Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Growth Activated | The B2B Marketing Leadership Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-Powered Rebrand in 6 Weeks: How CMO Dana Gagnon Relaunched Her Brand & Website with a Tiny Team | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:51:20 | |
#33 - What if you could pull off a full rebrand and ship a new website in six weeks—without a big agency, giant budget, or in-house dev team? In this episode of Growth Activated, CMO Dana Gagnon (Every, ex-Pluralsight) breaks down how she used AI to lead one of the fastest, most modern B2B brand relaunches I’ve seen. She shares the exact playbook she used to reposition the company, refresh the visual identity, and write 13 core pages of web copy in an afternoon—while still protecting quality and brand voice. We cover:
If you’re a B2B marketing leader or CMO trying to do more with a small team—and you want to see what’s really possible with AI-powered workflows—this episode will completely reset your expectations for how fast you can move. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| A Little Life Update Before the Next Big Chapter | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:01:31 | |
#32 - It’s been a full season - from wedding planning and family celebrations to prepping new episodes for the podcast. In this short update, Mandy shares what’s been happening behind the scenes, why the feed’s been quieter, and what listeners can look forward to when Growth Activated returns in mid-November. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Content Strategy 2.0: How Top B2B Brands Win on LinkedIn, YouTube & Podcasts | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:49:20 | |
#23 - What does it take to build a content strategy that actually drives brand, trust, and pipeline in today’s B2B landscape? In this episode of Growth Activated, I’m joined by Erik Jacobson—founder of Hatch.fm, host of the 95% Content podcast, and content partner to B2B leaders like Chris Walker and Dave Gerhardt. We break down what Content Strategy 2.0 really looks like—and how top B2B brands are using podcasts, LinkedIn, and YouTube to build lasting influence and stay top of mind with future buyers. Inside, we cover:
If you're a B2B marketing leader looking to scale content without burning out your team—or if you’re ready to build brand equity that lasts beyond the quarter—this episode is packed with tactical insights and mindset shifts you can use right now. 🎧 Listen in, then go activate growth. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Search Everywhere Optimization: How AI Is Changing the SEO Game | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:37:26 | |
#22: The rules of SEO are changing—and if you’re a B2B marketing leader still focused only on Google, it’s time to expand your playbook. In this episode of Growth Activated, I’m joined by Mark Goloboy, a fractional CMO and AI marketing strategist helping teams adapt to the new world of LLM Optimization—where tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity now shape how your brand shows up in search. We’ll explore what this shift means for modern B2B marketing teams, how AI is reshaping the way buyers research, and where marketing leaders should invest to stay competitive. Inside the episode: ✅ Why SEO as we know it is evolving—and what’s replacing it If you’re a B2B marketer navigating AI, marketing leadership, and visibility in an increasingly complex buyer journey, this episode will help you level up your strategy—and lead the conversation, not chase it. 🎧 Tune in to learn how to evolve your marketing approach in the age of AI. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| 2025 Marketing Salaries & Job Trends: What’s Hot, What’s Not | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:28:23 | |
#21: What does the 2025 marketing job market really look like—and how do you stay in demand as AI transforms the way B2B teams hire, operate, and grow? In this solo episode of Growth Activated, host Mandy Walker breaks down two must-read reports—the Taligence Q1 2025 Jobs Report and the Exit Five Salary Report—to uncover what’s happening beneath the surface of the B2B marketing world. We’ll cover:
If you’re a B2B marketing leader wondering how your comp stacks up, whether your role is future-proof, or where the biggest career opportunities are next—this episode delivers the clarity and confidence you’ve been craving. 🎧 Tune in now to discover what’s rising, what’s fading, and how to stay competitive in the shifting marketing landscape. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The CMO Scorecard: Benchmark Your Marketing Team, Close Gaps & Build a Revenue-Ready Org | 04 Jun 2025 | 00:41:42 | |
#20: Ever wonder how your B2B marketing team stacks up against others? In this episode of Growth Activated, we’re diving into the Sales and Marketing Maturity Matrix—a powerful assessment designed to help marketing leaders benchmark their teams across 9 essential pillars of go-to-market success. Whether you're leading a small but mighty team or scaling a complex org, this framework reveals exactly where you stand—and how to grow from there. I’m joined by Jim Irving, creator of the Matrix and a veteran sales and marketing executive, and Michael Phelan, founder of Go-to-Market Pros and advisor to B2B companies transforming how they drive revenue. If you're looking to evolve from reactive execution to proactive, revenue-aligned strategy—this episode is for you. We’ll cover: If you're a B2B marketing leader ready to build a more strategic, high-impact marketing function, this conversation will give you the clarity, credibility, and confidence to lead your team forward. 🎧 Tune in now to evaluate your current state—and start building the marketing leadership foundation your business needs to grow. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| To Show Up or Stay Silent? Lessons in Building Brave, Authentic B2B Brands with Katie Martell | 28 May 2025 | 00:41:22 | |
#19: In a time when brand silence speaks volumes, how should B2B marketers show up? In this powerful episode of Growth Activated, host Mandy Walker sits down with Katie Martell—LinkedIn Top Voice, keynote speaker, and unapologetic marketing truth-teller—for a timely conversation on brand authenticity, performative allyship, and what it really means to lead with integrity as a B2B marketing leader. Whether you're navigating Pride Month messaging, facing internal resistance around DEI, or wondering how to protect your role while pushing for purpose-driven marketing, this episode is a must-listen. We dive into: If you’re a marketing leader responsible for brand, messaging, or culture—or you simply want to lead your B2B marketing efforts with more intention, strategy, and impact—this episode will give you the clarity and courage to do it. 🎧 Listen now and discover how to align your brand, values, and leadership—this Pride Month and beyond. -- Links & Resources Mentioned: Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Thought Leadership-Driven Growth: Rethinking Sales and Marketing for the Next Generation with Kelli Schutrop | 13 May 2025 | 00:55:14 | |
#18: In today's B2B world, the traditional divide between sales and marketing is holding companies back—and "growth at all costs" tactics are losing their edge.
