Remarkable Content with Ian Faison

The New York Times isn’t just a newspaper; it’s a cultural institution, a daily habit, and a brand that has reinvented itself for every generation. That’s why in this episode, we’re taking lessons from their playbook with the help of our special guest Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer of VaynerX.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building credibility into daily routines, using gamification and surprise to drive engagement, and picking the right moments to move fast while staying relevant.About our guest, Avery AkkineniA pioneer in digital marketing and emerging tech, Avery Akkineni spearheads brand strategy, content, events, and communications as Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX.In seven years at Vayner, Avery has catalyzed exponential growth by launching new companies and leading international expansion. She built VaynerMedia APAC from the ground up to over 150 employees in two years, opened key Asia Pacific markets like Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, and Tokyo. During her tenure, VaynerMedia APAC was awarded Marketing Interactive's Agency of the Year. In 2021, Avery founded Vayner3, an innovation consultancy focused on emerging technologies like AI and Web3. Under her leadership, Vayner3 achieved significant industry acclaim; she was named an Ad Age Web3 Trailblazer, and an AI Thought Leader by Business Insider. Her proven ability to identify and leverage leading-edge channels to drive growth for Vayner and her brand partners has landed Avery advisory roles including Salesforce’s AI Council, Meta’s Creative Council, TikTok's #ForYouCollective, Tracer's Advisory Board, and with a weekly marketers podcast on CoinDesk (GenC).Based in Miami, FL overseeing VaynerX's local office, Avery continues to push boundaries in marketing. She is a sought-after speaker on modern marketing and digital innovation, who empowers teams and companies to embrace new opportunities. She also serves on the Board of Peace Players, an organization using the power of sport to build peaceful and thriving communities.What B2B Companies Can Learn From The New York Times:Build credibility into daily routines. The New York Times succeeds because it has become a trusted part of people’s everyday habits. For B2B brands, the lesson is to earn that same consistent place in your audience’s workflow. As Avery explains:“To me, the credibility of The New York Times is why I want to check there first and understand their point of view. What are the big stories of today.” When buyers trust your perspective enough to seek it daily, your brand moves from optional to indispensable.Use gamification and surprise to drive engagement. NYT didn’t just sell news—it made puzzles, games, and even cooking content part of its brand fabric. That levity created stickiness. Avery puts it this way: “The New York Times integration with their incredible games has really helped drive up that frequency… I play with my friends, everybody shares their scores… and I think that really drives up that frequency and user adoption and makes The New York Times even more relevant.” In B2B, “serious” brands can still add fun, surprise, or delight to deepen connection and engagement.Pick your moments and move fast. The Times doesn’t try to beat TikTok on breaking news—it chooses credibility as its edge, while still responding with speed when it matters. Avery notes:“You don’t need to have a thought on everything. You have a thought on certain things—what matters for you and, as a brand, what matters for your consumers. Either we’re part of the conversation or we’re not.” For B2B, that means defining the moments where your voice is essential, and showing up quickly with relevance and confidence.Quote“ You don’t need to have a thought on everything. You have a thought on certain things—what matters for you and as a brand, what matters for your consumers. Either we’re part of the conversation or we’re not.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer of VaynerX01:05 Why The New York Times?01:53 The Role of CMO at VaynerX02:42 Gary Vaynerchuk's Influencer09:51 Behind-the-Scenes of NYT25:58 B2B Marketing Lessons from NYT38:35 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Avery on LinkedInLearn more about VaynerXAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Penn State Football isn’t just a sport; it’s a tradition, a community, and a way of life. That same mindset should guide how we think about B2B marketing.That’s why in this episode, we’re taking lessons from Penn State’s legacy with the help of our special guest Jill Ransome, SVP of Marketing and Communications at Unite Us.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building a brand people rally behind, leaning into differentiation, and playing the long game with consistency to drive lasting impact.About our guest, Jill RansomeJill Ransome is a seasoned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience leading brand, communications, and growth strategies for technology and software companies. Currently SVP of Marketing at Unite Us, Jill previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at Jitterbit, where she led global brand transformation and demand generation efforts. She’s spent much of her career in high-growth environments, bringing a passion for storytelling, strategic execution, and building scalable marketing engines. Jill holds a B.S. in Global Marketing from Pennsylvania State University and lives in Fairfield, Connecticut.