What happens when a sustainable fashion brand stops asking for feedback and starts asking for decisions? In our debut episode, Alex sits down with Anya Sharma, the Founder and CEO of Aethelred Wovens, a direct-to-consumer brand built on natural dyes and radical transparency.

Anya shares her journey from the frustrating dead-end of Instagram polls and surveys—what she calls 'governance theater'—to launching her first real customer vote. We get into the nitty-gritty of designing that crucial first vote, the fear of losing control, and the shocking results: a 37% engagement rate, 2.4x sales lift on co-created products, and a 23-point jump in 12-month retention for participating customers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most brands are stuck in 'Level 2' of the Engagement Spectrum and how to break free.
• The Four Pillars of Co-Creation (Access, Agency, Accountability, Attribution) that separate real governance from suggestion boxes.
• How to translate engagement metrics into a business case your CFO will actually understand.
• The practical steps to launching your first customer vote without derailing your product roadmap.

If you’re tired of talking AT your customers and ready to start governing WITH them, this episode is your blueprint. Ready to build your own governance program? Discover the tools and frameworks at voiceofthenewera.com.