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Explore every episode of the podcast Executive Conversations

Dive into the complete episode list for Executive Conversations. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Aligning marketing, sales and CS with Janet Jaiswal07 Jul 202500:23:40

Welcome to Executive Conversations, where we dig into the gritty realities of leading modern marketing teams. In this episode, Maeva Cifuentes sits down with Janet Jaiswal, chief marketing officer at Blueshift and long-time marketing advisor. Janet unpacks why her team now owns 90 percent of pipeline, how she killed the vanity of MQLs in favour of BANT-qualified “stage 1” leads, and what it really takes to align marketing, sales and CS around the same revenue target.

She explains the hidden CRM and training work that comes with that shift, the dangers of chasing efficiency before effectiveness, and why AI-powered search is rewriting the SEO rulebook. Janet also shares practical steps for surfacing in LLM results—from tweaking robots.txt to publishing Q&A-style content—and reveals how Blueshift is already closing deals that start with ChatGPT queries.

Balancing effectiveness and efficiency with Amir Jadbari23 Jun 202500:22:41

In this episode, Maeva talks with Amir Jabbari, the three-time CMO now steering growth at BimeBazaar. Amir explains how bouncing from FMCG to fintech to insurtech sharpened his creativity and pushed him to blend street-level observation with hard data. He breaks down why posture and facial cues matter more than click-through rates, how a brand-attitude study convinced a data-obsessed board to bankroll “click-and-brick” campaigns, and why scaling an ineffective channel is a fast track to failure.


Expect candid advice on separating efficiency from effectiveness, injecting human touch into digital funnels, and training your team to zoom out and question every best practice.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • qualitative customer insights

  • cross-industry marketing innovation

  • effectiveness versus efficiency

  • human touch in insurtech

  • critical thinking for cmos


Making Trade-Offs in Go-to-Market Strategies with Mark Huber03 Feb 202500:27:45

Mark and Maeva discuss navigating experiment overload in GTM strategies, emphasizing the need for trade-offs.

The conversation covers the importance of aligning marketing and sales efforts, with a focus on multi-threaded outreach to decision-makers.

Mark shares his approach to working closely with the VP of sales to present a united front to the co-founders.

The episode explores how to use data effectively to tell a narrative and gain executive buy-in for long-term GTM motions.

Mark highlights the challenges of getting executive support, especially from CEOs and CROs, and strategies to overcome these obstacles.

He discusses the necessity of long-term planning and how to balance immediate results with strategic growth goals.


In this episode we talk about

GTM (Go-to-Market) strategies

Executive buy-in

Data-driven decision-making

Marketing alignment

Long-term growth planning


Takeaways

Importance of detailed planning: Mark highlights the need for a clear strategy and contingency planning for marketing campaigns to ensure they meet objectives and adapt as necessary.

Securing buy-in: Discusses effective strategies for gaining support and buy-in from executives and other departments for marketing plans.

Budgeting challenges: Provides insights on creating realistic marketing budgets aligned with category benchmarks and total addressable market (TAM) considerations.

Marketing in SaaS: Explores the unique aspects of marketing in the SaaS industry, such as managing free and freemium models.

Using data effectively: Emphasizes the importance of leveraging data, including tools like Google Analytics, to understand user behavior and optimize marketing strategies.



#32 3 Content Marketing Genres Every B2B Company Needs with Josh Spilker16 Mar 202100:32:18

In today’s episode, I chat with Josh Spilker, a B2B content marketing consultant and founder of Growthcontent.io. He just launched his own consultancy but has been working in content marketing with companies like ClickUp, Toptal, and Workzone for years.

Josh says that in content marketing, there are three main genres: brand, thought leadership, and education/search. They all play together but are usually not very well coordinated. There are also different expectations for how the different genres should perform. Each type of content is essential but understanding the jobs of each type, and what goals they can help your business reach, is essential to the success of your strategy. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Growth hacking vs. content marketing
  • The balance between the technical side of SEO and having good content
  • Balancing topic clusters in your content calendar

Timestamps: 

0:58 - Josh Spilker and his journey into content marketing

4:50 - How does content marketing drive companies with a long sales cycle

6:32 - The three genres of content and their role in strategy 

9:40 - The first step when setting up content marketing for a startup

10:58 - Growth hacking vs content marketing

13:00 - Growth hacking experiments

16:00 - Finding balance between technical SEO aspects and quality content

18:25 - What’s next for Growthcontent.io?

22:52 - How do you balance out topic clusters in your content calendar?

25:45 - Are you building a publication or are you building a library?

27:45 - Is the word blog becoming outdated?

30:18 - Making changes to evergreen content because of COVID


Connect with Josh Spilker on LinkedIn and check out his website Growthcontent.io.


Resources mentioned in this episode:

Ryan Holiday - Growth Hacker Marketing


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#31 SEO Optimization in the Short-Term Rental Industry, With SEO Consultant Damian Sheridan10 Mar 202100:22:31

Damian Sheridan joins me on today’s episode. He’s the director of The Book Direct Show, an event for property managers who want to learn how to generate more direct bookings. He’s also an SEO consultant for short-term rental and property management companies and has nearly two decades of experience in the industry. 

In the short-term rental industry, business owners know that SEO is something they need to do but don’t know how to do it. It’s a long, ongoing process involving optimizing content, recycling it, link-building, and data-driven decision-making.

In today’s chat, we talk about setting achievable goals with SEO, how to approach your content depending on those goals, and what a healthy approach to content-driven SEO looks like.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What “good SEO results” actually look like
  • The best type of content to start with (BOFU!)
  • Vacation rentals and email marketing


Timestamps: 

0:50 - An intro to Damian Sheridan

3:30 - The SEO process in the short-term rental industry

5:05 - Content quality vs content quantity 

6:45 - What’s the definition of “good SEO results” with content?

9:03 - Email marketing in the short-term rental industry and where people go wrong

10:40 - How to balance SEO between TOFU, MOFU and BOFU content

14:00 - Diversifying from OTAs in the short-term rental industry

17:37 - How Damian gets experts to speak at The Book Direct Show


Connect with Damian Sheridan on LinkedIn or find him at seoconnect.co.uk.


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#30 How Your Business Can Benefit from Your Mistakes with Chris Maughan, CEO of I-PRAC03 Mar 202100:33:36

In today’s episode, I have Chris Maughan, founder of I-PRAC, a verification platform for the short-term rental industry. I-PRAC was born from the need for a reputable way to certify rentals to prevent consumers from becoming victims of fraud. They are now the leading global certification for the short-term rental industry. Chris is also the CEO of AES events group in Cannes, providing accommodation and event management for corporate clients like Twitter, Spotify, Microsoft, FOX and Disney. 


Building I-PRAC was no walk in the park for Chris. He made mistakes, as all business owners do, but stresses the importance of learning from those mistakes and moving forward. As his mother always said, “don’t make the same mistake twice”. Continuous learning, whether from mistakes made or still stacking is the key to becoming a successful business owner. Chris walks us through his journey in building his business, and the lessons he learned along the way. 