Whether you're building your first integrated sales + marketing strategy or leveling up a mature GTM engine, this conversation is packed with insights to help you rethink your growth strategy for the next generation. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The One Hire That Will Transform Your Go-to-Market Strategy (Yet Most Teams Hire Too Late) — with Shirin Shahin | 06 May 2025 | 00:35:57 | |
#17: Most B2B marketing leaders think they have product marketing covered—until growth stalls, GTM alignment breaks down, and messaging misses the mark. In this episode of Growth Activated, I sit down with product marketing expert Shirin Shahin to unpack why product marketing is often the critical blind spot in marketing organizations—and how strategic leaders are closing the gap to drive faster, smarter growth. We’ll cover:
If you're serious about building a stronger marketing foundation, accelerating your GTM strategy, and leading at the next level, this episode is a must-listen. 🎯 Learn how strategic product marketing can unlock faster growth, better alignment, and a stronger leadership brand. 🎧 Hit play now and start thinking (and winning) like a next-gen marketing leader. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Adapt or Get Left Behind: AI Workflow Hacks and Automation Wins for B2B Marketing Teams with Nicole Leffer | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:57:00 | |
#16: AI is moving faster than most marketing teams can keep up—and the gap between early adopters and laggards is only getting wider. In this episode of Growth Activated, I sit down with AI strategist Nicole Leffer to break down what B2B marketing leaders must know right now to stay competitive, scale smarter, and lead with confidence in the AI era. We’ll cover:
If you’re serious about becoming a strategic marketing leader—not just surviving AI disruption, but thriving through it—this episode will show you how. 🎯 Learn how to scale your impact, free up your time, and lead the next generation of B2B marketing. 🎧 Hit play now—and don’t get left behind. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Mastering Your Fractional Marketing Game: Lessons Learned from Top Fractional Leaders | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:32:06 | |
#15: Fractional leadership is rapidly reshaping the B2B marketing landscape, offering ambitious marketing leaders a powerful path to scale their impact, revenue, and influence—without burning out. But what separates a thriving Fractional CMO from those who struggle to gain traction? In this episode of Growth Activated, I’m revealing game-changing insights and hard-earned lessons from successful Fractional CMOs and other fractional marketing leaders who’ve mastered the art of building profitable, fulfilling careers on their own terms. We’ll dive deep into the three most effective fractional work models—Project-Based, Retainer, and Advisory—sharing the strategies and pitfalls you need to know to avoid burnout and maximize your revenue. From setting the right pricing structures to crafting contracts that protect your business and scaling your services for sustainable growth, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways. Whether you’re a marketing leader looking to make the leap to Fractional CMO status or simply curious about building a flexible, high-impact career, this episode will help you fast-track your success. If you’re ready to elevate your expertise, command higher rates, and create a thriving B2B marketing business on your own terms, grab a notebook and hit play! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| From $50M to $750M: CMO Lessons to Reach the C-Suite (Without Burning Out) | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:26:30 | |
#14: In this special episode of Growth Activated, I’m sharing a conversation I had on the Tech Success Stories podcast, where I dove into my journey from scaling a B2B services company from $50M to $750M to launching Growth Activated. This episode is packed with actionable insights for B2B marketing leaders ready to elevate their marketing strategy, achieve executive alignment, and prove marketing ROI. We cover: If you’re a B2B marketing leader who wants to drive real results, gain executive buy-in, and accelerate your career, this episode is for you. 🎧 Hit play and get ready to elevate your marketing game! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The Pipeline Black Box: Why Your GTM Factory Stalls (and How to Fix It) | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:47:35 | |
#31 – What’s really happening inside your GTM engine before opportunities are created? That hidden stretch - what today’s guest calls the pipeline black box - may be the single biggest blind spot in B2B growth. Four-time marketing leader Carolyn Dilks (ex–VP Marketing, now Co-Founder at Passetto and co-host of GTM Live) joins host Mandy Walker to unpack how revenue teams can finally see what’s working, what’s wasting resources, and how to engineer predictable pipeline. You’ll learn:
About our guest: If this episode sparked an idea, share it with a fellow B2B marketing leader. And as always - keep activating growth for yourself and your company. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Content Strategy That Drives ROI: Lessons from Zoe Hawkins | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:52:26 | |
