How To Lead | Interview with David Rubenstein

What a conversation! In this episode of OGs of Playmaker Original presented by DraftKings, I sit down for an unfiltered, wide-ranging talk about where I came from, what shaped me, and why I see the world the way I do today. We go deep on my childhood as an immigrant kid from the USSR, growing up in Queens and New Jersey, and how the adversity I faced gave me a hunger that shaped my whole career. I share stories about building my dad’s liquor store into a $60M wine business, spotting the early days of YouTube, and the lessons I learned (and big misses!) as an angel investor in companies like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and yes, even Uber. We also dive into how I read culture, stay ahead of trends, and why mixing up your circle is the secret sauce to learning and winning long-term. And of course, we chop it up about the Knicks, Jets, and how New York sports fandom is religion for me. This one’s raw, real, and packed with mindset shifts for anyone who wants to build, bet on themselves, and stay hungry.

Today's video is a Q&A I did during the Grow With Video Summit, organized by Think Media. I answer a bunch of interesting content creation and social media questions including: 0:00 Intro 1:05 What are the current trends to grow on social media? 4:48 What qualities do you look for in collaborators? 6:03 How can I promote my credentials effectively without coming across as bragging? 8:15 How often do I email my list? 9:44 How to market a new kids YouTube channel in 2024? 11:54 How to overcome content creation burnout? 14:14 How to attract clients who have tax problems? 15:37 How can businesses optimize for AI search? 16:22 How do you stay focused amid distractions? 17:44 How to balance family & career alongside YouTube entrepreneurship? 21:04 How to build a brand focused on gaming, personal development, and overcoming physical disabilities? 22:18 How important is posting on other platforms for a YouTube creator? 23:15 How to establish yourself as an expert in a niche? Hope you enjoy!

Today’s episode is an absolute 🔥 masterclass for anyone trying to grow a business without excuses. I’m coming to you live from NYC, hyped for Game 4 at the Garden, but even more hyped about the energy in this Q&A. We talk live selling, building a brand from zero dollars, balancing dreams with practicality, and why trust is your best business strategy. 💡 Whether you're 22 and crushing it on Whatnot, launching your first catering biz, or leading a company culture—this episode has gems for every level of the game. We talk about: The $2M Whatnot seller and why she shouldn’t stop now How to build a business when you have $0 and no experience Why telling people not to hire you builds trust & drives sales The power of personal brand (and how to post about burritos and your business) How I coach my leadership team at VaynerMedia (yes, including firings) My playbook for LinkedIn content that actually lands you business How to get your first clients using your phone contacts & courage Advice for entrepreneurs with skeptical spouses A no-BS rant on negativity vs. hope

I’ve been shouting this from the rooftops: live social shopping is about to explode—and in this episode, I sit down with someone who’s actually doing it at scale. David Rawlinson, CEO of QVC Group, joins me to break down how one of the OGs of commerce + entertainment is going all-in on the next retail revolution. We talk about what’s happening with TikTok Shop, why America is behind China in social shopping, how QVC is reinventing itself, and how creators, entrepreneurs, and even “garage sale” sellers can win big in this space. This isn’t just theory—this is real strategy for where attention, commerce, and community are all headed. 💥 If you’re a business owner, marketer, influencer, or just curious about where buying behavior is going… you NEED to hear this.

In this raw, unfiltered deep-dive with AdAge, I break down what makes VaynerMedia and VaynerX different — and why kindness, culture, and conviction are more powerful than any viral TV spot. Whether you’re building a business, a brand, or a life — this one’s for you. 💥 We talk about: Why “TV-first” thinking is killing creativity 🧠 How I built VaynerX like a startup, not a holding company My real take on AI, influencers & the future of marketing The secret behind our Honey Empire culture 🍯 Why BeFriends is my most personal, creative project ever The myth of trends — and why they actually matter What kind of clients we actually want to work with (yes, I said it) How my lemonade stand taught me everything I needed to know If you care about brand building, leadership, or marketing in the year we actually live in — this episode will hit hard. Listen now and tell a friend who needs to hear it.