The Creator Economy's Missing Link: Real Talk on Social Commerce

Social commerce is everywhere—but few are doing it right. In this episode, hosts Todd and Kelly are joined by Bijan Malaklou, a marketing executive with deep expertise in creator partnerships and commerce.

Together, they discuss the real meaning of social commerce, why traditional influencer marketing often falls short, and what must change for brands to achieve measurable results.

From TikTok Shop's behavioral influence to the monetization struggles of mid-tier creators, this conversation cuts through the noise.

If you’re tired of flashy influencer campaigns that don’t convert and curious about more authentic, scalable solutions—this one’s for you.

Chapter

• 00:00:00 - From Wheaties to TikTok: A Brief History of Influence
• 00:00:56 - Meet Bijan Malaklou: The String-Puller of Social
• 00:01:52 - Why Your Influencer Budget Isn’t Converting
• 00:03:18 - Social Commerce, Demystified
• 00:06:14 - How Creator-Brand Dynamics Are Being Rewritten
• 00:08:44 - What’s Broken in Social Commerce (And What’s Next)
• 00:11:58 - Real Talk: Making Influencer Collabs Actually Work
• 00:25:29 - Paying Creators Right: The Future of Monetization
• 00:29:36 - Final Drops of Wisdom + Todd’s Birthday Roast

Links and Resources:

• Bijan Malaklou on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

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