In this episode we talk about:

  • The importance of outsourcing when building a startup
  • Biggest lessons learned in the beginning stages of your business
  • Why skill stacking is so important as a business owner


Timestamps 

1:30 - An intro to Chris Maughn and I-PRAC

5:00 - Fraud in the short-term rental industry

8:10 - Marketing & fraud-prevention 

11:27 - Challenges and lessons in starting I-PRAC

15:57 - How to identify whether your outsourcing is the problem or your own systems

21:05 - Choosing what components to outsource 

23:30 - I-PRAC - Skillshare partnership

26:35 - Importance of skill stacking and consistent learning 

Connect with Chris Maughn on LinkedIn or reach out via email at chris@i-prac.com


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#29 Choosing Effective Marketing Channels with CGO Oren Greenburg24 Feb 202100:34:01

In today’s episode, I talk to Oren Greenburg, the Chief Growth Officer for Kurve, a marketing consultancy helping enterprises and startups navigate growth through digital marketing. They’ve worked with many big names like Canon, Investec and Lifecake, plus have been featured in publications by HubSpot, Zapier and Adweek. Digital marketing is, in Oren’s word, “his cup of tea”

Almost every channel can be validated in a shorter time frame by using paid advertising. It allows you to quickly identify whether a channel is the appropriate one for your audience based on the results. If your ad campaign flops, then likely your audience isn’t using that specific channel. There are a few levels of where things can go wrong: the channel level, the audience level, the message and the conversion funnel. Oren talks deeper about each level and how to avoid the most common mistakes. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • How to find the right marketing channel for your business
  • How to identify if you’ve picked the wrong channel
  • How to start marketing once you’ve chosen an effective channel


Timestamps 

0:35 - Fun facts about Oren Greenburg 

3:09 - About Kurve 

4:27 - Finding the right marketing channels

7:15 - Did you pick the wrong channel? Or are you just using it wrong?

11:15 - The 4 areas where things can go wrong

11:38 - Writing a good CTA

13:50 - Mistakes that SaaS companies make 

20:07 - What’s the RIGHT way to start?

24:25 - Funnels vs channels

27:00 - Restructure your concept of brand building

31:34 - Identifying if your marketing sucks, or your product does


To connect with Oren Greenburg follow him on LinkedIn, and be sure to check out his consultancy, Kurve

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#28 How Boostly Grew Their Traffic by 200% By Leveraging Their Podcast with Mark Simpson17 Feb 202100:55:47

Today, I chat with Mark Simpson. He’s the founder of Boostly, which offers website design and content creation coaching for people in the short-term rental industry. He’s spoken at various events and conferences, such as the Short Stay Show, and has won the “Best Use of Social Media” award at the Shorties Awards. He also hosts The Boostly Podcast, which is now in its 9th season.

Over the 9 seasons of the Boostly Podcast, Mark has had to consistently come up with topic ideas that resonate with his listeners. Content needs to be relevant, engaging and include notable guests who can provide valuable insight into all aspects of the industry. Mark gives us tips for preparing for podcasts, including how he comes up with the content he’s going to discuss. We also dive deep into the process he uses to get notable guests onto his podcast and how it’s contributed to a 200% growth in traffic.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The steps to prepare for your podcast
  • How to get big-name guests to come on your podcast
  • How to repurpose your podcast into other content

Timestamps 

0:01 - Intro to Mark Simpson

3:38 - About the Boostly Podcast

7:40 - The power of podcasts

11:19 - How to prepare for a podcast/come up with questions

17:30 - Building relationships in any industry

18:50 - How do you approach big name people to be on your podcast

24:00 - Engaging on social media to build connections

29:00 - Incentivizing your guests audience to connect with you

32:20 - Repurposing your podcast

37:30 - How to ensure your team repurposes the right part of your blog

43:00 - Getting more guests through your guests

44:45 - Letting go of control - the importance of outsourcing 

Connect with Mark Simpson on LinkedIn and make sure to check out Boostly on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also listen to the Boostly Podcast on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson on Audible

How to Find Great Virtual Team Members - Blog post by Tega Diegbe

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#27 From 0 to Market In Months: An Interview With The Founder of Revyoos, Christophe Salmon10 Feb 202100:22:10

In this episode, I talk with Christophe Salmon, Co-founder of Revyoos - the only review aggregator in the vacation rental industry and winner of the VR Tech award. 

He started in the short-term rental industry as a property owner in 2006 and started his own property management company in 2016, managing 40 units in Costa Blanca. 

As the owner of a property management company Christophe was looking for ways to get the most out of his property reviews, and struggled to find a platform or solution that would give him control over his reviews. Thus, Revyoos was born. 

Like with any startup, there are always challenges getting it off ground. The biggest challenges that Christophe faced with Revyoos were:

  • Finding the right team to work with/build the product
  • Finding the time to market the product

After the product is rolling, you can shift focus into creating partnerships with companies, collecting feedback from users, and using that to develop new and improved features. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The challenges of getting a new platform off the ground
  • Developing a product roadmap using user feedback
  • The biggest lessons learned launching a startup

Timestamps:

0:01 - An introduction to Christophe Salmon

2:26 - How Revyoos was born

5:00 - Creating a software that addresses everyone's needs

7:39 - Challenges with getting a new platform off the ground

11:00 - Strategies and future plans to grow Revyoos

12:27- New features coming soon on Revyoos

14:02 - Developing your product road map

15:05 - Biggest lessons as a startup founder

18:30 - Don’t wait until your product is “ready”


Connect with Christophe Salmon on LinkedIn, and be sure to check out Revyoos.com!


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#26 Benchmark Report: How Lodgify Built Its Content Marketing Strategy with Carla Chicharro03 Feb 202100:25:51

In today’s episode, I chat with Carla Chicharro, the marketing manager and head of the content team at Lodgify. She built their content strategy from the ground up and now they have content that outranks Airbnb! So, how did they create an effective strategy that not only drives traffic but conversions as well?


When you’re building a content strategy from scratch Carla suggests focusing on the quantity first. Create as much quality content as you can, using extensive keyword research and research through forums, articles and competitor blogs. Even to this day Lodgify still gets 60% of its monthly traffic from their old content. 


Lodgify splits their content between the three stages of the sales funnel: TOFU, MOFU and BOFU, though they now focus on quality over quantity. Carla talks us through all the steps of creating and implementing a content strategy that works! 


In this episode we talk about:

  • Building a content strategy from scratch  
  • Optimizing old content
  • Adapting your content strategy as you grow
  • The importance of lead nurturing 


Timestamps :

0:45 - Introduction to Carla

2:30 - The structure of the Lodgify content team 

4:06 - Planning out, and implementing content strategy 

6:15 - Quantity, then quality 

7:35 - Re-optimizing old content

10:45 - Defining leads 

11:33 - Content strategy experiments gone wrong

14:50 - Content strategies that work! 

18:35 - Lead nurturing tips 

21:20 - Importance of lead nurturing

22:44 - Using content software and applications 


Connect with Carla Chicharro on LinkedIn or email directly at carla@lodgify.com


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#25 Simon Lehmann on Consulting Secrets and Forecasts About Vacation Rental Tech26 Jan 202100:30:03

In this episode, I am speaking to Simon Lehmann, the CEO and Co-Founder of AJL Atelier, a consulting firm for the short-term rental industry. They consult tech companies and operators in hospitality and vacation rentals, help them build their strategy and recently partnered with Hotel.School to launch a series of hospitality courses. They are the go-to partner in the vacation rental industry.

For tech companies in the short-term rental industry having the correct strategy is paramount. This is especially true in the current global climate, as COVID continues to make its mark on the tourism industry. It’s essential for companies to understand how the market is structured and have a clear image of what they want to achieve. Simon challenges tech providers to think about what their future role is in the industry and how they will expand and grow. Survival is going to be difficult, and leaders need to step out of their daily wheel to look at their companies from an outside standpoint. How does the industry see your business, how do investors see your business, and what are they looking for? 

We talk about:

  • Whether tech companies should specialize in one service, or do a bit of everything to target more customers
  • What strategies are working well?
  • How to leverage user forums to get insight into your clients' needs


Timestamps:

0:02 – Intro to Simon Lehmann

1:26 – Adapting strategy during COVID

5:30 – How AJL works with tech start-ups

6:50 – What tech startups need to think about when building their strategies

9:02 – Finding balance between specialization and doing a bit of everything

12:00 – Understanding your core and what you should outsource

14:57 – What are the current tech needs in the short-term rental industry?

17:54 – Why do PMSs keep changing their strategy?

20:00 – What strategies are working well?

