The Marketing Front Lines

The First Marketing Hire's Playbook: Archive's Brand-First Approach

In this episode of Marketing Front Lines, we speak with Meredith Blechman, Head of Marketing at Archive, a Series A startup powering circular commerce for major retail brands. Archive is transforming how brands approach sustainability and secondary markets by enabling direct resale, repair, and recycling programs. Through their platform, companies like The North Face, New Balance, and Oscar de la Renta are building new revenue streams from existing products while reducing environmental impact. Meredith shares how she applies brand marketing principles to B2B tech and builds authentic connections in an increasingly dynamic market.
Topics Discussed: 
Transitioning marketing expertise from CPG to B2B tech 
Building emotional brand connections in technical markets 
Balancing creative and analytical marketing approaches 
Implementing effective ABM strategies for enterprise sales
Scaling marketing operations with limited resources 
Adapting quickly to changing market conditions
Lessons for B2B Tech Marketers:
Prioritize High-Touch Over High-Volume: Schedule quarterly in-person relationship building events rather than relying solely on digital campaigns. While these touchpoints reach fewer prospects (20 vs. thousands), they create deeper connections and enable organic advocacy. Bring existing customers together with prospects to leverage social proof in natural settings.
Implement Hyper-Personalized ABMP: Create unique LinkedIn ad variations for each target account rather than using blanket messaging. Despite requiring more resources to produce 20 variations versus one campaign, the ROI significantly outperforms generic approaches. Customize messaging to specific roles and company contexts.
Start With Brand Foundation Before Tactics: When joining as first marketing hire, establish brand values, mission, and purpose before tactical execution. Even in B2B tech, emotional connections matter - define your brand stance and ensure consistency across touchpoints. Use individual customer conversations to uncover authentic brand positioning opportunities.
Choose Tech Stack for Team Context: For resource-constrained teams, prioritize integrated platforms (like HubSpot) over point solutions. This enables efficient execution across functions without requiring extensive integration work. Add specialized tools only when team bandwidth allows proper implementation and maintenance.
Leverage Consumer Marketing Principles: Apply customer interview and brand building techniques from consumer marketing to B2B. Focus on understanding customer challenges and aspirations rather than just product features. Create marketing that resonates both personally and professionally with decision makers.
Challenge "Best Practices" Regularly: Question the "stick to what works" mentality. Marketing channels face diminishing returns and require constant optimization. Regularly evaluate all activities against current market conditions. Test new approaches even during periods of success to identify emerging opportunities.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co

From Politics to PR: Building Unassailable Market Position

In this episode of The Marketing Front Lines, we speak with Matt Krebsbach, Senior Vice President of Thought Leadership & Brand Awareness at Acquia. Drawing from his rich background spanning politics, agency work, and in-house leadership roles at tech giants like Bazaar Voice and Sitecore, Matt shares his philosophy on strategic communications versus traditional PR. He offers a masterclass in crisis management, competitive positioning, and developing authentic thought leadership that actually moves markets.
Topics Discussed:
Transforming political communication strategies into enterprise technology narratives
Navigating the DOJ lawsuit against Bazaar Voice as a communications leader
Building a "periodic table" of communication strategies to create unassailable competitive advantage
Differentiating strategic communications from traditional PR
Developing authentic thought leadership that changes market conversations
Managing journalist relationships in today's evolving media landscape
Creating effective communications strategies during crisis scenarios
Lessons For B2B Tech Marketers:
Apply Political Campaign Tactics to Technology Marketing: The parallels between political campaigns and enterprise tech are striking—both involve value-driven decision-making processes where purchasers are making choices that significantly impact their careers. Use political campaign principles to understand stakeholders' values, attach to those values, and build narratives that make buyers comfortable with perceived risk.
Create a "Periodic Table" of Communication Strategies: Rather than viewing communication as one-dimensional, develop a taxonomy of communication "plays" that interact with and offset your competitors' strategies. The objective isn't parity but creating an "unassailable competitive advantage" through strategic communication positioning.
Rethink Crisis Communications as Future Planning: When Bazaar Voice faced DOJ litigation, Matt's team focused on long-term stability rather than just managing the immediate crisis. They built narrative frameworks for multiple outcomes and developed business extensions that could sustain the company regardless of the legal verdict—an approach that ultimately protected the company.
Distinguish Strategic Communications from PR: While PR often focuses on press releases and securing coverage, strategic communications involves tailoring narratives to facilitate an ongoing dialogue that iteratively moves a company toward specific objectives. It recognizes that different stakeholders have different expectations and aspirations, requiring personalized approaches within a coherent larger narrative.
Develop True Thought Leadership Using Three Criteria: Authentic thought leadership must be: 1) Simple and actionable, 2) Additive to the conversation by changing the narrative, and 3) Relatable enough that people can apply it to their business realities. Most "thought leadership" fails by merely attaching to trends without actually changing conversations.
Balance Direct and Media-Driven Communications: While owned channels provide control, third-party journalism brings credibility. The most effective approach combines social media engagement and event-based conversations with strategic media relationships. Focus on reaching journalists who tell deeper stories even if you're just one part of a larger narrative.
Use Negative Feedback as a Strategic Lever: The biggest competitive opportunities often come from addressing weaknesses rather than celebrating strengths. When receiving criticism—whether from media, analysts, or customers—view it as a feedback loop to identify the "extra 2%" that separates leaders from followers.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co

