Pebble Presents

Pebble Strategy
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Welcome to Pebble Presents, where we explore the latest trends in marketing, research, and brand strategy. Join Emelia Rallapalli, Founder of Pebble Strategy, as she uncovers inspiring and interesting stories from leaders in business, marketing, insights, and design.Whether you’re new to the world of business and insights, or a seasoned practitioner of the dark art of marketing, Pebble Presents is a place to hear Emelia and her guests dig into the inner workings – and potential futures – of the world of innovation, creativity, and marketing.Subscribe to get notified about the latest episodes, and find us over on PebbleStrategy.com, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

  1. Episode 17: The part of design AI can't replace

    ١١ يونيو

    Episode 17: The part of design AI can't replace

    In this episode of Pebble Presents, I chat with Kenneth Young, award-winning Industrial Designer and founder of Now Studio, about industrial design: what it is, why it matters, and what it looks like to build an independent design practice around it. Now Studio has been thriving at a time when many studios are struggling. In today’s conversation, Ken unpacks for us exactly why he thinks that is, and what it tells us about where creative work - specifically industrial design - is heading.  In today’s episode, we discuss Ken’s journey into industrial design, what industrial design actually is, and where it fits into the product creation process, how Now Studio operates differently, and why clients are rewarding their approach right now. We also talk AI and commoditization and how these things are changing the field of industrial design, and where human craft and judgment can’t be replicated.  If you want to improve the outcomes in your industrial design partnerships, this episode is for you!  Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble – a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Kenneth Young is an award-winning industrial designer and founder of Now Studio in San Francisco. With a diverse background in product development, he has helped bring dozens of successful products to market across multiple industries worldwide. Guided by a passion for purposeful design, Kenneth focuses on creating meaningful experiences that connect consumers with mission-driven brands. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Pebble Presents, please share it with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! References Now Studio website: https://www.now-studio.comKenneth Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/now-studio-sfFind Pebble Presents on YouTubeShow Notes  0:27 - Emelia introduces Kenneth Young, NOW Studio, and what this episode covers 2:12 - Kenneth's path into industrial design, from New Zealand to San Francisco 6:39 - How design culture varies by geography — and what's distinctive about the Bay Area 8:15 - The personal and family influences behind how Kenneth approaches his work 9:51 - What led Kenneth to start NOW Studio 12:28 - What industrial design actually is — beyond the functional definition 14:21 - How industrial design differs from product design, and where it fits in the product development process 21:16 - What NOW Studio does differently — and why it's attracting clients in a difficult market 31:20 - Where commoditization is reshaping industrial design — and where it isn't 34:20 - AI's impact on industrial design: where it helps, and where it falls flat 37:07 - Kenneth's advice for people entering the field 42:20 - What to look for when hiring an industrial design studio 47:42 - Lightning round 51:51 - Emelia wraps up the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Edited and Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork and design by Liisa Turan-Walters

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  2. Episode 16: Semiotics and the hidden language of culture with Nick Gadsby