23:15 – Leveraging user forums to find out customer needs

26:16 – How to incentivize customers to actually talk to you 

Connect with Simon on LinkedIn, via email, or check out his website ajlatelier.com 



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#24 Jasper Ribbers On How STR Operators With Hundreds Of Listings Choose Tech20 Jan 202100:23:19

In this episode I interview Jasper Ribbers, the CEO of Get Paid for Your Pad, co-founder of Short-Term Rental Legends and co-founder of Short-Term Rental Profit Academy.

Success or struggle in the short-term rental industry right now is highly based on where your listings are in. Urban listings are struggling while traditional vacation destinations—especially secluded ones, are flourishing. Since everyone wants to leave the city, operators that have remote properties are seeing a huge influx of bookings and having a record year. 

As operators grow from a few units up to 50+ units, operators who work with Jasper and his partner Eric grow small business owners to the CEO of a large company. In order to scale, they have to take themselves out of the equation and leverage software that is available to them. They have to become more efficient, or there are other players who will take their market share. That’s where SaaS companies have an opportunity to help operators:

  • Save time
  • Optimize task management
  • Improve their customer service


In this episode we talk about:

  • what short-term rental operators are looking for in terms of tech,
  • and what new tech companies can do to break into the inner circle. 


Timestamps:

0:01 – An intro to Jasper Ribbers

1:12 – The current situation for short-term rental operators

4:00 – Connecting the community of short-term rental operators

5:19 – Discussing new tech in the industry

7:37 – The biggest software needs of operators

10:35 – What the tech stack of larger operators looks like

12:51 – How can new tech get into the inner circle

15:00 – What kind of content is resonating with high-level operators?

17:25 – Current trends in the STR industry 

Find all of Jasper's short-term rental resources at Get Paid For Your Pad, STR Mastermind and the Short-Term Renal Profit Academy. Or connect with Jasper Ribbers directly on Instagram.


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#23 Florian Montag on Hoteliers and How They Choose Software: State of The Industry13 Jan 202100:33:59

Today I talk with Florian Montag, the CEO of HotelHero, a platform that helps hotels to buy new tech. He’s also one of the creators of the Smack podcast, where they interview other leaders in the hospitality industry. HotelHero came to life because of a need for hotels to find tech that works for them.

It’s still a very current problem. There’s been a very recent shift from on-premise tech to tech that is cloud-based. Where vendors needed to be local in-order to serve their customers' needs, they no longer need to be. They can now use 30+ apps, from guest experience to marketing, but they need help locating the most effective options.

Hoteliers will seek changes to their tech stack in order to stay competitive in the industry or address any operational issues they are facing. These could be staff-related, guest-related, or may help them to reduce their costs. If tech offers an opportunity for increased revenue, then hotels are looking to jump on board. Florian breaks down how tech companies can stand out and get in front of hoteliers who are seeking new tech.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why hotels struggle to find new tech
  • What makes hotels want to change their tech stack
  • How tech companies can stand out from hotels


Timestamps:

0:30 – An intro to Florian, HotelHero and Smack

4:35 – Choosing authorities to interview

6:00 – How COVID has impacted the podcast/content

11:00 – Why do hotels struggle to find new tech?

13:53 – What drives hotels to want to change their tech stack?

16:00 – What should tech companies do to stand out to hotels?

19:50 – The HotelHero index

24:00 – Are hotels buying more tech because of COVID?

27:05 – Effective tech strategies

30:30 – New tech tools that are taking off during COVID

 

Connect with Florian Montag on LinkedIn, or via the chat on HotelHero.tech. Also, tune into his podcast, Smack, for all things hospitality tech.


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Building trust and authenticity in B2B marketing with Ana Laura Zain20 Jan 202500:25:02

In this episode of Executive Conversations Ana Laura and Maeva discuss the importance of building relationships and connections with leadership and key stakeholders within an organization. She emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between marketing and sales, focusing on mutual understanding and collaboration to drive business growth.

Ana Laura also highlights the role of data in storytelling, using it to align marketing efforts with business goals and demonstrate ROI. We get an insight into her approach to handling resistance and fostering buy-in for long-term strategies, particularly when short-term results are lacking.

The conversation also covers the challenges of budget allocation, using data to justify investment in marketing initiatives, and securing support from executives.


#22 Identifying the Gaps in Your Marketing Efforts with Laurie Kelly06 Jan 202100:32:21

Today I chat with marketing expert Laurie Kelly about creating content that your audience wants to consume and identifying where you may have gaps in your current marketing efforts. 

Today I chat with Laurie Kelly, a marketing expert with 17-years of experience in the marketing world. Laurie is the chair of the RevGenius marketing channel on Slack. We dive into demand generation, the new trends in marketing and why we shouldn’t get caught up in them. 

At its core, marketing has always remained the same. You need to identify what types of content your clients want to consume and feed it to them.  Additionally, Laurie says “you don’t want to necessarily feed somebody who is not going to be eating. We want to make sure we are feeding those who are actually hungry and coming to the club.” 

Everyone in an organization has a role to play in marketing, regardless if it’s in your job title or not. That shift in mindset is essential if you want to create a cohesive approach to marketing and identify where the gaps are. 

In this episode we discuss

  • Identifying what content clients want to consume
  • Demand generation vs. lead generation 
  • How to see your marketing from your clients' point of view
  • How to identify gaps in your marketing efforts 


Timestamps 

1:47 How do you market to marketers?

5:15 What do your clients want to eat? What content do they want to consume?

5:40 How to re-engage people who have dropped off 

8:55 The biggest trends in marketing right now 

10:45 Demand generation vs. lead generation

12:45 How to get into the mind of your client

13:50 How an accountant is also a marketer

18:50 Bad news travels faster than good news 

20:30 Word of mouth marketing – using your customers as marketers

22:14 Shift in mindset – everyone in a company contributes to marketing 

25:30 Identifying the gaps in your marketing efforts 

28:40 What to do when your description of your product doesn’t match your clients


Join the RevGenius slack community by applying here

You can connect with Laurie via her LinkedIn.


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#21 Leveraging Your LinkedIn Networks To Generate More Sales09 Dec 202000:38:03

In this episode, I talk with Belinda Aramide, a LinkedIn sales coach teaching service-based entrepreneurs and sales executives how to generate more sales by using their LinkedIn Networks. Before you can even start reaching out to potential buyers it’s important that you optimize your LinkedIn profile so that when people land on it, they get a good sense of what it is that you do and how you help people. Then, you can start creating content so that people can see the depth of your understanding and knowledge in that area because it helps build trust. 

Belinda lets us in on her system for crafting the perfect DM on LinkedIn. You’re not making a cold sales pitch. You need to build a connection first and do it in a genuine way, and Belinda tells us how to do that. 

In this episode we discuss: 

  • How you should be spending your time on LinkedIn
  • Getting the foundation of your LinkedIn right
  • Steps you can take to generate more leads (in a genuine way)

Timestamps

1:26 – An introduction to Belinda Aramide

4:45 – When should you start using your LinkedIn for sales?

6:05 – Getting the foundation of your LinkedIn right

7:12 – Initiating the sales conversation

9:05 – How you should be spending your time on LinkedIn

13:42- Get to know the people you’re pitching to

18:30 – Have multiple plays for initiating a conversation 

20:50 – Identify their objections

22:00 – LinkedIn is no longer just a database

23:55 – Should the CEO and their teams be behaving the same on LinkedIn?

25:30 – Getting employees to buy-in to LinkedIn sales tactics

28:45 – LinkedIn current trends

31:10 – The secret is showing up 

33:30 – Where to start with your LinkedIn sales strategy 

You can connect with Belinda Aramide on LinkedIn, or check out her website BelindaAramide.com for more resources on generating sales with LinkedIn. 


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#20 How SaaS Companies Can Give the Perfect Demo02 Dec 202000:26:50

Today I chat with Matt Wolach, a sales coach for SaaS companies and SaaS leaders. He’s been in the SaaS industry for 15 years and helps companies to remove their roadblocks when it comes to closing deals and making sales. He has helped his clients double their close rates with his deal processes and we talk about how they make that happen. 

The perfect deal process can be broken down into 4 main parts: 

  • Discover
  • Educate
  • Associate
  • Lead

The entire process needs to be evaluated, from when a lead comes in all the way to close. Matt touches on some of the biggest struggles that he notices companies facing when it comes to their deal processes, and how to overcome those to create a process that actually works.

In this episode we talk about:

  • What the perfect deal process looks like
  • How to apply the D.E.A.L. principals
  • Biggest challenges in sales  

Timestamps

0:47 – An introduction to Matt Wolach

2:25 – What is the perfect deal process

5:00 – How to educate your potential buyers

8:36 – Using video in the deal process

10:22 – Applying the D.E.A.L. principals

12:24 – When does a lead enter your sales process?

14:00 – When does marketing hand off leads to sales?

16:30 – Defining leads

17:40 – Biggest challenges in sales

20:20 – Lead the call

23:00 – How to open a call

You can connect with Matt Wolach on LinkedIn, or check out his website Xsellus.com


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#19 CEO of TheHouseMonk Forecasts the Future of Technology in Real Estate25 Nov 202000:26:56

On today’s episode we chat to Ajay Kumar, the CEO of TheHouseMonk, a company focused on solving problems in the real estate industry using technology. They help real estate businesses sell and manage their real estate profile, and serve over 100 clients in 12 different countries. He ran a property management company for many years prior to shifting into the software space so he understands the industry from both sides. He offers some interesting insights on how technology actually impacts the real estate industry from an insider perspective. 

As real estate is a touch & feel industry, it relies on offline interactions and relationship building. That said, there are many forms of technology that can help real estate businesses to operate more effectively. Ajay gives us his predictions on how technology will develop in going forward, and which types of software will be most useful. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The impact of technology on the real estate industry 
  • How the industry has changed since the pandemic
  • What the future of tech looks like in real estate

Timestamps

1:25 – An intro into Ajay Kumar

3:43 – How property management and real estate compares to other top industries

8:48 – The impact of tech on the real estate industry

10:10 – The importance of having an extremely valuable product

11:15 – Networking and word-of-mouth marketing in the industry

13:00 – Don’t compromise on your team (hire experts)

14:10 – Using LinkedIn to capture attention

16: 35 – How TheHouseMonk gets customers

17:50 – How things have changed since the pandemic?

19:44 – The perks and struggles of having a remote team

21:50 – Solving the culture problems of working remotely

23:15 – Predictions for technology in real estate


Connect with Ajay Kumar on LinkedIn, TheHouseMonk and his blog RealEstatexTechnology

 

While you’re here

Follow Flying Cat Marketing on the following channels to get more tips, tactics and knowledge on content marketing

Visual – YouTube

Audio – Flying Cat Marketing Podcast (Spotify) (Apple Podcasts) (Sticher)

Instagram

Facebook

Linkedin


#18 Why Do We Keep Screwing Up Demos?09 Nov 202000:24:54

Today I’m chatting with Ed Jaffe, a presales expert from Demo Solutions. They provide demo training, demo consulting and demo pitch decks; basically, everything for SaaS companies to get their demos right and stop losing leads.

Forget everything you thought you knew about pitching your software. It’s not about bigging up your product, poking at client pain points or comparing yourself to competitors. So, how do you successfully demo your product? Many SaaS companies face similar challenges when it comes to effectively demoing their products. When you have 45 minutes at best to run a demo, you need to use that time to the fullest, and Ed tells us how to do that. 

In this episode we talk about:

•Demo audits

•What companies are doing wrong in demos

•What your demo should actually look like

 

Timestamps

0:40 - An intro into Ed Jaffe

2:13 – What is presales?

4:18 – Where people are going wrong in demo

7:10 – Things that drive customers to make a change (invest in new software)

8:17 – Customers already know their own pain points 

9:14 – What should a demo actually look like?

12:00 – Using cultural references to connect with clients

13:45 – Demo audits 

15:45 – How do you salvage a bad demo?

17:37 – The most common challenges SaaS companies experience with demos

19:20 – When you should make your big claims

21:16 – Tips for getting your clients to buy-in to your demo


You can link up with Ed on LinkedIn, or visit his website DemosWinDeals.com.

 

While you’re here

Follow Flying Cat Marketing on the following channels to get more tips, tactics and knowledge on content marketing

Visual – YouTube

Audio – Flying Cat Marketing Podcast (Spotify) (Apple Podcasts) (Sticher)

Instagram

Facebook

Linkedin



#17 Matt Landau's Tips For Tech Companies In the Short-Term Rental Industry30 Oct 202000:28:55

We speak to Matt Landau, founder for VRMB, about vacation rental tech and what short-term rental operators are looking for.

It turns out, they are still buying. He gives his tips to founders about how to stand out in this niche industry and how to make property managers trust you.

#3 - How Lemist Has Created A Bootstrapped Linkbuilding Machine12 Oct 202000:37:19

An interview with Ugljesca Djuric, Head of Content at lemlist. We talk about how he manages linkbuilding and the SEO content strategy of bootstrapped lempire.

lempire went from 0 to $1M in ARR in under 2 years, with no funding. Find out how content played a huge role in that and how to model your own linkbuilding strategy for your own startup.

Connect with Ugi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ugljesadj/


#14 - How to Align Sales and Marketing to Reach Revenue Goals12 Oct 202000:26:45

A chat with Larry Long Jr, sales coach, about the best way to align marketing with sales goals.

#8 - How a Personal Brand Always Generates More Revenue Than a Company Brand12 Oct 202000:34:55

A chat with Dot Lung, the Mother of Social Media Dragons, about building your personal brand even if you want to grow your company revenue.

Connect with Dot:
https://www.instagram.com/dotlung/
https://il.linkedin.com/in/dotlung

#6 - How iGMS Used Content to Scale From Near-0 Budget to a Leading SaaS Company12 Oct 202000:27:27

Today we chat with Inna Shevchenko, CMO of iGMS, a property management software about how she built a team and scaled her SaaS company.

From www.flyingcatmarketing.com

Connect with Inna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inna-shevchenko-58564a24/


Internal Marketing Strategies for GTM Leaders: Matt Klingbeil's Perspective06 Jan 202500:28:06

Summary

  • Executive Buy-In and Influence: Matt discusses the challenges of gaining executive buy-in and influence in a mid-market SaaS company. He emphasizes the importance of aligning marketing strategies with company goals and demonstrating ROI through data-driven storytelling. This involves convincing stakeholders that marketing initiatives are not only beneficial but necessary for long-term growth.
  • Using Data to Tell a Narrative: Matt highlights the critical role of data in shaping marketing strategies. He shares how to use data to craft compelling narratives that resonate with executives and align with business objectives. This approach helps in securing budget allocations and maintaining support from leadership teams.
  • Navigating Hard Conversations: The episode delves into the techniques Matt uses to navigate difficult conversations, both internally and with executive stakeholders. He shares strategies for handling pushback and resistance, using empathy and clear communication to drive the right decisions and maintain alignment with long-term goals.
  • Long-Term Growth Planning: Matt discusses the challenges of balancing short-term pressures with the need for long-term growth. He offers insights into how to maintain focus on sustainable business growth while managing expectations and demonstrating short-term wins to gain continued support from the C-suite.
  • Budget Alignment with Business Goals: Matt provides a framework for aligning marketing budgets with business objectives, ensuring that each dollar spent contributes directly to achieving target goals. He stresses the importance of transparency and clear communication with executives to justify budget allocations and demonstrate marketing’s impact on company performance.
  • Building Internal Allies: The episode touches on how Matt builds internal allies to support his marketing initiatives. He talks about leveraging relationships and building coalitions within the organization to champion marketing’s role in achieving overall business success.
  • Matt stresses the need for comprehensive planning and contingency strategies for marketing campaigns. This includes aligning short-term goals with long-term objectives and preparing for potential roadblocks to maintain momentum and adapt quickly.
  • Effective strategies for gaining executive and cross-departmental buy-in are highlighted. This involves demonstrating the value of marketing initiatives through data-driven storytelling, aligning marketing strategies with business objectives, and clearly communicating the impact and ROI of marketing efforts.
  • Presenting realistic marketing budgets based on category benchmarks and Total Addressable Market (TAM) is crucial. Matt discusses how to navigate budgeting challenges by using data to justify budget allocations and showing how these budgets will contribute to growth and target achievement.
  • Marketing in the SaaS industry comes with unique challenges, particularly in managing free and freemium models. Matt shares insights on how to effectively market SaaS products by tailoring strategies to customer needs and optimizing customer acquisition and retention efforts.
  • Matt emphasizes the importance of leveraging data to make informed marketing decisions. This includes using tools like Google Analytics to understand traffic sources, conversion rates, and user behavior, and applying these insights to refine marketing strategies and improve outcomes.
#12 - How to Use Conversational Chatbots and Still Build Authentic Relationships12 Oct 202000:35:16

