From Campaigns to the Boardroom: Rethinking Marketing Ops with Lauren McCormack

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, Michael is joined by co-hosts Mike Rizzo and Naomi Liu for a wide-ranging conversation with Lauren McCormack, Lead Strategist for the B2B Experience Platform at Kaiser Permanente.Lauren brings a rare perspective shaped by hands-on experience across Marketing Ops, RevOps, sales, paid media, and analytics. As a multi-time Marketo Champion and MOPsapalooza speaker, she has spent her career helping marketing teams move beyond activity metrics and earn real credibility with revenue leaders.The discussion focuses on what it takes for modern marketing teams to think and operate like business leaders. Lauren shares practical insights on alignment, attribution, financial literacy, and why many teams still struggle to connect their work to real business outcomes.In this episode, you will learn:How cross-functional experience changes the way Ops leaders think about impactWhy earning a seat at the revenue table requires more than good reportingThe right way to approach attribution without overengineering or blameWhy financial literacy is becoming non-negotiable for Marketing Ops leadersThe risks of continuing to market without clear measurement as 2026 approachesThis episode is ideal for Marketing Ops, RevOps, and demand leaders who want to elevate their influence, improve executive trust, and prepare their teams for the next phase of data-driven decision-making.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, Michael is joined by co-host Mike Rizzo to tackle events, which are one of the most persistent challenges in go-to-market execution.Events demand significant investment in time, budget, and coordination, yet many teams still struggle to prove their impact. Data is often fragmented, delayed, or incomplete, making ROI difficult to measure and even harder to trust.To discuss this problem, we are joined by Aaron Karpaty, Senior Director of Strategic Growth at Captello. Aaron works closely with revenue, marketing, and operations teams to modernize how event data is captured, connected, and activated across CRM, marketing automation, and sales workflows.The conversation explores where event programs break down operationally, why so much valuable interaction data never makes it into systems of record, and what a modern event operation needs to look like to drive real business outcomes.In this episode, you will learn:Why event and field marketing data remains fragmented across most organizationsThe most common data traps that prevent accurate event ROI measurementWhat interactions are typically lost during and after eventsHow to think about event value beyond basic lead captureWhat a well-run, integrated event operation looks like todayHow Marketing Ops, Revenue Ops, and Field Marketing can better alignThis episode is ideal for Marketing Ops, Revenue Ops, Field Marketing, and demand generation leaders who want to turn events from one-off activities into measurable revenue drivers.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Richard Wasylynchuk, VP of Marketing Operations and Interim Head of Marketing at Trulioo. Richard brings a unique perspective as an operations leader who stepped into an executive marketing role, offering valuable insights on why more CMOs of the future may emerge from Marketing Ops.The conversation explores how the changing business environment, evolving investor expectations, and increasing focus on profitability are elevating the role of Marketing Ops leaders. Richard shares his perspective on visibility, data literacy, team design, and how an operational mindset aligns with modern marketing leadership.In this episode, you will learn:Why Marketing Ops leaders are well-positioned to become future CMOsHow shifting from growth-at-all-costs to profitability changes leadership prioritiesThe difference between activity reporting and outcome reportingHow data literacy and financial acumen build trust at the executive levelThis episode is perfect for Marketing Ops, RevOps, and marketing professionals who want to expand their strategic influence and prepare for senior leadership roles.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Nadia Davis, VP of Marketing, and Misha Salkinder, VP of Technical Delivery at CaliberMind. Together, they explore a challenge many Marketing Ops professionals face today: how to move from being data-driven to being data-informed.Nadia and Misha share why teams often get lost in complexity, how overengineering analytics can disconnect data from business impact, and what it takes to bring context, clarity, and common sense back to measurement. The conversation dives into explainability, mentorship, and how data literacy can help rebuild trust between marketing, operations, and leadership.In this episode, you will learn:Why “data-drowned” marketing ops is a growing problemHow to connect analytics to real business outcomesThe importance of explainability and fundamentals in data practicesHow to simplify metrics to drive alignment and actionThis episode is perfect for marketing, RevOps, and analytics professionals who want to make data meaningful again and use it to guide smarter, more strategic decisions.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Spencer Tahil, Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Growth Alliance. Spencer helps organizations design AI and automation workflows that enhance go-to-market efficiency, streamline revenue operations, and strengthen marketing performance.The discussion focuses on how to move from experimentation to execution with AI. Spencer shares his systems-driven approach to identifying automation opportunities, prioritizing high-impact workflows, and building sustainable frameworks that improve strategic thinking rather than replace it.In this episode, you will learn:How to identify and prioritize tasks for automation using a value versus frequency modelThe biggest mistakes teams make when integrating AI into their workflowsHow AI can strengthen strategic decision-making instead of replacing peoplePractical prompting frameworks for achieving accurate and useful resultsThis episode is ideal for marketing operations, RevOps, and growth professionals who want to turn AI experimentation into measurable, scalable execution.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Aby Varma, global business and marketing leader and Founder of Spark Novus. Aby helps organizations adopt AI strategically and responsibly, guiding leaders from early adoption to self-reliant innovation.The discussion explores how marketing teams can move beyond experimenting with AI tools to building long-term, value-based strategies that drive measurable impact. Aby shares real-world examples of AI implementation, frameworks for defining a “strategic north star,” and advice for leading change across every level of the organization.In this episode, you will learn:How to apply a value-based approach to AI adoptionWhy productivity is only the beginning of AI’s potential in marketingHow to build responsible-use guardrails that support faster innovationThe evolving role of Marketing Ops in AI strategy and executionThis episode is ideal for marketing, operations, and business leaders who want to use AI with purpose, balance innovation with responsibility, and prepare their teams for the next phase of intelligent marketing.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this special episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, the crew reflects on the final chapter of MOPsapalooza, the flagship MarketingOps.com conference that has defined the community for years.Michael is joined by Mike Rizzo, Naomi Liu, and Audrey Harze to look back on what made MOPsapalooza 2025 in Anaheim unforgettable. Together, they share their favorite moments, the energy of the event, and how it felt to say goodbye to a conference that shaped the Marketing Ops profession.They also discuss the evolution of the MarketingOps.com community, what the event has meant to practitioners everywhere, and what might come next as the movement continues to grow.In this episode, you will hear:Reflections on the final MOPsapalooza and its impact on the communityFavorite moments, stories, and lessons from the 2025 event in AnaheimHow MOPsapalooza helped shape the Marketing Ops professionWhat the future holds for the MarketingOps.com communityThis episode is both a tribute and a look forward, celebrating the spirit of collaboration, connection, and curiosity that has defined MOPsapalooza from the beginning.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Penny Hill, Founder and Principal Consultant at Three Threads Consulting. Penny has built her career at the intersection of marketing, operations, and strategy, helping teams simplify complexity, connect departments, and make data more meaningful.The conversation centers on one of the most common sources of friction in go-to-market teams: attribution and alignment. Penny shares insights on why teams often clash over credit, what “marketing contribution” truly means, and how simplifying metrics and conversations can drive stronger collaboration and better outcomes.In this episode, you will learn:Why attribution continues to challenge marketing and sales alignmentHow to simplify performance measurement without losing insightWays to present metrics that build trust with executives and peersHow Marketing Ops professionals can shift the focus from “who gets credit” to “how we win together”This episode is perfect for Marketing Ops, RevOps, and go-to-market professionals who want to improve collaboration, clarity, and trust across their organizations.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Tracey Fudge, AI Operations Architect and Agentic Workflow Designer at AI By Thrive. Tracey has spent the past several years working hands-on with language models, automation systems, and what she calls agentic workflows. She helps marketing and operations teams move past AI buzzwords and turn technology into practical tools that drive better results.The discussion focuses on how to build real, usable AI systems that enhance creativity, improve efficiency, and deliver measurable business outcomes. Tracey explains what agentic workflows are, how they differ from traditional automation, and how teams can start integrating AI into everyday work in a thoughtful, scalable way.In this episode, you will learn:How to apply AI and automation in practical marketing and operations use casesWhat agentic workflows are and how they create intelligent systemsTechniques for prompting and choosing the right AI tools for each taskWays to balance human creativity with AI assistance for better outcomesThis episode is ideal for marketing and operations professionals who want to make AI an integrated part of their workflow without losing the human touch.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In this episode of OpsCast, hosted by Michael Hartmann and powered by MarketingOps.com, we are joined by Danielle Balestra, a seasoned fractional marketing technology executive with experience building teams and stacks in both regulated and non-regulated industries.The conversation examines the requirements for running effective marketing operations in highly regulated industries, including finance, healthcare, and legal services. Danielle shares her insights on working within compliance constraints, earning trust across teams, and building a marketing operations function that strikes a balance between agility and accountability.In this episode, you will learn:What makes regulated industries unique from a marketing operations perspectiveThe skills and mindsets needed to succeed in compliance-heavy environmentsHow to collaborate effectively with legal and compliance teamsStrategies for balancing marketing speed with regulatory requirementsThis episode is ideal for marketing operations professionals, leaders, and consultants who work in or with regulated industries and want to strengthen collaboration, compliance, and operational excellence.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show