Zihla Salinas Arbit, CEO, Yes&

In this episode of the Think Factory Podcast, Zihla Salinas Arbit, CEO of Yes&, discusses how she leads an independent marketing agency through growth, change, and innovation. Zihla shares her experience managing organizational change and integrating eight agencies through mergers and acquisitions, emphasizing the importance of listening, building trust, and getting people on board before implementing major changes. She also reflects on her journey from hands-on client services and marketing into executive leadership, the value of diverse experience in making strategic decisions, and how motherhood reshaped her definition of success and leadership. Zihla also explores how AI is transforming the marketing industry and how Yes& has embraced AI through training, proprietary tools, and an AI-powered operating system while maintaining the importance of human creativity, critical thinking, and client relationships. Looking ahead, she discusses the changing skills needed for the next generation of marketers and YesAnd’s vision for expanding its national presence and becoming a more recognized name within the industry.