#13: As marketing leaders, one of our biggest challenges is understanding how all marketing functions—content strategy, SEO, paid media, events and more—contribute to the bigger picture of B2B marketing success. Too often, we evaluate these functions in isolation, missing their interconnected impact on growth and marketing ROI. Today, we’re diving into content strategy with Zoe Hawkins, Director of Content Marketing and Integrated Campaigns at Sumo Logic. Zoe is a pro at uniting content, product marketing, demand generation, and branding to drive real results. We cover: Zoe shares proven strategies for boosting marketing ROI, building alignment, and scaling content efforts effectively. Packed with insights for B2B marketing leaders looking to unlock their team’s full potential. 🎧 Hit play and elevate your content strategy! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Win CFO Trust: The CMO Playbook for Budget, Buy-In & Board-Ready ROI (w/ Darko Socanski) | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:50:58 | |
#12: If you’ve ever been handed a lead goal without context—or struggled to make the case for brand, budget, or headcount—this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. In this Growth Activated C-Suite Series episode, I sit down with Darko Socanski, a veteran CFO who has helped early-stage companies raise hundreds of millions in capital and generate over $1.5B in enterprise value. He brings a clear, candid perspective on how marketing fits into the broader business strategy—and what it really takes to earn a seat at the executive table. We explore how B2B marketing leaders can better align with finance, communicate value beyond leads and MQLs, and step into the role of strategic business partner. This isn’t about becoming a financial expert—it’s about learning how to think like one. In this episode: If you're ready to build trust, influence decisions, and lead with confidence—this one’s for you. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| CTO Secrets for B2B CMOs: Product Marketing, Data Strategy, and Faster GTM with Milenko Beslic | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:53:02 | |
#11: What does a CTO really care about—and how can B2B marketing leaders build the kind of executive alignment that earns a lasting seat at the table? In this episode of Growth Activated, we continue our C-Suite Series with Milenko Beslic—a multi-time CTO, founder, and startup builder with 20+ years of experience leading product and engineering teams across high-growth companies. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Milenko at two different startups, and his business-first approach to technology is something every B2B marketing leader should understand. We dive into what CTOs really value, how they think about growth, and where B2B marketing leaders often miss opportunities for deeper collaboration. From product marketing and AI to shared data strategy, this episode is all about helping CMOs and aspiring CMOs build stronger, more strategic partnerships with their technical counterparts. In this episode, we explore: If you're a B2B marketing leader ready to elevate your strategic influence, strengthen executive alignment, and step into true CMO-level leadership—this conversation is a must-listen. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| CRO Mindset for Marketing Leaders: How CMOs Align on MQLs, Drive More Meetings, and Grow Revenue with Sloane Barbour | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:51:29 | |
#10: This episode is part of our C-Suite Series on Growth Activated, where we dive into the minds of the C-suite—helping B2B marketing leaders better understand, align with, and partner with executives to drive real business impact. Sales and marketing alignment has always been a challenge, but what if marketing leaders could see things through the eyes of a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)? Understanding the CRO mindset is the key to building a stronger CRO and CMO relationship, proving marketing’s value, and ensuring marketing is seen as a true growth driver—not just a cost center. In this episode, I sit down with Sloane Barbour, CEO & Co-founder of Engin, an AI-driven recruiting company. Before stepping into the CEO role, Sloane built his career in sales leadership, serving as VP of Sales and CRO, where he oversaw revenue strategy, GTM execution, and sales-marketing alignment. We unpack:
If you’re a B2B marketing leader looking to strengthen your partnership with sales, align your strategy with revenue leadership, and gain real influence at the executive table—this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Hit play now and start thinking like a CRO. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The RevOps ROI Blueprint for CMOs: Multi-Touch Attribution, the 95/5 Rule & What to Report - with Jeff Ignacio | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:47:44 | |
#9: Is your marketing team struggling to prove ROI? Are attribution models, budget battles, and RevOps alignment making it harder to show your impact? You’re not alone. Every CEO and CFO wants to see marketing ROI, yet few can define it—and even fewer know how to measure it effectively. That’s where RevOps comes in. In this episode of Growth Activated, I sit down with RevOps powerhouse Jeff Ignacio to unpack the real way to measure marketing’s impact—beyond just lead generation. With a background in Financial Planning & Analysis at Google and Intel and over a decade in RevOps and GTM strategy, Jeff shares his expert insights on marketing measurement, attribution, and AI’s role in the future of B2B marketing. We dive into:
If you’ve ever struggled to justify your budget, prove marketing’s value, or align with RevOps and finance—this episode is a must-listen. Hit play now and start making smarter, data-driven marketing decisions! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| C-Suite Series: The CEO’s Perspective on Growth, Profitability and Marketing – with Mark Feldman | 17 Feb 2025 | 00:48:49 | |