    ١٣ مايو

    Episode 16: Semiotics and the hidden language of culture with Nick Gadsby

    In this episode of Pebble Presents, I chat with Nick Gadsby, Commercial Semiotician, Anthropologist, and Founder, about semiotics: a research methodology that most American marketers don’t understand, and might be missing out on. Unlike traditional research methods that focus on what people say, think or do, semiotics examines the signs, symbols, and cultural codes that influence how people make sense of the world around them. We'll talk about what semiotics is, why it matters for business strategy, and Nick will share practical, real-world examples of semiotics in action, talking about how the post-binary cultural shift connects to today’s fragmented media landscape.  NOTICE: There are visual slides shared in this episode - please visit Pebble Presents on YouTube to view Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble – a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  With an academic background in Anthropology (for which he has a PhD from UCL), Nick Gadsby is a Commercial Semiotician and Anthropologist, founder of The Answer - his cultural insight company, which provides cultural analysis for clients across numerous categories from finance to fmcg.  Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - Like the episode? Please share with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! References Nick Gadsby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgadsbytheanswer/Website: https://www.theanswerinsight.com/Find Pebble Presents on YouTubeWired For Culture - by Mark Pagel (referenced) - https://bookshop.org/a/124174/9780393344202The Blank Slate - by Steven Pinker (referenced) - https://bookshop.org/a/124174/9780142003343Thinking, Fast and Slow - by Daniel Kahneman - https://bookshop.org/a/124174/9780606275644 Show Notes  0:27 - Emelia introduces Nick and the episode's focus 2:27 - Nick explains how he ended up in the field of semiotics 6:29 - Nick defines and discusses semiotics and why business leaders should care about it 10:32 - Nick walks us through how semiotics works as it relates to culture 21:42 - Nick discusses what decisions semiotics helps clients make, sharing B2C and B2B examples 39:45 - Nick explains the shift from binary to post-binary thinking, and how that can help marketers 50:18 - Nick discusses the need for semiotic analysis to be specific to its regional cultures 53:46 - Nick describes the connection between semiotics and system 1 thinking 1:01:54 - Emelia wraps up the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Edited and Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork and design by Liisa Turan-Walters

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  3. Episode 15: The elements of branding with Johanna Pino

    ٢٧ أبريل

    Episode 15: The elements of branding with Johanna Pino

    In this episode of Pebble Presents, I talk with Johanna Pino, brand strategist, graphic designer, author, and instructor, about how to successfully brand a product or business. We discuss Johanna’s career journey, the four stages of successful branding, and what can get you to a sound design strategy (as well as the importance of implementation). This episode isn’t about one designer’s preferences. It’s about what’s possible when you apply a reliable method of brand work, so the investment has tangible impact.  If you work in marketing, branding, or create assets and communications that use your company’s brand, this is for you! Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble - a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Johanna Pino is a brand strategist, graphic designer, author, and instructor. She has been creating strategy, identity, and strategic communication for startups and Fortune 100s, across industries for 30 years. Her passion is in creating functional beauty that solves problems and makes the world better. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - Like this episode of Pebble Presents? Share it with colleagues & friends! Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Thanks for listening! References The Elements of Branding by Johanna D. PinoJohanna Pino on LinkedInJohanna Pino BrandingWhat Color is Your Parachute by Richard N. Bolles (referenced)Show Notes 0:28 - Emelia introduces Johanna and today's focus 2:40 -  Johanna traces her unlikely path to branding 6:34 - Johanna on family influence — and why blazing her own trail was the only option 8:02 - Johanna explains why she wrote The Elements of Branding — and what she wanted it to do differently 14:11 - Johanna breaks down the 4 stages of branding and why each matters 17:27 - Johanna on navigating conflicting stakeholder opinions 19:11 - Johanna on external audience research, customer opinion, visual equities — and how she applies each 23:41 - Johanna shares how to present discovery so client teams can align for strategy 26:13 - Johanna talks through phase lengths, design process, and team structure on the client side for decision-making 34:53 - When to lock design direction and why implementation needs as much planning as the design 42:54 - Johanna's advice for business leaders to set their branding process up for success 44:24 - Emelia leads Johanna through our lightning round 51:48  - Emelia wraps up the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Edited & Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork & Design by Liisa Turan-Walters

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  4. Episode 14: Here Be Dragons: The case for creative independence with Eric Dunn

