Key Moments – a chopcast original series Key Moments

Ben Slater, the CMO of Marketing at Beamery, shares his journey and insights in this conversation. He discusses his fascination with history and how it shaped his curiosity and decision-making. Ben also talks about his transition into marketing and the importance of company building. He shares a failure he experienced and the lessons he learned from it. The conversation touches on the topics of burnout, finding purpose in work, and the impact of positive feedback. Ben recommends the book 'The Long Road to Freedom' by Nelson Mandela. In this conversation, Ben Slater, CMO of Beamery, discusses the importance of community, empathy, and category creation in marketing. He shares how his parents have shaped his leadership style, the challenges of making tough decisions in marketing, and the power of building a community. Ben also emphasizes the need for clear and direct feedback, the value of focusing on quality over quantity in events, and the impact of AI on human intelligence. He concludes by highlighting the upcoming Spark Live event and where to find more information about Beamery.



Keywords

History, marketing, company building, failure, burnout, purpose, positive feedback, book recommendation, community, empathy, category creation, marketing, leadership, tough decisions, feedback, events, AI, human intelligence, Spark Live, Beamery



Takeaways


Curiosity and a fascination with history can shape decision-making and career paths.
Building a company involves facing failures and challenges, but perseverance and a growth mindset are key.
Burnout is a real issue, and it's important to prioritize self-care and find fulfillment in work.
Having a strong personal purpose and aligning it with the purpose of the business can drive motivation and success.
Positive feedback and seeing the impact of one's work can provide motivation and counterbalance the challenges. Building a community is essential in business, both in B2C and B2B contexts.
Empathy is crucial in leadership, especially in difficult conversations.
Direct and clear feedback is more effective and empathetic than the compliment sandwich approach.
Investing in quality and focused events can be more valuable than attending large-scale conferences.
AI should be used to augment human intelligence and provide insights for better decision-making.
Category creation requires a sustained investment in content, messaging, and repetition to build resonance in the market.
The Spark Live event celebrates human intelligence and addresses the challenges of AI in the talent and HR space.
Ben Slater can be found on LinkedIn, and more information about Beamery and Spark Live can be found on the Beamery website.

Sound Bites


"I was pretty fascinated by history growing up."
"Building a company from the ground up, I think is almost an exercise in failure in many ways."
"You need an environment where it is okay to fail and where you're encouraging people to take risk."
"Our ability to be successful relies on how we understand the people that we work with."
"Direct and clear feedback is the kindest way of communicating."
"You don't have to do [trade shows and conferences]."



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Childhood Fascination with History

03:32 Building Companies and Embracing Failure

08:07 The Power of Authenticity and Positive Feedback

12:14 Book Recommendation: 'The Long Road to Freedom'

31:01 Making Tough Decisions in Marketing

35:41 The Importance of Building a Community

42:06 Augmenting Human Intelligence with AI

47:31 Spark Live: Celebrating Human Intelligence

Evelyn Gebhardt discusses her bucket list, career journey, and the importance of empowering women in the workplace. She shares her love for travel and her experiences in different countries. Evelyn talks about her transition from working for herself to working for a corporation and the lessons she learned along the way. She also discusses her studies in literature and how it influenced her career path. Evelyn emphasizes the importance of fighting for what you want and supporting and empowering others. She shares her experiences with imposter syndrome and the value of being part of a supportive community. Evelyn Gebhardt shares the importance of having mentors and supporters who believe in you and encourage you to achieve your goals. She credits her upbringing and her parents, particularly her working mom, for teaching her that she can do anything she sets her mind to. She also mentions her colleagues and her boss at Altair as influential figures in her journey. Evelyn emphasizes the need for leaders to give guidance and empower their teams, encouraging them to step up and speak for themselves. She also discusses the challenge of giving constructive feedback and the importance of being specific and balanced in delivering criticism. Evelyn shares her decision to join Altair as a turning point in her journey, highlighting the opportunities for growth and development in a larger organization. She advises others to follow their hearts and pursue their interests, regardless of societal narratives about entrepreneurship versus corporate careers. Evelyn also talks about the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone and shares her experiences of living abroad as a source of personal growth. She encourages seeking advice and thinking deeply about the potential for growth before making decisions. Evelyn concludes by mentioning upcoming global virtual events at Altair, including one focused on artificial intelligence for engineers.



