Word of mouth is a critical aspect of any business, but particularly for any company whose products are used by creators and artists. It's the keystone of a company's brand, and despite being a primary driver of the business, it's often misunderstood at the executive level, mishandled by the marketing team, and structurally disorganized. In recent years, Earthworks has been one of the best examples of how companies should be doing it. And it's all thanks to Mike Dias. His acute comprehension of the strategy, tactics, and value of word of mouth has resulted in a top-tier artist relations strategy, more effective marketing plans, and a best in class brand, which elevates partnerships and fuels purchasing decisions across the entire customer base.

I had the opportunity of watching Mike work firsthand, navigating a partnership between Earthworks and iZotope that was one of the most successful of the year for both sides. Both at the zoomed-in level of sales and customer conversions, and at the scaled-out level of brand elevation.

I've also had the distinct privilege of observing Mike's approach to networking as a fundamental business strategy. Since these efforts are often impossible to map out and track on spreadsheets they're often overlooked at a corporate level. Any business with the wisdom to see the nuanced, unique value that Mike brings will undoubtedly reap the rewards.