#8: Are you seen as a strategic business leader—or just the glorified head of lead gen? In this episode of Growth Activated, I sit down with Mark Feldman, CEO and Founder of RevenueBase, who made the leap from marketing executive to CEO. Mark shares key insights on aligning marketing with the C-suite and stepping up as a true business leader. We’ll cover: ✅ The mindset shift from B2B marketing leader to CEO If you’re ready to elevate your influence and gain executive credibility, this episode is a must-listen. 💡 What’s your biggest challenge in partnering with your CEO? DM me on LinkedIn or drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🎧 Hit play now and start thinking like a CEO! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| 10 Proven Strategies CMOs Use to Win C-Suite Buy-In (and Influence Company Strategy) | 11 Feb 2025 | 00:43:29 | |
#7: You’re running a high-impact B2B marketing function, delivering real business results—but when it comes to strategic discussions with the C-suite, you’re still on the sidelines. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many B2B marketing leaders, even at the VP and SVP level, struggle to be seen as business leaders within their organizations. In this episode of Growth Activated, I break down how to shift that perception and position yourself as a strategic marketing leader and growth partner—not just a marketer. We’ll cover: If you’re ready to elevate your influence, get a seat at the table, and lead with confidence, this episode is for you. 💡 What’s your biggest challenge in building your brand with the C-Suite? DM me on LinkedIn or drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🎧 Hit play now and start positioning yourself as the executive leader you’re meant to be! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| From Marketer to CEO: How Leslie Vickrey Built a Thriving Agency, a Strong Brand, and an Unstoppable Culture | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:53:37 | |
#6: How do you go from being an in-house marketer to the CEO of a thriving agency? And how do you build a personal brand that fuels business growth while fostering a culture that attracts top talent? In this episode of Growth Activated, I sit down with Leslie Vickrey—entrepreneur, author, and founder of ClearEdge—to unpack her journey from marketing leader to agency CEO. Leslie shares how she made the leap into entrepreneurship without a business plan, the power of networking in building a personal brand, and why company culture is the key to long-term success. We also dive into the build vs. buy dilemma—when businesses should invest in in-house marketing vs. leveraging an agency. Whether you’re a marketing leader thinking about your next career move, an entrepreneur looking to scale, or an executive focused on building a strong, high-performing team, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Tune in to learn: 🎧 Listen now and get inspired to take your marketing leadership to the next level! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The CMO Playbook: 5 Successful Exits, 1 Framework for Marketing Excellence with Scott Todaro | 20 Jan 2025 | 00:51:25 | |
#5: Are you ready to elevate your B2B marketing leadership? In this episode of Growth Activated, Mandy Walker welcomes Scott Todaro, a seasoned Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of The Next CMO, to share the framework that has driven his five successful exits. Scott dives into the core principles every CMO needs to succeed, from selecting the right companies and roles to aligning with executive teams for long-term marketing impact. He also shares actionable strategies for connecting B2B marketing goals to business objectives and building a 90-day roadmap for success in any organization. Whether you’re an aspiring Chief Marketing Officer or a seasoned marketing leader, this episode is packed with insights to help you master the art of B2B marketing, track ROI, and balance creativity with operational excellence. Grab your notebook and hit play to learn from one of the best in the industry! What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Tune in and activate growth in your career as a marketing leader! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| How to Find Your Ideal Marketing Role: A 4-Part Framework for Smarter Career Moves in 2025 | 14 Jan 2025 | 00:36:38 | |
#4: Feeling stuck in your B2B marketing career? Whether you’re debating between a fractional CMO role or a full-time marketing leadership position, this episode of Growth Activated is for you. Mandy Walker explores four key considerations for identifying your next big career move, including employment type, company stage, industry fit, and a company's marketing vision. Mandy shares personal stories from her own career journey—navigating layoffs, exploring fractional marketing jobs, and making industry transitions—to help you approach your next step with intention and confidence. If you’re ready to activate growth in your B2B marketing career, grab a notebook and hit play! What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Brand vs. Demand, Pipeline Pressure, and GTM Essentials: A Live Coaching Session with Bryna Dilman | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:50:46 | |
#30 - In this episode of Growth Activated, Mandy Walker sits down with Bryna Dilman—a seasoned Growth & Demand Gen leader—for our very first live coaching session on the show. We tackle four questions many B2B marketing leader are wrestling with right now - and break down practical, real-world strategies you can take straight back to your team. Inside, we cover:
