Tash Insights

Tash Courtenay-Smith
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  • Entrepreneurship

Tash Insights brings you inside the minds of female brand founders and the leaders of the UK’s fastest-growing e-commerce tech companies.  Hosted by Tash Courtenay-Smith – serial entrepreneur, investor, NED and fractional Head of Growth – each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped the futures of some of the UK's leading founders.  Whether you’re a founder, investor, tech lover or you just love hearing the growth stories behind top brands, this is the podcast for you.

  1. May 15

    Marketing efficiency, content factories and outcome-based growth | Tash at Built by HER

    Tash Insights presents a live talk from Tash Courtenay-Smith, recorded at Built by HER in New York. Built by HER, hosted by Shopify and EmpowHER, brought together founders, operators and senior leaders in commerce for a hands-on summit focused on making AI practical, tangible and operational for women-led teams. In this clip, Tash talks through the two businesses she is currently building and why both are focused on the same underlying challenge: improving marketing efficiency in a world where attribution is increasingly unreliable and the demand for content keeps rising. She shares how Transact Media Group is building a CPA-first AdTech ecosystem in partnership with Mastercard, allowing brands to pay on results measured at card transaction level across programmatic, CTV, audio and social. She also explains how her AI-powered content factory has grown from an offshore creative support team into a global production operation for brands under pressure to ship more content, faster. You’ll hear: Why attribution conversations are becoming less useful for brandsHow CPA-first media models can change performance marketingWhy transaction-level measurement is becoming more importantHow AI is reshaping creative production and content outputWhy production capacity is now one of the biggest growth leversHow digital twins can help founders scale their own contentThis is a practical listen for founders, operators and marketers trying to improve efficiency, reduce wasted spend and build the production systems modern brands now need.

    5 min

  2. May 13

    Why AI fluency is becoming a founder muscle | Tash at Built by HER

    Tash Insights presents a live talk from Tash Courtenay-Smith, recorded at Built by HER in New York. Built by HER, hosted by Shopify and EmpowHER, brought together founders, operators and senior leaders in commerce for a hands-on summit focused on making AI practical, tangible and operational for women-led teams. In this clip, Tash makes a different case for AI adoption. Beyond productivity, she argues that AI is changing how founders process problems, make decisions and move from idea to output. Using the analogy of training for a marathon, Tash explains why AI fluency needs to be built through daily practice. The founders who gain the most advantage may not be the ones with the most advanced tools, but the ones who get used to solving problems faster, producing work faster and operating at a new pace. You’ll hear: Why AI adoption is becoming a daily operating habitHow faster output may change the way founders thinkWhy AI fluency works like a muscleHow AI can compress the gap between idea and executionWhy mundane work can be reduced to create more space for creativityWhat founders should be practising now to prepare for the next five yearsThis is a useful listen for founders, operators and leaders who know AI matters, but have not yet made it part of their daily way of working.

    2 min

  3. May 12

    Why every founder needs to build a personal brand | Tash at Built by HER

    Tash Insights presents a live talk from Tash Courtenay-Smith, recorded at Built by HER in New York. Built by HER, hosted by Shopify and EmpowHER, brought together founders, operators and senior leaders in commerce for a hands-on summit focused on making AI practical, tangible and operational for women-led teams. In this clip, Tash makes the case for personal branding as one of the most commercially valuable things a founder can build. Drawing on her background as a journalist, author and growth advisor, she shares what she has learned from helping female founders build some of the most recognisable personal brands in the UK, before finally applying the same playbook to herself. Tash explores the early discomfort of publishing, the awkward middle phase of finding your voice, and the long-term commercial value that comes from becoming known in your category. You’ll hear: Why personal brand is a growth lever for foundersWhat holds founders back from publishing consistentlyHow visibility pre-qualifies you before you enter a roomWhy finding your voice only happens through repetitionWhat Tash learned from DRock, the videographer behind Gary Vaynerchuk’s personal brandWhy building a serious personal brand is a multi-year projectThis is a practical and honest listen for founders, operators and leaders who know they need to become more visible, but are still waiting to feel ready.

    4 min

  4. May 7

    AI, content factories and founder-led brands | Tash at Built by HER New York

    Tash Insights continues with a live panel conversation from the Built by HER summit in New York, hosted by Nicole Harvey, founder of EmpowHER. Tash joins Gina Perrelli, co-founder of Stay AI, and Kait Stephens, co-founder of Brij, for a practical discussion on AI, content production, personal brands and the future of building in public. Tash shares how she is building across two fast-moving areas: Transact Media Group, the outcome-based AdTech ecosystem powered by Mastercard data, and an AI-enabled content factory helping brands produce more creative, faster and more efficiently. She also opens up about using digital twins, building her own personal brand after years of building them for others, and why founders need to get comfortable publishing before they feel ready.  This is a candid conversation about what AI is really changing for founders, operators and modern brand teams. You’ll hear: How AI is changing content production and creative outputWhy content factories are becoming essential for growth teamsHow digital twins can help founders scale their presenceWhy personal brand building is a long-term growth leverHow outcome-based marketing is changing media measurementThe simplest ways founders can start using AI this weekIt’s practical, honest and highly relevant for anyone building a brand, scaling content, or trying to understand where AI fits into the future of commerce.

