How To Build a Brand That Actually Wins In 2026 l Best Episodes of 2025 - The GaryVee Audio Experience Recap

Podcast: The GaryVee Audio Experience

Published: 2025-12-26

Duration: 36 minutes

Summary

Gary Vaynerchuk discusses building a successful brand in 2026 by focusing on creative innovation, accountability, and understanding future trends such as AI influencers and live social shopping.

What Happened

Gary Vaynerchuk, the CEO of VaynerX and VaynerMedia, opens the discussion by sharing insights into the unique business model of VaynerMedia, which successfully integrates media and creative teams. He emphasizes that VaynerMedia's independent operation at scale sets them apart in the industry, having produced 16 Super Bowl spots over recent years. This success is rooted in their focus on social creative as the new creative agency of record (AOR).

Gary highlights the creative endeavors of VeeFriends, likening it to iconic brands like Pokemon and Disney. VeeFriends represents his creative outlet and has expanded into various media forms, including a YouTube kids show and trading cards. He emphasizes the importance of creativity as a critical success variable, especially as an agency owner reliant on client partnerships.

Accountability, responsibility, compassion, empathy, and love are core values Gary attributes to his upbringing and family business culture at VaynerMedia. Nearly 100 employees have stayed with the company for over a decade, reflecting a strong, value-driven work environment. Gary looks for clients who are honest, smart, and open to authentic partnerships.

Gary's career was significantly impacted by his early investment in Facebook and Twitter, and his pioneering efforts in the wine industry through e-commerce and email newsletters. His strategic approach to business focuses on identifying underpriced and overpriced attention, a principle that guided VaynerMedia's early management of social media for brands like Campbell's Soup and the NHL.

VaynerMedia's 'Honey Empire' mantra emphasizes building an empire with kindness, and Gary values leaders who act like wartime generals, managing difficult situations without instilling fear. He describes his leadership style as kind and focused on making people feel safe in challenging situations.

Gary predicts that live social shopping will become a significant trend, with platforms like TikTok Shop and WhatNot leading the way. He urges industry professionals to take this trend seriously, highlighting its potential impact on consumer behavior and marketing strategies.

AI influencers are another major trend Gary foresees dominating the marketing space, predicting that there will be more AI influencers than human ones in the future. He asserts that AI is already affecting the industry by reducing the cost of creative production, implying a transformative shift in how brands engage with audiences.

Gary's entrepreneurial journey began with a lemonade stand, where he learned the importance of marketing and strategic product placement. These early experiences shaped his understanding of consumer behavior and the importance of creativity and competitiveness in business.

Key Insights