From Growth Hacking to Scaling ResQ: Kareem Azees on Creativity, Analytics, and Winning in B2B Marketing

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Kareem Azees, Head of Marketing at ResQ, a restaurant technology platform that's raised over $40 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
From Growth Hacking to Full-Fledged Marketing: Kareem’s journey into marketing started with a childhood fascination with online gaming communities and eventually led to a career through a growth hacking internship.
Marketing's Blend of Creativity and Analytics: Kareem highlights how marketing satisfies both the creative and analytical sides of his skillset, a blend that drives his passion for the field.
B2B Marketing in Crowded Markets: Kareem points to companies like ClickUp as great examples of how to succeed in competitive spaces by executing across multiple channels and leveraging creativity.
ResQ’s Core Value Proposition: ResQ helps restaurants streamline repair and maintenance processes, solving critical operational issues such as equipment breakdowns that impact sales, customer experience, and brand reputation.
Scaling with Upper SMB Customers: ResQ targets restaurant groups with 5-100 locations, providing them with the tools to expand efficiently into new markets by sourcing qualified vendors without needing boots on the ground.
Marketing for an Offline Audience: Kareem explains how ResQ’s marketing approach focuses on in-person events and nurturing leads over time through newsletters, as their target audience—restaurant operators—aren’t always online.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co

Marina Azcarate, Head of Marketing at Mitiga Solutions: Driving the Future of Climate Risk with Cutting-Edge Tech

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Marina Azcarate, Head of Marketing at Mitiga Solutions, a deep-tech company that helps organizations manage climate risk. 
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Barcelona’s Tech Ecosystem: Marina discusses how Barcelona is emerging as a hub for deep tech, with strong ties to universities and a history in biotech and gaming. The city’s quality of life and connectivity are attracting innovative companies like Mitiga Solutions.
Transition from Media to Tech: Marina shares her journey from working at Wyden & Kennedy’s Delhi office in advertising to leading marketing at Mitiga, driven by her passion for “tech for good” and mitigating climate change.
Branding Inspired by Wyden & Kennedy: Marina explains how Wyden’s philosophy—like “do something people will love first” and focusing on the soul of a brand—shapes her marketing strategy at Mitiga, particularly in building a cohesive narrative around climate risk.
The Role of Climate Risk: Mitiga Solutions helps companies evaluate climate risk across time horizons using dynamic climate scenarios, offering actionable insights for industries such as insurance and infrastructure, particularly in renewable energy.
Marketing Education and Value: Marina highlights the importance of educating the market about climate risk. She shares how short, digestible videos and client conversations have been highly effective in driving engagement.
Scaling and Refining the Narrative: As Mitiga looks to scale, Marina emphasizes the importance of refining the company’s value proposition in a competitive, maturing market to ensure product-market fit in specific verticals.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co

