Your Marketing “Best Practices” Are Killing Creativity

03/05/25 • 63 min

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What’s worse than pissing people off with a bold marketing campaign? Boring them.

So why is everyone following the same playbooks, recycling “best practices”, and relying on cookie cutter AI to generate the same-sounding content?

If you want to truly stand out, you have to break the rules... or at least question them.

Stephanie sits down with Udi Ledergor, Chief Evangelist at Gong and author of Courageous Marketing, to talk about how marketers can push past fear, embrace bold strategies, and create campaigns that people actually remember.

Udi shares why "best practices" are often just boring practices, how startups have more freedom to take risks than they realize, and why some of Gong’s scrappiest marketing stunts generated the biggest buzz. Plus, we dive into how AI is changing the marketing landscape — and how to make sure it doesn’t turn your brand into just another generic voice in the noise.

Key Moments:

00:00: Who is Udi Ledergor, Chief Evangelist at Gong?

01:37 Why Many “Best Practices” Are Outdated

03:27 The Courage to Be Different

06:14 Choosing the Right Company and Leadership

13:59 Creating Buzz with Content Marketing

26:54 Hiring for Potential Over Experience

31:46 The Value of Diverse Backgrounds in Marketing

35:56 Handling Failure: A Marketing Campaign Gone Wrong

45:32 Writing a Book: Insights and Sneak Peeks

51:32 The Role of AI in Marketing

58:53 Lightning Round: Quickfire Questions and Answers

Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

What’s worse than pissing people off with a bold marketing campaign? Boring them.

So why is everyone following the same playbooks, recycling “best practices”, and relying on cookie cutter AI to generate the same-sounding content?

If you want to truly stand out, you have to break the rules... or at least question them.

Key Moments:

00:00: Who is Udi Ledergor, Chief Evangelist at Gong?

01:37 Why Many “Best Practices” Are Outdated

03:27 The Courage to Be Different

06:14 Choosing the Right Company and Leadership

13:59 Creating Buzz with Content Marketing

26:54 Hiring for Potential Over Experience

31:46 The Value of Diverse Backgrounds in Marketing

35:56 Handling Failure: A Marketing Campaign Gone Wrong

45:32 Writing a Book: Insights and Sneak Peeks

51:32 The Role of AI in Marketing

58:53 Lightning Round: Quickfire Questions and Answers

Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

Previous Episode

Marketing Myths and CMO Truths from a Coca-Cola & Uber Powerhouse

AI Won’t Save You. Strategy Will.

AI is transforming the way brands connect with consumers. But are companies actually leveraging it the right way? And what about marketing teams — are their operating models built for the future, or stuck in the past?

In this episode, Rebecca Messina, former Global CMO of Uber and marketing leader at Coca-Cola, unpacks what brands are getting wrong about AI, strategy, and team structure. She also reveals the top traits she looks for in marketing hires, and why adaptability and a relentless drive to learn are non-negotiable in today’s industry.

If you want to stay ahead in marketing, this conversation is a must-listen. Buckle up — Rebecca’s insights might just change the way you think about your entire marketing approach.

Key Moments:

00:00 Who is Marketing Expert, Rebecca Messina?
01:53 The Most Common Misconceptions in Marketing
03:48 Adapting Marketing Strategies to Different Environments
05:29 The Importance of Language in Marketing
16:08 Cross-Functional Collaboration
19:50 The Art of Risk-Taking
26:06 Your Operating Model is Costing You Talent
26:59 Global vs. Local Marketing Strategies
28:32 Innovating Your Operating Model
29:28 Hiring High-Performing Teams
33:12 Navigating AI in Marketing
39:16 Aligning Your Mission & Your Strategy
42:28 Lightning Round & Rebecca’s Top Resources
47:28 Why Flexibility is Wealth

Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

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10 Steps To A Team That Excels Without A Leader

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Spoiler Alert: If you still think leadership is about barking orders from the top, Keith Ferrazzi is here to tell you: you’re doing it wrong. The legendary author of Never Eat Alone is here, and he’s coming for your org chart.

Tune in to discover why traditional leadership is dead, how AI is forcing us all to rethink teamwork, and why teamship is the future.

Key Moments:

0:00 Who is Keith Ferrazzi, Author of Never Lead Alone?

06:43 The Importance of Team Dynamics

10:49 Shifts in Leadership and the Impact of Teamship

15:19 Implementing Effective Team Practices

23:41 Adapting to Market Changes

27:06 The Future of Jobs and AI Transformation

28:59 Navigating AI-Induced Societal Disruption

35:59 Empowered Teams and the Magic of Holacracy

38:37 High Return Practices for Team Success

46:48 The Next 20 Years: AI and Human Collaboration