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Penn State Football:Build a brand people rally behind. Penn State thrives on pride, emotion, and community, and Jill says B2B brands need the same. “Build a brand that your fans, your followers, your constituents really believe in and rally behind. What Penn State does really well is it’s consistent. It’s emotional and it’s human.” Even in B2B, you need advocates who feel connected enough to share, refer, and champion your story.Lean into differentiation. Just as Penn State owns its “Linebacker U” reputation, companies must find what sets them apart. “From a marketing strategy perspective, you always need to be… thinking about what is your differentiation in the market that’s going to set your brand apart.” In crowded B2B categories, leaning into your unique story is what attracts the right buyers.Play the long game with consistency. Penn State football hasn’t changed its brand for decades, and that repetition builds equity. Jill points out: “They have been the same navy, blue and white design for decades upon decades… it comes back to brand… You don’t see success overnight. It’s something that’s built over time with consistency.” Marketing results don’t happen instantly; they come from committing to your identity and showing up over time.Quote“ I think good marketers are great storytellers, but you can't be a great storyteller unless you're a good listener. You have to listen and learn from your buyers. You have to listen and learn from your frontline. You have to listen and learn from the world around you.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Jill Ransome, SVP of Marketing and Communications at Unite Us[01:53] Why Penn State Football?[02:50] Role of SVP of Marketing at Unite Us[03:53] Penn State Football: Tradition and Identity[19:08]  B2B Marketing Lessons from Penn State Football[26:39] Brand and Marketing Strategies at Unite Us[29:47] Effective Content and Campaigns[36:24] Advice for CMOs[38:02] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Jill on LinkedInLearn more about Unite UsAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A masterpiece doesn’t have to be simple. Sometimes the most powerful stories emerge from complexity, cohesion, and staying power.That’s the lesson of Picasso’s Guernica, a chaotic painting that, when viewed as a whole, tells a timeless story. In this episode, we explore its marketing lessons with the help of our special guest Jerome Stewart, Chief Marketing Officer at Conviva.Together, we uncover what B2B marketers can learn from building campaigns with a unifying story, turning complexity into an advantage, and creating content designed to resonate long after launch.About our guest, Jerome StewartJerome Stewart is the Chief Marketing Officer at Conviva. He is a dynamic and people-driven marketing executive with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, elevating brand visibility, and driving revenue growth in early-stage and industry-leading technology companies. Jerome is an experienced global leader with six years of international business experience outside the USA, as well as an accomplished Amazon bestselling author.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Guernica:Campaigns need a unifying story. Guernica shows how fragmented, chaotic elements can form one powerful story. Jerome says, “Each one of those [individual pictures] stands out, but when you take a step back and you look at it in its entirety. Indeed, there is a cohesive story.” Marketing works the same way; every asset matters, but true impact comes when the pieces connect into a bigger, memorable narrative.Complexity can be an advantage. At first glance, Guernica looks disorganized and overwhelming. However, his chaotic canvas still communicates a clear message. Jerome points out, “Maybe some people look at a more modern artistic style… and you can say, ‘Hey, this just looks really messy.’ But as I say, dig in a little bit deeper and you see there's a very rich story.” In marketing, don’t be afraid of layered stories. Campaigns that invite discovery can spark deeper connection and longer attention.Strive for timeless content. Picasso’s painting still sparks reflection nearly a century later. Jerome connects this to marketing: “We’re trying to tell stories and we’re trying to come up with stories that stand out and that maybe stand the test of time. That will resonate into the future.” Campaigns should be built with staying power, not just to make noise at launch but to linger and influence long after.Quote“A bar  to hold ourselves against is did we tell a story? Was it clear? And something else that Picasso did brilliantly well, he took something as complex as war, and he didn’t simplify it in any way. He did something cohesive. [We have to]  challenge ourselves to do the best that we possibly can to tell those stories.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Jerome Stewart, Chief Marketing Officer at Conviva[01:34] Why Guernica?[06:57] Visiting Guernica and Its Impact[14:58] Role as CMO at Conviva[16:45] Understanding Guernica[28:08] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Guernica[35:31] Marketing Insights and Strategies[42:27] Advice for CMOs[44:53] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Jerome on LinkedInLearn more about ConvivaAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Big budgets and star power don’t guarantee success. Sometimes it takes time, refinement, and the right story to win an audience.That’s the journey of The Gilded Age, the HBO drama that overcame early skepticism to become a hit. In this episode, we dig into its marketing parallels with the help of our special guest Laura Goldberg, Chief Marketing Officer at Auctane.