If you’ve ever felt like your channels are noisy, your brand work keeps slipping to the bottom of the list, and you’re still under pressure to deliver pipeline, this candid conversation will hit home. 🎧 Tune in to hear what’s working, what’s changing, and how today’s best marketing leaders are evolving their playbooks to drive growth. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Breaking Down Silos: Building a Customer-Centric Growth Engine Through Sales and Marketing Alignment | 02 Jan 2025 | 00:31:45 | |
#3: Feel like your B2B marketing and sales teams are speaking different languages? Or worse, do you find yourself caught in the inefficiencies and frustrations of misalignment? You’re not alone. Many B2B organizations struggle to unify their go-to-market teams, leading to wasted resources, missed opportunities, and a disjointed customer experience. In this episode of Growth Activated, Mandy Walker breaks down the 5 pillars of building a customer-centric growth engine through sales and marketing alignment. You’ll learn why alignment matters, what true alignment looks like, and actionable steps to align your goals, customer journey, pipeline planning, and operations. Plus, I’ll share my own experiences with both successful and siloed teams, and practical tips for fostering collaboration and trust. Whether you’re a marketing leader, sales executive, or part of a GTM team looking to break down silos, this episode is packed with insights to help you achieve faster growth, higher retention, and a seamless customer journey. Ready to transform your sales and marketing alignment—and your results? Grab a notebook and hit play! Highlights: [00:02] - Introduction to sales and marketing alignment and why it matters Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| 6 Steps to Building a Winning Marketing Plan that Drives Results | 27 Dec 2024 | 00:31:43 | |
#2: Feel like your marketing plan is more of a wish list than a roadmap? Or worse, do you find yourself ditching your plan within weeks—or not having one at all? You’re not alone. Many B2B marketing leaders struggle to create strategic plans that align with business goals, secure executive buy-in, and drive measurable results. In this episode of Growth Activated, we dive into the 6 essential steps to building a winning marketing plan. You’ll learn how to conduct a comprehensive landscape review, set achievable marketing goals, strategize effectively, and build a flexible execution blueprint that balances focus with adaptability. Plus, I’ll share tips on getting leadership buy-in and ensuring operational readiness to bring your plan to life. Whether you’re a seasoned marketing leader or building your first strategic plan, this episode is packed with actionable insights to transform your planning process and deliver results that matter. Ready to take your marketing plan—and your leadership—to the next level? Grab a notebook and hit play! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The Future of Marketing Leadership: 4 Skills to Succeed in 2025 | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:33:08 | |
#1: We’ve all seen the headlines: CMOs have the shortest tenure in the C-suite, and B2B marketing leaders are under more pressure than ever to deliver ROI. Marketing leadership is at a crossroads—but what if mastering four critical skills could transform how you lead and help you earn the trust of your CEO? In this episode of Growth Activated, we explore the future of marketing leadership and uncover the 4 essential traits every B2B marketing leader needs to succeed in 2025. From aligning marketing with business goals to enhancing operational excellence and agility, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you navigate today’s complexities and thrive as a marketing leader. If you’re ready to elevate your career, deliver measurable results, and become a trusted partner to the C-suite, grab a notebook and hit play! Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Lessons from a 4× CMO: AI, Brand Voice, and Annual Planning in B2B Marketing (with Ruth Zive) | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:57:03 | |
#29 - AI is reshaping B2B marketing - but what does that actually look like inside a CMO’s org, plan, and P&L? Four-time CMO Ruth Zive (Voices; ex-Ada, LivePerson) joins host Mandy Walker to share practical plays marketing leaders can use right now across customer experience, brand, content, and go-to-market - without losing the human edge. You’ll learn:
About our guest: If this episode sparked an idea, share it with a fellow B2B marketing leader. And as always - keep activating growth for yourself and your company. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| 7 Mistakes Marketing Leaders Make When Proving ROI to the C-Suite (and How to Avoid Them) | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:15:07 | |
#28 - Few conversations are more high-stakes for a B2B marketing leader than proving ROI to the C-Suite. Nail it, and you win trust, credibility, and budget. Miss the mark, and you risk being seen as a cost center instead of a growth driver. In this episode of Growth Activated, host Mandy Walker shares seven mistakes marketing leaders make when proving marketing ROI to executives — and exactly how to avoid them. Drawing on her experience leading teams from $1M to $750M in revenue, Mandy reveals the pitfalls that derail even seasoned CMOs and VPs, and how to reframe your ROI conversations to strengthen executive alignment and support. You’ll learn how to:
Whether you’re a CMO, VP, or aspiring leader, this episode will help you master boardroom presentations and earn the credibility every marketing leader needs at the highest levels. If you’re heading into planning season and want to strengthen your executive presence while building a marketing strategy that gets buy-in from the C-Suite, check out Mandy’s Lead Like a CMO program at growthactivated.com. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Your First 90 Days as CMO: How to Align, Unite, and Win Fast | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:17:38 | |
