In this episode of Built For This, Carly Pepin sits down with Bryan Quinn, CEO and co-founder of ShopSense AI and former Amazon executive, to explore how curiosity, innovation, and leadership are shaping the future of business.
After spending 11 years at Amazon, Bryan recognized an opportunity to solve a common frustration: discovering a product on television but struggling to find and purchase it. That experience helped inspire ShopSense AI, a company using artificial intelligence to make shopping more intuitive and connect moments of inspiration with opportunities to buy.
Carly and Bryan explore the realities of building a startup, including navigating disagreements between talented people, making difficult decisions, and creating a culture where healthy conflict leads to better outcomes.
They also discuss why curiosity is essential for innovation, the importance of celebrating wins while moving quickly, and Bryan's vision for making AI-powered shopping experiences more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Key Takeaways
Healthy Conflict Creates Stronger Teams
Bryan believes disagreement can be incredibly valuable when people are willing to understand different perspectives. By removing ego, encouraging open conversations, and being transparent about decisions, leaders can turn conflict into better collaboration and stronger outcomes.
Curiosity Is the Foundation of Innovation
The best opportunities often begin with asking better questions. Bryan emphasizes the importance of understanding customer frustrations, challenging assumptions, and remaining open to perspectives that might reveal solutions nobody has considered before.
Great Cultures Balance Speed With Celebration
Moving quickly matters, especially in a rapidly evolving industry like AI. But Bryan believes celebrating wins, empowering employees, and removing unnecessary processes are just as important for keeping teams motivated and creating an environment where innovation thrives.
About Bryan Quinn
Bryan Quinn is the CEO and co-founder of ShopSense AI, a technology company transforming how consumers discover and shop for products through AI-powered experiences.
Before founding ShopSense AI, Bryan spent 11 years at Amazon building and scaling advertising businesses. He founded Amazon Publisher Services and helped launch advertising innovations across Fire TV, Prime Video Channels, Alexa, and connected television.
Today, Bryan is focused on helping publishers, platforms, brands, and retailers create the next generation of personalized, seamless shopping experiences.
Memorable Quotes
"Smart people come to different conclusions all the time."
"We have to obsess over our customers' problems."
"If you're not a curious organization, your days are going to be numbered."
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Host: Carly Pepin
Co-Founder & Host Built For This
West Coast Growth Advisors
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