Power move for founders: Creator Advisory Boards

📔 Jeff’s Diary (yes I’ll let you read it)

“Adversity is a gift.” That’s what I shared last week with a founder suing his acquirer, as I tried to explain the emotional rollercoaster that will ensue. Hate and pain will consume you if you let it, or you can listen, learn, and use this moment as a catalyst for the change you knew you always needed. 

You cannot look back in life. Because there is no yesterday to change, there is only what you do tomorrow. Like the man lost in the forest, the only advice he needs is to “take the first step”. The first leads to the next, and once the fear is gone and the darkness feels familiar, you have what you always had: a path forward. 

Tomorrow is the most important day in your life because it gives you another opportunity to be just a little bit better if you want to be. It’s your chance to be a little bit kinder, work a little harder, spend a little more time with family or friends, or enjoy cooking that dish you always wanted to try.

If I said you’ll die in 20 years from drinking, you’ll still have an occasional glass of wine. But if I said you’ll die tomorrow if you reach for that bottle, you won’t. It’s no different if you want to lose 20 pounds. You can’t look so far ahead that you skip over this week’s goals. Tonight’s cheesecake. Commitment and consistency allow anyone to achieve anything. In life or at work. It’s a choice you make, so choose for yourself, no one else.

People always say live for today, but I want to live for tomorrow, because if there were no tomorrow, there’d be nothing to look forward to. And all I want to be is my best self. I just need time. And so do you.

– Jeff

📆 WHAT WE WILL HIT ON THIS WEEK:

→ Every founder must know: Why brands need a Creator Advisory Board, and how creators are becoming the new advisors shaping culture, not just content

→ MrBeast is building a bank: what that means for creators owning infrastructure, not just influence

→ Creators take over traditional media: how YouTubers and TikTokers are now producing the shows networks used to control

→ Weekly sessions: learn what OWM is all about + get the framework to start building with creators

Why Companies Need to Build a Creator Advisory Board

Every founder shows off their advisors in their pitch deck, but almost no one has Creators on their Board. That’s a problem in an attention-first economy.

We’re in an era where attention moves markets faster than capital. Creators sit closer to the audience than anyone else in your company, they see what’s trending before the data even catches up. A Creator Advisory Board brings that intelligence inside your brand.

Because here’s the truth: agencies report on what already happened. Creators show you what’s about to happen. They’re the best listening devices; conditioned to know what content is working, and what audiences want.

Founders who build in isolation lose the cultural signal. But when you build with people who already own your audience’s trust, you move faster, speak smarter, and spend less guessing. That’s what a Creator Advisory Board does. It gives you a pulse, not just a plan.

When talent has a seat at the table, the audience listens. And when the audience listens, brands grow.

If you’re ready to give creators upside, let’s talk.

💰 MrBeast Is Building a Bank

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, just filed a U.S. trademark for “MrBeast Financial” (or Beast Financial), hinting at a fintech venture that could include banking, credit, or even crypto services. It’s a big move, and a logical one. MrBeast has built one of the most trusted creator brands on the planet. Millions already trust him with entertainment, products, and now, potentially, their money.

Why this matters: This isn’t just another product launch, it’s the creator economy maturing. Creators aren’t stopping at merch or snacks; they’re building companies with real utility and ownership at the core. The line between influencer and founder keeps blurring, and MrBeast is leading that shift.

So does he have the staying power to compete with the endemic players just because he has a large following, or will the product much of his content and be so good, everyone will shut up and listen?

🎬 Creators Take Over Traditional Media

At MIPCOM, one of the biggest global TV and entertainment markets, creator-led studios were front and center. Digital-first names that started on YouTube and TikTok are now cutting deals with traditional networks and streaming platforms. The same creators who built massive audiences online are now licensing formats, developing shows, and co-producing with legacy media. What started in bedrooms is now shaping boardrooms.

Why this matters: Traditional media finally realized what the internet already knew: creators own the audience. And now they’re being invited inside the castle, not just to perform, but to produce. It’s not about crossing over anymore, it’s about taking over. Creators aren’t guests in entertainment. They’re the new studio heads.

So if you’re still wondering whether your brand needs creators, stop wondering. You don’t just need them, you need to build with them.

Some creators make content. Jschlatt built a community.

With over 18.5 million total connections across YouTube, Twitch, and beyond, he’s become one of the most recognizable and trusted voices online. His mix of humor, honesty, and storytelling keeps millions coming back, not just to laugh, but to listen.

His audience is built for this: 82% male, mostly 18–34, and 65% U.S.-based. They’re loyal, tuned in, and trust him like a friend. The kind of following that doesn’t just scroll past, they show up, share, and spend. That’s the crowd you want behind a brand.

Andy's here. Waiting to answer the questions you're afraid to ask in public (and yeah, he's actually NOT a paid spokesperson but our network of badass execs is open to answering questions...for free).

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