In this episode of KNOWN by INPUT Global, we sit down with our co-founders Mary Pedler and Oleg Bevz to unpack what it takes to build, scale, and stay relevant as a broader communications agency.

In this conversation, Host Stella Friaisse digs into the real decisions behind growth: from starting out as a small PR agency to evolving into a global communications partner working across markets and industries.

Chapters:

00:52 — Introduction: what being KNOWN actually means

2:12 — The origin story of INPUT Global

6:35 — Scaling a global communications team while staying fully remote

9:45 — Are some companies simply impossible to market?

13:28 — Building through uncertainty and surviving a bear market

14:50 — What separates agencies that last from agencies that disappear

16:27 — PR without numbers: strategy or amateurism?

18:30 — The green and red flags when choosing a communications partner

20:45 — When should companies start taking communications seriously?

22:00 — KOLs in 2026: why you should stop treating them like KOLs

28:00 — Why talented founders stay invisible

32:15 — Fame vs infamy: being known for the right things

33:35 — Mary and Oleg define what it means to be KNOWN

34:40 — Rapid fire: how aligned are the INPUT Global co-founders?

KNOWN brings together founders, marketers, and communication strategists to uncover how the strongest tech brands build narratives that shape their markets.

Find us:

KNOWN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/known__podcast/

INPUT Global on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/input.global/

Mary Pedler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marypedler/

Mary is the Founder of INPUT Global, a communications leader and entrepreneur with 10+ years of experience in emerging tech, known for building global narratives, advising Web3 and fintech teams, and shaping industry conversations through media, events, and thought leadership.

Oleg Bevz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-bevz/

Oleg is the Co-Founder of INPUT Global, is a lifelong B2B marketing communications specialist with 11+ years of experience across tech, fintech, Web3, and iGaming. He is a seasoned CMO that built dozens of brands: from banks and exchanges to furniture and coffee.

Stella Friaisse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-friaisse/