Ctrl + Alt + Marketing

Here's the truth: most startup marketers can't prove their campaigns drove revenue. They're trapped between "we need more leads" and "can you show ROI?" Armed with incomplete data, conflicting dashboards, and a founder who compares them to their friend's company. Rapti Gupta has lived this reality for over 13 years at startups, from bootstrapped to funded companies. Now, as Head of Marketing at Av...

Zeeshan Akhtar breaks down four years of marketing at Mailmodo, from solo marketer to leading an 8-person team. He gets into the specifics: how they differentiated with AMP emails, which early channels worked (and which didn't), why they bet big on the State of Email report, how they structured the team into pods, and what their high-velocity creative culture actually looks like. You'll hear about...

Most hiring processes are fundamentally broken. Disha, content marketing leader at PriceLabs, reveals the uncomfortable truths about what really happens behind closed doors. Discover why 30-minute interviews fail both candidates and companies, the mistakes freelancers make when transitioning full-time, and the red flags in job descriptions that signal chaos ahead. Plus: how to strategically pick i...

Most content marketers get stuck doing the same thing for years. Disha Parekh took a different approach over her 15-year career. Starting at a publishing house, she worked at agencies, then moved to the brand side, strategically moving industries - from travel tech to HR tech to B2B SaaS - while climbing the content marketing ladder. She has followed a philosophy: plan short-term to win in the lon...

Most marketers chase being #1. Siddhartha Kathpalia built his career aiming for second best—and it worked brilliantly. This marketing leader turned his progressive rock band into a profitable business using performance marketing, growing from ₹2K to ₹2.5L budgets while overselling venues by 230%. His contrarian career wisdom: aim for second best, do many things so one takes off, and remember the c...

Ever wonder how some marketers seemingly effortlessly transition from corporate to entrepreneurship? Siddhartha Kathpalia's story will change how you think about career planning. From accidentally landing in digital marketing (despite hating the idea) to becoming one of India's first product marketers, then building multiple profitable businesses, his journey proves that the best careers blend str...

Thinking about transitioning into product marketing? You're not alone, but most people don't know how to make the jump. This episode is your go-to guide. Siddhartha Kathpalia brings a decade of product marketing experience and a front-row seat to the evolution of this field in India. As a Product Marketing Alliance ambassador and instructor for Growth School's Product Marketing cohort, he has help...

From teaching social studies to leading marketing in ad-tech startups, Robbert's journey is nothing short of inspiring. With 10+ years in the industry, Robbert van der Pluijm shares insights on navigating the complexities of ad tech, why long tenures matter, and the secrets to a successful marketing career like pushing "big rocks up the hill, walking the halls and more". Whether you're an early ca...

From IT support to co-founding a $5k/month micro-SaaS product, Supermeme, while holding down full-time roles, Sanjeev NC embodies the art of building optionality. Sanjeev is a generalist in the true sense having held roles in customer, support, sales, marketing, and product. In this episode, Sanjeev discusses how he's built optionality, why he believes 9-to-5s aren't as safe as we think, and how h...

​Mohita Nagpal is a journalist turned SaaS marketing leader. She has worked in high-growth startups like Borneo, Facets, Hiver, Belong and Wingify. In this episode, Mohita talks about the importance of playing to your strengths, power of diverse experiences and how they compound over time. She also offers practical interviewing advice for marketers, from embracing assignments to creating standout...

​Branca Ballot is the VP of marketing at Glide, a high-growth startup that makes it easy to build software without code. She has extensive experience hiring and leading teams across various industries, from GoDaddy, Zenefits, and the BCG. In this episode, Branca talks about why she looks for resilience when hiring marketers, why one should work out of a place of love over fear, and why she thinks...

Ever wondered what happens in rebranding? This bonus content dives deep into the why, when, and how of rebranding, from understanding your motivations to navigating the challenges. We explore common reasons for rebranding, the key steps involved, creating an implementation plan, and more. Discover how rebranding can impact your conversion rates, customer experience, and overall success, and how to...

What does it mean for a marketer to be on the cap table (aka CMO)? Rapti Gupta, Co-founder and CMO of Bugasura shares why marketers need to think of themselves as appreciating assets and own revenue outcomes. Learn why the skill of figuring out and embracing discomfort can be a game-changer for your career. ------------- ------------- Where to find Rapti Gupta: - LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/rap...

