The NTM Growth Marketing Podcast

“I was inspired by The Practice Space’s mission, which is about helping people communicate authentically in a way that celebrates their identity.” -Diana Medina   Diana Medina is a first-generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, she has been unwavering in her commitment to championing causes that fortify, empower, and educate communities of color. Currently, she serves as the Head of Storytelling and Marketing at The Practice Space, a nonprofit organization in the Bay Area dedicated to advancing inclusion, developing empathy, and amplifying underrepresented voices through public speaking education for both youth and adults. In this episode, we delve into a riveting discussion with Diana about The Practice Space and her experiences leading up to her role with the company.   Website: https://www.practice-space.org/about-us/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TPSnonprofit LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dianamedina8327 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tpsnonprofit/

“The ability to adapt, whether it’s to the consumer or to the data that you see or to the trends… really allows you to grow and take advantage of the opportunities in front of you.” -Sam Nehme   Sam Nehme is a people-first marketing expert, passionate about implementing systems to propel business growth. His journey into the marketing world was serendipitous, an “accident” fueled by a referral from his sister. Fresh out of college with a degree that blended business, theater, psychology, and philosophy, he found these disciplines– seemingly disparate– naturally converging into the multifaceted landscape of marketing. In this episode, Sam shares his tale of how he charted a course through the world of marketing.   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samnehme 

“The riches are in the niches.” -Ryan Englin   Ryan Englin is passionate about supporting growing businesses, particularly in the blue-collar industries, to build amazingly productive companies by hiring the right people. Growing up, he saw his own father working 12-hour shifts and weekends as an owner/operator, witnessing firsthand the struggles that these companies have in hiring quality frontline employees. Ryan was determined to help them find a better way. His company, Core Matters, provides coaching and training on attracting, hiring, and retaining rock-star employees. Using his proven process, the Core Fit Hiring System, small and midsize businesses learn how to start hiring better people, faster. With almost a decade in the business, Ryan has worked with over a hundred clients, helping business owners achieve their goals by hiring the right people. In this interview, Ryan brings a refreshingly authentic perspective to an often misconstrued process.    Website: https://corematters.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecorematters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corematters/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecorematters/

“Language is more than just how we communicate and how we connect, right? It also can convey who you are and why you should or should not be monetized and taken seriously.” -Kanene Ayo Holder   Kanene Ayo Holder is a renowned inclusive marketing, AI ethics expert and diversity consultant. With three National Endowment for the Humanities awards and an extensive background in education and interactive theater, she transforms learning experiences for corporations, schools, and non-profit organizations. Her work has been awarded with a Colin Powell Fellowship for Policy Study and numerous published contributions and speaking engagements on equity and the future of work. As the AI Integrations Manager for DEIGPT, an ethical and inclusive AI model, Kanene empowers individuals and companies to develop effective, responsible AI strategies. She is excited to leverage her expertise to bridge the worlds of marketing, AI, and diversity, shaping the future of inclusion. Recently, Kanene launched FutureFixer (futurefixer.ai) to support companies and leaders be more inclusive by leveraging her academic and anecdotal research across sectors and industries to accelerate innovation informed by inclusion. In this episode, we see Kanene unravel the essence of making AI, Marketing, HR, and everything in between as inclusive and prepared for what lies ahead.   Website: https://www.futurefixer.ai/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kanene.holder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaneneayoholder/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackissuesissues/

“Personalization is labor-intensive, yet it’s an area where we excel, offering an undeniable added value.” -Amire Saade   Amire Saade is a passionate graphic designer who has ventured into the dynamic world of marketing. Having worked in various industries, she has honed the ability to adjust to new challenges. Currently, she is the Head of Marketing at CGBot, finding joy blending aesthetics with strategy. Amire’s journey is defined by a love for digital marketing, effective communication, and the art of employer branding. In each project, she strives to create visually compelling narratives that resonate and leave a lasting impact. In this interview, we discuss the intersection of passion and strategy that’s reshaping the landscape of digital art and video game development.    Website: https://cgbot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CGBot/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cgbot/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgbotofficial/

“Impact can be measured purely in dollars, or it can be measured in impact, which is the effect that our programs have had on changing the lives of children.” -Shelley Diamond Shelley is a passionate builder of global brands and businesses, with expertise across an integrated array of communications disciplines. As one of the highest ranking female executives in advertising (named the 11th Most Powerful Woman in Advertising by Business Insider, among other accolades,) Shelley has helped champion marketing transformation for domestic and global clients in both the consumer and B-to-B spaces. In this interview, Shelley emphasizes that marketing should be viewed as an investment, integral to achieving impact through advocacy and program success, not just as an expense on the balance sheet. For innovation, UNICEF focuses on program effectiveness, leveraging technology, partnerships, and bold actions to further children's rights, education, and well-being, and to adapt to challenges like misinformation and difficult terrains for vaccine delivery. The organization integrates brand and performance marketing, identifying and targeting audiences likely to engage with and support UNICEF's mission. They aim to expand their reach and tailor their approach based on audience interests and advocacy, all while navigating the nonprofit sector's focus on expense versus program ratio. Shelley encourages visiting UNICEF's website to see their innovative marketing efforts and learn more about how they maintain relevance with real-time content sharing and amplification across channels. Website: https://www.unicefusa.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNICEF-USA/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-diamond/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicefusa/

