Hey 👋 I'm Isaac!

I’m a growth strategist and the founder of Pistachio, a GTM and brand-led growth partner for startups and scaleups. We help teams launch, scale and stand out by turning positioning into pipeline.

Most companies have strong products but fractured go-to-market efforts: sales, marketing and product aren’t aligned. The story isn’t clear. Growth depends too much on short-term tactics. That’s where we step in.

At Pistachio, we combine:
Brand strategy → defining your positioning, narrative, and messaging so you win trust and convert more buyers.
GTM blueprints → ICP definition, value prop, channels, packaging, sequencing.
Content systems → newsletters, CRM, LinkedIn and amplification to operationalise GTM and compound growth.
Growth ops → automation and reporting systems to scale without chaos.

Before founding Pistachio, I led growth at The Daily Aus (scaled to 180,000 subs in 10 months) and Mamamia (grew subscriptions to 30,000+ members and $170k+ MRR). Since then, I’ve worked with teams at BuzzFeed, Clay and many more to build GTM systems that turn brand trust into business results.

I also write Brand Chemistry, a newsletter about building trust and driving compounding growth.

🚀 Ready to align your story, GTM and growth engine? Let’s chat! check out my Featured section to get started.

Isaac Peiris

I came back from my holiday to 47 unread Slack threads.

First thing I did? Asked Notion Agent "what have I missed?"

30 seconds later, I had my answer. Including a client deliverable due in 6 days that was waiting for my review.

That’s something I've been building toward all year.

Systems that work without me manually holding everything together.

I'm building an agency in 2026. We're a team of 3 right now. The goal is to scale to handle 3x the project volume by year end.

That requires different infrastructure. I can't be the bottleneck searching for notes, setting up databases, or catching up on context.

Notion Agent saves me an hour every day on that manual work.

Database setup that used to take hours?
↳ Done in minutes with the right properties and views already configured.

Can't remember where I saved that client brief?
↳ Found instantly across my entire workspace.

Need to understand what happened while I was away?
↳ Searches Notion, Slack, and Gmail to surface what actually matters.

Those lost hours add up. That's time I now get to spend on the work I love most.

Working with our talented team. Solving problems for clients across completely different businesses. Building systems that let us take on bigger challenges.

2026 is about building the foundation that scales. Notion Agent helps me build it faster.

What are you building in 2026?

Try Notion Agent for free at https://lnkd.in/dcFAtkS9

#NotionPartner #NotionNewYear

Founder @ Pistachio | Content-led growth for B2B brands

Nike had Steph Curry.

Then they called him the wrong name.

2013. Curry's contract was up for renewal.

Nike had first right of refusal. They could match any offer and keep him.

Then came their pitch meeting...

They mispronounced his name. Multiple times.
They offered no signature shoe. No real investment.
They left Kevin Durant's name on the presentation deck.

Under Armour's pitch was the opposite.

We see your potential. You'll be the face of our basketball division.

Curry signed with Under Armour for $2.5M.

Today, his shoes outsell every NBA player but Jordan.

That deal became $200M+ with equity and Curry's estimated value to the brand is $14 billion.

Nike had matching rights. They had the relationship.

They lost him in a conference room because the details didn't match the opportunity.

Nike waited for proof. Under Armour bet on potential.

That's the difference between keeping talent and watching them walk.

What's a time you chose to work with someone who believed in you before you had proof?

---

I share #brand and #growth insights daily, follow for more.

Here's what I'm predicting for 2026 in marketing.
Honestly, I think most people aren't ready.

Last year, everyone adopted AI for marketing.
This year, we'll realise why it's not working.

Every cold email is the same. 
Every video uses identical hooks. 
Every landing page follows the exact template.

When 99% of marketers use the same AI tools, nobody has an advantage.

Meanwhile, audiences are actively retreating.

Daily time spent on social media has decreased for the first time ever. We're drowning people in volume while they're literally trying to escape it.

