Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom

Most episodes of Above the Clouds, Richard Byrd is the one asking the questions. This time, he's in the hot seat. The Best Kept Secret: What Technical Companies Keep Getting Wrong About Growth is out, and BlueByrd's own Cindi Boudreaux and Shannon Carlson flip the script — putting Richard on the other side of the mic to talk about the book, what drove him to write it, and why the same comm...

Asit Goel, VP of Marketing at UniFirst, joins Richard Byrd to make the case for marketing as a strategic function — not a cost center. Asit picks the raven as his company's spirit bird: intelligent, adaptive, and working quietly in the background of every industry, from food processing to semiconductors to oil and gas. The conversation digs into the challenge most B2B marketers never say out l...

Rhonda Taylor, Managing Director at DSG Global, has seen the full cycle: high-volume staffing, enterprise executive search, market booms, market busts, and now a front-row seat to the AI-driven transformation reshaping how companies find (and keep) the leaders they need. In this episode, Rhonda and Richard Byrd dig into why getting a leadership hire wrong costs you far more than the search fee, ho...

What does it take to lead marketing for a global brand that spans industries, regions, and constant change? In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom, Richard Byrd sits down with Patrick Corcoran, Global Head of Marketing and External Relations at Hitachi Digital Services, to unpack the realities of modern B2B marketing at scale. Patrick shares how Hitachi Digital Services ap...

Marketing in a technical, global industry is not about pushing content. It is about understanding complexity and turning it into clarity. In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd sits down with Shelly Linkerhof, Head of Marketing Communications, Americas at Clariant , to break down what it takes to lead marketing across multiple industries, regions, and stakeh...

Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about asking the right questions. In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd sits down with Ken Proctor, Founder of The Grey Pointe Group , to talk about the lessons that come from decades of leadership, career pivots, and helping executives think more clearly about the challenges they face. Ken reflects on h...

AI in healthcare is not a quick fix. It is a test of leadership, culture, and trust. In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd talks with Jacobia Solomon , Founder and CEO of Ignivis , about aligning digital transformation with measurable outcomes, workforce well-being, and equitable access. From burnout and margin pressure to responsible AI adoption, Jacobia s...

In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom, Richard Byrd sits down with Jaclyn Townsend, Vice President of Marketing at TGS, to talk about what it really takes to lead marketing in a highly technical, global industry. Jaclyn shares how her career was shaped by being thrown into the deep end early, why marketing teams need to think like internal agencies, and how alignment with...

In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom, Richard Byrd sits down with Emily Canon, Demand Generation Marketing Director at Management Controls Inc. (MCI), to break down what it takes to build pipeline in a niche, enterprise B2B market. They talk ICP clarity, sales + marketing alignment, why events are working again, and how old-school tactics like direct mail are making a co...

More data doesn’t always mean better healthcare—unless you know how to use it. Richard Byrd talks with Chris Turner , CEO of HealthBook+ , about how his team built “Paige,” an AI-driven platform that turns medical records, wearable data, and genetics into smarter, more personal care. A conversation about technology, trust, and how AI can make healthcare truly human.

How do you balance global consistency with local relevance in brand marketing? In this episode, Tom Millas joins Richard Byrd to unpack how Schneider Electric approaches regional brand leadership, the evolution of energy marketing, and what it takes to stay adaptable in a fast-moving industry. Discover insights on: The energy trilemma and why no one-size-fits-all solution exists Making B2B brand e...

This week on Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd sits down with Dustin Williamson, Managing Director at vcfo and former CFO of companies like Whole Foods, to discuss how finance leaders can become true strategic partners to the business. From building financial models that actually help drive decision-making to knowing when to hire in-house vs. outsource, Dustin shares hard...

In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd sits down with Diana Smith to explore how B2B media can shape market dynamics and drive industry engagement. With decades of experience in niche publishing and business media, Diana shares what it takes to stay relevant in rapidly evolving markets—from building trust with audiences to navigating the delicate balance bet...

In this episode of Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd sits down with Ryan Chapman, Director of Sales Campaigns at Honeywell, to explore the power of aligning sales, marketing, and product teams—especially in large, complex organizations. From selling lemonade as a kid to managing global sales campaigns, Ryan shares his journey and lessons on how intent-based marketing, tho...

This week on Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom , Richard Byrd sits down with Chris Barnhill, Director of Marketing at Skyven Technologies, to unpack how lean marketing teams can still drive major impact in highly technical industries. With a background in industrial products and a passion for smart, customer-centered communication, Chris shares how Skyven markets its energy-as-a-service...

Join us as we sit down with Robin Swanger, Head of Brand Marketing at Baker Hughes, to explore the intersection of energy transition, brand marketing, and leadership in the energy sector. Discover Insights On:   How Baker Hughes is approaching the energy transition with a focus on hydrogen and cleaner tech.   Robin’s unique career path: from aspiring lawyer to Head of Brand Marketing.   The challe...

How can businesses with long sales cycles effectively market their products and engage potential customers? This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Claire Burtin, Head of Strategy and Planning at John Cockerill Hydrogen North America. Claire shares her insights from the intersection of business strategy and content marketing, particularly in industries fueled by innovation and technical expertis...

In our inaugural episode of Above the Cloud, we sat down with Adam Morgan, the Director of Global Communications & Marketing at Bristow Group. Adam shares his incredible career path—from serving in the military to leading marketing for aviation and energy industries—and how a public speaking class in college sparked his passion for communications.   Discover insights on:   Building marketing s...