Some placements happen quickly, while others start with a simple introduction that builds over time.
This week, a conversation that began through one of BAM’s media dinners led to coverage in The Wall Street Journal. These dinners bring founders and journalists together in a small, off-the-record setting where real conversations can happen. In this case, that connection turned into a quote in one of the most widely read business publications in the world.
Here is a closer look at the placement and how it came together:
What happened
PgEdge’s co-founder, Phillip Merrick, was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article written by reporter Isabelle Bousquette about the rise of forward-deployed engineers, a role becoming increasingly important as companies deploy complex AI tools for customers.
The story explores how the demand for these engineers has increased as businesses look for experts who can customize and implement AI systems directly with clients. According to the article, job postings for the role increased more than tenfold as AI adoption ramped up.
Why it matters
The coverage highlights a major shift happening across the tech industry: As AI tools become more powerful, companies need engineers who can work closely with customers to implement them in real-world environments. These roles often involve collaboration, problem-solving, and hands-on deployment of these ultra complex systems.
For PgEdge, being included in this conversation positions the company within a broader industry trend around enterprise AI and the evolving role of engineers who help bring these systems to life.
Behind the pitch
This placement actually started weeks earlier at one of BAM’s media dinners. PgEdge attended the dinner where Isabelle Bousquette from The Wall Street Journal was also present. While they did not have a full conversation during the event, they connected afterward via email.
That introduction led to several weeks of back and forth as Isabelle worked on the story. Ultimately, PgEdge’s co-founder was included as a source in the final article.
Moments like this are exactly why we host these dinners. They create a relaxed space for founders and reporters to meet, build familiarity, and continue the conversation later when the right story comes along.
With several upcoming dinners already scheduled, we are excited to keep bringing founders and journalists together in a way that leads to thoughtful conversations and meaningful coverage.
Strong media relationships rarely happen overnight. They build over time through real conversations and familiarity. Our media dinners are designed to create those connections so that when a reporter is working on a story, they already know exactly who to call.
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