Matt Wilkinson
@strivenn.bsky.social
Recovering scientist, marketing strategist and educator, founder www.strivenn.com
Pinned
Matt Wilkinson
@strivenn.bsky.social
· Jul 1
Three Talks in 15 Days: What I Learned About AI, Audacity, and Turning the Volume Up to 11
Fifteen days. Three stages. One wild ride from the lecture halls of Leicester to the architectural marvels of Paris, and finally a grid of faces on a SAMPS webinar. It felt a bit like being back on stage with my college band, purple hair, bass guitar, and the thrill of cranking the amp to eleven.
strivenn.com
Fifteen days. Three stages. One wild ride from the lecture halls of Leicester to the architectural marvels of Paris, and finally a grid of faces on a SAMPS webinar. It felt a bit like being back on stage with my college band, purple hair, bass guitar, and the thrill of cranking the amp to eleven.
In Greek mythology, Daedalus crafted wings of feathers and wax for himself and his son Icarus to escape imprisonment. He gave Icarus explicit instructions: fly neither too low (the sea spray will dampen the wings) nor too high (the sun will melt the wax). Stay the middle course.
Icarus Trap to Launch Ready
In Greek mythology, Daedalus crafted wings of feathers and wax for himself and his son Icarus to escape imprisonment. He gave Icarus explicit instructions: fly neither too low (the sea spray will dampen the wings) nor too high (the sun will melt the wax). Stay the middle course.
strivenn.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
In Greek mythology, Daedalus crafted wings of feathers and wax for himself and his son Icarus to escape imprisonment. He gave Icarus explicit instructions: fly neither too low (the sea spray will dampen the wings) nor too high (the sun will melt the wax). Stay the middle course.
When Heracles faced the Lernaean Hydra, he discovered a terrifying truth: every time he cut off one of the monster's heads, two more grew in its place.
Taming the Hydra: Managing Scope Creep in Life Sciences Research Tools
When Heracles faced the Lernaean Hydra, he discovered a terrifying truth: every time he cut off one of the monster's heads, two more grew in its place.
strivenn.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
When Heracles faced the Lernaean Hydra, he discovered a terrifying truth: every time he cut off one of the monster's heads, two more grew in its place.
Ask any postdoc how they chose their PCR kit. You won't hear "a banner ad convinced me." You'll hear "my lab mate swears by it," or "Reddit said the yields were better." In life sciences, word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't a vanity metric. It's the operating system of trust.
Word-of-Mouth Is Your Not So Quiet Superpower In The AI Era
Ask any postdoc how they chose their PCR kit. You won't hear "a banner ad convinced me." You'll hear "my lab mate swears by it," or "Reddit said the yields were better." In life sciences, word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't a vanity metric. It's the operating system of trust.
strivenn.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Ask any postdoc how they chose their PCR kit. You won't hear "a banner ad convinced me." You'll hear "my lab mate swears by it," or "Reddit said the yields were better." In life sciences, word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't a vanity metric. It's the operating system of trust.
I was an alpha reader for Mark Schaefer 's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers , even contributing the Betty Crocker case study about how humans need to feel useful. But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of reading that 8% of teenagers are in romantic relationships with AI avatars.
How AI Changes Your Customers: The Book That Rewired My Understanding of "Customer Relationships"
I was an alpha reader for Mark Schaefer 's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers , even contributing the Betty Crocker case study about how humans need to feel useful. But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of reading that 8% of teenagers are in romantic relationships with AI avatars.
strivenn.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I was an alpha reader for Mark Schaefer 's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers , even contributing the Betty Crocker case study about how humans need to feel useful. But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of reading that 8% of teenagers are in romantic relationships with AI avatars.
I was an alpha reader for Mark Schaefer's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers, even contributing the Betty Crocker case study about how humans need to feel useful. But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of reading that 8% of teenagers are in romantic relationships with AI avatars.