A chat with Max Brigada, founder of ADA On Cloud and convergent marketing.

We talk about how to use conversational chatbots, what convergent marketing is and how it compares to inbound marketing, and more!

#16 - The Secrets to Running a Facebook Group With 15k+ Members12 Oct 202000:34:20

A chat with Tanya Hayles, founder of Black Moms Connection, as well as an events producer and freelance writer, about running large Facebook groups.

#4 - How Customer Listening Helped This SaaS Company Dominate The Short-term Rental Industry12 Oct 202000:24:26

A chat with Margot Schmorack, CMO of Hostfully, about how they listened to customers to help them pivot and grow into the company they are today.


#2 - Creating a Positive Mental Health Space in a Remote Work Team12 Oct 202000:33:02

In this video, we chat with George Bell, Marketing Manager at Sanctus, which is a startup whose mission is to make mental health mainstream. We talk about how to create a positive mental health space in a remote team to increase performance, profit, and to be a good company!

Sanctus: https://sanctus.io/
Connect with George Bell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-bell-10317184/

www.flyingcatmarketing.com

#10 - Rentals United’s Secret To Growing Their Vacation Rental Industry SaaS12 Oct 202000:33:28

A chat with Vanessa de Souza Lage, CMO of Rentals United, about how they grew their vrtech business.

In this video, we talk about:
- Content marketing for vacation rental SaaS
- How to generate more leads with content marketing for SaaS companies
- How they changed their strategy when their avatar changed

www.flyingcatmarketing.com

#5 - Breaking Down the Sales Funnels of SaaS Companies with Jake Stainer12 Oct 202000:28:05

A chat with Jake Stainer, co-founder of Outreach Humans, about SaaS sales funnels and where startups should focus their acquisition strategies.

By www.flyingcatmarketing.com

Connect with Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestainer/
Outreach Humans: https://www.outreachhumans.com/


#15 - How to Use Strategic Narrative to Solve Your Customers’ Pain Points12 Oct 202000:34:16

A chat with Zineb Layachi, CMO in Residence and co-founder of pitch slap, about how to use strategic narrative to solve your customer's pain points.

#13 - The Secrets About Link Building They Never Told You12 Oct 202000:18:46

A chat with Italo Viale, co-founder of Outreach Humans, about backlink building and how to prioritize keywords and external links.

#11 - The End of Done-For-You Marketing: How and Why to Involve C-Levels in Your Marketing12 Oct 202000:34:16

A chat with Joe Sullivan, founder of g76, a content marketing agency for the manufacturing industry. We talk about getting your C-levels and subject matter experts involved in content creation.

www.flyingcatmarketing.com

#7 - How to Get Everyone In Your Team Involved In Customer Persona Development12 Oct 202000:20:37

A chat with MJ Peters, VP of Marketing at Firetrace. We chat about customer avatar development and how she got her whole team involved.

Connect with MJ Peters on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjpeters1/

Rewriting the GTM Playbook: Hard Conversations and Budget Narratives with Mohamed Reza16 Dec 202400:29:49

Summary 

  • Mohamed Reza shares insights into how he navigates executive conversations and aligns marketing strategies with long-term goals.

  • Discusses the challenges of securing executive buy-in and how he overcomes these hurdles using data-driven storytelling.

  • Explains his approach to presenting budgets in a way that aligns with company targets, even when they’re challenging to quantify.

  • Highlights the importance of creating narratives around data to win allies and gain support for GTM initiatives.

  • Shares his strategies for balancing short-term results with long-term growth in a mid-market SaaS environment.

  • Offers practical advice on how to show marketing’s impact across the organization through effective tools and frameworks.


Takeaway

Importance of executive buy-in:

  • Mohamed Reza discusses the challenges of gaining executive buy-in for GTM strategies and shares strategies for overcoming resistance.

  • Importance of aligning marketing objectives with broader business goals to secure support from leadership.

Detailed planning and execution:

  • The necessity for detailed planning in GTM initiatives, including clear objectives, timelines, and contingencies.

  • Mohamed highlights the need to anticipate challenges and plan for them in advance to ensure successful execution.

Budgeting challenges:

  • Mohamed addresses the common difficulties in allocating marketing budgets, especially in the context of long-term growth expectations.

  • Discusses methods for justifying budgets based on measurable outcomes and aligning them with company targets.

Data-driven storytelling:

  • Mohamed explains how to use data effectively to tell compelling narratives that support marketing decisions.

  • Emphasizes the role of analytics in understanding customer behavior, tracking KPIs, and making informed decisions.

Marketing strategy in SaaS:

  • Mohamed talks about the unique aspects of marketing in SaaS, including the challenges of targeting different customer segments, managing churn, and maximizing value for users.

  • Discusses strategies for adapting GTM motions to fit the SaaS model and driving long-term growth.

#9 - Using Your Own Community to Increase Organic Reach by 250%12 Oct 202000:32:24

A chat with Kevin Markowski, CEO of Spitche, a community engagement platform that helps you overcome the Facebook algorithm.

www.spitche.com

www.flyingcatmarketing.com

#1 - How Typeform's Branding Experiments Guided its Content and Product Strategy07 Oct 202000:36:33

A chat with Alex Antolino, Creative Director of Typeform, about their brand story and how experimenting helped guide their interconnected branding, product and content strategy.

Connect with Alex Antolino online:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/AlexAnto...
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexantolino/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/antolino/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/alexantolino

Earning a seat at the table: showcasing marketing's impact with Lauren Lang02 Dec 202400:30:18

Summary Communicating value effectively: Emphasizing that communication happens not just at the speaker's mouth, but at the listener's ear. It’s essential for marketing leaders to think about how they communicate value to executives and ensure it’s framed in a way that resonates with the listener's perspective. The power of framing and narrative: Marketing leaders must frame their contributions and value in a way that highlights their impact, especially when navigating executive conversations and securing buy-in for long-term initiatives. Navigating layoffs: In the context of layoffs, the importance of demonstrating your value to the organization becomes even more critical. It’s not just about doing the right things, but about making sure that your efforts are clearly understood and aligned with company goals. Strategic value in marketing: Marketing leaders need to strategically show their worth and reinforce their contributions to the company's success, not just through metrics but by aligning with the broader organizational goals. The importance of data and storytelling: Data alone is not enough; it must be used to tell a compelling story that helps executives understand how marketing contributes to business growth and aligns with long-term company goals. Takeaways Effective executive communication: Lauren discusses the importance of understanding how communication happens, emphasizing the need to communicate value in a way that resonates with executives and stakeholders. Framing value for buy-in: The conversation explores strategies for framing the value of marketing work so it is understood and appreciated at all levels, particularly in the context of securing executive buy-in. Navigating layoffs and value recognition: Lauren reflects on the role of value recognition in organizational decision-making, and how marketing leaders can work to ensure their teams are seen as essential during times of uncertainty like layoffs. Data-driven storytelling: The importance of using data to tell a compelling narrative that aligns with business goals is discussed, including how data can be leveraged to demonstrate marketing's impact. Strategic marketing leadership: The episode covers how marketing leaders can build a strong case for marketing initiatives, even in the face of challenges, by strategically aligning their motions and messaging with the business’s core objectives.

