Inside the Gen Z Mindset with Ben Harms, Chief Growth Officer at Archrival

Understanding Gen Z might feel like navigating uncharted territory, but what if your brand's success depends on it? In this episode, Dave Yovanno sits down with Ben Harms, Chief Growth Officer at Archrival, a creative agency built to help brands truly connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Ben shares what it takes to meet these audiences where they are, from understanding their behaviors and mindset to embracing community-led storytelling, active social listening, and bold, culture-driven risks. Drawing from his experience at Tommy Hilfiger, and working with brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and Adidas, Ben explains why traditional tactics no longer cut it, and how legacy brands can pivot, if they’re willing to evolve. He and Dave cover everything from Gen Z’s distrust of institutions and the power of peer-driven content to finding the right creators and letting go of control. This episode is a masterclass in building trust with the next generation and why it just might be time to rethink the old playbook.

Check out Archrival’s latest thought leadership pieces here:

• Gen Z broke the marketing funnel
• State of Community

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• The Publisher's Playbook
• The Advocacy Channel