Why 97% of B2B Leads Fail—And What to Do Instead

In this episode of the Marketing Scientists Podcast, Kerry Cunningham, former Forrester analyst and now Head of Research at 6sense, unpacks the broken state of B2B marketing. He explains why most MQLs are a dead-end, how the concept of “buying groups” is transforming the demand funnel, and how third-party intent data—when combined with AI—can actually deliver real insight. Kerry also shares the backstory behind the famous Demand Unit Waterfall, reveals what most marketers get wrong about in-market signals, and offers a data-backed strategy for winning more high-intent buyers.

About the Guest:

Kerry Cunningham is a leading B2B marketing strategist and researcher, currently serving as Head of Research at 6sense. Previously, he helped design the Demand Unit Waterfall during his time at SiriusDecisions and Forrester. With decades of experience in B2B marketing innovation, Kerry brings unmatched insight into intent data, marketing measurement, and the science of modern revenue generation.