Dare to Disrupt Episode 19: Diving into Fintech with Denim Social CEO Doug Wilber

Doug Wilber is the CEO of Denim Social, a leading provider of social media management software that empowers marketers in regulated industries to manage organic social media content and paid social media advertising on one platform. A financial services veteran, Doug served in leadership roles with Assembly Payments, PYMNTS.com, Discover Financial Services and Market Platform Dynamics. He graduated from Penn State with both a bachelor’s degree in marketing and international business, and an MBA with a focus on product development and brand strategy. 

In this episode, Doug talks about his experiences on the varsity cross country and track & field teams at Penn State, traveling the country in the Boca Burger-mobile, being intrapreneurial developing new products within Discover Financial Services, all leading up to becoming CEO of Denim Social.

At the end of the episode, Penn State senior Mary Richardson joins the conversation. She is a current participant in Invent Penn State’s Summer Founders Program. She is the CEO and co-founder of Bindr, which is providing a mainstream dating experience dedicated to the bisexual community. Mary talks to Doug about finding the right timing to bring on investors, and how he defines success in a startup.

Episode Chapters

1:46 – 6:50 Balancing being a student athlete at Penn State

6:50 – 11:01 Oscar Meyer Wiener Mobile, Boca Burger promo tour

11:01 – 13:21 Product development at Discover

13:21 – 14:30 Working with disruptive startups from within a corporation

14:30 – 19:48 Creating structure and process at PYMNTS.com

19:48 – 22:11 Taking over and building up Denim Social

22:11 – 25:51 How Denim Social interacts between financial companies and end users on social

25:51 – 26:48 Where is Denim Social in five years?

26:48 – 40:02 Student section – Mary Richardson, Bindr

27:14 – 30:30 How to know when to bring in outside investors

30:30 – 34:50 Developing marketing materials

34:50 – 40:02 Defining success in a startup

About Doug Wilber

Doug Wilber is the CEO of Denim Social. He graduated from Penn State with both a bachelor’s degree in marketing and international business, and an MBA with a focus on product development and brand strategy.

Download the full episode transcript

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Dare to Disrupt is a podcast about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. Learn more.