Shows
Marketing 911Bridging the Gap: Sales and Marketing AlignmentGone are the days when marketing could toss leads over the wall to sales and call it a day. True organizational alignment—where sales, marketing, product, and customer experience teams share vision, goals, and KPIs—has become the critical foundation for go-to-market success.In this candid conversation with Christie Styer, founder of the boutique go-to-market agency Athena, we explore how the most successful companies are breaking down silos and creating seamless customer journeys. Drawing from her experience leading global teams at Cisco responsible for $700 million in revenue, Christy shares both painful lessons and breakthrough strategies that transformed orga...2025-05-0816 minMarketing 911Personalization Power: The AI Revolution in Marketing - Live from MarketverseEver wondered how banks and financial institutions manage to send millions of personalized messages daily? The answer lies at the fascinating intersection of AI, data analysis, and privacy management.Sanjay Ramchandani, Executive Vice President specializing in MarTech, pulls back the curtain on how major financial institutions build comprehensive customer profiles—transitioning from unknown prospects to fully known customers through ethical data collection and analysis. He explains how these profiles feed into AI algorithms that determine the perfect products and offers for each individual, ensuring marketing is relevant rather than generic.The technological evolution is staggering. Wh...2025-04-2414 minMarketing 911AI at Scale: Personalization Beyond Automation - Live from MarketverseScaling personalization across 150,000 SKUs worldwide sounds impossible, but for Fabio Ranieri, Head of Go-to-Market Innovation at HP, it's exactly the challenge his team is tackling with AI. Speaking from Austin, Texas, Fabio reveals how HP has moved beyond basic automation to create truly personalized experiences that resonate across vastly different global markets."Content needs to be less of a seller and more of a helper," explains Fabio, highlighting the fundamental shift in how HP approaches customer communications. Rather than simply translating marketing materials, they're developing sophisticated digital twins of customer segments to understand how the exact same...2025-04-1718 minMarketing 911PR in the AI Era - Live from MarketverseThe media landscape is transforming rapidly, leaving both journalists and PR professionals scrambling to adapt. How do you cut through a journalist's inbox that receives 1,500 pitches daily? What happens when AI-generated content floods these already overflowing channels? And most surprisingly—could the humble phone call be making a comeback?Declan Waters, founder of Waters Agency, sits down with hosts Brian Bakstan and Richard Bliss in Austin, Texas to share insider knowledge from his 25 years in the PR industry. Fresh from conversations with reporters at Fortune, Forbes, and other major publications, Waters reveals that despite our digital-first world, pe...2025-04-1016 minMarketing 911AI Beyond the Hype: Strategic Applications for MarketersAre you using AI strategically in your marketing efforts, or just scratching the surface of its capabilities? In this eye-opening episode of Marketing 911, host Richard Bliss and co-host Brian Bakstran welcome AI implementation expert Ford Saeks to challenge everything you thought you knew about artificial intelligence in marketing.Ford cuts through the AI hype to deliver a profound reality check: most marketers are treating advanced AI tools like "glorified Google" instead of engaging in meaningful dialogues that unlock their true potential. He outlines a comprehensive framework of four AI implementation levels that every organization should understand...2025-04-0323 minMarketing 911Behind the Mic with Brian Bakstran, Richard Bliss, and Jon MellonEver wondered what happens when the mics stay hot after a podcast recording? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we pull back the curtain on an unscripted conversation between three successful executives as they reflect on what they genuinely admire about each other.The conversation reveals fascinating insights about what truly matters in leadership. Jon Mellon's command of language and impeccable dress sense spark a discussion about how personal presentation becomes a professional differentiator—but only when used to extend respect rather than to impress. Brian Bakstran's authenticity, loyalty, and principled approach to business demonstrate how character forms th...2025-03-2009 minMarketing 911Nothing Matters Until a Sale is Made: Bridging the Gap Between Sales and MarketingWhat happens when a finance professional finds himself thrust into sales leadership? John Mellon, former President of Blanco Technology, takes us on a fascinating journey through his unexpected career trajectory and the lessons learned along the way."You've got to figure out why customers give us their money," was the advice that transformed Mellon's career path from potential CFO to sales and marketing executive. This pivotal shift revealed a timeless truth he shares with our listeners: trust, not tactics, drives successful customer relationships. Through failures and successes, Mellon discovered that building trust through empathy and insight trumps...2025-03-2020 minMarketing 911Cracking the Brand Code: Bridging Brand and Demand in B2B MarketingWhat happens when brand marketing and demand generation collide? Emily Miller, VP of Branding, reveals the powerful synergy that's reshaping B2B marketing strategy. Gone are the days when brand teams operated in ivory towers while demand teams drove business metrics - today's competitive landscape demands their seamless integration.Miller shares a stunning statistic: 95% of B2B buyers aren't actively purchasing at any given moment. This reality transforms how we should view brand building - not as a luxury, but as essential groundwork that keeps your company relevant until prospects enter buying mode. "If somebody asks you...2025-03-0628 min