“We have to make sure that we’re helping everybody, not just holding their hand, but not walking them into danger, either. That they really feel safe, that they’re in the right place, doing the right thing at the right time.” -Fiona Naughton Adrianne is passionate about storytelling and loves helping brands effectively showcase their value and mission through the power of compelling content. She is a seasoned content creator and has experience managing digital copy, social media, email marketing and public relations campaigns to help nonprofits, corporations and startups successfully grow their organization. Fiona is a seasoned, international marketer who has thrived at the intersection of money and tech for over thirty years and loves new things. In this interview, we explore the stark contrasts between marketing in Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, mentioning the allure of Web 3.0's uncharted opportunities. Fiona notes a one-way door effect—once individuals engage deeply in Web 3.0, they're unlikely to return to Web 2.0. Adrianne highlights the educational aspects required for onboarding new users into Web 3.0. They also discuss their success with content differentiation, customer activations, and outreach through Discord, where they have built an engaged community. Finally, they share how CoinZoom handles Crypto's rapid pace and the continuous education required for users. Website: https://www.coinzoom.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoinZoom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coinzoomhq/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coinzoom/

"A CMO Sidekick is whatever you want it to be, right? It’s your partner in crime. It’s your sounding board. It’s a person to help you fill in all of the tasks that you need done.” -Lindsey Scheftic Lindsey is driven by tenacity, she is a multi-faceted marketing leader and “fixer” – adept at auditing businesses, pinpointing gaps and opportunities to accelerate growth. With expertise spanning digital media, emerging tech, entertainment partnerships, and innovative product launches, Lindsey embraces unique perspectives to tackle marketing challenges. In this interview, Lindsey discusses the evolving nature of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) role and the importance of adapting to changes in the industry. She coined the term "CMO sidekick" to describe the central idea behind her business model: providing a strategic support system for overburdened senior marketing leaders. According to Lindsey, the responsibilities of modern CMOs have expanded to include brand health, driving growth, as well as utilizing new technologies like AI and automation for resource efficiency and better strategy development. Website: https://thecmosidekick.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseyscheftic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecmosidekick/

“We’re not just building a product that the market needs; we’re building a product that the market already has, technically. But… we’re taking it a step further and we’re actually caring about the customer beyond the sale of the product.” -Joe Mehl With over a decade of experience in marketing, Joe Mehl stands out as a seasoned professional in the field. His expertise lies in social media branding and growth, making him a key player in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing. Joe’s journey in marketing reflects not only a commitment to professional growth, but also a deep appreciation for the personal connections that make life truly meaningful. In this interview, Joe discusses the company's growth, which is attributed to listening to customers and delivering an RV ownership experience that truly supports them beyond the sale, especially when issues arise. Joe’s marketing approach for RVs taps into the emotional connections people make with the vehicles and the experiences they enable, such as travel and family time. He utilizes various social media platforms for brand awareness and engagement, depending on where the audience's attention is found, with YouTube catering to an older demographic and quick videos aimed at a broader audience. Website: https://alliancerv.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllianceRVs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mehl-a0498832/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliance_rv/

"Once you understand that AI can be used as a tool and leveraged, it becomes less intimidating." -Kent Martin Kent, a fractional CMO at No Typical Moments, discusses the importance of AI in digital marketing and organic content strategy. His three key points include: 1. The vital role of curating AI in the future and leveraging it as a tool rather than fearing job replacement. AI, as it stands, is a complex algorithm and hasn't achieved true intelligence or passed the Turing Test. Kent uses AI tools like ChatGPT regularly to summarize information, understand market trends, and formulate better prompts over time by applying logical questions and learning from the output. 2. The value of organic digital content in improving conversion rates and shortening sales cycles. Kent emphasizes nurturing an audience with organic content in tandem with paid campaigns, helping prospects reach a level of trust before they interact with calls to action. He cites Linktree and digital influencers as examples of successful content curation, focused on resonating with social algorithms. 3. The consistency of digital marketing principles such as providing value, despite changing strategies and tactics. Kent advocates for an "always be content" approach, making sure content aligns with business value propositions. He warns against attempting to game algorithms with fake followers or untested campaigns, highlighting the long-term effects of focusing on substance and value. Kent concludes by reiterating the importance of providing value to the audience, reverse engineering content from the desired customer journey outcome, and building sustainable success through valuable content and strong marketing foundations.   Website: https://notypicalmoments.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-typical-moments-llc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4G7csw9j7zpjdASvpMzqUA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notypicalmoments Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTMoments