How Marketing Ops can Support Nearbound GTM Strategies with Justin Gray

Explore the transformative power of lean methodology in the marketing realm with Rutger Katz, a luminary in digital strategy and a maestro of marketing technology. With Rutger's rich background in neuroscience and an impressive journey from Capgemini to pioneering consultancy, we dissect the application of lean principles to the fluid and dynamic world of marketing. Uncover how to craft strategies that resonate with a customer-centric approach, distill the essence of purpose, process, and people, and effectively manage resources to carve a lasting impact in your industry.

Venture into the trenches of operational efficiency as we unravel the three P's of lean methodology that are revolutionizing marketing operations. Hear a compelling case study from a food relief organization, where lean thinking transformed their operations, and discover how tools like the Hoshin Kanri framework and the Kano model can fine-tune your strategic alignment and customer experience efforts. This knowledge-packed exchange promises to equip marketing professionals with the prowess to prioritize work and manifest their value within any organization.

Embrace the spirit of Kaizen for continuous improvement and witness how incremental enhancements are key to triumph, as illustrated by the success stories from the Tour de France. Learn how the "Five Whys" and "Fishbone Diagram" can be leveraged to dig deep into the root causes of challenges and inspire a culture of self-motivated growth. This episode isn't just about refining processes; it's about steering transformational change and propelling your team towards victory—one small, calculated step at a time.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

1. Applying Lean Methodologies in Marketing Presentation
2. LinkedIn Post - Lean: StreamliningMarketing and Revenue Operations

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In today's episode, we embark on a journey to explore the intricate world of hiring contractors and agencies in the marketing revenue ops space. Inspired by a thought-provoking LinkedIn post, this discussion dives into the nuances and strategic decisions facing leaders today. Our special guest, Jessica Kao, Senior Director of MarTech at CloudFlare, shares her exceptional transition from cancer biology to marketing analytics, highlighting the unexpected parallels between predictive cancer modeling and forecasting marketing outcomes. Jessica's story is not just about career transformation; it's a testament to the power of data storytelling across diverse fields.

Join us as our host Michael and Jessica unravel the complexities of assembling a powerhouse Marketing Ops team, touching on the critical choices between full-time employees, contractors, and agencies, and the strategic use of offshore resources. With over a decade of experience, Jessica lends her insights into crafting a team that not only builds but thrives in the sophisticated landscape of marketing infrastructures.

Furthermore, the episode delves into the art of partnership and resource management, offering a candid look at evaluating agency relationships and mitigating risks. From navigating RFP processes to understanding the essence of successful collaborations, learn how to discern the right agency fit and manage project capacities like a pro. Jessica rounds off the discussion with an invitation to connect further and a teaser of her upcoming talk at the Adobe Summit, promising to demystify the jargon clouding executive conversations.

Tune in to this episode for a treasure trove of insights that will sharpen your Marketing Ops acumen, presented in our signature friendly, clear, and concise manner. Whether you're just starting in marketing operations or leading a team at an enterprise level, this conversation is filled with valuable takeaways to help you navigate the hiring landscape and optimize your Marketing Ops squad.

Check out the LinkedIn post here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikedrizzo_marketingops-revops-marketingoperations-activity-7140490673287233537-ktv_/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

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In this podcast episode, we delve into the complex world of marketing operations with the expertise of Dani Worthman, Director of Marketing Operations at Headspace. Dani shares her professional journey, which intersects with the critical importance of mental health within the demanding landscape of marketing operations. Her journey, from a background in neuroscience to leading a marketing agency and eventually embracing a strategic role in a corporate environment, provides a unique perspective on balancing mental well-being with professional demands.

We explore the concept of work-life balance as a dynamic pursuit rather than a fixed state, drawing on experiences from our own Mike's foray into freelancing. Dani offers invaluable insights into leading a team while prioritizing mental health, emphasizing the role of trust in preventing burnout. The discussion acknowledges that achieving balance requires ongoing adjustment and a strategic approach to the challenges of marketing operations.

The episode also addresses practical aspects of marketing operations management, from adopting agile methodologies to integrating IT-inspired documentation practices. These strategies aim to enhance communication and organizational structure, thereby reducing the stress associated with roles in marketing operations. We discuss the importance of allocating time for strategic planning and agile response to unforeseen challenges, offering listeners actionable advice for optimizing their marketing operations team's efficiency.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that serves as a guide for professionals seeking to improve their marketing operations while maintaining a focus on mental health and well-being.

