The Exit Five CMO Podcast (Hosted by Dave Gerhardt)

Mark Schaefer, a marketing strategist and author of 11 books, shares his insights on navigating marketing in the AI era. He discusses why playing it safe is a major threat and how marketers should innovate rather than stick to 'best practices.' Schaefer highlights the significance of creating emotional connections through human-first marketing, and he argues that AI can enhance creativity if used wisely. Real-world B2B examples showcase how brands can break away from the mundane and truly stand out.

In this discussion, Matt De Vincentis, VP of Product Marketing at Atlassian, shares insights from his diverse background in engineering and product marketing. He emphasizes how product marketers must 'own the outcome,' connecting their efforts directly to revenue. Matt also discusses building high-trust marketing teams, using lessons from firefighting. He advocates for an async work culture to boost productivity and addresses the importance of aligning marketing strategies with business goals, ultimately revealing how to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

Pranav Piyush, Founder and CEO of Paramark, shares insights from his platform that revolutionizes B2B ad testing. He reveals real results from seven ad campaigns, including branded search and billboards, challenging common misconceptions about testing. Pranav explains the crucial differences between correlation and causation and stresses the importance of structured experiments. He also discusses how small teams can strategically use a modest budget to enhance their marketing efforts and drive impressive ROI.

Dive into the thrill of marketing, where creativity meets the power of community. Discover how AI is reshaping the landscape, providing tools that elevate efficiency and innovation. Unpack the joy of events in marketing, from successful fundraisers to networking opportunities that bring people together. Plus, learn about a game-changing no-code email platform that streamlines communication and lets marketers take charge of their audience. It's all about making connections and embracing the future!

Kieran Flanagan, SVP of Marketing at HubSpot and former CMO at Zapier, shares his insights on the future of B2B marketing driven by AI. He discusses how AI is transforming workflows and content creation while emphasizing the need for marketers to specialize at the edges of creativity and technical execution. Kieran also reveals his unique leadership style that fosters direct feedback and creativity within a large team. Listeners will learn practical strategies for staying innovative and indispensable in an evolving marketing landscape.

In this discussion, Sarah McNamara, a Revenue Operations expert at Vector, and Alex Fine, co-founder of Understory, dive into the often-overlooked world of email deliverability. They reveal why deliverability matters even more than subject lines and share metrics that truly count. Listeners learn how to spot potential issues early and protect their domain reputation. Insights on tools for monitoring deliverability, the importance of reply rates over clicks, and strategies for warming up inboxes make this a must-listen for B2B marketers.

Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase, shares her expertise in leading a large marketing organization with a focus on full-funnel strategies. She discusses how to structure teams that include brand, content, and SDRs while ensuring alignment on pipeline goals. Kelly dives into the importance of balancing short-term targets with long-term positioning and reveals her team's innovative use of AI. With insights on adapting to market dynamics and effective annual planning, she provides valuable advice for B2B marketing leaders looking to scale their efforts.

Kira Federer, VP of SMB Marketing at Paramount Advertising and former leader at Reddit and Glassdoor, shares her insights on the synergy between sales and marketing. She discusses the importance of co-creation to ensure the sales team embraces marketing content. Kira emphasizes crafting a strong messaging framework to maintain consistency and highlights timing for product launches to resonate with both teams and the market. Her journey from sales to product marketing offers valuable lessons on building a cohesive narrative and clear brand positioning.

In this conversation, Charlotte Hardin, Lifecycle Marketing Manager at Rebuy Engine, and Naomi West, Senior Product Manager at Customer.io, dive into the art of lifecycle marketing. They share insights on crafting engaging welcome sequences and the importance of A/B testing, even with small audiences. The duo emphasizes maintaining user engagement post-onboarding through behavior-based triggers and surprise moments. They also discuss the role of AI in streamlining workflows and the need for continuous adaptation and creativity in B2B marketing strategies.

Josh Lowman, Founder and Creative Director of Gold Front, dives into the art of category creation for B2B marketing. He discusses why most efforts fail and outlines the four paths to category leadership: create, transform, niche, or go solo. The conversation highlights the significance of defining irreplaceability and aligning brand strategy with market perception using examples like Drift and Notion. Josh emphasizes the need for a cohesive marketing approach that understands product ethos, helping companies stand out in a crowded landscape.