    13 min

  5. Apr 24

    The Truth About TikTok Shop Profitability

    TikTok Shop can drive explosive growth — but that does not automatically mean easy profit. In this honest panel discussion, founders, brand operators and TikTok Shop experts unpack the real economics behind the platform: margins, fees, ad spend, affiliate costs, operational pressure, and why revenue growth can sometimes hide how much is actually being spent. The conversation also explores the wider halo effect of TikTok Shop — from boosting Amazon and DTC sales to attracting interest from major retailers such as Boots, Sephora and John Lewis. In this video: Why TikTok Shop growth does not always equal profitHow brands should think about margins from day oneThe hidden costs behind affiliate seeding, ads and fulfilmentWhy omnichannel brands may need different profitability thresholdsHow TikTok Shop can drive retail interest and social proofWhy many buyers now ask about TikTok Shop presence firstWhy founders should avoid becoming too reliant on one platformHow to treat TikTok Shop as both a sales channel and a marketing investmentThis is a practical discussion for founders, marketers and brand leaders trying to understand the balance between scale, sustainability and long-term brand value on TikTok Shop. If you are building a beauty brand, managing an omnichannel business, or thinking about launching on TikTok Shop, this is essential viewing.

    27 min

  6. Apr 23

    Why Affiliates Are the Real Growth Engine on TikTok Shop

    Affiliates are not just a nice-to-have on TikTok Shop — for many brands, they are the growth engine. In this panel discussion, brand leaders and TikTok Shop operators break down the real role affiliates play in scaling a product, building momentum and driving repeat visibility across the platform. From creator seeding and commission structures to relationship management, content volume and conversion strategy, this is an honest look at what brands actually need to understand before jumping in. In this video: Why affiliates are so powerful on TikTok ShopHow many creators brands really need to work withThe difference between authentic creator partnerships and overly sales-led contentWhy relationship-building matters just as much as seedingHow top brands scale from hundreds to thousands of affiliate touchpointsWhat premium brands should do differentlyThe key differences between UK and US TikTok Shop behaviourWhy TikTok Shop requires far more operational commitment than many brands expectYou’ll also hear practical insight on: Creator managementCommission structuresSampling strategyOmnichannel growthRetargeting through creator contentHow brands turn affiliate momentum into long-term scaleThis is essential viewing for founders, marketers, e-commerce leaders and beauty brands looking to understand how TikTok Shop really works behind the scenes.

    15 min

  7. Apr 22

    How Brands Really Win with TikTok Shop Live Streaming

    Live streaming is quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools inside TikTok Shop — but for many brands, it still feels unfamiliar, resource-heavy and difficult to get right. In this panel discussion, beauty founders, brand leaders and TikTok Shop specialists unpack how live shopping actually works, what different live formats look like, and why authenticity matters more than trying to copy someone else’s style. From founder-led livestreams and expert demos to high-energy studio formats and community-driven sessions, this conversation explores how brands can approach TikTok Shop Live in a way that feels right for their audience, their positioning and their product. In this video: Why live streaming matters on TikTok ShopThe difference between high-energy and more relaxed live formatsHow brands can find a live style that suits themWhy authenticity and product knowledge are criticalThe role of founders, hosts, chemists and internal expertsHow live helps deepen engagement and build communityWhy consumers can spend far longer with a brand on live than through other mediaHow leading brands use live to support hero products, bundles and long-term growthThis is a practical look at the reality of live commerce — not just as a sales tool, but as a brand-building channel that can create trust, conversation and deeper consumer attention. Whether you are a traditional brand exploring TikTok Shop for the first time or a founder already building momentum on the platform, this discussion offers valuable insight into where live shopping is heading and how to approach it well.

    10 min

  8. Apr 21

    From Near Shutdown to Sell-Out: TikTok Shop Beauty Brand Stories

    TikTok Shop can transform a brand overnight — but the reality behind that growth is far more complex than most people realise. In this panel discussion, beauty brand founders, operators and marketing leaders share their real-life TikTok Shop journeys — from viral products and sell-out moments to stock pressure, operational chaos, affiliate strategy and the challenge of staying relevant after explosive growth. This is an honest look at what it actually takes to build momentum on TikTok Shop, especially for beauty brands navigating virality, community, logistics and multi-channel retail strategy. In this video: How one product went viral and kept selling for two yearsWhat happens when a brand goes from near closure to thousands of orders in a weekendWhy virality is not always as simple as it soundsThe importance of stock planning, margins and fulfilmentHow affiliate content helps brands scaleWhat traditional beauty brands must consider before launching on TikTok ShopWhy hero products matter more than listing everythingWhether you are a founder, marketer, beauty operator or e-commerce leader, this conversation offers practical insight into how TikTok Shop really works behind the scenes. Featured topics: TikTok Shop for beauty brands, viral product growth, affiliate strategy, product-market fit, logistics, social commerce, live selling, beauty marketing and omnichannel brand building.

    13 min
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About

Tash Insights brings you inside the minds of female brand founders and the leaders of the UK’s fastest-growing e-commerce tech companies.  Hosted by Tash Courtenay-Smith – serial entrepreneur, investor, NED and fractional Head of Growth – each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped the futures of some of the UK's leading founders.  Whether you’re a founder, investor, tech lover or you just love hearing the growth stories behind top brands, this is the podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Tash Courtenay-Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tash Insights
  • Show Website
    Tash Insights

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