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The Peerbound Podcast

The Peerbound Podcast

Peerbound

On The Peerbound Podcast, we believe customer centricity is core to success. And our host, Sunny Manivannan, is excited to share stories from customer-obsessed leaders who consistently raise the bar. Tune in weekly to hear top marketing leaders in enterprise software discuss their career journeys and share their unique insights, future predictions, and proven strategies for amplifying the voice of the customer to accelerate growth.
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Top 10 The Peerbound Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Peerbound Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Peerbound Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Peerbound Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

In our conversation, Jason tells us about the medical diagnosis that shifted his career from the US Navy to tech marketing, leading him to roles at Salesforce and Braze. We get into the formative lessons Jason learned in product marketing, from prioritizing clear messaging to positioning yourself correctly, and how they’ve shaped his approach. Jason also discusses the challenges of transitioning from a large organization like Salesforce to smaller, more agile environments, and why fostering team well-being is essential to success. Additionally, he shares details on the role AI plays at Amperity, and how tools like perplexity.ai enhance efficiency. Stay tuned for Jason’s career advice, what is top-of-mind for him as a marketing lead, his thoughts on the evolving role of AI in SaaS, and much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

(0:00:21) Jason’s journey from US Navy pilot to marketing leader at Amperity.

(0:02:45) Key challenges Jason faced transitioning from the military to marketing.

(0:05:22) Formative lessons learned at Salesforce on mastering product marketing.

(0:09:25) Adapting to smaller companies after Salesforce.

(0:12:08) Career advice: choosing your job and creating support systems.

(0:15:46) What is top-of-mind for Jason as a marketing lead: performance and team health.

(0:17:51) Broader trends in SaaS and software: value articulation and AI.

(0:20:47) Using AI tools like perplexity.ai to boost productivity at Amperity.

(0:22:40) The future of AI in SaaS and its potential impact on the workforce.

(0:26:04) Jason’s favourite Saas homepage, customer story, and technologies.

(0:32:36) Book recommendations and shoutouts to noteworthy peers.

Featuring:

Jason Perocho:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/perocho/

Sunny Manivannan:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnymanivannan/

Twitter - https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=/sunnymanivannan

References:

Salesforce - https://www.salesforce.com/

Braze - https://www.braze.com/

Amperity - https://amperity.com/

perplexity.ai - https://www.perplexity.ai/

claude.ai - https://claude.ai/login

AmpGPT - https://amperity.com/demo/amp-ai

Spline - https://spline.design/

Strava - https://www.strava.com/

Slaughterhouse-Five - https://www.amazon.com/Slaughterhouse-Five-Novel-Modern-Library-Novels/dp/0385333846

FYI: For Your Improvement - https://www.amazon.com/FYI-Improvement-Competencies-Development-Guide/dp/1933578904

Follow us:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/peerbound-inc

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-peerbound-podcast/id1708825056

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GO3n6pATX10fkY8lgf3GX

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In our conversation, Sara Varni, Chief Marketing Officer of Datadog, reflects on her experiences with different growth stages at Twilio, Attentive, and Datadog, highlighting how she established crucial processes like pipeline councils and executed major ad campaigns. She unpacks some of the most common mistakes new CMOs make, emphasizing the importance of balancing swift changes with thoughtful analysis, and her advice on how best to navigate your first 90 days. Our conversation also examines the pros and cons of embracing evangelism in marketing, versus a more reality-based approach (and when to use which), how to tailor your marketing for different audiences, and much more. With a wealth of experience across top tech companies, Sara’s advice offers a valuable guide for anyone looking to navigate the complex world of SaaS marketing and leadership, so be sure to tune in!

  • (00:00:25) Introducing Sara Varni.
  • (00:00:43) Integrating product-led and sales-led growth motions.
  • (00:02:31) Lessons on prioritizing sales-led growth.
  • (00:04:14) Twilio’s approach: Helping rather than selling.
  • (00:07:16) Marketing to different audiences.
  • (00:09:08) Embracing evangelism as a marketer vs. a reality-based approach.
  • (00:11:32) Finding the right balance between evangelism and reality.
  • (00:13:57) Advice for your first 90 days as CMO.
  • (00:17:59) Sara’s first 90 days at Twilio, Attentive, and Datadog.
  • (00:23:46) Common mistakes new CMOs make (and how to avoid them).
  • (00:25:48) Inspiring customer stories from Sara’s SaaS marketing career.
  • (00:27:28) Sara’s favorite SaaS company homepage.
  • (00:28:33) Why Tableau is Sara’s favorite enterprise tool.
  • (00:29:25) Book recommendations from Sara.
  • (00:31:31) Sara’s inspirational marketing leaders.

