Helping Web3 Micro-Influencers and Small Creative Agencies Gain Massive Audiences, with Ryan Davis @ People First (Audio)

Ryan Davis is a digital pioneer and award-winning strategist at the intersection of politics, technology, and culture. Born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 1982, he’s been online since the dial-up era—launching a teen e-zine, organizing gaming nights, and volunteering for John McCain—all before finishing high school.

He moved to NYC in 2000 to study theatre and political communications, working in both off-Broadway theatre and grassroots politics. In 2003, he joined Howard Dean’s groundbreaking digital team, producing for Blog for America and organizing in 36 states.

Since then, Ryan has led digital strategy for campaigns (Mark Green, Norman Siegel), advocacy groups, and startups. At Blue State Digital, he helped shape strategy for Obama 2012, Microsoft, and the marriage equality movement, co-founding the award-winning campaign The Four 2012.

He co-founded Bushwick Digital in 2014, partnering with Alicia Keys on criminal justice reform, and in 2019, launched People First, the first influencer marketing firm in Democratic politics. The agency has since won top Reed and Pollie Awards and led major campaigns in the 2020 election and COVID vaccine rollout.

Outside of work, Ryan co-hosts Out of Office: A Travel Podcast and the Influencer Impact podcast. He publishes The Month in Digital newsletter and splits his time between Latin America and Europe. He serves as Board Chair of MJV and advises ag-tech startup Calyx, bringing his strategic mind and love of storytelling to every project.