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from practicing patience, locking in product-market fit, and doubling down when momentum builds to gain lasting growth.About our guest, Laura GoldbergLaura Goldberg is the Chief Marketing Officer at Auctane. She is a seasoned, operations-driven go-to-market executive with a proven track record of propelling software companies to new heights, particularly serving small and medium sized businesses (SMBs), a vital segment for Auctane. Goldberg excels in crafting data-driven marketing strategies that resonate with customer needs, and her expertise will be key in advancing Auctane's mission to deliver exceptional shipping and mailing experiences to businesses worldwide.Previously, Laura was the CMO at Constant Contact, a digital marketing platform trusted by millions of small businesses and nonprofits. She has also held marketing leadership positions at Kabbage, an American Express Company, and LegalZoom, where she played key roles in driving customer growth, revenue expansion, and EBITDA improvements, leading to successful exits for both companies.What B2B Companies Can Learn From The Gilded Age:Patience is essential. The Gilded Age wasn’t an overnight success—it built momentum slowly, and Laura sees the same in B2B marketing. “You got to have patience. You got to see it more than once. It has to build. You may not be a… hot [thing] out of the gate. But… it’s going to build. Nobody makes a decision… with The Gilded Age, it’s a solid hour and you got to pay attention. Like you have to make a commitment to it and it takes time.” Marketing results rarely happen instantly. Success comes from committing, nurturing, and allowing campaigns to grow into traction over time.Product-market fit is non-negotiable. The show’s elaborate sets and costumes bought it some time, but what kept audiences hooked was stronger storytelling in later seasons. Laura draws a clear B2B parallel: “You may have some stumbles outta the gate… You got to deliver the goods. The product market fit, if you will, has to be there eventually. It doesn’t have to be perfect right out of the gate, but it has to get to perfect pretty quickly.” In other words: creative campaigns and strong distribution will only get you so far—if the product doesn’t ultimately deliver, marketing can’t save itLean in when you gain traction. Once The Gilded Age started buzzing online, the promotion amplified everywhere. Laura says the same is true for B2B: “Once you get traction, lean in. When I tell you that my socials, everything I see is talking about this show… I see Mr. Russell in his flower suit all over the internet. By the way, I think it’s an interview from two years ago that I keep seeing. So recycle all that stuff. But once you feel that traction gripping, lean in, repeat, be on everything. Repost, retweet… you have to lean in when you’re doing well and really get that momentum.” Marketers should maximize momentum, recycle strong content, and make sure their presence is unavoidable when the audience is paying attention.Quote“ Customer, customer, customer. I feel like too many times it’s really easy to talk about why your product’s great and what it does… but you really have to frame it in the, what are you doing for me and me being the customer. How am I making things faster, cheaper, better for your end customer with what we’re doing, and making sure that you’re not just yelling features and functionality at people.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Laura Goldberg, Chief Marketing Officer at Auctane[01:14] Why The Gilded Age?[02:57] The Role of CMO at Auctane[09:50] What is The Gilded Age?[26:28] The Craft of Period Pieces[29:19] B2B Marketing Lessons from The Gilded Age[31:43] Laura's Marketing Strategy as a CMO[37:25] Winning Across Channels[49:35] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Laura on LinkedInLearn more about AuctaneAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Not every launch succeeds on day one, but the brands that endure find ways to win over time.That’s why we’re turning to Clue, the 1985 murder mystery comedy with three different endings. Despite bombing at the box office, it grew into a beloved cult classic. In this episode, we break down its lessons with the help of special guest Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from building strategy before execution, balancing brand and demand, and embracing word-of-mouth to turn audiences into passionate advocates.About our guest, Christine RoystonChristine Royston is a visionary global marketing executive with a proven track record of scaling iconic technology brands, architecting go-to-market transformation, and driving category leadership in the enterprise SaaS space. As Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike, Christine leads the company’s worldwide marketing strategy, fueling enterprise growth, brand acceleration, and customer-centric innovation at scale.With more than 20 years of experience across global B2B markets, Christine has built and led high-performing teams at some of the world’s most recognized technology companies—including Salesforce, Dropbox, and Imperva—where she helped pioneer marketing strategies during moments of hypergrowth and IPO. She most recently served as Global Head of B2B Marketing at Udemy and as Vice President of Marketing at Bitly, where she was instrumental in repositioning both brands for business