06 Speaking
Where the thinking meets the room.
Topics
Media Strategy in the Algorithmic Age
Platforms don't distribute content — they arbitrate attention. I break down how algorithmic gatekeeping is fundamentally reshaping what 'reach' means, why traditional media planning frameworks are failing, and what organizations need to build instead. Drawing on campaigns across nonprofit, entertainment, and advocacy sectors, this talk reframes media strategy as systems design.
Measurement That Matters
The metrics most organizations optimize for — impressions, clicks, engagement rate — are vanity metrics dressed up as accountability. I walk through frameworks for building measurement systems that connect media investment to actual organizational outcomes, especially in mission-driven contexts where the most important results resist direct attribution.
Interdisciplinary Strategy
The best campaigns I've built happened at the intersection of brand, media, data, and culture — never inside a single discipline's silo. This talk explores how to structure teams, workflows, and creative briefs to operate across boundaries, with case studies from VICE Media, The Trevor Project, and Blue State.
Building vs. Renting Audiences
Every dollar spent on paid social is rent. Every email subscriber is equity. I lay out the strategic calculus of platform-dependent distribution versus owned audience infrastructure, with practical frameworks for organizations deciding where to invest — and when to walk away from platforms that no longer serve them.
Available Formats
Speaker Kit
About Josh Weaver
I’m a multidisciplinary marketing leader with 15 years building campaigns that shift how people think, feel, and act. Equal parts strategist and practitioner — I think in systems and execute in the details.
Currently I lead media planning at Blue State, directing strategy for a portfolio of nonprofit accounts. Before that, I directed national public service campaigns at the Ad Council.
Earlier in my career, I served as VP of Marketing at The Trevor Project, where I helped increase brand awareness by 40% and generate $60MM+ in charitable revenue. I’ve also led media strategy at Thrive Global and VICE Media Group, running campaigns for Chanel, Google, and Microsoft.
What to Expect
My talks are grounded in real campaign work, not abstract theory. Expect specific numbers, honest post-mortems, and frameworks your team can apply immediately. I tailor every presentation to the audience — whether that’s a room of CMOs or a team of junior strategists.
I’m comfortable with Q&A, happy to workshop ideas live, and genuinely enjoy the conversations that happen after the talk ends.
Interested in having me speak?
Whether it’s a keynote, panel, podcast, or internal team session — I’d love to hear about your event.
Let’s Talk →