What separates the marketers who influence business decisions in the board room from the ones who struggle to get buy-in?
John Landry has spent his career on the other side of the table. After more than 20 years leading operations and later serving as COO at high-growth startups, he's sat through countless budget discussions, product launches, and strategic planning sessions. He's seen what gives marketing leaders credibility in the boardroom, and just as importantly, what causes executives to tune out.
In this episode, JL shares an operator's perspective on marketing. We talk about why marketers should understand the financials, why customer experience deserves far more attention than it gets, and why bringing marketing into product conversations earlier leads to better decisions across the business.
What you'll learn...
- The biggest mistake marketers make when they apply playbooks from other industries.
- Why customer experience may be one of the most overlooked growth engines in SaaS.
- How marketing can help shape product decisions long before launch day.
- What executives actually want to hear when marketers present to leadership.
- Why understanding your company's financials can dramatically increase your credibility.
- Why marketing and operations work best when they're solving problems together instead of working in separate silos.
About John Landry
John Landry (JL) is the founder of Ignite Operating, where he works as a fractional COO and operations consultant with growing companies. Before moving into the startup world, he spent more than 20 years leading operations in the restaurant industry, developing expertise in finance, process improvement, and organizational growth. Today, he helps founders and leadership teams build stronger businesses by improving operations and execution.
Connect with John Landry
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-landry-81224949/
Company:
https://igniteoperating.ca
About The B2B Marketer
The B2B Marketer is a podcast featuring conversations with marketing leaders about what's working today. Each episode explores the career journeys, lessons learned, and practical ideas shaping modern B2B marketing.
