating everything as a "language," these models learn and predict with astonishing accuracy, propelling us into a future where AI's capabilities seem boundless. 🧠✨ As we embrace these advancements, we must also confront the ethical dilemmas they pose, from data privacy to the very essence of human creativity. 🛡️🔍 👉 Dive deeper into this topic and join the conversation on how we can navigate the exhilarating yet precarious path of AI evolution. Let's foster a community that values accountability, respect, and nurturing growth in the face of technological change. https://hubs.li/Q02qw69q0 Follow my journey and let's explore the vast possibilities and challenges of AI together. #AI #GenerativeAI #TechnologyEthics #Innovation 🔗

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With AI experimentation and options on the rise, objective evaluation of effectiveness is a key dimension for choosing the most optimal solution. Check out this article from our CPO Eilon Reshef on how we exercise this at Gong.

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Are Return-To-Office Mandates Really Just Mass Layoffs In Disguise? -- I'll explore in my new article for Inc. Magazine https://lnkd.in/eZrVYV47 #startup #work #technology #job #rto

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31 days. 113.39 miles. Countless wet dogs and crunchy leaves. Today's final 3.4-mile adventure with my sons and our four-legged product testers was the perfect way to close this chapter - wandering through Portland's autumn rain, watching leaves fall down around us. Like all great products, the best outcomes often come from simple, consistent iterations: • Week 1: MVP (Minimum Viable Pace) • Week 2: Found my rhythm • Week 3: The habit clicked • Week 4: Pure joy Key learnings from the real world: • Consistency compounds - each week got easier (& hills suck less...) • Co-creation matters - family walks beat solo • User testing is crucial (dogs are excellent beta testers!) • Sometimes the best features (or adventures) emerge organically (hello, leaf-crunching detours to see amazing Halloween decorations!) Just as the best products evolve through regular feedback and iteration, this challenge evolved from "must run daily" to "move mindfully and when you can do it with people I love." As we wrap up on this Halloween, I'm reminded that the best treats aren't always the ones you planned for. 🎃 Watch this space - new adventures loading... #ConsistencyWins #ProductLessons #FamilyFirst #PDXFall #MovementJourney

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🚀 Attending SaaStr Annual in San Mateo this week? Let's connect and elevate your networking strategy! I'm excited to host 1-on-1 Braindates to discuss how Leads Caddy is improving lead information collection at in-person networking events. 🔍 Discover how our AI powered assistant can: - Streamline your networking process - Boost your conversion rates - Maximize your ROI from events - Save tons of time during and post event 👉 Click the link and grab a slot, or simply DM me! See you soon at SaaStr Annual! #SaaStrAnnual #LeadsCaddy #Networking #LeadGeneration #StartupLife

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Over the years, I’ve observed many common characteristics among the leaders and trailblazers that I admire. One common trait they all prioritize is constructive conflict. With their peers and work teams, they invite different thinking styles and perspectives while also encouraging those around them to use their distinctive talents to solve problems. I was reminded of this while reading a recent @Fortune piece about Tim Cook’s views on leadership, and how Steve Jobs helped him understand, and champion, the value of respectful, professional disagreements in the workplace. He discusses how ‘pushing-back’ on a colleague’s point of view or challenging perspectives within a group discussion often inspires innovation. I like to think that we have built this culture at NPower. We often enjoy healthy debates, and I am always fascinated by the different ways we all process information to solve problems or create new strategies that advance our mission. We all agree that these discussions help us grow professionally and give us opportunities to flex our creative and intellectual muscles. I enjoy these moments very much. I’m aware that my views about this important leadership skill contrast with the many societal divides in our country today and are more pronounced on the eve of a historic election. As business professionals, is it time for us to apply some of the ‘constructive conflict’ strategies we use in the workplace to our everyday lives? Many are probably already doing this, and I will do a better job of this myself and encourage others around me to do the same. Apple CEO Tim Cook shares the decision-making lesson he learned from Steve Jobs |

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🌟 Incredible moment at Nasdaq's Purpose Forum! 🌟 We're still buzzing with excitement after hearing the inspiring Allyson Felix speak at our annual event. As an Olympic champion, maternal health advocate, and entrepreneur, Allyson embodies what it means to lead with purpose. Her conversation with our amazing Chair and CEO, Adena Friedman, was truly enlightening. Allyson's commitment to authenticity and meaningful work resonates deeply with Nasdaq's values. It's moments like these that make us proud to be part of Nasdaq. We're not just about markets; we're about making a real difference in the world. 💪🌎 Curious to learn more about how Nasdaq is driving purpose-driven leadership? Check out the full recap of our Purpose Forum here: https://lnkd.in/gPjzWjBw #NasdaqPurposeForum #LeadWithPurpose #ProudNasdaqEmployee

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What was plan A? A #twilio backed #spac bust out that would have made even #spacanator Avi Katz cringe with envy. 🤯 So where are we now that the foxes 🦊 are running the hen house? Well Twilio made #Spamtexts and #Robocalls Great Again! T-Mobile can you do something here? No way Mike Sievert and his team, Ryan Reynolds MrBeast are ok with the epidemic of scamming Grandma. Please watch short, and if the #swifties find out what’s going on here, it’s not going to be Pretty😡 https://lnkd.in/dRxjgdtT #teammagenta CTIA Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission #ftc Sinch Infobip tyntec The Carlyle Group Cipio Partners Cisco Bird Microsoft Von Coalition iconectiv AT&T Verizon Kris Weterrings The Campaign Registry Tata Communications Eric J. Troutman Frederick ("Rick") Joyce Commsrisk Telnyx YouMail Inc. Jeff Pulver Jeff Lawson Piper Sandler Vonage Lazard #money #wallstreet #antitrust #cpaas TSG Global, Inc. Aegis Mobile Ecosystem Forum VEON Jonathan Marashlian Bandwidth Inc.

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I'm still leery of calling today's AI "intelligent" or "reasoning", but I like how Perplexity is starting to experiment with how best to communicate the trade-off between quality vs. speed in the design of its in-product tooltips....

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