How AI Changes Your Customers: The Book That Rewired My Understanding of "Customer Relationships"
I was an alpha reader for Mark Schaefer's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers, even contributing the Betty Crocker case study about how humans need to feel useful. But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of reading that 8% of teenagers are in romantic relationships with AI avatars.
strivenn.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:01 AM
I was an alpha reader for Mark Schaefer's latest book, How AI Changes Your Customers, even contributing the Betty Crocker case study about how humans need to feel useful. But nothing prepared me for the gut punch of reading that 8% of teenagers are in romantic relationships with AI avatars.
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was cursed with the ability to see the future perfectly, but no one would ever believe her. She'd warn of disaster, and people would dismiss her as alarmist or delusional. The curse wasn't that she was wrong; it was that nobody believed her even when she was right.
5 Struggles Building Business Cases for Innovative RUO Products & How to Overcome Them
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was cursed with the ability to see the future perfectly, but no one would ever believe her. She'd warn of disaster, and people would dismiss her as alarmist or delusional. The curse wasn't that she was wrong; it was that nobody believed her even when she was right.
strivenn.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was cursed with the ability to see the future perfectly, but no one would ever believe her. She'd warn of disaster, and people would dismiss her as alarmist or delusional. The curse wasn't that she was wrong; it was that nobody believed her even when she was right.
Theseus stood at the entrance to the labyrinth, holding Ariadne's thread. Without it, he knew the maze would consume him, not because the Minotaur was so fearsome, but because he'd wander forever in circles, unable to distinguish progress from illusion.
Navigating the Fog: The Product Manager's Role During R&D Feasibility
Theseus stood at the entrance to the labyrinth, holding Ariadne's thread. Without it, he knew the maze would consume him, not because the Minotaur was so fearsome, but because he'd wander forever in circles, unable to distinguish progress from illusion.
strivenn.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Theseus stood at the entrance to the labyrinth, holding Ariadne's thread. Without it, he knew the maze would consume him, not because the Minotaur was so fearsome, but because he'd wander forever in circles, unable to distinguish progress from illusion.
Procrustes, the inn-keeper of Greek mythology, had a peculiar approach to hospitality. He insisted every guest fit his iron bed perfectly. Too tall? He'd cut them down to size. Too short? He'd stretch them until they matched. His fatal mistake was assuming the bed was right and the guest was wrong.
Finding Your Product/Market Fit Through Voice of the Customer
Procrustes, the inn-keeper of Greek mythology, had a peculiar approach to hospitality. He insisted every guest fit his iron bed perfectly. Too tall? He'd cut them down to size. Too short? He'd stretch them until they matched. His fatal mistake was assuming the bed was right and the guest was wrong.
strivenn.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Procrustes, the inn-keeper of Greek mythology, had a peculiar approach to hospitality. He insisted every guest fit his iron bed perfectly. Too tall? He'd cut them down to size. Too short? He'd stretch them until they matched. His fatal mistake was assuming the bed was right and the guest was wrong.
How to Win the Room Before Specs Even Matter
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
The Superpower of Differentiation
How to Win the Room Before Specs Even Matter
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
strivenn.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
How to Win the Room Before Specs Even Matter
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
When my son was in middle school, he launched what felt like a weeks-long campaign for computer games. I resisted, convinced the violence in those early sci-fi battle titles would overwhelm his quick wit and kind heart. Then he reframed it for me: "These games build my strategic thinking."
Turning Fire into Fuel: How Customer-Focused Metrics Ignite Better Strategic Planning
When my son was in middle school, he launched what felt like a weeks-long campaign for computer games. I resisted, convinced the violence in those early sci-fi battle titles would overwhelm his quick wit and kind heart. Then he reframed it for me: "These games build my strategic thinking."
strivenn.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
When my son was in middle school, he launched what felt like a weeks-long campaign for computer games. I resisted, convinced the violence in those early sci-fi battle titles would overwhelm his quick wit and kind heart. Then he reframed it for me: "These games build my strategic thinking."
The Persona Problem
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
PersonaAI: From Pretty PDFs to Precision Marketing Intelligence
The Persona Problem
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
strivenn.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The Persona Problem
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
Procrustes, the inn-keeper of Greek mythology, had a peculiar approach to hospitality. He insisted every guest fit his iron bed perfectly. Too tall? He'd cut them down to size. Too short? He'd stretch them until they matched. His fatal mistake was assuming the bed was right and the guest was wrong.