Ever wondered how someone with a love for words makes it to the C-suite? Rapti Gupta, Co-founder and CMO of Bugasura, shares her unconventional journey from journalism to marketing. Discover how she leveraged her content skills to climb the ladder, embraced new challenges, and ultimately became a co-founder. ---------------- ---------------- Where to find Rapti Gupta: - LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com...

Sofie Lehrmann, Founder MilkMoo and Fractional CMO, talks about her three key principles for evaluating job opportunities, solopreneurship, her philosophy of milking the cow. She urges aspiring marketers to embrace change, stay curious, and remain open to new paths for personal and professional growth. Her key message? "Nothing is set in stone." -------- About Sofie Lehrmann is the founder of Milk...

Is there just one way to build a successful marketing career? Sofie Lehrrman, founder of Milk Moo,  proves the answer is a resounding "no!"  With 14 years of experience zig-zagging across industries and setups —from market research to MNCs to CMO—Sofie shares her unconventional journey and the lessons she's learned along the way. Where to find Sofie Lehrmann: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofie-le...

Krishna Kumar N, a Business Storytelling Consultant and Fractional CMO, didn't exactly plan on a career in marketing. With a background in mechanical engineering, he got into marketing by chance after a decade in sales, proving that sometimes the most fulfilling paths are the ones we least expect. Discover how he leveraged his strengths to navigate these transitions, cracked the South African mark...

Abhimanyu Saha, the co-founder of GuruQore, shares his journey from ad agencies to building his own edtech startup. Discover how pivoting became his superpower, why 'big picture thinking' is the marketer's new weapon against AI, and how he balances purpose and profit as a 'missionary founder.' This episode is packed with insights on the advertising ecosystem, marketing skills needed to futureproof...

From advertising to co-founding ed-tech startup, why everyone is creative and choosing experience, so money will follow | Abhimanyu Saha, Co-founder, GuruQore In this episode, you'll learn: 01:24 Early life - playing cricket at national level, studying biotech 23:53 Turning childhood interests into a career in advertising 31.20 Experiences building a career in digital account planning 29.16 Everyo...

What does it take to be a fractional CMO? Join Sonesh Prakash, CEO, CMO Outsourced, has been in the fractional game long before it even became a thing! In this episode, he reveals the ins and outs of this emerging career path coming from a sales background, how he built a thriving business, how to find your niche, and how frugality is a must-have trait for marketers. In this episode, you'll learn...

Owning revenue, playing the long game, career advice | Rohit Srivastav (Head of Marketing, FleetPanda) In this episode, you’ll learn: (2.22) Why being tactical matters as much as strategy (5.12) The "a-hole tax" and how to identify founders who get marketing (10.03) Networking the right way, moving beyond handshake networking  (16.38) Shifting to revenue ownership from a content/brand background (...

Mental models for choosing your next role, doubling down on what you're amazing at, and the art of creating viral campaigns | Rohit Srivastav (Head of Marketing, FleetPanda) In this episode, you’ll learn: (1.19) Early life and influences (7.02) Creating serendipity: how being online opened new opportunities (sales to SaaS marketing) (14.18) Startup life - following Richard Branson’s philosophy, do...

Career lessons from marketing leader: making better mistakes, testing waters before working for yourself, and asking for what you want | Pranjalee Lahri (Marketing Consultant, prev. Darwinbox, Invince) In this episode, you'll learn: (1.54) Honing leadership and strategic skills as you climb the ladder (15.35) Unmissable non-marketing skills to level up in career (21.12) Life as a marketing consult...

The secrets to lasting marketing career: self-learning, adaptability, value alignment, and more | Pranjalee Lahri (Marketing Consultant, prev. Darwinbox, Invince) In this episode, you'll learn: (3.13) How Pranjalee's passion for writing helped lay the foundations of her marketing career (11.08) Impact of an MBA on marketing career (18.00) Transitioning from working at agencies to in-house B2B mark...

Welcome to Ctrl+Alt+Marketing, the podcast that spills the tea on building a successful marketing career. 🍵 Join host Mita Mandawker as she chats with seasoned marketers who share real career stories, wins, fails, and the unfiltered advice they wish they'd had. Newbie or experienced, if you're looking to level up your marketing career and stay ahead of the curve, this podcast is packed with no-BS...