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Prepare to delve into the transformative world of marketing efficiency with a minimalist approach—an attainable reality we're excited to explore. In this episode, we are honored to have Colton Slauson from Sendoso as our esteemed guest. Together, we navigate the nuanced art of simplification and optimization within marketing operations. Colton, who began his journey as an intern making memorable missteps with 'Marketo,' has ascended to the role of Senior Marketing Operations Manager, epitomizing the principle of achieving more with less. His trajectory offers invaluable insights into automating routine tasks, streamlining processes, and effectively integrating Sendoso and Alice, all while leading a lean yet impactful marketing operations team.

Many professionals can relate to the challenge of managing competing priorities akin to a performer without a net. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the delicate equilibrium between satisfying customer expectations and fulfilling internal objectives. Through our dialogue with Colton, we illuminate the importance of communication in maintaining alignment with sales teams and making decisive judgments on project priorities. Our discussion also includes a humorous anecdote about a VP's content notification request, illustrating how a simple query can unravel complex issues.

Moreover, this episode goes beyond storytelling to provide actionable insights. Managing a diverse marketing technology stack is often compared to herding cats, yet we break down strategies for mastering this complexity with a streamlined team. Additionally, we redefine the allure of documentation, emphasizing its role not just in procedural accuracy but also in compliance with privacy regulations and enhancing team cohesion. We advocate for a culture of curiosity, underscoring how an inquisitive disposition and engagement with the broader marketing community can propel professional growth.

Join us for an enlightening conversation that promises to elevate your approach to marketing operations. Tune in to this episode to revolutionize your marketing strategies and operations.

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This episode is the first of a series we are working on to educate our audience about some emerging Go-to-market approaches, and to provide guidance on how you, as a marketing ops professional, can be an enabler for these GTM approaches. 

In today's episode, we will be talking with Justin Gray about Nearbound GTM Strategies. Justin is an award-winning 5X entrepreneur who has made a career of launching and scaling companies and guiding them to successful exits of over 250MM. In 2018, Justin started angel investing to make strategic investments in founders he believes in and is currently a Limited Partner in several Funds.

He is now Co-founder and Managing Director of In Revenue Capital, where he couples GTM expertise with venture funding to empower Seed stage founders and their startups, through a first of its kind model called Operator-Immersive capital.

Justin is a strong voice for pragmatic entrepreneurship, Partner-Led Growth, and building intentional performance culture. As a recognized speaker and thought leader, Justin has presented at top industry conferences and has been published over 500 times in publications.

Tune in to hear: 

• Justin introduces the concept of Nearbound GTM strategy, discussing its definition and implications.
• He outlines the key market drivers that prompted his team to adopt the Nearbound approach.
• Justin emphasizes the importance of building relationships across the organization for successful implementation of Nearbound strategy.
• The conversation delves into the impact of Nearbound approach on talent identification, hiring, and retention, questioning whether the current models are adaptable to this strategy.

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In todays episode, we talk about the coming (maybe already here) Martech Supercollision, joined by the one and only Scott Brinker.  Scott has always been fascinated by the intersection of technology platforms and ecosystems and marketing strategy and operations. He has been called the "godfather of martech" by AdAge, has been analyzing marketing technology and its impact on marketing organizations for more than 16 years as the editor of the chiefmartec.com blog. He serves as VP Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot, helping to grow and nurture the company's community of technology partners. He also authored the best-selling book Hacking Marketing and co-authored the best-seller The New Automation Mindset.

Tune in to hear:

1. Scott discuss the unexpected growth of the Marketing Technology (Martech) Landscape since its first iteration. He reflects on how the list of vendors has expanded significantly by 2023, exceeding initial expectations.
2. Key Themes in Martech: The episode delves into three major themes identified by Scott: Data, Composability, and AI. Each theme is discussed in detail:
   • Data: Covers the evolution of data integration, the concept of a continuous data integration "flywheel," the debate between consolidation vs. aggregation, and the idea of fragile vs. anti-fragile systems.
   • Composability: Focuses on the changing role of software developers, the blend of packaged and custom software, the democratization of software development (including "citizen coders"), and the shift from Big Data to Big Ops.
   • AI in Martech: Discusses the balance between quality and quantity in AI applications, the potential for AI/ML to automate advanced use cases, and the concept of "Martec’s Law" related to the pace of technological change and organizational adaptation.
3. Scott gives his predictions about significant changes expected in the Martech landscape by the end of 2024, exploring how current trends might evolve and become more mainstream in the field.