Keywords

Bucket list, travel, career journey, empowerment, women in the workplace, marketing, imposter syndrome, community, mentors, support, goals, upbringing, parents, working mom, colleagues, boss, guidance, empowerment, constructive feedback, specific, balanced, criticism, decision, growth, development, comfort zone, living abroad, advice, virtual events, artificial intelligence



Takeaways


Traveling and meeting people is high on Evelyn's bucket list.
Evelyn transitioned from working for herself to working for a corporation.
She emphasizes the importance of fighting for what you want and supporting and empowering others.
Evelyn shares her experiences with imposter syndrome and the value of being part of a supportive community. Having mentors and supporters who believe in you and encourage you is crucial for achieving your goals.
Leaders should give guidance and empower their teams, encouraging them to step up and speak for themselves.
Giving constructive feedback requires finding a balance between encouragement and suggestions for improvement.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is essential for personal growth and development.
Following your heart and pursuing your interests is more important than conforming to societal narratives about entrepreneurship versus corporate careers.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Evelyn's Bucket List

09:04 Empowerment in the Workplace: Fighting for What You Want

27:35 Empowering Teams and Giving Constructive Feedback

36:36 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone for Growth

46:29 Upcoming Global Virtual Events at Altair

Matt Hooper, the Chief Marketing Officer of Quantexa, shares insights on marketing, repositioning, and the importance of understanding positioning in business. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including leadership, team building, high-performance teams, personal influences, startup experiences, and family accomplishments. Hooper shares insights from sports books, personal experiences, and professional achievements. The conversation also delves into the importance of family and the impact of personal relationships on career decisions.



Keywords

Visualization, determination, resilience, incentivizing, positioning, messaging, failure, marketing, repositioning, business growth, leadership, team building, high-performance teams, startup experiences, family accomplishments, personal influences, professional achievements, sports books, personal relationships, career decisions



Takeaways


Visualization and determination play a significant role in achieving personal and professional goals.
Understanding positioning and messaging is crucial for business success.
Failure is a part of the journey and provides valuable learning opportunities for growth and improvement. Understanding the human aspects of team performance is crucial, and effective leadership involves understanding individual differences and creating a conducive environment for high performance.
The process of building and leading high-performance teams involves understanding the importance of communication, creating a supportive environment, and caring deeply about people.
Startup experiences can be challenging but rewarding, and the ability to calculate risk and analyze factors is essential for success.
Family accomplishments and personal relationships play a significant role in personal and professional fulfillment, and the process of raising and nurturing a family is a lifelong achievement.
The pursuit of creating a global ethical technology brand involves setting a vision and working towards achieving it, with a focus on creating a positive impact on a global scale.



Sound Bites


"If you're executing off of weak positioning, weak messaging, it doesn't align to a target market, which doesn't align the value of what you're bringing, then all of that becomes very risky."
"Having weak positioning is another way to think about it is going out there with messaging that intends to appeal to everyone. And obviously we know that you end up appealing to no one."
"The process of success is just failing along the way because ultimately that's where you learn the most."
"Understanding the human aspects of team performance is crucial."
"Startup experiences can be challenging but rewarding."
"The biggest accomplishment is having a family."



Chapters

00:00 The Power of Visualization and Determination

10:47 The Importance of Positioning and Messaging in Business

33:28 Leadership and Team Building Insights

40:10 Startup Experiences and Risk Analysis

01:02:21 Family Accomplishments and Personal Fulfillment

01:04:19 Creating a Global Ethical Technology Brand

Julia Stead, CMO of 15Five, shares her bucket list items and discusses the importance of setting boundaries and saying no. She also talks about her career journey, including her experience on a performance improvement plan and the lessons she learned from it. Julia emphasizes the value of direct feedback as a form of kindness and the importance of trust and healthy relationships within a leadership team. She recommends the book 'The Five Dysfunctions of a Team' by Patrick Lencioni. Julia Stead discusses the importance of trust, healthy conflict, and commitment in building strong relationships and making effective decisions. She shares her experience using the five dysfunctions framework to improve team dynamics. Julia also emphasizes the value of receiving direct feedback and the role of leaders in helping their team members grow. She highlights the significance of taking big professional swings and the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing challenging goals. Julia concludes by discussing the importance of women in revenue and the impact of friendship and community in professional development.

André Canú, VP of Marketing at dLocal, shares his journey and insights on measuring success, learning from failures, and building teams. He discusses the importance of setting KPIs and measuring outcomes, as well as the value of storytelling in marketing. Canú also highlights the significance of trust and giving young professionals opportunities to lead. He emphasizes the need for freedom and flexibility in processes, allowing for experimentation and learning from mistakes. Canú concludes by discussing the importance of building strong relationships and networking in business. André Canú shares his insights on building a successful company culture and the importance of flexibility and learning in career transitions. He emphasizes the need to challenge processes and adapt them when necessary, while still maintaining a foundation of internal processes. André also discusses the impact of his decision to move from HR to product and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. He encourages individuals to embrace change, try new things, and not be afraid to reinvent themselves. Lastly, he highlights the significance of believing in the company's mission and prioritizing people-first in building a great culture.



