The Exit Five CMO Podcast (Hosted by Dave Gerhardt)

#199: Marketing Leadership | From Employee #4 to CMO: The Path to Marketing Leadership with Sylvia Lepoidevin, CMO at Kandji

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Dec 5, 2024

Sylvia Lepoidevin, CMO at Kandji, shares her remarkable ascent from employee #4 to CMO, showcasing her expertise in marketing leadership. She discusses how AI is revolutionizing team efficiency and fostering smaller, agile groups. Sylvia also emphasizes the significance of effective internal marketing strategies to energize cross-functional teams. Her insights on storytelling in meetings and the successful launch of campaigns provide valuable lessons for aspiring marketers, highlighting the power of collaboration in driving brand growth.

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ANECDOTE

From First Hire to CMO

Sylvia Lepoidevin, CMO at Kandji, joined as employee #4 and first marketing hire.
The company, now with 300 employees and an $850M valuation, initially chose its name because the domain was available.

ANECDOTE

Early Career Path

Sylvia's career goal was to become CMO by 30.
Before Kandji, she worked at Flowcast, growing the marketing function at an accounting software company, and then DataFox which got acquired by Oracle.

INSIGHT

Understanding Equity

Many people lack practical understanding of equity, even late-career professionals.
Negotiating equity demonstrates vision, buy-in, and long-term thinking, earning respect during hiring.

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In this episode, Dave is joined by Sylvia Lepoidevin, CMO of Kandji, a leading platform for managing and securing Apple devices in the workplace. Sylvia shares her journey from employee #4 to CMO at Kandji, driving the company’s growth to a $850M valuation. She talks about her experience building efficient marketing teams, leveraging AI, and creating impactful brand experiences.

Dave and Sylvia cover:

How AI is reshaping marketing roles and enabling smaller, more efficient teams
Strategies for internal marketing that align and energize cross-functional teams
Product launches and creative campaigns for brand-driven growth

Timestamps

(00:00) - - Intro to Sylvia
(05:22) - - From 1st Marketing Hire to CMO
(10:07) - - Understanding Equity and Financial Outcomes
(12:49) - - Wealth and Career Growth
(15:29) - - Why It’s Important to Have a Clear Career Narrative
(20:21) - - Mastering Storytelling in Team Meetings
(25:55) - - How to Engage Your Team
(26:31) - - Leveraging Feedback Loops to Build a Successful Team
(32:02) - - AI Is Enabling Smaller, More Efficient Teams
(35:45) - - AI’s Impact on Marketing
(38:45) - - How Kandji Is Expanding Their Team
(41:36) - - Achieving 10x Growth Through Product-Led Strategies
(45:16) - - Leveraging Competitor and Apple-Specific Keywords
(48:40) - - Minimizing Hiring Risk: Test Roles First

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