adoption and long-term growth.Christine’s executive leadership spans Sales-Led and Product-Led Growth (PLG) models, across direct sales, freemium, and self-service go-to-market motions. Her ability to unify global teams, expand into new international markets, and launch cross-functional marketing engines has positioned her as a sought-after leader in growth-stage transformation and scaled enterprise performance.An expert in enterprise marketing strategy, customer lifecycle innovation, and multi-channel demand generation, Christine has driven business results across cloud computing, cybersecurity, financial services, and manufacturing verticals. She is also known for her passion for mentoring future marketing leaders and building diverse, inclusive, and impact-driven teams.Christine holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an International MBA in Global Marketing from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. She brings a global lens to every challenge, with leadership experience spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Clue:Strategy matters more than star power. Even the best team can’t save a weak story. Clue had an all-star cast, but without a clear throughline, it flopped at the box office. Christine draws a parallel to marketing: “Even if you have the best team in the world, without a great strategy, you’re not gonna win. You’ve got to have a really fantastic strategy and a really great team to back it up, so that you can kind of play on everybody’s strengths, but you’re all pointed in the right direction.” Don’t confuse talent or resources with strategy. Success comes from aligning everyone around a clear, shared story.Balance is everything. Clue was billed as both a mystery and a comedy, but leaned heavily into the silliness, confusing audiences who expected a tighter whodunit. Christine sees the same trap in B2B: “The movie was… touted as a mystery and a comedy, but it was definitely way more on the comedy side. And so thinking about that balance… and making sure that you’re really being clear with your intent of messaging, your intent of the brand.” Great marketing requires a balance between brand, demand, clarity, and creativity. Overweighting one side leaves your audience uncertain about what you really stand for.Word of mouth is your secret weapon. Despite its failure in theaters, Clue became a cult classic through community and conversation. For Christine, that’s a marketing playbook: “The fact that it did become this cult classic highlights the importance of word of mouth. How do you make sure you’re getting in front of people who will be interested in your product, or interested in your movie, and making sure that you’re leveraging communities [and] social as a way to get in front of people who maybe aren’t going to go to the box office.” Buzz builds longevity. Beyond paid campaigns, you need advocates, communities, and conversations that keep your brand alive long after launch.Quote“ How do you differentiate yourself and do something a little different. Bring some humor into what is normally a pretty straight-laced B2B technology type of industry. I think people like a little fun in their day-to-day.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike[01:01] Why Clue?[01:24] The Role of CMO at Wrike[03:05] The Origins of Clue, The Movie[14:04] B2B Marketing Lessons from Clue[28:10] Balancing Brand vs. Demand[29:50] Wrike's Brand and Content Strategy[33:21] AI's Role in Modern Marketing[35:11] Wrike's Survey on AI's Impact[40:20] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Christine on LinkedInLearn more about WrikeAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In comedy, the punchline only works if it lands with the audience—and B2B marketing is no different.That’s what we can learn from Hacks, a show about a legendary comedian reinventing herself with the help of a Gen Z writer. In this episode, we’re breaking down its lessons with the help of special guest Jamie Bell, Chief Marketing Officer at Workshop.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from creating a “writer’s room” for fresh ideas, testing content like comedians test their sets, and embracing generational differences as a source of connection rather than division.About our guest, Jamie BellJamie Bell is the CMO at Workshop. She is a marketing leader with a passion for building brands in underestimated industries and demand engines that keep sales teams busy (in a good way!). Over the past 12+ years, Jamie has been lucky enough to work in several early- and growth-stage companies in SaaS, e-commerce, retail, and media.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Hacks:Create a “writer’s room” for marketers. Great campaigns don’t just come from formal briefs—they need a space for messy, creative riffing. Jamie explains, “We didn’t have a writer’s room, at least at Workshop, and so when I came back from maternity leave, we added a meeting. We called it the pitch deck… it’s just like an open forum for people to do like five-minute pitches, and we just creatively layer on, and it’s been a blast.” The lesson? Carve out judgment-free time for brainstorming, where small sparks can snowball into big campaigns.Test your material before scaling. Like comedians who try new jokes on the road, marketers should pilot ideas before investing heavily. Jamie notes, “She does road shows, before to test the set list. So we do some things in like our Happy Monday Club newsletter, where before we’ll like super invest in a piece of content, we’ll just see if it does better