#27 – The first 90 days in a new marketing leadership role can make or break your long-term success. You’re learning a new company, navigating personalities and politics, absorbing new systems—and all eyes are on you to make an impact fast. In this solo episode of Growth Activated, Mandy Walker is sharing the 3 priorities she focuses on in every new CMO role—priorities that help her align with the business, unite her team, and deliver quick wins without burning out. Inside, we cover:
Whether you’re stepping into your first CMO role, moving into a new company, or leading a team as a fractional or interim CMO, these principles will help you start strong, earn trust, and set yourself up for measurable impact. If you’re a B2B marketing leader who wants to hit the ground running in your next role—and lead with clarity and confidence—this episode is your playbook for the first 90 days. 🎧 Listen in, then go activate growth. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| LinkedIn Strategy That Works: 5 Steps B2B Marketing Leaders Can Use to Activate Sales | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:55:23 | |
#26 - In this episode of Growth Activated, Mandy Walker sits down with Morgan J. Ingram — LinkedIn strategist, content creator, and founder of AMP Creative — to talk all things LinkedIn marketing, social selling, and building a personal and brand presence that actually drives results. Morgan breaks down the five key components of a high-impact social selling strategy, the role of marketing leadership in enabling sales teams on LinkedIn, and how modern B2B marketing leaders can create alignment across sales, marketing, and customer success. Whether you're just starting to explore social media as a B2B channel or looking to elevate your entire go-to-market motion, this episode is packed with tactical advice and strategic insight. We cover: Perfect for marketing leaders, founders, and anyone driving go-to-market strategy in today’s noisy, AI-driven digital landscape. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| From Vision to Velocity: 9 Ways to Empower Your Team and Get Out of Their Way | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:17:12 | |
#25 - You can’t move fast if your team doesn’t know where they’re going - or if they’re stuck waiting on you to decide everything. In this episode of Growth Activated, marketing leader and Fractional CMO Mandy Walker shares one of her most revisited leadership lessons: the importance of “laying the tracks” so your team can run. Drawing on a powerful metaphor from a former CEO - and lessons from leading B2B marketing teams and planning her own wedding - Mandy explores how effective marketing leadership starts with clarity and ends with trust. You'll learn:
Whether you're leading a small startup team or a growing B2B marketing org, this episode will help you empower your people, create space to lead, and build a high-performing team that drives results - without needing you in every decision. If you're a B2B marketing leader ready to scale your impact, this one’s for you. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Empathy Without Avoidance: 4 Hard Calls Every CMO Must Make to Build High-Trust Teams | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:10:42 | |
#24 - Welcome to a special summer mini-series on Growth Activated, where we’re keeping things short, actionable, and full of value for marketing leaders looking to elevate their impact. In this kickoff episode, Mandy Walker shares one of the most memorable leadership lessons she’s ever received - something that changed the way she thinks about empathy, accountability, and what it really means to lead a high-performing team. If you’ve ever wrestled with whether to keep an underperformer, dealt with a toxic team member, or struggled to let go of someone who “used to be great,” this episode is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with a powerful reframing to help you lead with clarity and confidence. We cover:
Whether you're leading a marketing org or growing your career in B2B, this episode will challenge your thinking and help you become a stronger, more strategic leader. 🎧 Tune in for a quick hit of insight—and get back to enjoying your summer while still investing in your leadership growth. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| The CMO’s Role in an AI-Driven Market: Customers, Competition, and Change with Carol Meyers | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:34:28 | |
#36 - AI is transforming B2B marketing - but for today’s CMOs, the real challenge isn’t just adopting new tools. It’s leading marketing strategy, marketing planning, and go-to-market decisions in a rapidly changing market. In this episode of Growth Activated, Mandy Walker sits down with Carol Meyers—former Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Sales, now venture advisor and operating partner—to unpack what marketing leadership looks like in an AI-driven world. Drawing on decades of experience building and scaling venture-backed B2B companies, Carol shares how CMOs can elevate their role from tactical execution to strategic business leadership. This conversation is designed for B2B marketing leaders who want to move beyond AI experimentation and step fully into CMO-level ownership—shaping customer strategy, influencing executive decisions, and guiding their organizations through meaningful change. In this episode, you’ll learn:
