Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter, your weekly dose of insights and strategies to help you build, monetize, and scale as a creator.

Big news: We just turned 4! What started as 15 people at a bar is now the largest creator community in the country. Thank you for making CENYC what it is. Our first event of the year is coming up to celebrate - RSVP below.

Today: I just got back from Dubai. Spoke at the largest international creator conference, met creators from 50+ countries, and came back with a perspective shift we can learn from…

Let's dive in.

— Brett

The Future of Shopping? AI + Actual Humans.

AI has changed how consumers shop, but people still drive decisions. Levanta’s research shows affiliate and creator content continues to influence conversions, plus it now shapes the product recommendations AI delivers. Affiliate marketing isn’t being replaced by AI, it’s being amplified.

Download the full report

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What the global creator economy taught me about what we're building here in NYC

I was just in Dubai for the largest creator conference in the world, sharing stages with creators like Mr. Beast, Simon Squib… and even Will Smith! And it all gave me a completely new perspective on what we're building here.

Here's what I mean:

We're not early anymore. We're maturing.

The panels I showed up to, the conversations I kept having - they rarely discussed just content creation.

Instead it was about business infrastructure and thinking. Sustainable monetization. Audience ownership. Systems that scale.

This felt intentional. A sign that the industry is growing up - when the focus shifts from "how do I go viral?" to "how do I build something that lasts?"

The US creator economy feels sophisticated. We have the platforms, the infrastructure, the venture capital. Building in NYC specifically, it's easy to think we've seen it all.

But internationally - especially in EMEA - there's a scale of new investment, government coordination, and long-term thinking that made me realize: we're not just seeing where the industry is. We're getting a glimpse of where it's headed.

The tactical stuff that matters

The creators crushing it internationally aren't doing anything revolutionary. But they're doing a few things really well that I think we're sleeping on in the US:

They treat social platforms as top of funnel, not the destination

Met so many creators using ManyChat and similar tools to intentionally convert their social audience into owned channels - email, SMS, community platforms. They post on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok to get reach, then funnel people into systems they control.

Social is for discovery. Everything else is for conversion.

The membership and knowledge product game is massive

I expected to meet a lot of brand deal creators. Instead, I met tour after tour, course after course, membership after membership. Creators who've climbed what we wrote about last week - Commerce Mountain - all the way to owned revenue. And they're doing it at scale.

One creator built his entire following educating people about airports and aviation. Niche as hell. Thriving globally.

LinkedIn is the platform everyone's betting on

This came up constantly. Not as an afterthought - as THE platform.

Here's why: B2B monetization is booming, and LinkedIn is where those conversations happen. There's more demand for quality content than there is supply - that's rare arbitrage in 2026.

And unlike Instagram or TikTok where you're fighting the algorithm to reach your own followers, LinkedIn still actually shows your content to people who follow you.

Even creators you wouldn't expect - lifestyle, entertainment, education - are realizing their next audience lives on LinkedIn. Different vibe, different content style, but massive opportunity.

If you've been ignoring LinkedIn, that's probably a mistake.

IRL is exploding everywhere

Creator meetups, workshops, conferences - they're popping up in cities across EMEA, Asia, Latin America, and obviously here in NYC. This was very cool to see!

As the industry is more about building sustainable businesses, you need community, accountability, and strategic conversations that happen IRL.

This is exactly why Creator Economy NYC exists. This is our mission. You don't have coworkers when you're building as a creator. You probably don't have a team yet. You're in a silo wondering if you're doing it right.

Showing up in real life - connecting with other creators at every stage - is how you break out of that isolation and actually build something that lasts.

What this means for you

So many creators accidentally stumbled into this. They didn't set out to build businesses. They started sharing their passion, their knowledge, their perspective - and monetization became a byproduct.

But now they're at this inflection point where they need to think like actual business owners. Long-term strategy. Systems. Infrastructure. Scary words!

And there's massive investment flowing in to support that transition because the world is waking up to what this industry actually is: small business entrepreneurship at scale.

If you've been building - keep going.

If you've been waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect strategy, the perfect anything - stop.

Creators are thriving everywhere, in every niche, in every industry, at every stage - often with less resources than we have here!

The infrastructure exists for us. The demand is there. The opportunity is global.

The only thing missing is you actually doing it.

F*ck It, Create It.

I want to hear from you: What assumption did this reflection challenge for you? Or what are you still skeptical about? Hit reply - I want to know what you're thinking.

2026 Creator Economy NYC Kickoff

​We're bringing creators, marketers and founders together to start the year in the same room - setting intentions, meeting new people, and getting re-energized for what's ahead.

​This isn't our typical event. We're doing three mini-talks designed to help you actually make moves in 2026, featuring:

​→ Brett Dashevsky (Me!) on laying out your "f*ck it, create it" goal for 2026 - what you want to bring to life, and committing to doing it

​→ AJ Eckstein (Founder of Creator Match) on documenting over creating - how to ease the creation process as you move through the year

​→ Gabrielle Judge (CEO Ms Anti Work) on turning content creation into a thriving, sustainable business - unlearning hustle culture, automating with AI, and building careers that fit your life

​Between talks: great drinks, good music, an interactive goal-setting activity (nothing intense, nothing corporate), and plenty of time to connect with people doing interesting things.

If you’re a creator who wants to level up in the new year, start here

F*ck It, Create It is the resource I wish existed before I started Creator Economy NYC.

It’s not about growth hacks, content calendars, or chasing algorithms.
It’s about removing the mental friction that keeps creators frozen:
overthinking, perfectionism, and the constant “I’ll start when I’m ready.”

This is short, actionable, and built specifically for creators who’ve been sitting on an idea for way too long.

Normally $97 — 20% off right now with code 2026.

Two free tools top creators use to keep themselves moving

The Creator Goal Setting Guide (FREE): A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2026.

The Creator Accountability System (FREE): Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2026.

Thanks for reading! Year 4 is going to be our best one yet. Grateful you're part of this community.

See you next week,

Brett