than the other content in that newsletter, and see what the reception of that is before we blow it up a bit.” The takeaway: use small, low-risk formats to gauge response, then double down on what resonates.Bridge generational divides head-on. Hacks thrives on the clash between an aging comedy legend and a Gen Z writer, two perspectives that seem at odds, but create brilliance together. Jamie ties this directly to marketing: “There’s so much about marketing and internal communications that I feel is around generational differences… and I think the idea that you take that relationship, you’re unapologetic about it and you just talk about it head on… I think it’s really great too.” In B2B marketing, don’t shy away from generational dynamics; embrace them as a rich source of storytelling and connection.Quote“ Employees are your best brand ambassadors, and you need to spend some effort rolling out things internally. Having employees connected to the mission, the vision, the values.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Jamie Bell, Chief Marketing Officer at Workshop[01:33] Why Hacks?[02:07] The Role of CMO at Workshop[03:07] What is the Happy Monday Club?[04:45] The Concept and Creation of Hacks[20:16] Marketing Lessons from Hacks[41:38] Importance of Community and Events[44:03] Workshops' Content Strategy[45:04] Advice for a first-time CMO[48:38] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Jamie on LinkedInLearn more about WorkshopAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Great marketing isn’t just strategy, it’s intuition, timing, and a deep understanding of human behavior. That’s the beauty of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a movie about erasing your memories. In this episode, we’re breaking down its lessons with the help of special guest Noha Rizk, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta. Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from putting human emotion at the center of their work, trusting intuition alongside data, and embracing mistakes as the path to growth.About our guest, Noha RizkNoha Rizk is the Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta. With deep expertise in Marketing, brand management, integrated channel management, product leadership, P&L accountability, and change management, across various industries and launching and leading partnerships, marketing and product in over 50 countries, Noha brings extensive experience and insights into how to execute for brand loyalty, growth and sustainable share of the market. Prior to Incorta, Noha led marketing for Meta AI, launching Llama, and leading other open source projects like PyTorch. She pioneered online banking for Amex and Citi, online booking and revenue optimisations and integrated channel strategies in the hotel industry with Starwood and Marriott, led partnerships and loyalty in emerging markets, launched NGO and Gov projects with US state department, launched and spun off two of her own successful businesses and helped organise PayPals enterprise, Platforms and Developer product offerings and streamline their GTM strategies.Noha loves to solve big problems and create groundbreaking products and services that inspire customers and business partners. She focuses on delivering insights and metrics driven outcomes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and coming up with innovative solutions. She especially enjoys building and developing strong, resilient, and nimble teams that can adapt to changing market needs and customer expectations.Noha is an avid reader, developing painter and pianist, proud mother and animal lover with a passion for helping the private sector thrive in emerging markets.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:Lead with human emotion. Great marketing isn’t about features, it’s about people. Even in B2B, you’re dealing with human psyches, behaviors, and emotions—not faceless corporations. Noha explains, “Even as B2B marketers… you’re dealing with individuals. You’re dealing with the human psyche, you’re dealing with the buying behavior… ultimately that is the objective. The objective is to maintain a relationship with your customers.” The lesson? Build messaging that connects on a human level first, because behind every buying decision is a person making sense of their own emotions.Balance data with intuition. Metrics matter, but numbers can’t capture everything. Noha argues that some of the best insights come from being present, listening, and noticing what the data can’t show. “Some things can’t be measured…A big chunk of marketing has to be intuitive. It’s not always purely scientific.” Just as the film’s dreamlike narrative reminds us memory isn’t linear or logical, B2B marketers need to leave room for creativity, serendipity, and gut instinct, because not everything that counts can be counted.Embrace mistakes as part of growth. Trying to erase failures is as dangerous in marketing as it is in memory. Noha points out, “You can’t just erase away the pain… you won’t learn if you don’t make mistakes. A lot of marketers have to be super buttoned up, their campaigns have to work… there isn’t a lot of opportunity for marketers these days to be allowed to make mistakes.” But the best brands learn from experiments that don’t go as planned. Failure isn’t wasted, it’s the raw material for innovation, resilience, and better campaigns down the road.Quote“ As marketers…we explore the human psyche pretty much day in, day out, even if it's not explicitly said. But that's essentially what we do.