Keywords

Journey, measuring success, learning from failures, building teams, setting KPIs, storytelling in marketing, trust, freedom in processes, experimentation, networking, company culture, flexibility, learning, career transitions, challenging processes, adaptability, HR, product, reinvention, mission, people-first



Takeaways


Setting KPIs and measuring outcomes is crucial for success in any endeavor.
Learning from failures and making corrections is essential for growth and improvement.
Storytelling is a powerful tool in marketing, helping to convey insights and trends.
Trust and giving young professionals opportunities to lead are key to building strong teams.
Freedom and flexibility in processes allow for experimentation and innovation.
Building strong relationships and networking are important for business success. Challenge processes and adapt them when necessary
Embrace change and try new things
Don't be afraid to reinvent yourself
Believe in the company's mission
Prioritize people-first in building a great culture

Sound Bites


"If you are going to do something, we expect a certain outcome. How are we going to measure that?"
"As long as you learn from them and correct them in the future, that's the way to go."
"Being a storyteller, you have to turn data into insights and trends."
"You have to challenge processes and adapt them when necessary."
"Don't be afraid to reinvent yourself. You can always try new things."
"Moving from HR to product was one of the most important decisions of my life."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Dream Job

09:02 The Power of Storytelling in Marketing

23:56 Building a Successful Company Culture

37:11 Believing in the Company's Mission

44:20 Bringing Services to Emerging Markets

Heidi Bullock, CMO at Tealium, discusses the importance of positivity, resilience, and embracing challenges in personal and professional life. Heidi emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with diverse perspectives and the power of optimism as a choice. She also reflects on the importance of recognizing when to make a change and the role of hard work and perseverance in achieving success. In this conversation, Heidi shares insights on overcoming fear, taking calculated risks, and building confidence. She emphasizes the importance of breaking down fear and realizing that the worst-case scenario is often manageable. Heidi also discusses the impact of mentors and role models, highlighting the value of direct feedback in personal and professional growth. She emphasizes the significance of hiring A-players and the ripple effect they have on the entire team. Additionally, Heidi shares her proudest accomplishment of building a strong team at Tealium and her excitement for the future of AI.



Takeaways


Surround yourself with diverse perspectives and embrace different personality types to foster creativity and problem-solving.
Choose positivity and optimism as a mindset, recognizing that happiness is a choice and resilience is key to overcoming challenges.
Be self-reflective and honest with yourself about your goals and whether your current environment is helping you achieve them.
Set a loose framework and timeline for your career goals, allowing for flexibility and adjustments along the way. Fear can be overcome by breaking it down and realizing that the worst-case scenario is often manageable.
Direct feedback is valuable for personal and professional growth, and it should be given and received with the intention of improvement.
Hiring A-players is crucial for building a high-performing team, and it has a positive impact on the entire organization.
Building a strong team and creating a positive work environment are accomplishments that bring long-term satisfaction.
AI has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of business and marketing, and its impact is something to look forward to.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Cartoon Characters

00:25 Heidi's Love for Lisa Simpson

01:19 Heidi's Soccer Experience and Teamwork

03:10 Choosing Positivity and Surrounding Yourself with Different Perspectives

04:07 Creating Diverse Teams

04:32 The Importance of Positivity and Optimism

05:14 Choosing Optimism as a Trait

05:59 Seeing Challenges as Opportunities

06:26 The Power of Perspective and Gratitude

07:03 The Influence of Personal Experiences on Mindset

07:31 The Happiness Advantage and Choosing Happiness

08:15 The Impact of Mindset on Problem Solving

09:14 Heidi's Failure: Staying in a Role Too Long

10:21 Recognizing When to Make a Change

11:14 Trusting Your Gut and Making Decisions

12:08 The Importance of Being in the Right Environment

13:29 Determining When to Stick It Out or Move On

14:06 Setting Goals and Creating a Plan

15:04 Mapping Out Your Career Path

16:21 The Role of Timelines in Goal Setting

18:00 The Power of Persistence and Overcoming Obstacles

19:21 Taking Chances and Putting Yourself Out There

21:07 The Hard Things About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

22:26 Resilience and Embracing Challenges

24:49 Flipping Challenges and Using Them as Fuel

26:14 The Importance of Resilience and Digging Deeper

27:24 The Role of Hard Work and Taking Chances

28:19 The Impact of Social Media on Perceptions of Success

29:06 Resilience and Overcoming Setbacks

30:04 Overcoming Fear and Taking Calculated Risks

31:27 Breaking Down Fear and Building Confidence

33:31 The Impact of Mentors and Role Models

34:09 The Power of Direct Feedback

35:34 The Importance of Hiring A-Players

39:15 Accomplishments That Hit Different

45:41 The Art of Effective Interviewing

48:23 The Value of Building a Strong Team

53:51 The Excitement of AI and Future Developments