Marketing 911

The moment that reveals a leader isn’t a promotion or a pep talk, it’s pressure. We sit down with Taylor Goodwin, a veteran with special forces experience and two medals of valor, to unpack what leadership looks like when the mission changes, information is limited, and your decisions affect the people next to you. His story starts with joining the Army at 18 during the Afghanistan surge, then qui...

Growth doesn’t stall because you ran out of leads; it stalls because customers don’t stay long enough to realize compounding value. We sit down with veteran revenue leader Jim Tedesco to unpack how SaaS companies can move from a logo-first mindset to a retention-first engine that consistently pushes gross retention above 90 percent and net retention toward 115 percent. The conversation reframes th...

Your LinkedIn reach didn’t just dip—it fell off a cliff because the rules changed. We unpack how the platform moved from mechanical engagement scores to an AI-driven, context-first model that reads who you are, how you write, and whether your content truly serves the people you claim to help. If the old playbook was “get 10 comments in an hour,” the new one is “prove you belong in the conversation...

Gone are the days when marketing could toss leads over the wall to sales and call it a day. True organizational alignment—where sales, marketing, product, and customer experience teams share vision, goals, and KPIs—has become the critical foundation for go-to-market success. In this candid conversation with Christie Styer, founder of the boutique go-to-market agency Athena, we explore how the most...

Ever wondered how banks and financial institutions manage to send millions of personalized messages daily? The answer lies at the fascinating intersection of AI, data analysis, and privacy management. Sanjay Ramchandani, Executive Vice President specializing in MarTech, pulls back the curtain on how major financial institutions build comprehensive customer profiles—transitioning from unknown prosp...

Scaling personalization across 150,000 SKUs worldwide sounds impossible, but for Fabio Ranieri, Head of Go-to-Market Innovation at HP, it's exactly the challenge his team is tackling with AI. Speaking from Austin, Texas, Fabio reveals how HP has moved beyond basic automation to create truly personalized experiences that resonate across vastly different global markets. "Content needs to b...

The media landscape is transforming rapidly, leaving both journalists and PR professionals scrambling to adapt. How do you cut through a journalist's inbox that receives 1,500 pitches daily? What happens when AI-generated content floods these already overflowing channels? And most surprisingly—could the humble phone call be making a comeback? Declan Waters, founder of Waters Agency, sits down...

Are you using AI strategically in your marketing efforts, or just scratching the surface of its capabilities? In this eye-opening episode of Marketing 911, host Richard Bliss and co-host Brian Bakstran welcome AI implementation expert Ford Saeks to challenge everything you thought you knew about artificial intelligence in marketing. Ford cuts through the AI hype to deliver a profound reality check...

Ever wondered what happens when the mics stay hot after a podcast recording? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we pull back the curtain on an unscripted conversation between three successful executives as they reflect on what they genuinely admire about each other. The conversation reveals fascinating insights about what truly matters in leadership. Jon Mellon's command of language a...

What happens when a finance professional finds himself thrust into sales leadership? John Mellon, former President of Blanco Technology, takes us on a fascinating journey through his unexpected career trajectory and the lessons learned along the way. "You've got to figure out why customers give us their money," was the advice that transformed Mellon's career path from potential...

What happens when brand marketing and demand generation collide? Emily Miller, VP of Branding, reveals the powerful synergy that's reshaping B2B marketing strategy. Gone are the days when brand teams operated in ivory towers while demand teams drove business metrics - today's competitive landscape demands their seamless integration. Miller shares a stunning statistic: 95% of B2B buyers a...

Unleash the hidden power of AI in marketing with insights from Tim Freestone, Chief Marketing Officer at KiteWorks. Discover how AI is not just a tool but a game-changer in strategic marketing workflows, as Tim shares the remarkable ways it reshapes brainstorming and go-to-market strategies. From significant reductions in product launch times to the creation of a deep feature library, learn how Ki...

Prepare to unlock the secrets of seamless marketing and sales alignment with our special guest, Eric Mann, a veteran in the sales leadership arena. Discover fresh perspectives on how bridging the gap between these two crucial departments can significantly elevate the success of high-tech campaigns. Eric brings his wealth of experience to the discussion, emphasizing the power of result-oriented col...

Unlock the secrets to mastering a new role within your organization as we explore the nuanced journey from the honeymoon phase to the reality of a new job role. Imagine transitioning from excitement to the challenging grind, where understanding each team member's unique response to change becomes crucial. Join Brian Bakstran and Richard Bliss as they navigate these waters, revealing strategie...

Transform your marketing career by mastering the essential strategies to succeed in a new role. With "Marketing 911," co-hosts Brian Bakstran and Richard Bliss promise to arm you with the tools to navigate the critical days 31 to 60 of your marketing journey. Discover how an external expert's fresh perspective can be the game-changer you need to propose impactful changes that align...

Unlock the secret to seamless transitions in your marketing leadership role with insights from Brian Bakstran on Marketing 911. Discover how crafting a 30, 60, 90-day plan can set the stage for success. Our conversation starts with the critical first 30 days, where embarking on a "listening tour" becomes your golden ticket to understanding your new environment. Brian shares his wisdom on...

Master the art of successful company acquisitions and integrations in this engaging episode. Discover the critical importance of cultural compatibility and strategic planning as we unravel the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses when expanding their product lines or merging with other entities. From historical successes to cautionary tales, we explore how aligning company cultures and...