Building influence without direct authority in marketing with Shana Haynie @MoEngage03 Sep 202400:28:27

“It’s not just about getting things done, but doing it in a way that doesn’t ruffle feathers while making sure people are on your side. “ Shana Haynie, Head of Content & Organic Growth at MoEngage


In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva chats with Shana Haynie, Head of Content and Organic Growth at MoEngage North America, as she shares her experience managing content strategy across global regions. She discusses building relationships, influencing without direct authority, and navigating complex content challenges. Shana also details how she drives SEO results, collaborates with web ops teams, and ensures alignment across different regions.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Content strategy

  • Organic Growth

  • Content operations

Takeaways

  • Navigating global content strategy: The complexities of managing content across regions and collaborating with international teams.

  • Influencing without authority: Tips for building relationships and gaining support from colleagues and leadership without direct management power.

  • Long-term SEO strategy: Addressing technical SEO issues and content overhaul for sustained organic growth.

  • Driving process change: Implementing new frameworks and processes to improve content efficiency in a large organization.

  • Cross-functional collaboration: The importance of working closely with different departments, like web ops, to drive meaningful results.

Time chapters

[00:06] Introduction

[01:54] Early career challenges: transitioning from content creation to strategy

[06:40] Scaling successful inbound marketing strategies 

[10:45] Managing SEO and content strategy across seven global regions

[14:36] Building relationships and collaboration across international teams

[18:40] Overhauling content production and publishing processes

[23:40] Collaborating with web ops and overcoming technical SEO challenges

[26:48] Handling leadership pressure for both short-term and long-term results


About Shana Haynie

Shana is the Head of Content and Organic Growth for MoEngage's North America region and has over a decade of marketing experience helping businesses reach and engage their customers through strategic storytelling. When she isn't writing or editing, you can find her playing pickleball, dancing to hardstyle, singing karaoke, or walking her dog, Dexter.


Need help navigating executive conversations and securing your marketing budget? Book a call with Flying Cat Marketing today and let us help you achieve your goals. Book a Call


The dynamics of reporting to different stakeholders with Lisa Vecchio20 Aug 202400:31:21

“Communicate- Be transparent, set expectations and then mitigate” Lisa Vecchio, GVP of Integrated Marketing from Aircall


In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva chats with Lisa Vecchio, former GVP of Integrated Marketing at Aircall. She previously worked with Hootsuite and Expedia and shares her experiences navigating leadership transitions, adjusting marketing strategies, and working closely with executive teams to ensure the success of marketing plans. She talks about  adapting to new perspectives, building strong relationships, and using data to demonstrate the value of long-term marketing initiatives.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Stakeholders

  • Reporting

  • Long-term growth

Takeaways

  • Navigating leadership changes: Lisa shares her experiences in adapting to new leadership perspectives and how it influences marketing strategy.

  • Crafting effective presentations: Strategies for presenting complex marketing strategies in simple terms that resonate with executives.

  • Managing budget expectations: Balancing short-term performance marketing with long-term brand building despite budget constraints.

  • The importance of flexibility: How to remain adaptable in dynamic business environments, especially during executive transitions.

  • The role of data in decision-making: Using supporting data and anecdotes with marketing strategies and secure necessary resources.


Time chapters

[00:06] Introduction

[01:55] Building marketing skills through stakeholder communication

[03:57] Presenting marketing experiments to leadership

[06:27] Reporting to different executives: CEOs, CMOs, and CFOs

[11:39] Addressing short-term focus in marketing

[14:10] Experimenting with new tactics and channels

[19:34] Training teams for budgeting and resource allocation

[25:46] Navigating rebranding and website launches as a new marketing leader


About Lisa Vecchio

Lisa is a CIM Chartered Marketer with nearly two decades of global experience in B2B marketing. She has successfully led marketing, PR, brand, and growth teams at various SaaS companies including Aircall, Hootsuite, Expedia Group, Wiley, and early-stage startups. Motivated by driving ROI and revenue through creative strategies, Lisa is a champion of brand and community building. She prioritizes strong collaboration with sales, customer success, and partnership teams, and is enthusiastic about the future of AI to enhance marketing practices. A cultural enthusiast and avid traveler, Lisa has successfully built international teams while living in New York, Melbourne, and London.

Book a Call

Creativity on a Budget with Jobylon's Tove Hernlund13 Aug 202400:23:25

"It's about finding creative ways to make an impact, even when budgets are tight. That's where true innovation happens." - Tove Hernlund, Marketing Team Lead at Jobylon

  

In this episode, Maeva chats with Tove Hernlund, Marketing Team Lead at Jobylon, as she shares her journey from university to leading a marketing team. She discusses the importance of creative problem-solving when faced with budget cuts, the value of mentorship, and how to secure buy-in for innovative ideas. Tove also highlights the significance of being adaptable and prepared when pitching new strategies in the B2B space.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Creative marketing

  • Career progression

  • Mentorship

Takeaways

  • Creative marketing with limited budgets: Finding innovative ways to make an impact even with reduced budgets.

  • Value of mentorship: Tove shares how having a challenging mentor early in her career shaped her approach to marketing and leadership.

  • Selling internally for new ideas: Strategies for pitching creative and unconventional marketing ideas to leadership teams.

  • Balancing proven tactics with innovation: The importance of not just following what competitors do but finding unique strategies that align with company goals.

  • Long-term thinking in marketing: Marketing success is a marathon, not a sprint, and the importance of patience and persistence.

Time chapters

[00:06] Introduction

[01:55] The power of mentorship.

[05:23] The art of selling internally.

[08:35] The value of trying unconventional marketing strategies.

[12:44] Success stories: Using creative video marketing in B2B.

[15:10] The importance of a supportive leadership team for innovation.

[17:16] Pitching new ideas with data and preparation.

[19:59] Building a strong network and learning from peers in the industry.

[22:27] Conclusion


About Tove Hernlund

Tove Hernlund, Marketing Team Lead at Jobylon, with both a Bachelor's and Master's in marketing and a strong background within startup SaaS and B2B marketing.


Need help navigating executive conversations and securing your marketing budget? Book a call with Flying Cat Marketing today and let us help you achieve your goals. Book a Call


Crafting the perfect pitch with Devin Reed @theReeder05 Aug 202400:31:31

"Being confident and convicted gives other people the confidence that this guy might know what the hell he's talking about"

Devin Reed, Founder, The Reeder 


In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva chats with Devin Reed, founder of The Reeder, about architecting the perfect pitch. Devin shares practical tips from his experience, such as starting with a CEO slide, speaking the C-suite's language, using compelling data, and presenting a clear vision. He stresses the importance of confidence and conviction when pitching ideas, ensuring they align with the company's strategic goals. Devin also highlights the significance of audience growth and the challenge of educating leaders on its value, advocating for concise and focused presentations.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Pitching ideas

  • Confidence

  • C-suite communication

Takeaways

  • Importance of audience building: Devin emphasizes the critical role of growing a loyal audience for long-term success.

  • Securing executive buy-in: Key tactics for aligning marketing proposals with CEO priorities and company strategies.

  • Presenting with confidence: Strategies for conveying confidence and conviction during pitches to executive teams.

  • Clear and concise communication: The importance of avoiding jargon and speaking in terms understood by the C-suite.

  • Handling skepticism: How to encourage and address skepticism constructively during presentations.

Time chapters

[00:07] Introduction

[01:04] Devin Reed's background

[03:00] Challenges in gaining buy-in for marketing

[05:29] Understanding and aligning with CEO priorities

[07:10] The concept of the CEO slide and its significance

[10:58] Building and leveraging audience trust

[12:35] Dealing with skepticism and objections

[15:24] Organizing presentations for executive audiences

[19:47] Communicating vision and excitement in pitches

[21:09] Importance of confidence and conviction

[22:15] Learning from past experiences and refining strategies

[26:54] Encouraging and handling audience input

[29:38] Wrap up


About Devin Reed

Devin was previously the Head of Content at two billion-dollar startups (Gong, Clari). He’s currently the Founder of The Reeder where he helps SaaS companies design and execute content strategies that grow audience, brand and pipeline. He also hosts the YouTube show and podcast, Reed Between The Lines, and publishes a weekly newsletter about content strategy and marketing.


Need help navigating executive conversations and securing your marketing budget? Book a call with Flying Cat Marketing today and let us help you achieve your goals. Book a Call

Strategic Alignment: From Vision to Execution with William Chia @Styra30 Jul 202400:29:46

“What’s more critical to me than reporting structures is strategic alignment. What is strategically and critically important to the business? “

William Chia, VP of Marketing at Styra


In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva Cifuentes interviews William Chia, the VP of Marketing at Styra. They discuss the challenges of getting buy-in from various stakeholders in the go-to-market space. William shares his experience of building the skill of negotiation and persuasion throughout his career as a marketer. They also discuss the importance of strategic alignment and how reporting structure is not the sole determinant of success. William shares a story of disagreeing and committing to a decision that went against his beliefs, which turned out to be a successful move. He also shares a story of influencing a change in the go-to-market motion by transitioning from a traditional MQL-based model to an account-based motion.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Strategic alignment

  • Product marketing

  • Account-based marketing

Takeaways

  • Leadership by influence: How to influence without authority, especially in product marketing.

  • Strategic alignment: The crucial role of strategic alignment over traditonal reporting structures in achieving company goals.

  • Transparency benefits: How transparency, even with competitors, can enhance credibility and SEO.

  • Disagree and commit: The value of committing to a strategy even when you initially disagree.

  • Transitioning marketing models: Shifting from traditional MQLs to account-based marketing for better quality leads.

Time chapters

[00:01] Introduction

[02:36] Learning leadership skills in marketing

[04:15] The role of product marketing and leadership by influence

[06:45] Reporting structure and its impact on marketing strategies

[10:30] Strategic alignment vs. reporting structure

[13:26] Navigating misalignment in organizations

[18:00] Embracing transparency in competitive strategy

[22:11] The power of Bezo’s disagree and commit

[25:57] Achieving buy-in for strategic changes

[28:31] Conclusion and final thoughts


About William Chia

Product-minded storyteller who's been crafting both code and copy since the late 90's. Obsessed with customers, I leverage both qualitative and quantitative research to make data-driven decisions. With the heart of a teacher, I make others around me better. Proven track record of driving go-to-market strategy, sales enablement, content, messaging, and positioning for new technologies in new markets. Connect with William here.


Need help navigating executive conversations and securing your marketing budget? Book a call with Flying Cat Marketing today and let us help you achieve your goals. Book a Call

Marketing’s Role in Training AI (and Teams) with Rachel Weeks09 Jun 202500:23:26

In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva Cifuentes speaks with Rachel Weeks, former VP of Marketing. Rachel shares her experience leading B2B SaaS marketing teams and how she’s adapting to the rapid rise of AI across GTM functions. She discusses why AI should be treated like a junior hire, not a plug-and-play solution, and why marketers today are responsible for training not just their teams but also their tools and their execs.

Rachel unpacks how leadership roles are shifting under PE influence, the blurred lines between marketing and sales, and how org structure impacts your ability to lead. She also reflects on how pressure to perform is rising faster than teams can realistically adopt AI, and why marketers need to stay grounded in strategy, not hype.

Marketing Experimentation: Taking Risks with Chris C. Anderson @Greenslate23 Jul 202400:29:28

“Take risks. Don't be shy. Throw every idea against the wall—you never know what's going to stick.”

- Chris C. Anderson, VP, Head of Content @GleenSlate

  

In this episode, Maeva chats with Chris Anderson, VP Head of Content at Greenslate. They dive into the art of building executive relationships, presenting data-backed ideas, and navigating the unique challenges of different industries. Chris shares his tips on saving data from past campaigns, tailoring pitches to various stakeholders, and embracing risk in marketing. He also highlights the importance of identifying what resonates with executives and using experimentation to support new ideas.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Content strategy

  • Presenting data

  • Pitching ideas

Takeaways

  • The importance of integrating experience: Chris values his CMO's extensive industry knowledge and incorporates it into his innovative ideas.

  • Leveraging past data: Drawing from previous successful campaigns and roles helps in building strong cases for new initiatives.

  • Experimentation for proof: Starting small with experiments to gather data can justify budget increases and gain support for larger projects.

  • Collaborative pitching: Working with team members and leadership ensures alignment and enhances the quality of pitches.

  • Adapting to industry changes: Navigating industry-specific challenges, such as entertainment strikes, requires flexibility and short-term focus.

Time chapters

[00:00] Introduction

[00:50] Chris’s role at Greenslate

[01:20] Building relationships in the remote workspace

[02:33] How past experiences can influence current strategies

[04:50] Pitching ideas and presenting data

[06:26] Bridging industry differences with core principles

[08:20] Experimentation as a proof point

[09:58] Handling long-term initiatives with limited resources

[12:02] How to condense detailed research into effective pitches

[14:04] Collaboration for successful pitches

[17:18] Managing short-term vs. long-term initiatives

[18:37] Adapting to industry changes

[21:31] Building frameworks in startups vs. established companies

[25:10] Challenges in high-stakes environments like banking

[27:38] Final thoughts and advice


About Chris C. Anderson

Chris C. Anderson is currently VP, Head of Content at GreenSlate, a Top Voice on LinkedIn with 105k followers, and he runs a newsletter called Career Forward. With over 15 years of experience in digital content, content strategy, and digital media, Chris has built and led teams, created and executed regional and global strategies, and launched and managed multiple brands and products across various industries and platforms.

Need help navigating executive conversations and securing your marketing budget? Book a call with Flying Cat Marketing today and let us help you achieve your goals. Book a Call

From Traffic to Tangible Results with Jakub Rudnik @Softr16 Jul 202400:28:07

In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva talks with Jakub Rudnik, Head of Content and SEO at Softr, about the beauty of internal marketing, proving ROI for marketing initiatives, and leveraging content to drive measurable results. Jakub shares his experiences from G2, Scribe, ActiveCampaign, and Softr, highlighting the importance of effective experimentation, clear ROI demonstration, and the evolving role of content marketing in different organizational contexts.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Content marketing ROI
  • Internal buy-in strategies
  • SEO and content strategy


Takeaways:

  • Proving ROI: How to demonstrate clear ROI from content marketing efforts to secure internal buy-in and budget.
  • Internal Marketing: The need for effective internal marketing and selling strategies to get buy-in from multiple stakeholders.
  • Experimentation: The value of running structured experiments with clear metrics to validate new marketing ideas.
  • Adapting Strategies: Transitioning from top-of-funnel content to more targeted, bottom-of-funnel content for better conversions.
  • Learning from Experiences: Through different companies, Jakub learned the importance of learning from past mistakes and successes to fine-tune marketing strategies

Time Chapters:

[01.27] Introduction 

[03.30] Jakub's experience at G2 and the importance of proving ROI

[06.06] Building attribution and balancing short-term and long-term strategies

[10.01] The role of experimentation in marketing at Scribe

[12.48] Moving to ActiveCampaign and bridging PLG with sales-led growth

[16.45] Challenges and strategies in proving new marketing ideas at ActiveCampaign

[21.44] Current role at Softr and the supportive culture for experimentation

[24.30] Best practices for pitching marketing experiments

[26.50] Wrap-up and key takeaways from the conversation


About Jakub Rudnik:

Jakub is the Head of Content and & SEO at Softr.io, a no-code platform for building internal tools, portals, and other apps. He previously was Head of Content at ActiveCampaign, Scribe, and G2, and he advises early stage companies on content and growth. He also teaches digital journalism and communications classes at DePaul University in Chicago where he lives.


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Aligning Marketing and Sales with Gustav Wallberg @Republiken09 Jul 202400:28:42

In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva interviews Gustav Wallberg, B2B Marketing Lead & Partner at Republiken. They explore how marketing leaders navigate conversations with CEOs, CFOs, and boards to bring their ideas to life. Gustav shares his experiences and pain points in aligning marketing and sales, balancing short-term and long-term goals, and building brand recognition. They discuss the importance of collaboration, earning trust, and finding the right initiatives to focus on. Gustav emphasizes the need for marketers to understand the strengths of their company and leverage them to achieve growth and he shares his journey from B2C to B2B marketing.

  • Marketing alignment
  • B2B marketing
  • Sales collaboration

Takeaways:

  • Aligning marketing and sales: Gustav emphasizes the importance of working closely with the sales team, ensuring both departments are moving in the same direction and achieving common goals.
  • Executive buy-in: Getting buy-in from both the CEO and the Head of Sales, with a focus on collaboration and presenting a united front.
  • Balancing short-term & long-term goals: Practical tips for balancing immediate performance metrics with long-term brand-building efforts.
  • Transitioning from B2C to B2B: Insights into the challenges and learnings from moving from a B2C marketing approach to a B2B strategy.
  • Leveraging internal experts: Utilizing internal experts as brand spokespeople to build trust and credibility within the target market.

Time chapters:

[00:06] - Introducing Gustav Wallberg

[01:12] - The pain points of marketing alignment

[03:03] - Reporting structure at Alva Labs

[04:06] - Importance of sales alignment over CEO buy-in

[05:31] - Transitioning from B2C to B2B marketing

[07:17] - Marketing’s role in go-to-market strategies

[09:55] - Collaborative goal-setting with sales

[12:42] - Adjusting marketing strategies based on company strengths

[15:04] - Balancing short-term and long-term marketing goals

[18:39] - Leveraging internal experts for brand building

[20:04] - Practical execution of marketing initiatives

[22:55] - Long-term vs. short-term demand gen strategies

[24:25] - How to build trust incrementally

[27:07] - Wrap-up


About Gustav Wallberg:

Gustav is a digital marketer at heart, first stepping into a CMO role in a high-volume B2C venture before transitioning into B2B SaaS. At Alva Labs, a Swedish tech scaleup in the HR space, he built the marketing function & GTM strategy, helping them grow ARR by 5x over the last 3 years.

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From Creative to Operational: Julien Sauvage's Marketing Journey @Clari02 Jul 202400:32:46

"You shouldn't wait until you're in a leadership position before you start going deeper into the operational aspect of a business"- Julien Sauvage


In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva chats with Julien Sauvage, who shares his journey from creative marketer to an accomplished data-driven executive at Clari. Julien discusses the importance of balancing creativity with operational excellence, strategies for getting buy-in from executives, and the impact of effective category design. Julien talks about the need for marketers to understand and use data to measure the success of their campaigns and navigate executive conversations effectively.


In this episode, we talk about:

  • Marketing budgets

  • Category design

  • Operations

Takeaways

  • Balancing Creativity with Data: How to combine creative ideas with solid data to ensure successful campaigns and win stakeholder support.

  • Operational Excellence: Understanding and managing the operational side of marketing, including data analysis, budget management, and process optimization.

  • Executive Buy-In: Strategies for securing executive buy-in by presenting clear, data-driven arguments and committing to long-term goals.

  • Category Design: The role category design plays in ensuring consistent messaging and educating the market.

  • Brand Measurement: How to measure the impact of brand campaigns using tools like conversation intelligence platforms and social media metrics.

Time chapters

[00:06] Introduction 

[02:42] Julien's journey in developing executive skills

[04:39] The importance of tying ideas to targets and budget

[06:09] Operational excellence in marketing

[08:07] Navigating executive conversations and getting buy-in

[10:25] Implementing category design across the organization

[12:25] Challenges in executing long-term brand plays

[15:30] Getting buy-in from executives vs. team members

[17:28] Convincing executives with data and peer validation

[19:23] Mindset shifts in marketing

[21:26] Measuring the impact of brand & category campaigns

[24:29] Successful brand measurement strategies

[27:31] Balancing short-term results with long-term brand goals

[30:58] Introduction to marketing mix models

[32:43] Wrap-up


About Julien Sauvage

Julien Sauvage is the GVP of Marketing at Clari, leading a dynamic team of exceptional marketers.

With over 15 years in tech, including 10 in marketing, his focus is on revenue and AI technologies. He has worked with companies like Salesforce, Gong, and Talend.

His goal is simple yet ambitious – to create awareness around Clari’s category, generate a steady inbound flow, and drive the go-to-market strategy. He aims for his products to become essential for customers.

Beyond that, he’s involved in mentoring and teaching. And, he admits, he has a soft spot for 🥖 too.
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Transforming SEO & Data into Long-Term Marketing Success with Ran Yosef @Glassix25 Jun 202400:28:17

Welcome to Executive Conversations, where we explore how GTM leaders navigate executive discussions, market internally to gain support, and secure buy-in for long-term GTM strategies. In this episode of Executive Conversations, Maeva talks with Ran Yosef, VP of Marketing at Glassix.


Ran Yosef had extensive experience in various marketing roles before becoming VP of Marketing. He discusses the challenges of gaining executive buy-in, particularly for long-term strategies like SEO. Ran emphasizes understanding your executive team, showcasing the value of proposed marketing strategies, and building trust within your organization. He also provides tips on how to best align your marketing and sales teams to achieve cohesive and effective results.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Data-Driven Marketing
  • SEO marketing
  • Sales alignment

Takeaways:

  • Building Trust: Ran talks about establishing trust and how it’s crucial for getting buy-in for new ideas and strategies.
  • Understanding Executive Preferences: Tailoring presentations to the executive team’s preferences increases approval rate.
  • Proving Long-Term Value: Demonstrating the long-term benefits of strategies like SEO helps in gaining support.
  • Collaborative Effort: Working closely with sales and other departments to align.
  • Industry Knowledge: Knowing your industry and competitors make for a strong case when proposing new initiatives.

Time Chapters:

[00:07.202] Introduction

[00:58.467] Ran's journey and how he built buy-in for SEO initiatives 

[01:55.454] How to apply SEO as a primary marketing strategy

[02:54.174] The importance of understanding executive teams for successful buy-in

[05:15.838] How to tailor information to different exec’s preferences

[07:42.814] Evaluating tech stacks

[10:15.682] Aligning marketing and sales teams

[13:01.854] Implementing tools to improve processes

[16:38.11] How to pitch long-term marketing strategies

[17:33.886] Demonstrating the long-term value of SEO to executives

[20:09.374] Strategic SEO: Knowing your personas and crafting effective content

[24:08.61] Building trust within your organization

[27:40.354] Closing remarks


About Ran Yosef:

Ran Yosef, Glassix’s VP of Marketing, is a leading figure in AI-enhanced customer communication. With over a decade of innovative marketing strategies under his belt, Ran has significantly contributed to the growth of several startups.

From SEO to PPC, Demand Generation, and Marketing Ops, Ran has helped numerous companies thrive in highly competitive markets.

Hosting the Glassix Spotlight, a leading CX & AI podcast, Ran is deeply committed to the art of storytelling, believing in its power to engage and inspire. Ran’s visionary leadership and unwavering dedication not only drive Glassix’s success but also significantly influence the evolving landscape of AI-driven customer communications.


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