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Noha Rizk, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta[1:26] Why Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?[5:51] Role of CMO at Incorta[9:07] Breaking Down Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[22:11] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[43:56] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Noha on LinkedInLearn more about IncortaAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s not easy to keep pace with constant change. If you want to stand out, you need to pivot (yes, PIVOT!), adapt, and build real connection with your audience.That’s the genius of Friends, a cultural phenomenon built on chemistry, community, and conversations that felt timeless. In this episode, we’re decoding its lessons with the help of our special guest Lisa Cole, Chief Marketing Officer at 2X.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from embracing constant pivots, building your own Central Perk with your community, and why team chemistry often matters more than individual expertise.About our guest, Lisa ColeLisa Cole is currently CMO at 2X. She's a strategic marketing leader with over 24 years of experience driving transformative growth for B2B technology and professional services. As a former CMO at Huron, FARO, and Cellebrite, she has earned industry recognition for enhancing brand positioning, optimizing demand generation, and leveraging AI to accelerate go-to-market strategies. Through her earned accolades from Sirius Decisions, Forrester, and CMO Alliance and her book The Revenue RAMP, she guides B2B leaders in achieving more with less using her proven frameworks. What B2B Companies Can Learn From Friends:Pivot, pivot, pivot. In marketing, staying still isn’t an option. New channels, new buyer behaviors, and now AI advancements mean marketers are in a constant state of change. Lisa explains, “Pivot is certainly one, especially now that, it seems like every week there’s a new advancement… marketing as a whole is pivot. We’re constantly in a period of time in between pivots is compressing.” The same way Ross couldn’t move that couch without shouting “Pivot!” every marketer today needs to be ready to shift strategy, adjust direction, and keep moving forward.Create your Central Perk. Every brand needs a place where buyers feel safe, connected, and part of something bigger than a transaction. For the Friends cast, it was Central Perk, a space where they could gather, vent, and support each other without judgment. Lisa says, “You have to create a place… where your target audience, your buyers feel safe to get together and meet and engage as a community… if you care about Central Perk for your buyers, then they’ll care about you too.” In B2B, that means investing in communities and experiences where customers can be candid, connect with peers, and build trust—with your brand quietly in the background.Build team chemistry. The Friends cast worked because the chemistry was real—something greater than the sum of its parts. Marketing teams are no different. Lisa says, “Sometimes it’s the chemistry that matters more than the expertise. It's not necessarily that I brought together six experts.  It's the way that they work together, sometimes is the real magic.” Great marketing doesn’t just come from the smartest experts; it comes from teams (in-house, partners, or both) who click, collaborate, and push each other toward a shared mission.Quote“  I'm not necessarily saying to marketers that this cast needs to be a large in-house marketing team. I'm just simply saying that the people that are in the day-to-day business of executing marketing for your organization, that there is a chemistry between them and that they are working together in a unified way.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Lisa Cole, CMO at 2X[01:09] Why Friends?[01:52] The Role of CMO at 2X[03:34] The Creation of Friends[07:54] The Chemistry and Dynamics of Friends[21:59] Marketing Takeaways from Friends[32:17] The Humble Leader[37:36] Introducing Brand Gravity[48:11] 2X’s Content Strategy[49:46] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Lisa on LinkedInLearn more about 2XAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most brands talk about standing out. Very few actually do it. The ones that win are the ones willing to take a swing, sometimes even a wild one.That’s exactly what GoDaddy did with the “Act Like You Know” campaign, a Super Bowl ad that became a cultural moment because of its boldness. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons behind it with the help of our special guest Sydney Sloan, Chief Marketing Officer at G2.Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from emotional storytelling, influencer culture, and why building brand in the age of AI requires creativity, boldness, and a willingness to have a little fun.About our guest, Sydney SloanSydney Sloan is a visionary marketing leader with a track record of driving growth and innovation in the tech industry. As CMO of G2, the world’s largest and most trusted software marketplace, Sydney is at the forefront of shaping the company's strategic direction. Sydney previously held CMO roles at compliance automation software company Drata, sales tech leader Salesloft, and cloud content management visionary Alfresco.What B2B Companies Can Learn From GoDaddy’s “Act Like You Know” Campaign:Take bold swings. Safe marketing doesn’t get noticed. To capture attention, B2B brands have to be willing to step outside the comfort zone and take real creative