The Aspiring CMO – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of The Aspiring CMO, Lev shares how he went from engineering student to affiliate marketer to raising $12 million in crypto… only to walk away and start all over again.

After that rapid success, Lev realized he could build something on his own terms. That spark led to Spines, a platform designed to give aspiring authors a real shot at publishing their work without the high costs or gatekeepers of traditional publishing.

We talk about his earliest days experimenting with digital marketing, the realities of scaling fast under pressure, and the difference between chasing growth and building with intention. Lev also opens up about the evolving role of a CMO, how to build trust in traditional industries, and why he believes human storytelling still matters, especially in an age of AI.

A must-listen for anyone navigating the chaos of building something real.

Let’s get into it.

Episode Topics:

00:00 – 00:40: Introduction
00:41 – 03:07: From Electrical Engineering to Digital Marketing
03:08 – 06:36: Starting in Affiliate and Building the First Business
06:37 – 08:00: Lev’s First Big Win and Building Under Pressure
08:01 – 08:42: Raising $12M in Crypto and the Turning Point
08:43 – 10:43: Walking Away From Success to Start Again
10:44 – 12:38: The Early Vision for Spines and Its Mission
12:39 – 15:50: Disrupting Traditional Publishing Through Tech
15:51 – 17:48: Building Brand Trust in a Crowded Market
17:49 – 19:55: The Role of a CMO in a Founder-Led Company
19:56 – 22:10: Why Storytelling Still Wins in a Data-Driven World
22:11 – 23:45: Why Founders Need to Let Go of Short-Term Pressure
23:46 – 25:20: When Speed Kills: Avoiding the Trap of Scaling Too Soon
25:21 – 27:14: Defining Long-Term Success as a Founder
27:15 – 28:35: What Positioning Really Means (and Why It’s Hard)
28:36 – 29:55: What Founders Miss About Making People Care
29:56 – 30:46: Advice for Early-Stage Marketers and Builders
30:47 – 31:25: Final Thoughts and Advice to His Younger Self

🔗 CONNECT WITH LEV
👥 LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lev-david-digital-marketing-specialist/
💻 Website: https://spines.com/

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!
https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

In this episode, Mahmoud shares how he went from nearly homeless in Italy to building a six-figure agency through digital marketing.

With no money and only six months to figure things out, he turned to SEO, built niche websites, and slowly generated enough income to survive. One of those websites eventually sold for $20,000, which became a turning point that gave him the confidence to scale further. He reinvested, kept building, and eventually launched Content Wish, an agency that started not from a big plan, but from client demand.

He opens up about the struggles of hiring and managing people, the power of spotting value where others don’t, and how automation helped him scale without burning out. Mahmoud also shares why your energy matters more than the perfect strategy, and how a little coaching could’ve saved him years of trial and error.

If you’re figuring out how to grow something real, whether you’re starting out or already in the game, Mahmoud’s story is one of those conversations that sticks with you.

Let’s get into it!

Episode Topics:

00:00 – 00:50: Introduction 
00:51 – 01:20: Origin story 
01:21 – 01:54: Turning to SEO and niche websites to survive 
01:55 – 02:08: Mahmoud’s first big win 
02:09 – 02:38: Reinvesting profits and scaling 
02:39 – 02:57: Launching ContentWish from unexpected demand 
02:58 – 03:09: Integrating AI into content services 
03:10 – 03:29: Biggest challenge 
03:30 – 03:49: Why ContentWish was never part of the plan 
03:50 – 04:10: Starting a content service without being a writer 
04:11 – 04:38: Scaling quality control with editors and consultants 
04:39 – 05:13: Recognizing opportunity by focusing on value 
05:14 – 05:48: Identify your opportunity 
05:49 – 06:39: The role of passion and energy in choosing your path 
06:40 – 07:12: Advice for aspiring CMOs 
07:13 – 07:47: How to approach automation 
07:48 – 08:24: Measure your results with clear KPIs 
08:25 – 08:53: Tools Mahmoud recommends for AI and workflow automation 
08:54 – 08:58: Closing and where to connect with Mahmoud

🔗 CONNECT WITH

👥  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-fathy-elsaid/

💻 https://www.facebook.com/mahmoud.fathy.elsaid

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions asnwered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Aspiring CMO.

Today, I had an amazing chat with Bibi, a creative force in the SEO industry. She shared her journey from social media marketing to link building and offered some incredible insights.

Bibi’s unique approach to link building has set her apart. You can learn why linkable assets matter and discover how she uses AI to boost her marketing strategies.

We also explored the lessons learned from past experiences in PR and marketing failures, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the value proposition in outreach campaigns.

If you’re looking for inspiration and practical tips on SEO, creativity, and personal growth, this episode is for you. So, let’s tune in now.

✨ Episode Topics:

00:00: The Creative Journey of Link Building
05:03: Innovative Outreach Strategies 
09:49: Crafting Compelling Emails 
14:56: The Role of AI in Link Building 
20:11: Building a Creative Team Culture 
25:09: Lessons from the Past

🔗 CONNECT WITH BIBI:

👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bibiraven/

💻 Website: https://bibibuzz.com/

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

Hey, Aspiring CMOs! I’m really excited about today’s episode because we’ve got James Dooley with us. 

James is a serial entrepreneur and one of the most sought-after fractional CMOs out there. If you’re curious about what it takes to thrive in both marketing and the larger business world, you’re in for a treat.

James has earned his stripes as the top-paid digital landlord, and today, he’s going to walk us through how he built a successful SEO company that finds leads without taking on extra risk. 

His methods are straightforward and effective—things you can start putting into practice right after this episode.

And that’s just the beginning. James will also drop his top piece of advice for winning in both marketing and business. This is the kind of advice that can truly change the way you think about your career.

So, whether you’re aiming for that CMO role or dreaming of something even bigger, stick around. 

This episode is packed with ideas that could be just what you need to fuel your next big move. Let’s dive in!

✨ Episode Topics:

00:00 - 03:22: Lead Generation and Transitioning to Rank and Rent
03:22 - 08:39: The Importance of Networking and Finding Mentors
08:39 - 14:36: Hiring and Structuring Marketing Teams
14:36 - 19:12: Managing Financial Risks in Marketing
19:12 - 29:39: Taking Calculated Risks in Marketing
29:39 - 32:25: Tracking and Analyzing Data for Informed Decisions
32:25 - 36:44: Advice for Younger Self: Go Faster and Go Harder

🔗 CONNECT WITH JAMES DOOLEY:
👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameszdooley/
💻 Website: https://jamesdooley.com/
🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JamesDooley

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to sit down with Sarah Presch, the Chief Marketing Officer at Dragon Metrics. Sarah has some really valuable insights to share that I know will resonate with you all.

We will explore why it’s important to think beyond just the numbers and how add a bit of psychology into our marketing campaigns that can make a big difference. 

Sarah will also break down the pros and cons of working in a big corporate role, running your own agency, or being part of a smaller team—something I know many of you are curious about. And for those of you looking to broaden your reach, she’s got some great tips on international SEO.

So, if you’re ready to take your marketing skills to the next level and get some real-world advice from someone who’s been there, stay tuned. This episode is going to be packed with ideas you can start using right away!

✨ Episode Topics:

00:00: The Role of Consumer Psychology in Marketing
07:29: Understanding Identities and Group Affiliations in Marketing
13:50: Psychographics: A More Effective Targeting Approach
19:31: Measuring Conversions and Tracking Results in Marketing
23:41: Finding Your Own Path in Marketing

🔗 CONNECT WITH SARAH:

👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-pokorna/
💻 Website: https://www.sarahpresch.com/

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!
https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

In today’s episode, I’m going to talk to Kieran Browning, an efficiency coach who helps companies speed up and get rid of bottlenecks.

If you feel like your team could be doing more, but something’s just not clicking, this episode is definitely for you.

Kieran’s got some eye-opening thoughts on why so many marketing companies struggle to focus on a niche, and how that’s holding them back.

He’ll also walk us through three stages of operation that, honestly, most of us haven’t figured out yet.

And if you’re relying on tools like ClickUp, or Airtable to boost your team’s efficiency, Kieran’s take might surprise you—he says they might just be giving us the illusion of getting things done.

So if you’re looking to streamline your operations and really understand what’s holding your marketing team back, stick around.

This episode could be just what you need to hear.

✨ Episode Topics:

00:00: Introduction and Background

03:07: The Challenges of Chaos in Business

08:52: The Role of Tools in Operational Management

10:50: Effective Task Management and Communication

17:51: Productizing Services for Efficiency and Scalability

24:57: Incremental Approach to Targeting Specific Industries

28:13: Identifying and Addressing Incompetence in the Workplace

36:04: Advice for Younger Self and Conclusion

🔗 CONNECT WITH KIERAN BROWNING:

👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranbrowning/

💻 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kieranbrowning1/

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

“Try not to fake anything. Just be yourself”.

In today episode, I sit down and talk with Steven Khanna from White Press. We dove deep into Stephen's experiences, uncovering valuable insights about the importance of authenticity in sales.

We also explored the concept of transferable skills and how Stephen leveraged his experience in the restaurant industry to excel in the link-building industry.

