What Heritage Brands Can Learn From the Creator Economy, According to Gap Inc.'s Damon Berger

In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ Chief Partnerships Officer Tim Sovay sits down with Damon Berger, SVP of Shared Marketing Services at Gap Inc., to discuss the evolution of digital storytelling and the growing role creators play in shaping culture. With a career spanning Disney, What's Trending, Fullscreen, Mattel, and Gap Inc., Berger brings a unique perspective on how audiences, platforms, and brands have evolved over the past two decades. Tim and Damon explore why creators have become the conduit to culture, how iconic brands can stay relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape, and what marketers can learn from the rise of creator-led communities. They also discuss the importance of authenticity in creator partnerships, the future of long-form content, why YouTube remains one of the industry's biggest opportunities, and how brands can move beyond campaigns to build lasting cultural relevance. In this episode, you’ll learn: 1. Inside Gap's earned media strategy, they're working with creators to stay relevant inside internet culture instead of relying on traditional advertising 2. What it looks like to scale an influencer program strategy from a few partnerships to tens of thousands of creators 3. Where attention is shifting next, including YouTube, gaming communities, and other emerging digital spaces Connect with the Guest: Damon’s LinkedIn - @damonberger Connect with Tim Sovay & CreatorIQ: Tim’s LinkedIn - @timsovay CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