Finding Your Product/Market Fit Through Voice of the Customer
Procrustes, the inn-keeper of Greek mythology, had a peculiar approach to hospitality. He insisted every guest fit his iron bed perfectly. Too tall? He'd cut them down to size. Too short? He'd stretch them until they matched. His fatal mistake was assuming the bed was right and the guest was wrong.
strivenn.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Procrustes, the inn-keeper of Greek mythology, had a peculiar approach to hospitality. He insisted every guest fit his iron bed perfectly. Too tall? He'd cut them down to size. Too short? He'd stretch them until they matched. His fatal mistake was assuming the bed was right and the guest was wrong.
Ask any postdoc how they chose their PCR kit. You won't hear "a banner ad convinced me." You'll hear "my lab mate swears by it," or "Reddit said the yields were better." In life sciences, word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't a vanity metric. It's the operating system of trust.
Word-of-Mouth Is Your Not So Quiet Superpower In The AI Era
Ask any postdoc how they chose their PCR kit. You won't hear "a banner ad convinced me." You'll hear "my lab mate swears by it," or "Reddit said the yields were better." In life sciences, word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't a vanity metric. It's the operating system of trust.
strivenn.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Ask any postdoc how they chose their PCR kit. You won't hear "a banner ad convinced me." You'll hear "my lab mate swears by it," or "Reddit said the yields were better." In life sciences, word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't a vanity metric. It's the operating system of trust.
The Persona Problem
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
PersonaAI: From Pretty PDFs to Precision Marketing Intelligence
The Persona Problem
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
strivenn.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The Persona Problem
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
Let's be honest. Most personas are decorative. They sit in brand folders, untouched and unloved, while teams scramble to meet deadlines, secure approvals, and deliver sales. They are static, vague, quickly out of date and disconnected from how real marketing actually works.
When my son was in middle school, he launched what felt like a weeks-long campaign for computer games. I resisted, convinced the violence in those early sci-fi battle titles would overwhelm his quick wit and kind heart. Then he reframed it for me: "These games build my strategic thinking."
Turning Fire into Fuel: How Customer-Focused Metrics Ignite Better Strategic Planning
When my son was in middle school, he launched what felt like a weeks-long campaign for computer games. I resisted, convinced the violence in those early sci-fi battle titles would overwhelm his quick wit and kind heart. Then he reframed it for me: "These games build my strategic thinking."
strivenn.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
When my son was in middle school, he launched what felt like a weeks-long campaign for computer games. I resisted, convinced the violence in those early sci-fi battle titles would overwhelm his quick wit and kind heart. Then he reframed it for me: "These games build my strategic thinking."
AI search has become a major discovery path. But here's the thing: if my best thinking only lives in video or audio, large language models can't pick it up.
Feed the AI Words - It’s Hungry!
AI search has become a major discovery path. But here's the thing: if my best thinking only lives in video or audio, large language models can't pick it up.
strivenn.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
AI search has become a major discovery path. But here's the thing: if my best thinking only lives in video or audio, large language models can't pick it up.
How to Win the Room Before Specs Even Matter
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
The Superpower of Differentiation
How to Win the Room Before Specs Even Matter
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
strivenn.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
How to Win the Room Before Specs Even Matter
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
Years ago, my son had a differentiation problem. In elementary school, he stood out because he had something few kids did, globe-trotting stories. Show-and-tell was easy.
Balancing Scientific Rigor with Speed and Agility
Marketing in a life science startup can feel like walking a tightrope in a hurricane. One underperforming campaign, and it’s tempting to scrap the plan and start over.
Marketing in a life science startup can feel like walking a tightrope in a hurricane. One underperforming campaign, and it’s tempting to scrap the plan and start over.
Marketing Takes Grit
Balancing Scientific Rigor with Speed and Agility
Marketing in a life science startup can feel like walking a tightrope in a hurricane. One underperforming campaign, and it’s tempting to scrap the plan and start over.
strivenn.com
September 10, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Balancing Scientific Rigor with Speed and Agility
Marketing in a life science startup can feel like walking a tightrope in a hurricane. One underperforming campaign, and it’s tempting to scrap the plan and start over.
