B2B Agility with Greg Kihlström™: MarTech, E-Commerce, & Customer Success

Why is it that B2C marketers can target someone who left a pair of shoes in their cart and follow them around the internet for a week, but that same level of precision just hasn't been the same for B2B? Agility requires closing the gap between insight and action. It's not enough to know who your audience is; you need the capability to reach them precisely, wherever they are, at the moment it matte...

"Despite the global opportunity available to so many businesses, most are constrained by finite resources. So, the more interesting question isn't "what should we translate?" but rather, "what's the real cost of not localizing the right customer touchpoint, and how do you even begin to calculate that risk?" Agility requires more than just speed; it demands the sensitivity to know when a universal...

Are most of your channel partners producing very little value for your business? Agility requires more than just signing up partners; it demands a dynamic approach to activating and enabling the *right* ones. It's about ruthlessly prioritizing relationships that generate mutual value and being nimble enough to change or sunset those that don't. Today, we're going to talk about the often-unspoken r...

With all the talk about the business impact of AI, why aren't more people talking beyond the most straightforward examples and more about sectors like construction, energy, and manufacturing where there is real potential for impact that has yet to be tapped?  Agility requires a willingness to challenge the core processes of how work gets done, even in industries where "how it's always been done" i...

Many entrepreneurs dream of scaling a niche product, achieving market dominance, and ultimately securing a successful exit—but few actually make it happen. How do you take an idea from concept to acquisition, and what key lessons can other business leaders, including marketers, take from that journey? Joining me today is Chris Tilkov, General Manager at DocuSketch, an automated estimation and docu...

We've spent a decade trying to align marketing and sales. What if the very metric we created to bridge the gap—the MQL—is actually the thing that's perpetuating the rivalry between them? Agility requires a willingness to challenge the foundational metrics we've built our go-to-market strategies on. It demands that we replace gut feelings and legacy processes with a ruthless focus on what actually...

This show is brought to you by Channel99, a B2B marketing technology company helping clients get more out of their spend with AI-powered decision-making. What if 99% of your target accounts see your marketing, but never click a single ad? How would you prove your value then? Agility requires a willingness to abandon outdated metrics, even when they're comfortable, and embrace a more nuanced, reali...

If you could eliminate one of the biggest roadblocks to successful project delivery in your organization today, what would it be and why? Agility requires not only the ability to adapt to change but also the foresight to anticipate it. This means embracing data-driven insights and leveraging technology to navigate the complexities of modern project management. Today, we're going to talk about how...

Are you getting lots of leads, but never enough good ones? Agility requires not only the ability to adapt to change quickly, but also the foresight to anticipate what's coming next, whether that's top, middle, or bottom of the funnel in B2B lead generation. Today, we're going to talk about why so many B2B marketers are still struggling with poor lead quality, and what they can do to fix it. To hel...

Is the Chief Marketing Officer becoming the Chief Market Officer?  Are CMOs now responsible not just for messaging to the market, but for actively shaping and creating it? Agility requires not just reacting to market changes, but anticipating them and creating the future you want to see.  It demands a deep understanding of customer needs, competitive dynamics, and emerging technologies. Today, we'...

Is your organization truly AI-powered, or are you just slapping a little GenAI onto existing processes? Agility requires embracing experimentation and empowering teams to rapidly iterate, especially when integrating transformative technologies like AI. It also demands a culture that views failure as a learning opportunity, not a setback. Today, we're going to talk about how to build a culture of A...

Are your people, processes, and platforms delivering value or to drive better customer experiences, or are they—and your CX—disconnected and siloed? Agility requires a willingness to adapt and evolve, as well as a deep understanding of how customer trust is built (or broken) through simplicity, personalization, and empowered employees.  Today, we're going to talk about how brands can transform the...

Is the hype around AI in marketing finally starting to match reality, or are we still just scratching the surface of its true potential? Agility requires a willingness to experiment with new technologies like AI, but it also demands a deep understanding of your customer and the ability to adapt your strategies based on data and insights.  It also requires strong leadership that can champion the ch...

What is the role of marketing when humans are taken out of both ends of the customer experience, replaced by AI agents talking directly to each other on our behalf? Agility requires more than just implementing the newest AI tools — it means being able to make smart, strategic choices about which technologies are actually creating value for your customers. Today we're going to talk about how GenAI...

Agility requires a deep understanding of evolving customer expectations and the ability to adapt quickly to meet those needs, especially in the complex B2B landscape. It also demands breaking down silos between marketing, sales, and customer service to create a unified customer journey. Today, we're going to talk about the nuances of B2B customer experience (CX), particularly within a large organi...

If you had to bet on one technology that will fundamentally reshape B2B marketing in the next five years what would it be, and would it have "agentic" and "AI" in the name? Agility requires not just reacting to technological advancements like agentic AI, but proactively experimenting with them and adapting your strategies based on real-world results.  It also requires organizational buy-in and a w...

Agility requires not only adapting to change but also anticipating it. This means understanding the evolving needs of your customers and the broader market landscape, and adjusting your strategies accordingly. Today, we're going to talk about navigating the complexities of marketing in the procurement services industry, especially in times of economic uncertainty, and how mentorship plays a crucia...

With customer centricity being top of mind, is the rush to automate and hyper-personalize making things better or is it making customers feel less connected to their favorite brands? Agility requires keeping the human elements of empathy and understanding visible and audible beneath growing layers of automation tools. Today we're going to talk about how a human-centric approach to managed network...

Is it possible for enterprise marketing technology to actually spark joy?  Or are we all just resigned to a future of clunky interfaces and frustrating workflows? Agility requires adaptable technology and empowered teams. It also requires a willingness to embrace new approaches and a focus on continuous improvement. Today, we're going to talk about the intersection of marketing technology, user ex...

Is your supply chain a competitive advantage, or your biggest liability waiting to be exposed? Agility requires preparing for the unpredictable, especially when your brand's ability to deliver hinges on global events that are entirely out of your control. In a world of political unrest, regulatory change, and natural disasters, the brands that win are the ones who can pivot fast — without losing t...

What's harder—building a global marketing strategy from scratch, or educating your organization on why it matters in the first place? Today's guest has done both—twice. Sangeeta Prasad is the Chief Marketing Officer of Slalom, a global business and technology consulting firm with $3 billion in revenue and a presence in over 40 markets. With three decades of marketing experience—across brands like...

We're seeing a fascinating paradox: while everyone's talking about AI's impact on Big Tech, it's quietly revolutionizing small businesses.  Is this a sign that SMBs are more agile and adaptable than their enterprise counterparts, or is something else at play? Agility requires not just adopting new technologies, but understanding how they fundamentally reshape your business operations, customer rel...

What if rebranding wasn't just about a new logo and tagline, but about transforming an 80,000-person company's entire culture and strategy? What if brand became one of your most valuable tools for business reinvention? Today, I'm joined by Maria Winans, Chief Marketing Officer at Kyndryl. After nearly three decades at IBM, Maria took on the monumental task of launching Kyndryl as a stand-alone bra...

Can a brand in a highly regulated industry stand out without stepping outside the lines? Today we're going to talk about how to create memorable brands and even new categories—within established and often highly regulated sectors like healthcare technology. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Kristin Russel, Chief Marketing Officer at symplr.   About Kristin Russel With over 25 year...

This episode is brought to you by Landrum Talent Solutions, a national recruiting firm specializing in marketing and HR positions.  Our guest today has been keeping us up to date with the current state of hiring for marketers on a quarterly basis, which has taken us on quite a roller coaster ride. Today we're going to look at how marketing and communication execs are responding to the latest devel...