In this episode of Marketing Over Milkshakes, we sit down with Adam Ross, CEO of Awin, one of the world’s largest affiliate marketing networks, powering partnerships for brands like Nike, Samsung, Etsy, Vodafone and thousands more. Adam shares a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how affiliate marketing has evolved from early paid-search arbitrage into a multi-channel, AI-ready performance ecosystem - and what brands, agencies, and creators need to do to stay ahead. If you are looking to unlock the internet’s fastest-growing marketing channel, connect with the team at RevWise https://revwise.com/ What you’ll learn in this episode: How affiliate marketing really works (and why it’s a payment model, not a channel)Why CPA-based incentives outperform CPC in AI-driven shoppingHow influencers and creators fit into modern affiliate strategiesThe hidden brand-building value of affiliate programs most brands ignoreHow to scale a company from 15 to 1,400+ employees without losing cultureThe leadership lessons learned from growing a global tech businessWhy AI shopping assistants need affiliate monetisation modelsHow brands should measure upper-funnel influence vs last-click salesThe future of affiliate networks, retail media, and creator commerceWhat most brands are getting wrong about performance marketing todayThis episode is essential listening for anyone working in: Affiliate marketing / Performance & growth marketing / Influencer & creator partnerships / eCommerce & DTC / Retail media / AI-powered commerce platforms Key Topics Covered: Affiliate marketing explainedCPA vs CPC advertising modelsInfluencer marketing through affiliatesAI shopping assistants & monetisationScaling SaaS and marketplace platformsLeadership, hiring, and company culturePerformance marketing strategyAttribution, measurement & incrementalityBrand vs performance balanceThe future of digital commerceKey Moments: 0:00 – CPA, AI & the Future of Affiliate Marketing 04:20 – Lighthearted Start: Milkshakes, Personal Preferences & Show Setup 05:35 – From Dentist to CEO of Awin 08:16 – Scaling Awin from 15 to 1,400 Employees & the 50-Person Tipping Point 11:18 – Landing Currys & Other Enterprise Brands: Big-Deal Bids That Changed the Company 14:08 – Acquisitions, Telco vs Retail & Entering the US Market 18:21 – Global Expansion Playbook: Organic vs Inorganic Growth in New Markets 19:20 – Hiring, Promotion & Spotting Leadership Potential in a High-Growth Company 23:49 – Should a CEO Be Hands-On With Product and Tech? 26:16 – What Is Affiliate Marketing Really? Payment Model, Publisher Types & Early Arbitrage 31:29 – Tracking Innovation: Awin’s MasterTag & the Evolution of Tech Partnerships 33:06 – Influencers, Retail Media & the Next Wave of Affiliate Growth 39:59 – Measuring Upper-Funnel Value & Paying Influencers Fairly 45:22 – AI Hype vs Reality: Awin’s AI Assistant “Ava” and Natural-Language Affiliate Campaigns 48:26 – Monetizing AI Shopping: Why CPA Beats CPC for AI Recommenders 50:41 – Company Culture, Remote Work & Building Trust at Scale 56:37 – Obsession, Continuous Learning & Using X/Twitter as a Learning Tool 58:28 – Parenting in the Age of Screens: Kids, YouTube, Money & Financial Literacy 1:05:43 – Dublin to London: Life, Family & Why London Still Feels Special 1:07:14 – Quickfire Round: Must-Have Apps, Imposter Syndrome, Leadership & Brand Opportunities