So here is what I'm seeing for this year:

1️⃣ Founder media becomes non-negotiable

More than exec social posting, more leaders will build out deeper media platforms.

Tyler Denk’s newsletter won beehiiv TIME magazine as a customer. Stripe’s co-founder runs a podcast interviewing business leaders.

More will level up from posting on Linkedin and Twitter to building out full media platforms so they can engage audiences more deeply and through owned channels.

2️⃣ Anthropic fills the gap left by Apple

ChatGPT’s first-mover advantage will have diminishing returns as Google steps up their AI roll out.

They’ll keep fighting head to head over being the everyday productivity tool.

But Apple’s absence on AI leaves a market gap for more professional and creative options, which Anthropic is filling.

They’ve already overtaken OpenAI on enterprise LLM usage.

3️⃣ AI amplifies but doesn't replace

I get it. AI makes everything faster and easier.

But when AI commodifies execution it’s your perspective that can't be automated.

Marketing wins this year will use AI to amplify human connection, not replace it.

It seems obvious to say, but most marketers will keep chasing AI efficiency. We’ll get a bunch more content that audiences will increasingly ignore.

Have I nailed it? Am I being delusional?

Keen to hear what you think!

---

I share #growthstrategy insights daily, follow for more.

Founder of Pistachio | Build trust. Drive growth.

La Vieille Ferme spent 50 years as a decent French rosé.

Then the internet started calling it "chicken wine" and everything changed.

The brand didn't create the nickname.

People just saw the chicken on the label and figured "chicken wine" is easier to say than "La Vieille Ferme"...

It became a cultural moment with "chicken wine" trending on TikTok and Instagram.

Sales spiked 300% in some markets. Grocery stores couldn't keep it stocked.

Then La Vieille Ferme launched a limited-edition bottle literally labelled "The Chicken Wine"

They leaned all the way in.

A lot of 50-year-old brands would have worried about their heritage. Especially French wine brands!

But this brand let the internet rewrite their positioning and ran with it.

Sometimes your audience hands you a better story than the one you've been telling.

The best move can just be to roll with it 🤷‍♂️

---

I share #brand and #growth insights daily, follow for more.

La Vieille Ferme rebrands to ‘The Chicken Wine’

Heineken is paying people to stop sending voice notes and meet for a beer instead.

Their new "Could Have Been A Heineken" campaign in Brazil targets people who receive voice notes over 3 minutes long on WhatsApp.

Send the bot your voice note, get a voucher for a free beer and bar recommendations to meet up IRL.

9 billion WhatsApp voice notes are sent daily (up 7% YoY). But 54% of people say their most fulfilling conversations happen in person.

Heineken made their brand the bridge for this gap.

Here’s why this works:

1. Brazil sends 4x more voice notes than anywhere else
The activation is culturally specific, not globally generic.

2. It's consistent with Heineken's broader positioning
They've built a sustained narrative around IRL connections, this isn’t a one-off stunt.

3. It uses a real friction point
Voice notes are more personal than a text, but still not the same a real in-person conversation.

Are you a voice note person? Or do you secretly wish they'd just suggest meeting up instead?

---

I share brand strategy insights daily, follow for more.

Everyone in growth obsesses over removing friction.

Decathlon just added more and won.

92% of New Year's fitness resolutions fail by mid-Jan.

So they made one of their bestselling running shoes non-refundable.

No returns. No second thoughts. Buy it, commit to it.

This breaks every conversion playbook. We're trained to make conversion as smooth as possible.

But Decathlon flipped the question.

Instead of asking "how do we make this easier to buy?" they asked "how do we help people stick with what they’re trying to achieve?"

The no-returns policy protects the decision, not the inventory.

Buying shifts from "maybe I'll try running" to "I'm actually committing to doing this".

They reinforced that decision with meaning. Stick with it for 30 days and earn loyalty points.

Not a discount, but a reward for consistency.

This is what happens when marketing stops chasing persuasion and starts designing belief.

We default to frictionless.

Fewer steps. Less resistance. Instant gratification.