Featuring:

Sara Varni:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/saravarnibright/

Sunny Manivannan:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnymanivannan/
Twitter - https://x.com/sunnymanivannan

References:

Datadog - https://www.datadoghq.com/

Attentive - https://www.attentive.com/

Twilio - https://www.twilio.com/en-us

Medtronic - https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/index.html
Tableau - https://www.tableau.com/

Demon Copperhead - https://www.amazon.co.za/Demon-Copperhead-Pulitzer-Prize-Winner/dp/0063251922

Denise Persson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisepersson/

Jamie Domenici - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdomenici/

Shannon Sullivan Duffy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonduffy/

Jeff Titterton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefftitterton/

Follow us:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/peerbound-inc

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-peerbound-podcast/id1708825056

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GO3n6pATX10fkY8lgf3GX

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In this episode of the Peerbound Podcast, Chief Edition, host Sunny Manivannan is joined by Heather Larrabee, the Chief Marketing Officer of OfficeSpace Software. Heather discusses her extensive career, highlighting her transition from consumer brands like Whole Foods to B2B, particularly in software. She shares insights on effective marketing strategies, the importance of calculated risks, and aligning initiatives with broader business goals. Heather also delves into specific success stories from her career, including a significant innovation at Whole Foods involving a SaaS solution for vendor sampling. Beyond marketing tactics, the conversation touches on career advice for both early-stage professionals and those ten years into their careers, emphasizing the significance of a growth mindset, curiosity, and cross-functional collaboration. Heather's experiences underline the role of entrepreneurial thinking, mentorship, and community in personal and professional growth. The episode wraps up with a discussion on impactful customer stories and the future of work in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

  • (00:36) Heather Larrabee's Marketing Journey
  • (01:19) Innovative Solutions at Whole Foods
  • (05:15) Transitioning from B2C to B2B
  • (06:49) Digital Transformation and Career Path
  • (08:28) The Importance of Right Livelihood
  • (10:57) Navigating Post-Pandemic Work Environments
  • (15:02) Problem Solving and Growth Mindset
  • (23:51) Choosing the Right Marketing Strategy
  • (24:36) Entrepreneurial Mindset in Marketing
  • (25:07) Career Advice for Early-Stage Professionals
  • (27:53) Career Advice for Mid-Career Professionals
  • (30:44) The Importance of Mentorship and Community
  • (31:59) Influential Books and Resources
  • (33:48) Favorite Marketing Leaders and Brands
  • (40:32) Customer Stories and Final Thoughts

Featuring:

Heather Larrabee (LinkedIn)

Sunny Manivannan (LinkedIn, Twitter)

References:

Follow us:

LinkedIn

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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On this episode of The Peerbound Podcast, we hear from Trish Borrmann, the Director of Global Customer Advocacy at ServiceNow. Trish shares her journey and expertise in building customer advocacy programs at technology giants like Cisco, Fortinet, and ServiceNow. She discusses the power of customer stories and the impact of a unique project where she helped write a cybersecurity best practices book with contributions from industry experts. Trish highlights the importance of engaging customers in sharing their success stories in a variety of formats, from press releases to robust multi-platform campaigns, and emphasizes the value of presenting customer advocacy as a valuable opportunity rather than a favor request. The conversation also touches upon the role of AI and generative AI in enhancing customer advocacy strategies and the operational efficiency within ServiceNow. Trish's experiences shed light on the evolving landscape of customer advocacy in tech and offer valuable insights for both seasoned and aspiring customer advocacy professionals.

  • (00:38) Trish Borrmann's Unique Experience with a Cybersecurity Book
  • (04:35) Lessons from Leading Technology Companies
  • (05:44) Building a Customer Advocacy Program from Scratch
  • (07:15) Looking Ahead: ServiceNow's Priorities for 2024 and Beyond
  • (08:42) The Art of Asking in Customer Advocacy
  • (10:12) Trish's Journey into Customer Advocacy and Marketing
  • (11:33) Innovative Customer Engagement at ServiceNow
  • (16:14) The Impact of AI on Customer Advocacy
  • (17:05) AI Adoption Within ServiceNow's Operations
  • (17:47) Advice for the Next Generation of Customer Advocacy Managers

The book Trish helped publish during her time at Fortninet is called The Digital Big Bang.