    ٦ أبريل

    Episode 14: Here Be Dragons: The case for creative independence with Eric Dunn

    In this episode of Pebble Presents, I talk with Eric Dunn, co-founder and executive director of Here Be Dragons, about creative independence and what it reveals about where the industry is heading. We dig into why consolidation creates opportunity for micro agencies, how independent shops are collaborating rather than competing, and what it takes — on both the agency and client side — to do work that actually holds up. Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble - a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Eric Dunn is the co-founder and executive director of Here Be Dragons, a San Francisco-based creative agency. Over 25 years, he's worked with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies to the U.S. government, earning a reputation as what he calls "a zealot for creatively driven brands." Here Be Dragons has created work like "Shoulda' Been There" for Improv Comedy Clubs — the club's first brand campaign in its 60-year history. He is one of the clearer, more honest voices I've encountered on what's actually happening in the creative industry right now. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Pebble Presents, please share it with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! References Eric Dunn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/here-be-dragonsHere Be Dragons website: https://www.hbdagency.comShow Notes  0:28 - Emelia introduces today’s special guest and topic 3:32 - Eric shares how he got into advertising and creative work 6:04 - Eric on the founding of Here Be Dragons 11:21 - Eric and Ken's early conversations about what Here Be Dragons would stand for 13:36 - Emelia and Eric discuss agency consolidation and what it means for independent shops 21:27 - Eric shares what clients want that large agencies can't deliver — and what makes a strong client partner for an independent agency. 34:21 - How the collaborative micro-agency model works at Here Be Dragons 42:23 - The business reality: how independent agencies make the economics work 45:52 - Eric and Emelia discuss the talent and mentorship crisis: what's been lost and what's at stake 57:07 - What AI still can't do. 59:20 - What Eric is optimistic about for the future of the creative industry 1:01:57 - Emelia wraps up the episode

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  5. Episode 13: When a brand strategy firm becomes its own client with Liisa Turan-Walters & Theo Fanning

    ١٩ مارس

    Episode 13: When a brand strategy firm becomes its own client with Liisa Turan-Walters & Theo Fanning

    In this episode, Emelia Rallapalli pulls back the curtain on Pebble Strategy's recent brand refresh with longtime collaborators Liisa Turan-Walters and Theo Fanning. Together, they walk through why the timing was right, how they approached the project, and why strategy has to lead design. They cover the steps of a brand refresh and how to set teams up for success during a new brand system rollout. Emelia closes with what she learned by becoming her own client — and how it's changed Pebble. Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble - a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Liisa Turan-Walters is a creative who builds practical, scalable brand systems — designing frameworks that carry across every touchpoint, from websites and decks to print and physical spaces. Her clients have included Google, Visa, Samsung, TED, UnitedHealthcare, Hippo Insurance, and McDonald's. Theo Fanning is the founder and creative director of Strange & Co., with a career spanning branding, advertising, and experience design across companies large and small. An illustrator and filmmaker by background, he brings a distinctly multidisciplinary lens to brand and creative work. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Pebble Presents, please share it with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! References Book: Building Distinctive Brand Assets, by Jenni RomaniukShow Notes  0:21 - Emelia introduces today’s guests and topic 0:50 - Liisa and Theo share the career paths that led them here 3:20 - Liisa shares why it was the right time for a Pebble brand refresh 9:20 - Theo and Liisa describe their approach to reworking the Pebble website 10:38 - Emelia discusses how the team employed and applied a strategy around the design for Pebble 15:20 - Theo and Liisa share when they think it's time for a brand refresh 17:08 - Emelia, Liisa, and Theo discuss characteristics of bad branding and core steps in the redesign 30:47 - Theo and Liisa discuss when to do a full rebrand versus refresh 31:35 - Liisa shares how to enable client teams for implementation success  40:26 - Emelia describes how the brand refresh for Pebble went, and her takeaways 48:32 - Theo and Liisa participate in a lightning round 53:08 - Emelia wraps up the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Edited and Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork and design by Liisa Turan-Walters Website copy by Theo Fanning Pebble illustrations by Goce Ilievski Pebble website UX and Development by Eric Hsu This Episode was recorded at Handsome in San Francisco, CA.