Camila Panizzi Luz, Director of Global Marketing at Smartex: Revolutionizing Fabric Inspection

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Camila Panizzi Luz, Director of Global Marketing at Smartex, a cutting-edge company revolutionizing fabric inspection through AI-powered solutions.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Marketing Across Borders: Camila’s global marketing expertise draws from her background in international affairs, highlighting the importance of understanding diverse cultures and perspectives to craft impactful, cross-border strategies.
From Startup Generalist to Marketing Leader: Her journey began in startups, wearing multiple hats, including event marketing and product education, leading her to specialize in international marketing with a focus on impact-driven communication.
Inspiring Figures: Camila is particularly inspired by women leaders in sustainability, such as Rebecca Marmont from Unilever and Livia Firth, emphasizing the importance of purpose-driven marketing in today’s world.
Smartex’s Revolutionary Approach: Smartex’s AI-powered system reduces fabric waste in the textile industry by identifying defects during production, helping manufacturers improve margins, safety, and sustainability.
Challenges of Hardware Marketing: Transitioning from software to marketing a hardware-software hybrid has been challenging, especially in a traditional industry like textiles. Smartex's approach relies on trust-building through pilots and partnerships with early adopters.
Marketing Philosophy: Camila’s philosophy centers on transparency and long-term relationship building. She emphasizes truth in marketing and the power of authentic messaging, especially in industries resistant to change.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Holly Tate, CMO of Leadr: Building the Future of People Development Platforms

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Holly Tate, CMO at Leadr, a people development platform.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Blending Creativity with Business Savvy: Holly’s career in marketing was shaped by her early experiences working for two entrepreneurs, where she learned the importance of balancing creativity with solid business acumen to succeed in marketing.
Shifting from People Management to People Development: Leadr initially positioned itself as a people management software but faced challenges being compared to HR and project management tools, leading them to create a new category focused on "people development."
Sales Growth through Category Pivot: After Leadr made the shift to "people development," their sales increased significantly, demonstrating the power of category creation and clear differentiation in the marketplace.
Aligning Brand Identity with New Category: Holly led a rebranding effort, softening Leadr’s logo and changing it to lowercase to better reflect their collaborative, bottom-up leadership approach, signaling their new focus on people development.
Avoiding Overextension: A brief attempt to expand into HR software confused Leadr’s market positioning, prompting the company to quickly refocus on its core mission of people development, reaffirming the importance of staying true to a clear category.
Internal Alignment for Successful Category Creation: Holly emphasized the critical role of aligning the entire company—from sales to customer success—around the new category to ensure consistency and clarity in messaging across all teams and functions.
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 

Iris Pfeifer, VP of Growth at Wisetack: Mastering B2B Marketing Through Sales Alignment and Product Strategy

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Iris Pfeifer, VP of Growth at Wisetack, a company simplifying embedded financing for service businesses. Wisetack has raised $64 Million.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Bridging Sales and Marketing: Iris emphasizes the critical need for strong alignment between sales and marketing. Her experience in sales has shaped her approach to marketing, making it more strategic and collaborative.
Sales-Minded Marketing: Iris believes that marketers must remove ego and work closely with sales. In B2B environments, sales often have more leverage, and building a trusted advisor relationship with them is key to marketing success.
Focus on Product Marketing: At Wisetack, a heavy investment in product marketing is essential. Iris highlights the importance of understanding a broad addressable market and tailoring the product messaging to meet varying customer needs.
Effective Marketing Channels: Video content and SMS communication have been particularly effective for Wisetack, given the on-the-go nature of their target customers in the services industry.
Deprioritizing Demand Generation: Rather than traditional demand generation, Wisetack leverages its partners' existing reputations to build trust and drive growth among small businesses.
Top Priorities: Continuing to refine product education and enablement remains a top priority, especially as Wisetack expands its customer base from small businesses to larger enterprises.
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 

Chris Johnson, Growth Marketing Lead at Gun.IO: Competing in the Future of Freelance Developer Marketplaces