Featuring:

Trish Borrmann (LinkedIn)

Sunny Manivannan (LinkedIn, Twitter)

Follow us:

LinkedIn

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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The Peerbound Podcast - Mark Boothe (CMO at Domo) on Leading with the Customer
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05/07/24 • 19 min

In this episode of the Peerbound Podcast: Chief Edition, we welcome Mark Boothe, the Chief Marketing Officer at Domo, to discuss the transformative efforts and strategies behind their award-winning community engagement program, Domo Central. Mark shares insights from his extensive career in marketing at companies like Adobe and Domo, emphasizing the power of customer voice in driving business success. He discusses the challenges and successes in revamping Domo Central, which led to winning Forrester's Customer Engagement Program of the Year award. Mark's approach to leadership, the importance of customer-centricity, and the evolving role of AI in B2B marketing are also explored. The episode concludes with Mark's peer nominations for future guests, highlighting individuals with impactful contributions in the marketing field.

  • (01:25) The Evolution of Domo Central
  • (02:14) Building a Vibrant Community at Domo
  • (04:22) The Comprehensive Approach to Domo Central
  • (06:51) Mark's Philosophy: Leading with the Customer
  • (08:41) Mark Boothe's Marketing Journey
  • (10:47) From Adobe to Domo: A Career in Marketing
  • (13:15) Big Company vs. Startup Dynamics
  • (14:55) Advice for Aspiring CMOs
  • (16:39) The Future of B2B Marketing

Stay tuned through the end of the show (18:21) to hear who Mark thinks we should interview next.

Featuring:

Mark Boothe (LinkedIn)

Sunny Manivannan (LinkedIn, Twitter)

Follow us:

LinkedIn

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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In today’s episode of The Peerbound Podcast, we sit down with Harriet Johnston, the Vice President of Marketing at Ashby to explore key strategies for refining recruitment processes and how to build a marketing team from scratch. Tuning in you’ll hear Harriet’s expert insights on attracting the best talent, enhancing the candidate experience, and why recruiting presents a rich brand-building opportunity. Discover key aspects you need to consider during the recruitment process, like prioritizing differentiated and compelling job descriptions, and why you should always treat candidates as potential customers. Harriet also elaborates on Ashby's journey navigating a dynamic market landscape, and the challenges they had to overcome while maintaining a cohesive narrative amid rapid changes. Stay tuned to the end for Harriet’s advice on staying connected with the Voice of the Customer (VoC) and her top reading and listening recommendations!

  • (0:00:35) Ashby’s unique offerings.
  • (0:01:58) Why Harriet joined Ashby.
  • (0:03:45) Building Ashby’s brand.
  • (0:05:11) Competitive differentiation in ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).
  • (0:09:41) Building a marketing team from scratch.
  • (0:17:24) Strategies for hiring your first designer.
  • (0:19:37) Advice for attracting the best talent.
  • (0:20:17) Differentiated and compelling job descriptions.
  • (0:23:06) Delivering a good interview experience.
  • (0:24:31) Recruitment as a brand-building opportunity.
  • (0:27:25) Maintaining a narrative that works in a rapidly changing environment.
  • (0:31:30) Staying connected with the Voice of the Customer (VoC).
  • (0:34:56) Reading and listening recommendations.
  • (0:37:05) Recognizing influential figures in SaaS marketing.

Featuring:

Harriet Johnston:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hajohnston/

Sunny Manivannan:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnymanivannan/
Twitter - https://x.com/sunnymanivannan

References:

Ashby - https://www.ashbyhq.com/

Exit Five: B2B Marketing with Dave Gerhardt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exit-five-b2b-marketing-with-dave-gerhardt/id1599954536

Storytelling with Data - https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Data-Visualization-Business-Professionals/dp/1119002257

Educated - https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501

Why Fish Don't Exist - https://www.amazon.com/Why-Fish-Dont-Exist-Hidden/dp/1501160273
Creativity, Inc. - https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012

Follow us:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/peerbound-inc

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-peerbound-podcast/id1708825056