But sometimes friction IS the value.

Sometimes your job isn't just getting people to say yes. It's helping them mean it.

Makes me wonder where else we're over-optimising for ease when we should be designing for follow-through.

---

I share #brand and #growth insights daily, follow for more.

Apple just locked in a billion-dollar deal with Google.

This time, it's Gemini powering Siri.

Google pays Apple $20B annually to be the default search engine on iOS. Apple now pays Google $1B to power Siri's intelligence layer.

Some see this as smart strategy. Outsource the intelligence layer, keep control of privacy and UX, maintain optionability.

But Apple’s admitting they can't build competitive AI.

They tested their own models against alternatives.
They delayed Siri's AI upgrade multiple times.
They used ChatGPT when Siri needed to.

Now they’re choosing Gemini to run the whole thing.

It’s a pretty major dependancy for a company built on vertical integration.

Apple used to own the entire stack. Now they're renting the most critical layer from their biggest competitor.

When Google controls both the search layer and the intelligence layer on Apple's devices, the balance of power shifts fundamentally.

Apple's privacy infrastructure is real. But this deal shows they know users won't accept worse AI for better privacy.

Is this pragmatic decision-making, or is Apple falling behind on the technology that will define the next decade?

---

I share #brand and #growth insights daily, follow for more.

What happened in growth and marketing this week?

Here’s your Friday recap:

🔍 B2B buyers are doing their research on Reddit, not brand websites.

New data from HubSpot and Reddit shows most decisions happen before sales contact, and those conversations are now feeding AI search results.

🎮 Luxury brands are returning to gaming as a real channel.

Not experiments, not metaverse hype. Gaming is being used to reach Gen Z where time and attention already exist.

⚠️ Google’s AI Overviews are reshaping brand reputation.

Forum posts and old threads are being summarised as answers, pushing brands to actively monitor and respond where AI pulls its sources.

🎬 Apple launched Creator Studio to compete directly with Adobe.

A lower-priced bundle that gives creators access to pro tools across Mac and iPad, while still offering one-time purchase options.

😂 tl;dv built a $4.5M SaaS business through TikTok comedy.

Three creators, consistent skits, minimal product mentions and more than half of their leads came from social.

👉 Swipe through for the full breakdown.

Want the links to any of the articles?
Comment or DM and I’ll send them through.

This week in growth & marketing #10

First growth & marketing recap of the year
and honestly, it already feels like a big one

Here’s what’s worth knowing this week:

🧠 Kantar’s 2026 trends are clear

AI isn’t just about efficiency anymore. It’s shaping how brands get chosen, recommended, and trusted by people and by machines.

💬 HubSpot says Reddit is becoming impossible to ignore for B2B

As AI search drives fewer clicks, brands need to show up where buyers actually research and where AI models pull their answers from.

📉 2025 quietly killed a lot of old ad industry assumptions

From traditional search and news traffic to realistic social feeds and tidy creative briefs, the old defaults aren’t holding up.

🧴 Unilever’s Vaseline moment shows how “social listening” should work

Watch what people are already doing, validate it, and amplify it without killing the vibe.

📈 And one big theme ties it all together

Growth in 2026 won’t come from more output. It’ll come from relevance, owned distribution, and genuinely human connection.

👉 Swipe to catch up in under a minute.

Want the link to any story?
Drop a comment or DM me.

This week in growth & marketing #8

People | Tech | Community

FNDN
• Building startup compensation practices that clear, fair and competitive.

FNDN Series
• Insights and interviews showcasing startup people and compensation excellence.

Startup People Summit
• The 1-day virtual summit delivering the playbook on modern practices for building and scaling your startup people practice.

How to Become a HR Consultant
• Sharing every detail of taking a business from zero to $500k in revenue per year.

Matt McFarlane

In 2023 I left my job. In 2024 I started a HR consultancy. In 2025 I earned more money than I've ever made in my life.
 
If you're questioning whether the traditional career path is right for you, you're increasingly not alone.
 