Marketing in a life science startup can feel like walking a tightrope in a hurricane. One underperforming campaign, and it’s tempting to scrap the plan and start over.
A 40 brand : 60 performance Marketing Plan for Life Science Tools
Stealth Brands Lose RFPs
A 40 brand : 60 performance Marketing Plan for Life Science Tools
strivenn.com
September 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A 40 brand : 60 performance Marketing Plan for Life Science Tools
At a panel I moderated last week at the C&EN Media Group Marketing Elements Summit 2025 , I asked 50 sales and marketing pros whether they agreed with the statement: “In my company, sales and marketing target the same audience, and leads are followed up quickly.”
The Magic of Sales and Marketing Alignment (and the Red Flags That Kill It)
At a panel I moderated last week at the C&EN Media Group Marketing Elements Summit 2025 , I asked 50 sales and marketing pros whether they agreed with the statement: “In my company, sales and marketing target the same audience, and leads are followed up quickly.”
strivenn.com
September 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
At a panel I moderated last week at the C&EN Media Group Marketing Elements Summit 2025 , I asked 50 sales and marketing pros whether they agreed with the statement: “In my company, sales and marketing target the same audience, and leads are followed up quickly.”
My talk last week at ACS Fall 2025 in Washington, DC was 25 years in the making.
Catalysts for Conversion: The Real Chemistry Is Between People
My talk last week at ACS Fall 2025 in Washington, DC was 25 years in the making.
strivenn.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:11 AM
My talk last week at ACS Fall 2025 in Washington, DC was 25 years in the making.
Ahead of an upcoming talk at ACS 2025 Marketing Elements in Washington, DC, I sat down with Atlas, Strivenn’s new AI marketing assistant, for a candid conversation and a sneak peek at what I'm going to be discussing in my talk.
strivenn.com/thinking/bui...
strivenn.com/thinking/bui...
Building a Personal Brand That Sticks: A Conversation with my AI Marketing Assistant
Learn how life science marketers can build credible personal brands, earn trust, and stay visible, especially in a noisy, AI-saturated landscape.
strivenn.com
August 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Ahead of an upcoming talk at ACS 2025 Marketing Elements in Washington, DC, I sat down with Atlas, Strivenn’s new AI marketing assistant, for a candid conversation and a sneak peek at what I'm going to be discussing in my talk.
strivenn.com/thinking/bui...
strivenn.com/thinking/bui...
I’ve been reflecting on something that’s been on my mind lately, maybe you’ve noticed it too. We have more ways to connect than ever before, and yet, there’s an odd sense of distance between us.
When Science Fiction Turns Into Today’s Reality
I’ve been reflecting on something that’s been on my mind lately, maybe you’ve noticed it too. We have more ways to connect than ever before, and yet, there’s an odd sense of distance between us.
strivenn.com
August 12, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I’ve been reflecting on something that’s been on my mind lately, maybe you’ve noticed it too. We have more ways to connect than ever before, and yet, there’s an odd sense of distance between us.
Here’s a stat to sit with: a 2025 report by the EU’s Joint Research Centre found that only 17% of SMEs had implemented any form of AI training, compared to over 60% of large companies. That gap isn’t just wide, it’s worrying.
Mind the (AI Literacy) Gap
Here’s a stat to sit with: a 2025 report by the EU’s Joint Research Centre found that only 17% of SMEs had implemented any form of AI training, compared to over 60% of large companies. That gap isn’t just wide, it’s worrying.
strivenn.com
August 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Here’s a stat to sit with: a 2025 report by the EU’s Joint Research Centre found that only 17% of SMEs had implemented any form of AI training, compared to over 60% of large companies. That gap isn’t just wide, it’s worrying.
Before your morning feed drowns you in AI buzzwords, remember this: authentic stories are the signal people actually hear.
Authentic Storytelling for Strategic Change in the Age of AI
Before your morning feed drowns you in AI buzzwords, remember this: authentic stories are the signal people actually hear.
strivenn.com
July 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Before your morning feed drowns you in AI buzzwords, remember this: authentic stories are the signal people actually hear.