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GO3n6pATX10fkY8lgf3GX

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In this episode, we hear from Emily Ward, the Vice President of Global Marketing at Turnitin. Emily shares her unexpected journey from aspiring ballerina to marketing leader, emphasizing the role of adaptability, understanding user needs, and data-driven decision-making in her career. Highlighting her initial pivot from ballet to marketing due to pragmatic advice, Emily discusses her educational path, her first marketing job against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, and her navigation through different sectors, eventually finding a passion for edtech. Notably, Emily focuses on the importance of combining performance marketing with brand-building, the impactful lessons from customer feedback, and her current challenges and initiatives at Turnitin, especially regarding generative AI and academic integrity.

  • (00:44) From Ballet to Marketing: Emily Ward's Unique Journey
  • (01:33) Discovering a Passion for Marketing
  • (02:32) First Steps into the Marketing World
  • (04:12) The Shift to EdTech and Performance Marketing
  • (07:21) The Power of Brand and Performance Marketing
  • (09:19) Content That Converts: Insights from Experience
  • (10:44) Learning from Marketing Missteps
  • (14:16) Turnitin's Mission and Marketing Strategy
  • (17:42) Navigating the Challenges of Generative AI
  • (20:36) Using the Voice of the Customer at Turnitin
  • (21:56) Looking Forward to 2024 and Beyond
  • (23:23) Emily’s Peer Nomination

Featuring:

Emily Ward (LinkedIn)

Sunny Manivannan (LinkedIn, Twitter)

Follow us:

LinkedIn

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Kirsten Newbold-Knipp, CEO of AskNicely, shares her career journey to becoming a CEO. Starting her career in hospitality, Kirsten's focus on customer experience paved the way for her transition into the tech industry, eventually leading to leadership roles at high-profile companies such as HubSpot. Kirsten shares insights on navigating the transition to tech, demonstrating the value of marketing leaders in executive roles, and the importance of data-informed decision-making. She emphasizes the power of customer feedback in shaping a company's services and the significance of being customer-centric in leadership positions. Kirsten's narrative provides valuable advice on career development, the importance of tackling significant problems, and fostering a culture of accountability and feedback within organizations. The discussion also touches on Kirsten's initiatives at AskNicely and how the company leverages customer feedback to drive improvement and growth.

  • (00:53) Kirsten's Journey from Hospitality to Marketing Excellence
  • (03:33) The Leap into Tech: A Serendipitous Transition
  • (06:51) From Product Management to Marketing Leadership
  • (08:33) Startup Adventures and Learning at HubSpot
  • (10:12) Insights from a Stint at Gartner
  • (13:13) Embracing the CMO Role and Eyeing the CEO Position
  • (16:04) Career Advice: Solving Bigger Problems for Growth
  • (18:46) Building Effective Teams in Fast-Growing Companies
  • (19:12) Enhancing Communication and Collaboration
  • (21:04) Exploring AskNicely's Impact and Initiatives
  • (25:34) Personal Growth and Leadership as CEO
  • (27:20) Engaging Customers in Company Development
  • (28:39) Cultivating a Culture of Accountability and Feedback

Stay tuned through the end of the show (33:31) to learn:

  • What type of furry critter was walking around Kirsten’s office during our recording.
  • Who Kirsten thinks we should interview next.

Featuring:

Kirsten Newbold-Knipp (LinkedIn)

Sunny Manivannan (LinkedIn, Twitter)

Follow us:

LinkedIn

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Trinity Nguyen, the VP of Marketing at UserGems, shares the founding journey of UserGems, starting from its initial idea as a tool for identifying micro-influencers to pivoting towards leveraging job changes for B2B sales and marketing, a space with stronger market potential. Trinity highlights the value of tracking job changes for sales teams, explaining the theory behind targeting individuals familiar with your product from their past roles, and the practical benefits of such warm leads. Discussing her role at UserGems, Trinity emphasizes the importance of customer centricity, illustrating how the company's approach to pricing and customer interaction reflects their commitment to aligning closely with customer needs and interests. Additionally, Trinity recounts her personal journey from risk management to marketing leadership, offering insights into the diversity of marketing functions and the challenges of managing a multifaceted team. Finally, the conversation touches upon personal branding on social media, the benefits of starting your career in larger companies.