risks. As Sydney shared, “Take a big swing. Go do something outside of your comfort zone.” Boldness is the difference between blending in and breaking through.Your brand is the moat. With paid tactics getting harder, brand is the lasting advantage. It’s not about clicks or keywords anymore. It’s about the emotional connection people feel. As Sydney says, “Brand is right. It’s the emotional connection that you actually build between a brand, which is not a person… and the audience.” In the age of AI, trust and resonance are the true differentiators.Influencers aren’t just for B2C. Big-budget companies might hire celebrities, but every B2B brand can find ways to put people at the center of their story. It’s about connection, not just reach. Sydney explained, “You can still use influencers, you can still have people connecting to people and doing it in creative ways.” In B2B, credibility often comes best through people, not platforms.Quote“We gotta go back and invest in brand. And what does that mean, and how do I do it? It’s not the old playbook. That thing is gone. Display, out the windows. Google search, out the window. We are all at the starting line together. And whoever's the most creative and figures out this new era we’re in has an unfair advantage.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Sydney Sloan, CMO at G2[01:17] Why GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign[03:55] The Role of Influencers in B2B Marketing[11:39] The Role of CMO at G2[13:19] Understanding GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign[19:32] B2B Marketing Lessons from GoDaddy's “Act Like You Know” Campaign[33:29] The Power of Creative Marketing[37:50] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Sydney on LinkedInLearn more about G2About Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Being the underdog might feel like a disadvantage or your greatest marketing edge.That’s the brilliance of Steph Curry’s story. He redefined basketball not by being the tallest or strongest, but by mastering the three-pointer, staying relentlessly consistent, and building an empire as the face of an underdog brand. In this episode, we explore the marketing lessons from Steph Curry with the help of our special guest Brian Gilman, Chief Marketing Officer at ThetaRay.Together, we dig into what B2B marketers can learn from embracing the underdog role, cutting through noise with consistency, and focusing on doing one thing better than anyone else to create real brand gravity.About our guest, Brian GilmanBrian Gilam is the CMO at ThetaRay. He is a visionary Chief Executive with a proven track record in spearheading strategic B2B sales/marketing initiatives and driving robust growth. Brian excels in leading companies through critical transitions, including exit events and funding rounds, while managing large-scale projects and multi-million-dollar budgets. He is an expert in crafting high-ROI programs, fostering C-Level engagements, and negotiating impactful partnerships.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Steph Curry:Play the underdog role. Steph could’ve gone with Nike or Adidas like every other superstar, but he signed with Under Armour, the underdog, and turned it into a cultural force. Brian says, “His role as an underdog… It’s endearing to be able to play the role of underdog as well as he does, and I think that’s why people resonate with him as well as they do.” For marketers, especially at scale-ups, that lesson is powerful: people root for challengers who feel accessible and relatable. Positioning your brand as the scrappy player in the game can create emotional connection far beyond features and price.Focus on consistency over noise. Steph’s greatness comes from showing up every day and blocking out distractions. Brian says, “He controls what he can control.” In marketing, the same discipline applies. Instead of chasing every channel or campaign, concentrate on the actions that matter most. Steph doesn’t let the highs get too high or the lows too low, he just executes. That consistency of effort is what makes him durable and dominant. For B2B, that means resisting the urge to “do it all” and instead building steady momentum with tactics that reliably drive results.Do one thing better than anyone else. Steph didn’t try to be everything, he mastered the three-pointer until it broke the NBA. Brian explains, “For me, it’s always do one thing really, really well. Forget about the marketing machine, you need that one thing, and then build the next thing.” Just as Curry’s deep shooting created “gravity” that opened the floor for teammates, one marketing strength executed brilliantly can lift all your other channels. Don’t spread yourself thin, find your version of the 30-foot three-pointer and own it.Quotes“I think that in today’s market, successful marketers are gonna throw out the book on convention. I’ve never seen such a highly competitive environment… and unless you’re thinking about speed, cutting out the number of touch points, and getting to that face-to-face interaction as fast as humanly possible, you’re never gonna get business anymore.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Brian Gilman, Chief Marketing Officer at ThetaRay[01:03] Why Steph Curry?[04:28] The Role of CMO of Thetaray[06:23] Who is Steph Curry?[26:58] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Steph Curry[39:13] Brian's Marketing Strategy[42:20] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Brian on LinkedInLearn more about ThetaRayAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.