On the Road with Rick CurrierBridging Sales & Marketing: Leadership Lessons with Brian BakstranIn this episode, Rick Currier sits down with Brian Bakstran, Board Member at CMO Alliance, to explore his career journey from sales to marketing leadership, including key roles at CA Technologies, NetApp, and Veeam. Brian shares insights from his time as an acting CMO, discussing the importance of aligning with sales, navigating global marketing challenges, and the power of mentorship. Rick and Brian also dive into the value of feedback, work-life balance, and the role of strong professional relationships in career growth.2025-02-2641 minMarketing 911Mastering AI-Driven Marketing Strategies: Revolutionizing Workflows and Breaking BarriersUnleash the hidden power of AI in marketing with insights from Tim Freestone, Chief Marketing Officer at KiteWorks. Discover how AI is not just a tool but a game-changer in strategic marketing workflows, as Tim shares the remarkable ways it reshapes brainstorming and go-to-market strategies. From significant reductions in product launch times to the creation of a deep feature library, learn how KiteWorks is leading the charge in integrating AI to streamline processes and manage marketing collateral. This episode sheds light on AI's vast potential at a strategic level, promising listeners valuable takeaways on staying competitive in an ever-evolving...2025-02-2022 minMarketing 911Mastering Marketing and Sales Alignment: Bridging the Gap for High-Tech SuccessPrepare to unlock the secrets of seamless marketing and sales alignment with our special guest, Eric Mann, a veteran in the sales leadership arena. Discover fresh perspectives on how bridging the gap between these two crucial departments can significantly elevate the success of high-tech campaigns. Eric brings his wealth of experience to the discussion, emphasizing the power of result-oriented collaboration and the art of handling tough questions from both sides. We delve into the dynamic relationships between marketing managers and sales leaders and explore how field marketing professionals can adeptly navigate corporate expectations while catering to field needs.2025-02-0625 minMarketing 911Part 3 - Days 61-100 of the new job and mastering changeUnlock the secrets to mastering a new role within your organization as we explore the nuanced journey from the honeymoon phase to the reality of a new job role. Imagine transitioning from excitement to the challenging grind, where understanding each team member's unique response to change becomes crucial. Join Brian Bakstran and Richard Bliss as they navigate these waters, revealing strategies to overcome resistance and effectively communicate the personal benefits of change. Discover how to identify and empower champions who will support you in building trust, ensuring a smoother transition and long-term success.In this episode of...2025-01-2517 minMarketing 911Part 2 Mastering the Midpoint: Navigating Days 31-60 in Your New Marketing RoleTransform your marketing career by mastering the essential strategies to succeed in a new role. With "Marketing 911," co-hosts Brian Bakstran and Richard Bliss promise to arm you with the tools to navigate the critical days 31 to 60 of your marketing journey. Discover how an external expert's fresh perspective can be the game-changer you need to propose impactful changes that align seamlessly with your company's goals. We'll unpack the vital steps of presenting findings, seeking guidance, and executing a strategic plan that sets the stage for long-term success.Delve into the evolving role of marketing executives as revenue generators...2025-01-1119 minMarketing 911Part 1 Mastering A New Marketing Leadership Role: Crafting a 30, 60, 90-Day Transition PlanUnlock the secret to seamless transitions in your marketing leadership role with insights from Brian Bakstran on Marketing 911. Discover how crafting a 30, 60, 90-day plan can set the stage for success. Our conversation starts with the critical first 30 days, where embarking on a "listening tour" becomes your golden ticket to understanding your new environment. Brian shares his wisdom on engaging with colleagues, gathering honest feedback, and building trust, drawing intriguing parallels to personal experiences in the dating world. With his guidance, you’ll learn how to engage with sales executives, directors, and product management to truly understand the internal landscape of...2024-12-2820 minMarketing 911Mastering Company Acquisitions: Navigating Cultural Compatibility and Marketing ChallengesMaster the art of successful company acquisitions and integrations in this engaging episode. Discover the critical importance of cultural compatibility and strategic planning as we unravel the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses when expanding their product lines or merging with other entities. From historical successes to cautionary tales, we explore how aligning company cultures and understanding target audiences can lead to seamless integrations, while mismatches can spell disaster. Get ready to dive into the intricate world of acquisitions and integrations with our insightful guest experts. Join us as we navigate the complex marketing hurdles in company a...2024-12-1321 min
Digital-First LeadershipEp. 25- Sales and Marketing Teams Working Together with Brian BakstranIn this episode of Digital First Leadership, Richard is joined by Brian Bakstran, Senior Vice President Global Marketing at Veeam. Brian shares lots of insight, such as how Veeam has found success on a global level by getting the sales and marketing teams working together on shared goals, and how leaders can make an impact to their employees during times of change and crisis.Host: Richard BlissGuest: Brian BakstranPodcast Manager: Kimberly SmithFollow Richard Bliss on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bliss/Find Brian Bakstran on LinkedIn: https://www.l...2022-06-0716 min
Forward Thinking Experts026 Invest in Your Emotional Intelligence with Phil JohnsonJoin me as I interview Phil Johnson on the EdTech Speaks podcast. Phil has been featured at many events (virtual and physical) and audiences have gotten tremendous value from it. We hope you will, too!Phil is the Founder of the Master of Business Leadership (MBL) executive coaching program. For the past 21 years, he has been helping executives and their organizations achieve remarkable results through Emotional Intelligence. There are MBL alumni in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Saudi Arabia.He leaves us with a solid piece...2022-03-2844 min