Ever since starting my business, I have had People professionals reach out asking me how they can do the same.
 
I wrote a piece at the end of 2024 that is still my most read thing ever.
- Ten's of thousands of reads
- Dozens of emails and messages
- Who knows how many calls.
 
So I decided to take this as a sign that more people are either doing this, or interested — but they want to know how.
 
I don't have the playbook btw.
But I know what I did to get where I am today.
 
I know what worked for me, and I'm about to start sharing that in deeply transparent detail — down to every dollar I spend and earn. Where, when, and why.
 
My latest newsletter is here, and it's called 'How to Become a HR Consultant'.
 
The first edition to follow-up that original piece is coming out Sunday.
 
Get it hot off the press here: https://lnkd.in/gCrNXM-n

Building startup compensation practices 👉 Compensation Philosophy + Job levels + Salary bands.

Here's every salary I ever earned, and the 2 things it taught me companies get wrong with how they pay.
 
Job 1: HR Assistant — $50,000
Job 2: HR Coordinator — $57,000
Job 3: HR Coordinator — $60,000
Job 4: HR Business Partner — $68,000
Job 5: People & Culture Advisor — $66,000
Job 6: Senior People Operations Advisor — $95,000
Job 7: People & Culture Manager — $88,000
Job 8: People & Culture Director — $165,000
Job 9: Head of People — $150,000
Job 10: Senior Director of People Operations — $170,000
Job 11: Director of People Operations — $200,000
Job 12: Senior Director of People Experience — $230,000
 
When I reflect on these roles and the salary I earned, I think of two things.
 
1. Money definitely isn't everything (I took pay cuts for jobs).
 
2. I wouldn't have achieved the heights in salary I did, if I didn't change employer — frequently.
 
Time and time again, I see companies get this wrong by doing the following things:
They don't realise that salary gets people in the door, but growth keeps them there.

Their pay practices for current people doesn't keep pace with the pay practices for new people.
 
I took lower paying jobs because I felt like I'd stagnated. 

'One step back, two steps forward' was my thinking.
 
I also took jobs because I got fed up with 1-2% pay increase year-on-year, when the market (and my value) were moving faster.
 
The two work in tandem.
 
Money isn't everything, but that doesn't mean you can take your eye off it.
 
What role does salary play for you in your career?

Here's the roadmap every Head of People needs to grow their compensation practices and scale their startup (incl. some free resources).
 
Compensation is easily one of the most critical enablers of your business, which means it's a critical focus for you as Head of People.
 
Here is the maturity model you can follow for growing your compensation practices and scaling your company.
 
<50 people:
 
You're likely not in need of a lot of structure, but you do need to know the salary you have to offer to get people in the door.
 
– Here's 20+ free compensation benchmarks to start pricing those roles: https://lnkd.in/gnHDSVt3
 
50-100 people:
 
You're starting to mature and you need to define how you want to pay as an organisation.

You need a compensation philosophy to define your market position.
 
– Here's 20+ compensation philosophies you can use as inspiration for yours: https://lnkd.in/gSSHpyqV
 
– Need help actually building it? Here's the only playbook you'll need: https://lnkd.in/gNNch7m4
 
You need a job level framework to help you define and plan your org.
 
– Read how to develop one here: https://lnkd.in/gZZkPDVU
 
🪴 100-250 people:
 
Time to get serious about how you benchmark, and use something more robust to find the right salary.
 
– Here's every benchmark provider you need to know about: https://lnkd.in/gWNcYWN6
 
– But there's a lot, so if you need help actually choosing one, here's the playbook for that: https://lnkd.in/gQuMuMc4
 
🌲 250+ people:
 
You're getting to the meaty part of compensation management, with a significant cohort and higher expectations.
 
Time to consider getting out of spreadsheets and leveraging software that can help you administer compensation fairly and accurately.
 
Consider the following tools:
• Some of the vendors in the previous step handle compensation management, like Ravio or Pave
• HRIS like HiBob have a great integrated compensation module
 
Or, use a point solution like:
– CandorIQ, or
– Stello Inc.
 