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In today's episode, sharing her story is Jenn Steele. Jenn is an entrepreneur, CEO, and founder with a solid track record in the fields of marketing technology and startups. With over a decade of executive experience, Jenn has consistently demonstrated strategic leadership and go-to-market skills that have led to outstanding outcomes. After successfully turning around and selling Kissmetrics in 2023, she is currently founding another company in the martech space. 

Her journey includes roles such as CEO at Kissmetrics, Vice President of Marketing at Reprise, Chief Revenue Officer at ORSNN, Chief Marketing Officer at Madison Logic, and Vice President, Product Marketing at Bizible. She started her marketing career at HubSpot in 2009 as one of the first hundred employees.

Tune in to hear: 

• Jenn share insights on her experiences with Marketing Operations (Ops) teams across different roles, highlighting how her perspective on Marketing Ops has evolved and varied depending on her position, and how it has changed over time.
• As a former CMO and current CEO/founder, Jenn outlines her approach to building a marketing organization, emphasizing the timing and importance of integrating Operations and the early focus areas for the Ops team.
• The conversation delves into Jenn's transition from marketing to entrepreneurship, exploring the motivations and influences behind her decision to start new ventures in the marketing space.
• Jenn reflects on pivotal moments and key figures in her career, discussing how certain decisions and individuals have significantly influenced her current success and providing final thoughts on her journey and advice for others.

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In this episode, hosts Michael Hartmann, Naomi Liu, and Mike Rizzo,  reflect on reaching a significant milestone of publishing 100 episodes. They discuss their surprise at the podcast's success and its impact on listeners. They highlight the diverse global audience and share interesting statistics about their listeners' locations.

The hosts also discuss the uniqueness of podcasting as a medium for connecting with others and how it allows them to meet and learn from various experts and professionals. They touch on the challenges of podcasting, such as limited data insights and the lack of a structured theme. Finally, they hint at the possibility of upcoming themed episodes focused on go-to-market strategies and managing expectations in marketing operations.

Tune in to OpsCast for an insightful and unscripted conversation with the hosts as they celebrate their podcast's achievements and share their future plans for the show.

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In today's episode, we talk about the importance of Finance Knowledge for Marketing Ops pros with Jaime Garza, currently Senior Manager, Marketing Operations at SolarWinds . Prior to joining SolarWinds, Jaime has had in-house roles in Marketing Operations, Marketing Program Management and as a founder. He co-founded a company in the real estate media industry. Jaime is also a veteran of the US Army Green Berets and the Texas Army National Guard, where he served in combat and trained other military. 

Tune in to hear: 

• Jaime's career overview and how he ended up in Marketing Ops.
• The importance of finance knowledge and what Jaime learned during his MBA.
• Managing the full marketing budget and the lessons learned from that experience.
• Recommendations for pitching projects internally, emphasizing the importance of finance as a universal business language, and the impact on reporting and analytics in attribution and influence reporting.

Some statistics knowledge can be helpful on your journey to learning more finance, if you are interested, take the Stats 101 Course for Marketing Ops taught by Camela Thompson.

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Welcome to a special milestone episode of Ops Cast! We're celebrating our 100th episode, and we're thrilled to have you join us on this journey. While there might be more than 100 episodes in our feed, this feels like a significant moment as we approach three years of this podcast adventure.

But that's not the only reason we're excited today. In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Shivina Kumar, the Director of Brand & Communications at CompStak. Shivina has had a remarkable career journey, holding various leadership roles in marketing, branding, and operations. She's also a guest lecturer and has published multiple papers about the marketing ecosystem.

Tune in to hear: 

• Shivina's career journey and how she obtained a patent.
• The transformation of branding from a qualitative concept to achieving "attribution" in branding.
• The use of full funnel metrics by branding teams, including the types of metrics they focus on, benchmark establishment, and ongoing measurement.
• The ABM Impact graph and its significance for the audience, along with practical applications.
• How metrics inform decisions regarding tactics in GTM, goal setting, and the methodology used for campaigns/initiatives, including the alignment with Sales and Finance.

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