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Chris Johnson, Growth Marketing Lead at Gun.io, a specialized freelance marketplace for senior software developers.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Background Transition: Chris transitioned from a decade-long career in New York's fine dining to growth marketing in tech, leveraging his customer-facing experience to connect with developers in a digital space.
Unique Marketing Inspiration: Chris finds inspiration in the athletic world, highlighting Bandit Running's strategy of sponsoring unsponsored Olympic athletes, which created significant buzz without traditional sponsorship deals.
Developer-Centric Marketing: Marketing to developers is challenging due to their ability to see through inauthenticity. Chris emphasizes the importance of genuine community involvement and value-driven engagement.
Post-Pandemic Strategies: Gun.IO is shifting focus towards personalized, high-touch marketing efforts, like hosting intimate events alongside larger conferences, which have proven more effective than traditional conference participation.
Shifting Away from Social Media: The company is moving away from relying on social media and Google Ads for high-ticket B2B sales, focusing instead on more pragmatic and targeted approaches.
Future Priorities: Gun.IO is prioritizing awareness and product development, ensuring that its offerings align with customer needs while expanding the scope of their product features.
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Alex Siminoff, Director of Marketing at Parity: Mastering HVAC Optimization with Effective B2B Storytelling

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Alex Siminoff, Director of Marketing at Parity, a cutting-edge company optimizing HVAC systems to save on utility costs and reduce CO2 emissions.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Bridging Communication Gaps: Alex highlights the importance of understanding and bridging communication gaps between marketing and technical teams. Effective cross-collaboration is essential for product marketing success.
Emotional Storytelling: Drawing inspiration from Pixar and Steve Jobs, Alex emphasizes the power of storytelling in marketing. Crafting emotionally engaging narratives helps differentiate B2B brands.
Consistent Branding: Alex advocates for a consistent and cohesive branding approach. Maintaining a unified brand story across all channels enhances the customer experience and strengthens brand identity.
Customer-Centric Marketing: Alex’s approach involves deeply understanding customer needs and pain points. Tailoring marketing strategies to address these needs effectively aligns with customer expectations.
Innovative Content Strategies: Leveraging LinkedIn and short-form videos are key strategies Alex recommends. Engaging content, including team highlights and case studies, plays a crucial role in building brand presence.
Founder Stories: The conversation underscores the value of a compelling founder story in marketing. A well-crafted founder narrative can serve as a powerful backbone for broader marketing efforts and business goals.
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 

Yasmin, Marketing & Communication Leader at Flourish Fi: Driving Financial Engagement with Innovative Tech

Welcome to Marketing From the Front Lines, where we have unfiltered conversations with the B2B marketers who are bringing innovative technology to market. In today's episode, we're speaking with Yasmin Graeml, Marketing & Communications Leader at Flourish Fi, a cutting-edge platform dedicated to enhancing financial engagement and loyalty.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Unexpected Beginnings: Yasmin's journey into marketing began with her high school vlogs and a knack for SEO, which led to early opportunities in social media for small businesses. This grassroots start provided a foundation for her future career in marketing.
Influential Brands: Yasmin admires brands like Nubank for their ability to own a distinctive element—in this case, the color purple—to create a unique identity in the financial sector. This strategy of brand ownership can be a powerful tool for differentiation.
Brazilian Tech Ecosystem: Yasmin describes Brazil's tech ecosystem as rapidly growing with increasing numbers of unicorns. She highlights the blend of local and international opportunities, showing how startups in Brazil are beginning to gain global recognition.
Marketing Strategy: Flourish Fi's marketing approach focuses on understanding and engaging the right audience through targeted channels. Yasmin emphasizes the importance of being present where ideal customers are, such as relevant events and LinkedIn, rather than relying on broad, less-targeted platforms.
Multilingual Operations: Yasmin’s role at Flourish Fi involves managing communications across English, Portuguese, and Spanish. This multilingual approach reflects Flourish Fi’s expansion into Latin America and the importance of catering to diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.
Book Inspiration: Yasmin recommends "Convergence Culture" by Henry Jenkins, which explores the integration of physical and digital media. This book has influenced her view on creating immersive brand experiences and building a community around a brand.
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co