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  6. Episode 12: Making brand everyone's business with Emily Cushman

    ٤ فبراير

    Episode 12: Making brand everyone's business with Emily Cushman

    In this episode, Pebble Presents Emily Cushman. Emily walks us through her journey from her second-grade self (knowing she wanted to work in branding and advertising) to the cultural shift working in agencies vs working client-side. She shares what she’s found most effective when making a case for brand in companies where teams don’t know - or, in some cases, don’t care - about brand. Listen in to hear why Emily thinks research and insights are an essential part of brand building. Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble - a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Emily Cushman is a brand and creative leader who’s spent more than twenty years helping some of the world’s most loved brands find their voice and purpose. Today, as Director of Global Brand Strategy at Zendesk, she leads the charge on defining what the brand stands for — turning strategy into stories and ideas that connect with people on a human level.  Over the years, Emily has guided Fortune 500 companies and emerging brands alike to bridge the gap between purpose, product, and experience, and her work has always centered on helping brands show up with clarity, heart, and authenticity. At her core, Emily is a storyteller — one who believes the best brands don’t just sell, they inspire. She’s passionate about uncovering the spark that moves people, and turning that insight into creative ideas that build connection, culture, and growth. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Pebble Presents, please share it with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Show Notes  0:28 - Emelia introduces today’s special guest and topic 2:06 - Emily recalls the journey that led her to her current profession 6:36 - Emelia shares a memory that Emily unlocked for her - and the two discuss looking back to pay-it-forward 19:27 - Emily divulges what happened, professionally, when she stepped out on her own 20:46 - Emily discusses how brand strategy discipline lives within the organization on the company side vs. on the agency side 23:56 - Emily recounts an example of when she was able to talk about brand so the organization recognized its necessity 26:09 - Emily describes what her team has done to position Zendesk globally for growth 28:26 - Emily shares where she sees insights being used and leveraged with the greatest impact for brand in organizations  37:00 - Emelia and Emily discuss the brand as behavior, not just message 39:11 - Emily describes the culture of her company and if she has had to evangelize and make the case for brand 41:20 - Emily shares what she’s found has helped make the financial case for brand 43:11 - Emelia invites Emily to participate in a lightning round 51:44 - Emelia wraps up the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Edited and Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork and Design by Liisa Turan-Walters

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  7. Episode 11: Foresight and visioning with Sam Ladner

    ٢٢ يناير

    Episode 11: Foresight and visioning with Sam Ladner

    Today, Pebble Presents Sam Ladner. Emelia and Sam discuss Sam’s professional path that took her from journalism to sociology, the difference between foresight and innovation, and why foresight and visioning work so well in companies and applied settings. They also explore time, timing, and tempo: what they are, why they matter, and how to manage an attention budget as carefully as a financial one. If you are looking to grow your company sustainably, this episode is for you! Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble - a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Dr. Sam Ladner is a sociologist who helps teams innovate, design, and learn. She has worked at Amazon, Microsoft, and Workday, reaching the rank of Senior Principal Researcher, and is the author of two books on methodology (working on her third): Practical Ethnography and Mixed Methods. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, Dr. Ladner’s research focuses on productivity, technology, and work. She received her PhD from York University and is a proud Canadian. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Pebble Presents, please share it with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources EPIC - https://www.epicpeople.org/Sam Ladner website: https://www.samladner.com/Freedom.to: https://freedom.to/Pomodoro Technique: https://www.pomodorotechnique.com/Readwise: https://readwise.io/Show Notes  0:28 - Emelia introduces today’s special guest and topic 2:55 - Sam shares the journey that led to her current profession 11:27 - Sam recalls family influences behind her career path 15:53 - Sam investigates some of the biggest misconceptions about sociologists’ work 19:03 - Sam describes what sociological practices look like within a commercial setting 22:06 - Sam discusses her work in foresight and how she applies the practice today 28:36 - Sam breaks down how to bring visioning work into the corporate world  37:56 - Sam defines and discusses temporality and how it helps to unlock new thinking in business  44:48 - Sam describes types of crises on the horizon and how businesses can (and should) start planning for them now 54:48 - Sam shares advice to help executives navigate long-term thinking 56:26 - Sam divulges how she manages her attention budget 59:19 - Emelia and Sam discuss executive functioning, dysfunction, and reflection 1:05:23  - Sam participates in a lightning round with Emelia 1:14:34 - Emelia wraps up the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Editing and Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork and Design by Liisa Turan-Walters