If you’re a CMO, VP of Marketing, or senior B2B marketing leader responsible for marketing strategy, planning, and executive alignment, this episode will help you clarify what you own, how you lead, and how marketing drives long-term business growth in an AI-driven market. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| How B2B Marketing Leaders Decide What to Keep In-House, What to Outsource, and When to Go Fractional | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:29:03 | |
#35 - Struggling to decide whether to hire a marketing agency, add in-house headcount, or bring in fractional support? You’re not alone — and the answer is changing fast in 2025. In this special episode, Mandy switches seats and joins Kayla Bryant, General Manager at Two Trees PPC and host of The Marketing Chatroom, for a candid and practical conversation about how to resource your marketing team in an AI-driven world. You’ll hear Mandy’s perspective from 15+ years leading marketing inside large service orgs, startups, and agencies — plus her experience today as a fractional CMO supporting multiple companies. In this episode, you’ll learn:
Whether you lead a small marketing team, run an agency, or oversee GTM strategy, this episode will help you make smarter, more modern resourcing decisions in a landscape that’s shifting by the month. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Go-to-Market Science: How Sarah Renner Turns B2B Marketing into an Experimentation Engine | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:50:48 | |
#34 - What if your marketing org operated like a science lab—with clear hypotheses, clean data, and experiments that actually change how you invest your budget? In this episode of Growth Activated, I’m joined by Sarah Renner, VP of Marketing Strategy & Analytics at MarketBridge and one of the sharpest go-to-market “truth seekers” in B2B. Sarah has spent 20+ years at the intersection of strategy, analytics, and experimentation, helping companies move from opinion-driven decisions to evidence-based growth models that scale. Sarah breaks down what she calls Go-To-Market Science—a data-backed, hypothesis-driven, reproducible approach to marketing—and shows how any B2B team can start building an experimentation factory (even if your data is messy or your volumes are small). In this episode, you’ll learn:
If you’ve ever felt like your tests are random, your reports are too surface-level, or your budget decisions still rely on gut feel, this conversation will completely reframe how you think about measurement, experimentation, and GTM planning as a marketing leader. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Content Strategy That Builds Pipeline: Discovery, Virality, and Relationship Loops (with Brendan Hufford) | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:43:11 | |
#41 - Your team is producing more content than ever, but pipeline isn’t reflecting it. That gap between output and impact usually isn’t a volume problem — it’s a strategy problem. And it’s exactly what this conversation is built to solve. Brendan Hufford, founder of Growth Sprints, helps B2B SaaS companies scale from $10 million to $100 million — largely through content. He’s a former high school teacher turned SEO director turned founder, and he brings a refreshingly direct take on what it actually takes to make content drive revenue. In this conversation, Brendan breaks down his four-part growth framework and gets tactical about what’s working right now across search, social, and newsletters in B2B. What we cover:
About Brendan Hufford: Brendan is the founder of Growth Sprints, where he helps B2B SaaS companies scale from 10 to 100 million primarily through content. He previously served as SEO Director at a web design agency, helped scale a B2B SaaS marketing agency from 10 to 25 million, and worked in-house at ActiveCampaign. His background as a 10-year high school teacher gives him a unique perspective on communication, structure, and cutting through complexity. Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn. Timestamps:
If this episode gave you a framework to rethink your content strategy, share it with a fellow marketing leader who’s tired of checkbox marketing. And if you haven’t yet, follow Growth Activated wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| 4 Strategic Bets Every CMO Should Make in 2026 | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:33:20 | |
#40 - The landscape isn't just shifting — it's splitting. Buyers are choosing vendors before they ever talk to sales. AI is rewriting the rules faster than most of us can keep up. And budgets? Still flat. So instead of adding more to the list, I asked myself: if I could only make four strategic bets this year — four investments of my time, energy, and resources — what would they be? In this solo episode, I'm walking you through the 4 bets I'm making in 2026 as both a fractional CMO and the founder of Growth Activated. Each one is backed by data, grounded in what I'm seeing with clients, and designed to compound — where one investment feeds the next. What you'll walk away with:
Chapters:
If this episode resonated, I'd love to hear which bet landed most — send me a message on LinkedIn. 🎯 Join the CMO Operating System waitlist → growthactivated.com Related episodes mentioned:
Growth Activated is hosted by Mandy Walker — a fractional CMO with 15 years of marketing leadership experience helping B2B marketing leaders elevate their strategies, lead with confidence, and build careers they love. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| AI Agents and the Future of Marketing Teams - My Weekend Hackathon Wake-Up Call | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:39:03 | |