Which stage are you at and what has been most important for you?

My brain on

31st Dec: health and wellbeing should be a priority next year
1st Jan: why aren't you a millionaire yet? time to hustle b*tch

It's the start of the year. If you're like most of us, you're starting to think about what you get paid and how to have that conversation with your manager.
 
Just in time for 2026, I jumped on the This is Work podcast with Shelley Johnson to chat about everything to do with:
- Your pay,
- Your benefits, and
- How to actually have a conversation about your value (oof)

We tackle a heap of other topics too, including job hugging (what even is it?), why it's dangerous for employee and companies alike, and crucially, what everyone can do about it.
 
We also talk about why pay conversations are such a drag and how to make them that much more manageable.
 
If you're questioning your worth, or your employees are questioning theirs AND you want to know how to deal with it, this will be worth a listen.
 
And you're in luck, This is Work is on YouTube and Spotify, so if you tire of seeing my face (understandable) you can switch to my dulcet tone's, instead.
 
Spotify: 
https://lnkd.in/giZY9pAB 

YouTube: 
https://lnkd.in/gPwtG5fh

Skills based compensation is becoming more popular, but there’s one skill I’m yet to see, and its paid more than AI engineers.

Put your hand up if you know how to fold a fitted sheet? 

That’s right. You don’t. 

And if you think you do. You don’t. 

But the people with this skill set are arguably worth top 1% compensation. 

Check this out. 

I’d pay $100 for someone to fold my fitted sheet. 

That takes them max a minute (probably 10 seconds realistically) 

$100 a minute 
x 60 minutes an hour
x 38 hours per week
x 52 weeks a year 

= $12.48 million per year. 

So stop trying to climb the corporate ladder like a schmuck. 

Learn how to fold a fitted sheet.

If you're a People person and in Melbourne (or going to be) on the 12th of February, I'd love to meet you IRL.
 
I'll be speaking at HiBob's launch of In Good Company — a community for those in the People profession, spanning all geographies and industries.
 
You'll also be treated to a fireside chat with Elise Morris and Jodi Rosenthal, discussing the key trends shaping the People profession (and how to adapt).
 
So if you're in Melbourne on the 12th, register here: https://lnkd.in/gmVsXhh3
 
If you're not in Melbourne but interested in the community, check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gbUWzCZu
 
Hope to see you there!

Me coming into that meeting on Friday afternoon

There's 7 steps you can use to improve your problem solving by 430% and productivity by 500%. Oh, and it has absolutely nothing to do with AI.

You've heard of it before, but I doubt you often *actually* get there.

It's called being in flow state.

And in the upcoming edition of the FNDN Series, legendary flow state practitioner Dave Murphy is breaking down exactly how you can get there.

Dave has helped companies like Blackbird, Boston Consulting Group and TikTok leverage flow state for their success.

And I can attest to this myself. 

Creating an environment that enables flow state is exactly how I've built a solopreneur business that earns me double what my last salary was.

I credit a lot of that to the things Dave is going to cover in this edition.

Head over to FNDN Series to subscribe, and it'll be in inbox for you to read over your Sunday morning coffee.

One of the things I’ve inadvertently started this year is resetting my YouTube feed to only insightful or helpful videos. 

A couple of weeks ago I switched from my personal account to my work account, and suddenly my whole feed was almost entirely videos about things like:
- improving productivity, or 
- using AI better, or
- being healthier. 

All stuff I want to be focus on improving. 

So now I’ve set myself a goal. How long can I stay on this account only. 

Can I fill my time by learning something instead of doomscrolling or mindless entertainment?

Can I watch deeper videos instead of shorts (this one will be the hardest). 

Don’t get me wrong, I know this probably sounds business wanky, and fuelled by a mix of start of the year energy and hubris, but I’m keen to see if I can keep it rolling. 

How long do you think I’ll last?

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The Battle

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