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  8. Episode 10: What 23 years of naming things teaches you with Aaron Hall

    ١٨‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Episode 10: What 23 years of naming things teaches you with Aaron Hall

    In this episode, Pebble Presents Aaron Hall, a naming expert and founder of Emphatic Branding. Together, Emelia and Aaron discuss naming for brands, companies, and products: everything from the process and stages of naming, to the differences is between pre-screening, vetting, and linguistic analysis for name development (and why each is important).  Aaron shares how he uses AI in his naming process and workstreams so he can deliver better work for his clients. He also helps us understand the difference between naming strategy and creative name development.  This was an insightful conversation! If you are considering names for your brand, company, or product…this episode is right on time for you. Emelia Rallapalli is the founder of Pebble - a brand strategy and marketing research consultancy. With decades of experience in global brand planning, strategy, and research, Pebble has helped shape businesses of all kinds, from ambitious start-ups to global Fortune 100 companies.  Aaron Hall is a naming expert and the founder of Emphatic Branding. He’s been naming things for 23 years. He founded Emphatic a year ago because he loves sharing his passion for naming with clients. Welcome to Pebble Presents. - - - - - - - - - If you liked this episode of Pebble Presents, please share it with colleagues and friends! Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to rate/review/subscribe to the show. Want more? Visit PebbleStrategy.com.  You can also find us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pebble-strategy/) and Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/pebblestrategy/). Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! Resources Emphatic Branding: https://www.emphaticbranding.com/ Emphatic Branding on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emphaticbranding/Laurel Sutton, Senior Strategist & Linguistat Catchword Branding: https://catchwordbranding.com/team/laurel-sutton/Book recommendation: ”Brand Naming” by Rob MeyersonShow Notes  0:23 - Emelia introduces today’s special guest 2:26 - Aaron shares the journey to his current profession 4:52 - Aaron divulges what makes a naming expert tick and breaks down the process of a naming expert 17:15 - Aaron defines linguistic analysis and its importance vs prescreening 20:16 - Aaron shares considerations for hiring a native speaking naming expert - and is it important? 24:28 - Emelia asks Aaron if there is a best time in the process to bring in a naming specialist, and they discuss how they named their own companies 30:21 - Aaron explains the difference between naming creative and naming strategy 33:18 - Emelia and Aaron discuss when the creation of brands, sub-brands or renaming a brand may not be the best idea 42:21 - Aaron shares what he recommends folks read to help them with naming, and the AI tools he uses to make his business flow 50:32 - Aaron participates in a lightning round with Emelia 59:32 - Emelia wraps the episode Episode Credits Executive Produced & Hosted by Emelia Rallapalli Produced by Stephanie Watanabe  Editing and Post Produced by Erin Zimmerman Artwork and Design by Liisa Turan-Walters

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Welcome to Pebble Presents, where we explore the latest trends in marketing, research, and brand strategy. Join Emelia Rallapalli, Founder of Pebble Strategy, as she uncovers inspiring and interesting stories from leaders in business, marketing, insights, and design.Whether you’re new to the world of business and insights, or a seasoned practitioner of the dark art of marketing, Pebble Presents is a place to hear Emelia and her guests dig into the inner workings – and potential futures – of the world of innovation, creativity, and marketing.Subscribe to get notified about the latest episodes, and find us over on PebbleStrategy.com, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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    Pebble Strategy
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    ٢٠٢٥ - ٢٠٢٦
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    Pebble Presents