** Originally published on January 4, 2023 **

This episode is an early gem from when the podcast first launched and features the incredibly sharp Leela Gill, a three-time CMO and builder of high-growth B2B teams. Her advice on navigating the first 30-60-90 days in a new marketing leadership role is timeless. And her take on KPIs, internal branding, and enabling your sales team as thought leaders? Still fire.

It’s one of those episodes I come back to often, and I hope you’ll find value in it too.

Want a follow-up with Leela? Drop a comment, review, or DM me. I'm all ears.

— Jane

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In this episode of "Women in B2B Marketing," host Jane Serra interviews Leela Gill, accomplished B2B CMO and former CMO at One Health. Leela shares her journey from engineer to three-time CMO and how that technical foundation still shapes her marketing leadership today. The conversation covers what great CMOs prioritize in their first 90 days, the importance of intentional leadership, and why internal culture-building is just as critical as pipeline metrics.

Leela shares insights on:

• How to audit a new company and create your first 90-day plan
• Navigating pressure from sales while staying strategic
• Building trust with technical teams as a marketing leader
• Why pipeline and net revenue retention are the new must-track KPIs
• The evolving role of brand ambassadors, influencers, and raving fans
• How to turn your sales team into thought leaders
• Rethinking email marketing (and why LinkedIn might be your new ESP)
• Why "helping is the new selling"
• The rise of customer marketing and cross-functional alignment
• Advice for women entering B2B marketing: ask for advice, not feedback, and find a rockstar mentor

Key Links:

Guest: Leela Gill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leelagill/

Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/

In this episode of "Women in B2B Marketing," host Jane Serra speaks with Rissy La Touche, a seasoned marketer, advisor, speaker, and founder of Dimple Studio. Rissy shares her journey from B2C/B2B marketing to business owner, discussing the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. The episode delves into the importance of clear communication, self-promotion, and public speaking in B2B marketing. Rissy emphasizes the value of understanding customer insights and tailoring value messaging. She also shares her experiences managing multiple marketing channels and offers advice to young marketers on trusting their instincts.

Rissy and Jane discuss:

• How Rissy moved from NYC to Amsterdam and launched her consultancy, Dimple Studio
• The mindset shift from freelancer to business owner
• Learning to promote yourself without feeling cringe
• Leveraging buyer ego in B2B messaging while keeping your own in check
• What it really means to not gatekeep in marketing
• Why most B2B messaging misses the mark
• How to build value messaging that drives sales enablement
• The story of a value prop that unlocked new revenue
• Getting speaking gigs and lessons from her first keynote
• Why helping your buyer look good is the ultimate marketing strategy

Key Links:

Guest: Rissy La Touche: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rissylatouche/

Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/

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Like WIB2BM? Show us some love with a rating or review today! <3

Like WIB2BM? Show us some love with a rating or review today! <3

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In this episode of "Women in B2B Marketing," host Jane Serra speaks with Brandi Starr, COO of Tegrita, to discuss her multifaceted career and insights into effective B2B marketing. Brandi emphasizes the importance of understanding audience needs, advocating for tailored communication strategies and rigorous testing. She also addresses the pitfalls of "shiny object syndrome" and the risks of rapid strategic changes. Brandi shares a unique case study on controlled testing and underscores the value of community and authenticity in marketing.

Brandi talks through:

• Her career evolution through boredom and curiosity
• How strategy and marketing automation became her sweet spot
• The evolution and enduring power of email marketing
• Email isn’t dead, but your playbook might be
• Testing hypotheses in B2B marketing to find what works
• Why memes work for SMBs but not always for enterprise
• Building an operations-first approach to client success
• Controlled piloting versus shiny object syndrome in marketing
• Wild case study: how a team of women in prison outperformed SDRs
• How community and impact became central to her career
• Brandi’s advice to her younger self: don’t shrink, don’t dim your light

Key Links:

Guest: Brandi Starr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandistarr/

Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/