#39 - If you've been using AI every day but still feel like you're falling behind, you're not alone — and this episode is the honest conversation about what it actually takes to close that gap. I've been a daily ChatGPT user for over a year. I know what AI agents and agentic teams are. I keep up with what's happening on LinkedIn. And yet, when I saw someone demo an entire AI marketing team — brand voice agents, campaign strategists, content creators, all working together in coordinated workflows — I realized the way I was using AI wasn't keeping pace with where the industry is headed. So I treated my weekend in Snowdonia, Wales like a hackathon and went all in. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my real AI journey — what I built, what surprised me, and what I'm still figuring out. You'll hear about the three workflows I created using Claude Code and Visual Studio Code, including a guest research automation that replaced hours of manual work and a full post-production podcast workflow built on deep platform research. I also share the mistakes, the learning curve, and why I think this moment is more accessible than most of us realize. This one is personal. And if you've been telling yourself you'll go deeper with AI "eventually," I hope it's the nudge you need. What you'll learn:
Join the CMO Operating System waitlist → growthactivated.com Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Community-Led Growth in B2B: How CMOs Build a Trust Moat (and Drive Pipeline) - with Ridhi Singh | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:46:20 | |
#38 - Community-led growth is becoming one of the most powerful (and most underused) moats in B2B marketing—especially as AI-generated content floods the market and buyers rely more heavily on trust, peer validation, and real human connection to make decisions. In this episode of Growth Activated, host Mandy Walker sits down with Ridhi Singh, Founder of 91 Ninjas, to break down what community-led growth actually means (beyond the buzzword), why it’s surging right now, and how marketing leaders and CMOs can use community marketing and event marketing to build a durable GTM engine competitors can’t copy overnight. You’ll learn the difference between building an audience vs. building a true community, why a Slack group isn’t the strategy, and how to design community programs that create real value, drive engagement, and influence the full funnel—from discovery to advocacy. In this episode, we cover:
If you’re a B2B marketing leader looking to strengthen your go-to-market strategy, earn buyer trust faster, and build a scalable engine that performs in an AI-first world, this conversation will give you a clear framework and practical starting point. Listen now and keep activating growth for yourself and your company. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| Employee Advocacy That Drives 45% of Revenue: How to Build an Employee-Led Content Engine (with Gabe Lullo) | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:34:09 | |
#37 - Employee advocacy programs are hard. They’re hard to launch - because you’re asking busy people to show up publicly, consistently, and with confidence. And even if you get it going? In this episode of Growth Activated, I’m joined by Gabe Lullo, CEO of Alleyoop, to break down one of the most impressive employee-led marketing programs I’ve seen in B2B. Over the last 4 years, Gabe and his team have scaled their employee follower base from 20,000 to 1.2 million, built a consistent LinkedIn content engine across the company, and turned employee advocacy into a core growth strategy—driving 45% of revenue alongside outbound demand generation. If you’re a CMO or B2B marketing leader looking to strengthen your marketing strategy, build a scalable content creation engine, and create demand in a market where attention is harder than ever to earn, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways. What we cover:
🎧 Listen now to learn how to create an employee advocacy program that actually drives pipeline, builds brand trust, and becomes a repeatable growth lever for your B2B marketing team. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||
| How to Build a B2B Podcast That Drives Pipeline (with Tom Hunt) | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:37:30 | |
# 42 - Most B2B podcasts plateau or quietly fade out. The difference between shows that stall and shows that build pipeline often comes down to three strategic decisions made before you ever hit record. Tom Hunt, CEO of Fame and one of the most experienced B2B podcast strategists in the space, joins the show to break down what actually separates the top-performing B2B podcasts from everyone else. After six years of building and running shows for B2B companies, Tom has seen the patterns — and the mistakes — up close. In this conversation, we cover:
About Tom Hunt: Tom is the CEO of Fame, a leading B2B podcast agency that has spent six years helping companies turn their podcasts into pipeline and relationship engines. He previously built Famer.AI, an AI tool for podcast post-production, and hosts Confessions of a B2B Entrepreneur. Connect with Tom on LinkedIn. Timestamps:
If this episode helped you think differently about B2B podcasting as a growth channel, share it with a fellow marketing leader who’s considering the investment. And if you haven’t yet, follow Growth Activated wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Lead Like a CMO - Group Coaching Lab: Join the Waitlist Let’s Keep the Conversation Going! 🌐 Visit my website: growthactivated.com Don’t forget to subscribe to Growth Activated and share this episode with fellow marketing leaders. Let’s activate growth—together! | |||