  • (00:46) The Evolution of UserGems: From Influencer Tool to B2B Powerhouse
  • (03:06) Unlocking the Value of Job Changes in Sales and Marketing
  • (05:06) Fostering a Customer-Centric Culture at UserGems
  • (08:16) The Psychology Behind Pricing and Customer Behavior
  • (12:58) From Corporate Audit to Marketing Maven: Trinity's Career Path
  • (14:36) The Intricacies of Product Marketing and Its Impact
  • (16:34) Challenges and Rewards of Leading a Marketing Team
  • (17:55) Building a Personal Brand on Social Media
  • (21:36) What Success Looks like at Big vs. Small Companies

Stay tuned through the end of the show (23:17) to learn:

  • Which form of media is Trinity’s favorite.
  • Who Trinity thinks we should interview next.

Featuring:

Trinity Nguyen (LinkedIn)

Sunny Manivannan (LinkedIn, Twitter)

Follow us:

LinkedIn

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Liz shares her remarkable account of scaling Yext from a $10 million startup to a $400 million public company and takes us into the complex world of marketing leadership, where balancing creativity with data-driven strategies is key. She discusses her approach to company building through marketing, the evolving impact of AI, and offers invaluable leadership and career advice for marketers and entrepreneurs alike. To find out how Liz's unique insights on visionary leadership, adapting to technological shifts, and navigating challenges can inspire you to drive growth and innovation in your own work, be sure to tune in today! You won’t want to miss this opportunity to gain actionable takeaways from one of the industry's top marketing leaders.

Key Points From This Episode:

  • (0:00:53) Introducing Liz Egan and her journey into marketing.
  • (0:04:15) Scaling Yext from a 75-person startup to a $400 million public company.
  • (0:07:04) Why strategies that didn’t work previously could work now.
  • (0:08:24) The value of diverse experience in both data and creative marketing.
  • (0:10:45) Liz’s take on the ‘Founder Mode’ essay by Y-Combinator’s Paul Graham.
  • (0:15:17) Balancing the art of marketing with data-driven strategies.
  • (0:19:20) What marketers often miss about sales.
  • (0:22:55) The impact of AI on marketing: balancing market expectations with hype.
  • (0:30:41) Visionary leadership advice for early-career marketers.
  • (0:32:14) What it means to keep your “company hat” on when making decisions.
  • (0:33:21) SaaS Talk: Liz’s favourite software company homepages and apps.
  • (0:36:50) Peerbound Talk: TV shows and marketing leaders that inspire her.

Featuring:

Liz Egan:
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethwaltonegan/

X — https://x.com/lizwalton

Sunny Manivannan:
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnymanivannan/
X — https://x.com/sunnymanivannan

References:

Lattice — https://lattice.com/

Sprig — https://sprig.com/

Yext — https://www.yext.com/

Howard Lerman — https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardlerman/

‘Founder Mode’ Essay — https://paulgraham.com/foundermode.html

Gong — https://www.gong.io/

Vercel — https://vercel.com/

Figma — https://www.figma.com/

Apple Health — https://www.apple.com/health/

Arc — https://arc.net/

Artifact — https://artifact.news/

Shōgun — https://www.hulu.com/series/shogun

Slow Horses — https://tv.apple.com/za/show/slow-horses/umc.cmc.2szz3fdt71tl1ulnbp8utgq5o

MKT1 Newsletter — https://newsletter.mkt1.co/

Emily Kramer — https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilykramer/

Katie Mitchell — https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinesmitchell/

Follow us:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/peerbound-inc

Tune in:

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-peerbound-podcast/id1708825056

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5GO3n6pATX10fkY8lgf3GX

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Peerbound Podcast have?

The Peerbound Podcast currently has 39 episodes available.

What topics does The Peerbound Podcast cover?

The podcast is about Tech, Customer Success, Marketing, Community, Software, Podcast, Podcasts, Technology, Business, Customer Experience, B2B and Careers.

What is the most popular episode on The Peerbound Podcast?

The episode title 'Harriet Johnston (VP of Marketing at Ashby) on Building Effective Marketing Strategies and Teams' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Peerbound Podcast?

The average episode length on The Peerbound Podcast is 31 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Peerbound Podcast released?

Episodes of The Peerbound Podcast are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Peerbound Podcast?

The first episode of The Peerbound Podcast was released on Sep 24, 2023.

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