Dr. Giancarlo Licata is the Founder and Director of Vital Brain Health, a Los Angeles–based center specializing in evidence-based neurofeedback and applied neuroscience. Having supported thousands of clients with chronic pain, migraines, and post‒concussion challenges, he specializes in EEG, qEEG, and functional neurology. Dr. Licata also speaks about anxiety, autism, sleep, and ADHD on national health and wellness podcasts.

Many business leaders work hard to improve performance through enhanced tools, systems, and habits, yet still face burnout, poor focus, and mental fatigue. Despite their efforts, their ability to make clear decisions or stay consistent often declines as pressure increases. How does brain function impact decision-making and performance?

According to neurofeedback and brain mapping expert Dr. Giancarlo Licata, professionals can improve mental performance by targeting brain activity. He recommends starting with a brain map to identify which regions are overworked or underperforming, then using neurofeedback to retrain those areas through short, focused sessions. Dr. Licata also emphasizes daily practices that protect and strengthen brain function — such as consistent sleep, focused breathing, limiting overstimulation from technology, and recognizing when anxiety is reducing focus. By addressing brain performance, leaders can make clearer decisions, sustain attention longer, and reduce stress without relying solely on external systems or tools.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris talks with Dr. Giancarlo Licata, Founder and Director of Vital Brain Health, about how brain mapping and neurofeedback improve performance. Dr. Licata explains how brain scans uncover hidden issues behind focus problems, how personalized training rewires neural pathways for lasting results, and how modern habits and AI tools can strengthen or weaken brain function.

Francesco Gatti is the Co-founder and CEO of Opensend, a data company for e-commerce brands that converts anonymous visitors into leads. The company works with brands, including TrueClassic, OatsOvernight, Benchmade, AlexaderWang, and Rhone. With over a decade of digital marketing experience, Francesco held roles at companies, including VOLTN, Burrata House, Herb, and Grata.

Most brands invest heavily in driving website traffic, yet the majority of visitors stay invisible and never convert. How can companies uncover these hidden audiences and turn them into engaged customers without invading their privacy?

According to identity resolution and data-driven marketing expert Francesco Gatti, brands can recognize high-intent visitors and nurture them into buyers by analyzing on-site behavior — like reading product details or checking contact pages — to gauge purchase readiness. He recommends filling ad platforms with rich, accurate data to improve look-alike audiences and cut acquisition costs. By combining quality data with careful personalization, companies can elevate ROI while respecting consumer trust.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris chats with Opensend Co-founder and CEO Francesco Gatti about turning anonymous traffic into known, marketable relationships. Francesco explains how high-intent signals reveal purchase readiness, why rich data strengthens Meta ad performance, and how AI-driven cohort analysis powers personalized ad creative.

Akash Nigam is the Founder and CEO of Genies, Inc., an avatar-technology company building personalized 3D avatars and digital identities for consumers, creators, and brands. Under his leadership, Genies has established partnerships with celebrities and major brands, including Unity, Warner Music Group, Justin Bieber, Cardi B., and Shawn Mendes. Akash is also the Founder of Humans, an AI-native venture studio.

As online interactions evolve, brands must build connections with their customers. Traditional tools like email campaigns or social media posts fall short in creating meaningful relationships. How can companies create a more personal, two-way experience that feels less like marketing and more like a genuine conversation?

According to interactive digital experience designer Akash Nigam, AI avatars can become the next user interface of the internet. Brands can create emotionally intelligent AI companions that gather user insights and build authentic relationships through natural conversations, games, and shared experiences. By leveraging AI to capture personality traits for personalized experiences and designing guardrails that prevent emotional dependency on chatbots, companies can turn followers into engaged users.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris speaks with Akash Nigam, Founder and CEO of Genies, Inc., about how AI avatars are reshaping brand relationships. Akash explains why avatars will replace mobile apps as the primary interface, how Unity’s integration with Genies brings these companions into games, and the ethical concerns of emotional dependence on AI.