Best Story Wins

Today we’re talking with Jackie Wylie, Chief Marketing Officer at Textio—a B2B SaaS company that makes workplaces more equitable, inclusive, and diverse by helping customers achieve measurable Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) outcomes. On a mission to eliminate bias with both hiring and retention efforts, Textio is set to disrupt the way companies attract and retain talent.We chat with Jackie about systemic bias in companies, how her team approaches storytelling around their DEI tools, the consequences of brands not pursuing DEI once the economy rebounds, and why DEI is still among the first things to be cut from budgets. Join us as we discuss:How language and rhetoric play a role in eliminating systemic biasSoftware as an automation tool to help address systemic DEI issues in the workplaceMaking the case for budget spend (even in today’s economy)

Today we’re talking with Zach Kitschke, CMO at Canva—one of the most impressive and disruptive companies around. Their mission is to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere, and they are successfully doing it one user at a time. But being at the forefront of design and tech comes with its own challenges, as the need to innovate requires plenty of creative brainpower. We chat with Zach about the intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity, how AI can serve as a co-pilot for human designers (by enhancing their creative process rather than replacing them), and how Canva is bringing AI into the fold with functionalities like Magic Design and Magic Words. From photo editing to generating copy ideas and translating content into multiple languages, the integration of AI into the creative process offers exciting possibilities for innovation and expanded creative expression.Join us as we discuss:The key features of Canva's AI-powered solutionsWhy AI collaboration is crucial for enhancing human creativity in designHow Canva is addressing the challenges of maintaining brand integrity while creating content at scale

Are you ready to unlock your career's full potential? What if you could also align your passions, strengths, and aspirations for success using something called the Heart Tree Star? Jascha Kaykas-Wolff, President at Lytics, delves into the key principles of career growth and leadership. By practicing empathy and understanding, leaders can reduce noise and tailor their messages to better connect with their audience, ultimately enhancing their own effectiveness and team engagement.Tune in to discover how this powerful model can help you unlock your career potential, and bring your personal goals and professional growth together as you craft a compelling personal brand narrative. Join us as we discuss:What the Heart Tree Star is and how can it guide career developmentWhy empathy is crucial in leadership positions for effective communication and collaborationHow people can take stock of their passions and skills to align them with their career path

By the time most people reach the age of 18, they’ve already had to make some huge financial decisions.But how many young adults come into these decisions armed with a robust financial education?Not enough says our latest guest, Devin Zimmerman. As VP of Brand at Greenlight, he’s helping to change that and joins the show today to share how.Join us as we discuss:How Greenlight is helping provide financial education for tweens and teensHow to understand branding trends for youthsHow brands can find their own unique differentiators and why they must experiment to survive

One of the worst things you can do as a marketer is rely on outdated clichés. Unfortunately, it still happens all the time — so much so we all know the tropes.In this episode, we’re speaking with Drew Hoffman, VP of Brand at SentinelOne, a cybersecurity company. Drew talks about the use of AI and how they’ve leveraged it to share their story in a new world.Join us as we discuss:How to capture the right emotion in your brand storytellingHow to leverage ai to build the brandHow Drew moved beyond the stale tropes to tell a unique cybersecurity storyWhy cybersecurity tends to play it safe in its brand storytelling — and why that’s a mistake

The tools B2B marketers rely on may be ever-evolving — whether that’s the channels they use, the data they collect or the technology they rely on — but the key to success in B2B is actually one overlooked element: Emotion.In this episode of Best Story Wins, we speak with master storyteller Keith Messick, CMO at LaunchDarkly, about how he combines his knack for storytelling with all the tools, tactics, and strategies in modern marketing to tailor the perfect message for his ICP. We discuss:What B2B marketers can learn from B2CWhen to use emotion and logic in your B2B marketingHow to stand out in your market

The creatives at VideoAmp are risk takers — game changers. They have a level of ambition and drive that can’t be bought or taught, and it’s driving innovation throughout the industry.On this episode of Best Story Wins, we speak with Michelle Kim, Vice President of Brand Design at VideoAmp. According to Michelle, the secret to cutting-edge culture is brand storytelling and company-wide alignment. From carefully tailoring the onboarding process to ensuring open avenues of honest communication, Michelle dives into what it takes to build an impactful brand story from the inside out.Join us as we discuss:How to define your brand story and what storytelling really meansEmpowering your team to show up with purposeWhat volatile times mean for innovation prioritization

Imagine taking three-decade-old technologies and making them work harder today, by combining the best of both data warehousing and data lake, making it easier to read and be more efficient. That’s the world that Bryan Saftler, Director of Product Marketing - Communications, Media & Entertainment Industries at Databricks, is helping to build. Bryan touches on the storytelling that is most compelling, the power of empathy in marketing, and the challenge of shaping narratives that speak to people at different levels, from the highest-order story to the individual use case. The conversation also touches on the role of AI and how marketers need to find ways to add value that cannot be easily replaced by it.Join us as we discuss:When it’s most important to gather feedback from early adopters to understand what is working and what isn'tWhy it’s important to bridge the connection between the C-level executive and the individual use case when communicating the value of a product or serviceHow Databricks communicates the value of their platform to business decision makers and C-level executives

Building and marketing a brand doesn’t always come naturally. Sometimes, you need to take a step back and see the bigger picture before diving into the details.On the show, we connect with brand and marketing experts who have been through the difficult journey of driving real business results. We’ll also give you tips for turning ideas into conversions with some of today’s fastest growing companies.You can find us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for “Best Story Wins,” and if you like what you hear, hit subscribe. https://www.columnfivemedia.com/