If you're looking for inspiration and practical tips for navigating the world of sales and personal branding, this episode is for you!

We talk about:

• The important of clear communication.
• Personal Brand is your sales superpower.
• Sales strategies and managing expectations.

And MORE things inside our talk.

One of my favorite takeaways from this episode is Stephen's advice for aspiring sales managers: be likable, know your numbers, be proactive, and never stop testing. It's a simple yet powerful formula for success.

So now let’s grab a cup of tea and listen to our story.

Timeline:

00:00: Introduction and Background

03:10: Building Genuine Relationships and Being Yourself

06:58: The Importance of Clear Communication

10:29: Sales Strategies and Managing Expectations

14:36: Continuous Testing and Learning from Mistakes

19:29: Taking Risks and Pursuing Passions

23:25: Handling Adversity and Standing Out

26:05: Advice for Younger Self

🔗 CONNECT WITH STEVEN KHANNA:

👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.khanna22

💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-khanna-b40a7759/

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

In this episode, I had Chris M Walker, founder of Legiit, on the show. and he dropped some serious knowledge bombs.

He emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand and staying resilient as an entrepreneur.

Chris shared how Legiit uses a killer checklist for freelancers and a focus on building a strong community to attract the best people. He gave us some insights on how to navigate this, including the importance of providing genuine value and playing the long game. ️

Plus, we talked about some overused marketing terms that are basically meaningless these days (looking at you, "adding value").

So, there you have it! This episode was jam-packed with actionable advice for anyone building a business, especially if you're rocking the freelance life.

Let’s hit the play, take what you learn and put it into action!

✨ Episode Topics:

00:00: Introduction

00:47: Building a Strong Community of Freelancers and Connecting Them with Business Owners

01:15: The Importance of Personal Branding and Resilience as an Entrepreneur

09:09: Attracting Quality Freelancers and Businesses to a Platform

21:39: Building a Community and Personal Brand in Marketing

23:04: The Importance of a Long-Term Approach

24:23: Providing Genuine Value to Customers

28:00: Challenges in Attracting Business Owners

29:44: Marketing an Intangible Product

30:37: The Impact of Conference Speaking and Personal Branding

37:39: Dislike for Certain Marketing Terms

39:19: Treating People as Individuals in Marketing

🔗 CONNECT WITH CHRIS M WALKER:

👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmwlegiit

💻 Website: https://legiit.com/
🎧 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisMWalker

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

In this episode, I dive deep with Umar Faizan, founder of Growth Winner. We will talk about how personal branding fuels agency growth, leverage AI for efficient link building, and navigate its challenges.

Plus, uncover Umar's top hiring tips and the advice he'd give his younger marketing self (spoiler alert: invest in expertise and funnels!).

So, tune in this episode for actionable advice to help your digital marketing agency thrive!

Special offer for The Aspiring CMOs:

use "ASPIRINGCMO" coupon at the checkout before purchasing any of our link building packages and they'll get a 10% lifetime discount!!!

Website: https://growthwinner.com/

How awesome is this? Grab them now and lets go!

✨ Episode Topics:

00:00: Introduction 
03:05: The Role of AI in Link Building 
08:13: Challenges and Opportunities with AI 
25:24: The Importance of Quality Content 
29:09: Investing in Expertise and Learning About Funnels

🔗 CONNECT WITH UMAR FAIZAN

👥 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umarfaizan/

💻 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Umar_Faizan_SEO/featured

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured

Are you tired of chasing trends in affiliate marketing? In this episode, I will interview Niels Zee, a 7-figure affiliate marketer, at the SEO Pirate Retreat Mastermind.

We dive deep into the power of niche selection and passion. Discover how focusing on what you love can lead to better content, higher conversions, and explosive growth. Niels also shares insider secrets like negotiating commissions, hiring top copywriters, and creating digital products to boost your income. Plus, you can also learn how attending mastermind events like the SEO Pirate Retreat Mastermind can unlock powerful connections and collaborations.

Don't miss this episode for actionable tips and insights to take your affiliate marketing business to the next level!

✨ Episode Topics:

01:13: Passion and Outsmarting the Competition 
02:59: Choosing the Right Niche 
04:26: Scalability in the Retail Niche 
09:43: The Importance of Skilled Copywriters 
11:11: Negotiating Commissions for Increased Revenue 
12:40: Creating Digital Products for Additional Income

🔗 CONNECT WITH NIELS ZEE:

👥 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niels-zee/

💻 Website: https://nielszee.com/

ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions asnwered right on the show!

https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6

Subscribe to The Aspiring CMO:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured