B2B Marketing Leaders Podcast

Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/social-selling-for-b2b-7250113707765067776/In this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about partner marketing in B2B with experts from different B2B companies:• Alexandra Loboda, Partner Marketing Lead, Middle & Eastern Europe at SAP• Debarati Mukherjee, Director, Partner Marketing & Ecosystem Strategy at Accordion   / debarati-mukherjee-marketing-leader  Key themes discussed:• Partner marketing as shared go-to-market strategy• Finding the overlap between partner goals, company goals, and customer needs• Accordion and Certinia Services Estimator campaign: ICP first, 18,000+ contacts, joint sales follow-up• Why the tactic is secondary to a joint proposition and sales handholding after the lead• SAP buying journey growth from about 12 touches to 40-plus, and planning the full path with partners• A joint webinar with a shared warm target list that delivered about 20x typical webinar pipeline• A multi-partner SAP program that missed pipeline when agencies optimized for clicks and calls, not registrations• Why "AI" in the activity title is not a silver bullet compared with partner brand awareness• Paid AI thought leadership with strong downloads that almost never became commercial outcomes• How to choose partners worth marketing investment: customer value, maturity, and local market fit• Campaign-in-a-box, partner communities, ABM on shared accounts, and measuring partner-sourced pipelineA grounded conversation about how partner marketing creates pipeline when teams start from a real customer problem, keep sales in the journey, and measure commercial outcomes instead of vanity activity. With practical examples from SAP and Accordion on joint campaigns, missed targets, partner selection, and AI with human judgment.

In this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - founder of ModumUp Agency (https://modumup.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=episode9) - talks about metrics and KPIs in B2B with experts from different B2B companies:• Bridget Locke, VP of Strategic Marketing at VitalPath• Ravi Raj Pareek, Senior Marketing Data Manager at Sage / ravi-raj-p-637299104  • Nick Starikov, Manager, Marketing Analytics and Insights at Sun Life / nikita-a-starikov  Key themes discussed:• Why MQL volume alone misleads: ICP fit, MQL-to-opportunity conversion, opportunity value, and pipeline by channel• A VitalPath laser-components campaign that created about half a million in pipeline by tracking touchpoints beyond lead count• How sales feedback by lead source exposes gaps in MQL-to-SQL conversion and opens optimization opportunities• Three biases that distort metrics: wrong time windows, unlike audience comparisons, and misleading aggregation• Why pre-post analysis without proper tests can be skewed by outside factors• Event ROI beyond lead count: two pipeline opportunities from a small room vs. hundreds of top-of-funnel leads• Reverse-funnel math for unrealistic targets: from sales goals back through opportunities, activity, and spend• Checking market size before committing to growth targets that the market cannot support• Metrics vs. KPIs vs. OKRs: what defines success, what explains the path, and what sets timed priorities• Attribution and ROI across long B2B cycles: CRM as source of truth, multi-touch credit, and lifetime value• AI for measurement with guardrails: Snowflake Cortex, Power BI Copilot, Claude - and why humans keep the decision layerA grounded conversation about how B2B marketing teams choose metrics, avoid vanity volume, and connect marketing activity to pipeline and revenue. With practical examples from Sage, Sun Life, and VitalPath on reverse-funnel planning, attribution, ROI, and where AI helps without replacing judgment.Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/social-selling-for-b2b-7250113707765067776/In this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - Founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about demand generation in B2B with experts from enterprise companies:• Irina Chernova, Demand Marketing Manager EMEA & LATAM at NetApp• Aleksandra Savina, Demand Generation Manager, Global Marketing, Olink Proteomics, part of Thermo Fisher ScientificKey themes discussed:• How targeted demand works as the last mile between strategic programs and sales-ready conversations• Turning engineering-led webinars into ongoing demand gen engines through repurposing and audience expansion• Building campaigns around buyer problems and search questions rather than single product assets• Why appointment-setting vendors did not fit NetApp's model compared to nurture-led journeys• What happens when one asset is promoted without a full customer journey and clear messaging• How demand gen teams coordinate field marketing, events, communications, digital, and sales• Using AI as a copilot for briefs, analytics, and scheduling - not as a goal in itself• Early steps for AI search visibility: FAQ content, llms.txt, and natural-language blog structure• Account selection through therapeutic-area priorities vs. target account lists with propensity signals• Measuring pipeline in Salesforce: lead-generated and account-influenced opportunities• Long B2B cycles, many touchpoints, and signals that show a lead is moving toward a conversation• The engagement work behind demand gen that makes event conversations possibleA grounded conversation about how enterprise B2B teams build demand generation programs, repurpose content, measure pipeline, and align expectations between marketing and sales. With real examples from NetApp and Thermo Fisher Scientific on what works, what teams learn along the way, and how AI fits into the process.

Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/social-selling-for-b2b-7250113707765067776/In this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - Founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about account-based marketing with experts from enterprise companies:• Irina Chernova, Demand Marketing Manager EMEA&LATAM at NetApp • Viviane Ross, Senior Marketing Campaign Manager at Octave • Elena Simkina, Sr. Digital Marketing Director at Acronis Key themes discussed:• How enterprise teams implement ABM in practice: one-to-one, one-to-few, one-to-many, and hybrid approaches across different company sizes• Real ABM case studies - from winning a Middle East oil and gas account through an AI-focused strategy during COVID, to VIP event programs and public sector vertical campaigns• Why early ABM programs often fail: misaligned sales and marketing expectations, and the shift from "hot leads" to working together on a specific account list• ABM as a customer experience, not a marketing tactic - and why sales commitment matters as much as running the campaigns• How to prioritize accounts and choose the right ABM tier: intent signals, ICP fit, wallet size, competitive position, and scorecard-based segmentation• Balancing personalization with scalability: role-based messaging vs. hyper-personalization, and when deep personalization becomes too much• Account research in ABM: intent data tools, CRM, AI, LinkedIn, sales insights, and internal sources like professional services teams• Measuring ABM success: buying committee coverage, engagement scores, sourced pipeline, influenced pipeline, and interim KPIs along the funnel• How AI is used in ABM today - content creation, campaign analysis, localization - and why marketers still coordinate the work with a human in the loop• Getting sales and other teams on board: setting expectations upfront, choosing the right sales partners, and translating marketing language for sales teamsA grounded conversation about how B2B marketing leaders at NetApp, Octave, and Acronis run ABM programs - from strategic one-to-one plays to scalable one-to-many campaigns. With honest lessons on what goes wrong, how to track results, and why sales alignment has to come first.Timestamps:00:58 - Introduction of speakers04:21 - ABM success stories and case studies11:40 - When ABM initiatives don't go as planned16:25 - Prioritization and selecting the right ABM approach20:49 - Balancing personalization and scalability in ABM26:51 - Account research, tools, and the human side of ABM32:40 - Measuring ABM efficiency and key metrics37:25 - Using AI in ABM workflows39:14 - Cross-functional alignment with sales and other teams

Subscribe to our NewsletterIn this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - Founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about marketing planning in B2B with experts from enterprise companies:• Natalija Pavic, Sr. Director of Product Marketing at Kibo Commerce • Olga Bakanova, Head of Marketing at BESTMIX Software • Rahul Agarwal, Strategic Marketing Manager at Trystar• Doug Kimball, Sr. Director Product Marketing at Digital ScienceKey themes discussed:• How company size and structure shape the planning process: from complex multi-segment organizations to lean, goal-driven teams• Annual, half-year, and quarterly planning cadences, and when to rebuild the plan from scratch mid-year• Why one metric is never enough: full-funnel measurement, the close rate trap, and the case for tracking multiple KPIs• Brand awareness vs. lead generation: how one company puts 60% of its budget into brand and why it outperforms direct lead gen• How AI is changing the speed and depth of competitive intelligence and campaign planning• What it takes to get leadership buy-in: what executives actually care about• How to allocate budget for experiments when results are not guaranteed• What to do when external factors force an overnight pivot• Bottom-up budgeting: building from this year's goals, not last year's numbersA grounded conversation about how B2B marketing teams at different company sizes approach planning, set goals, allocate budget, and adapt when reality changes. With real examples of AI-powered planning, disruption recovery, and the case for flexibility over rigid annual plans.Timestamps:00:31 - Introduction of speakers02:47 - Marketing planning process in the company07:01 - Planning time horizons in B2B marketing11:23 - Goal setting in B2B marketing16:47 - Balancing brand awareness and lead generation25:12 - Making marketing plans transparent for leadership29:26 - Budgeting and validating experimental initiatives34:40 - Using AI in B2B marketing planning41:06 - Handling disruptions and external factors in planning48:32 - Advice for marketers building planning from scratch

Subscribe to our NewsletterIn this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva, founder of ModumUp Agency, discusses the alignment between marketing and sales in B2B with experts from enterprise companies: • Doug Kimball, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Digital Science • Hitendar Sethi, Principal Product Marketing Manager - AI Cybersecurity at Palo Alto Networks • Yulia Kotarskaya, Marketing Manager at Cabro SpA Key themes discussed: • The challenges of aligning marketing and sales and the importance of bridging the gap between different worldviews • Practical examples of successful collaboration and lessons learned from mistakes • How effective messaging frameworks can improve sales and marketing cooperation • Speed of execution and its impact on marketing and sales collaboration • How to establish a foundation for marketing and sales alignment from scratch A comprehensive exploration of how marketing and sales can work together, despite their different priorities, to create meaningful, revenue-driving results. Learn the strategies that help turn potential conflicts into powerful collaborations in B2B companies.

Subscribe to our NewsletterIn this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about AI in B2B marketing with experts from enterprise companies:• Sabari Sawant - Product Marketing Manager Kubernetes at Amazon Web Services (AWS)• Parth Raichur - Performance Marketing Manager at Amazon• Alexey Leybov - Director of Demand Generation at Cast AI• Madison Fujii - Digital Marketing Specialist II at ModMedKey themes discussed:• A realistic approach to AI adoption, with focus on privacy, compliance, hallucination risks, and clear boundaries for human judgment• The role of secure internal AI tools in protecting sensitive data• The time impact of AI, including automation of drafts, research, data analysis, and repetitive marketing tasks• When AI should not be used, such as pricing, customer case studies, and compliance-critical content• Why authenticity becomes a competitive advantage in a market saturated with AI-generated content• The shift from traditional SEO to Answer Engine Optimization as buyers increasingly turn to tools like ChatGPT• Training teams to use AI effectively while maintaining clear governance and quality standardsA grounded conversation on how B2B teams can adopt AI responsibly, balancing efficiency gains with trust, governance, and the need for human insight in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Subscribe to our NewsletterIn this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about leads in B2B marketing with experts from enterprise companies:• Ralff Tozatti, Sr Director of Marketing Strategy - Analytics and Opps Americas at Thomson Reuters• Rahul Agarwal, Strategic Marketing Manager at Trystar• Hitendar Sethi, Principal Product Marketing Manager - AI Cybersecurity at Palo Alto Networks Key themes discussed:• Why lead remains the default metric: familiar, simple, and easy to count• Quality vs. volume tension: sales targets rise, forcing both at once• Moving from MQL counts to pipeline value and conversion through stages• The need for shared definitions across teams, tools, and acquired business units• Buying groups and account-level intent signals for complex B2B decisions• Data hygiene as the prerequisite for AI: enrichment, validation, normalization• AI in practice: faster content production and scalable cohort personalizationA practical discussion on why B2B teams still disagree on “good leads,” and how the path forward looks: align on one language and funnel, prioritize pipeline outcomes, adopt buying-group signals where it fits, and use AI only after fixing data foundations.

Subscribe to our Newsletter In this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about data-driven B2B marketing with experts from international companies:- Kristi Berg McCutchen, Vice President, Marketing - Enterprise, Public Sector & Partner at T-Mobile- Dina Habib O'Mara, Global Partner Marketing Director at Intel Corporation- Christiaan Davel, Global Marketing Manager at Hilti GroupKey themes discussed:• The importance of data in shaping B2B marketing strategies and driving business growth• How data improves lead quality, speeds up sales, and enhances customer retention• The role of AI and machine learning in automating data analysis and personalizing marketing at scale• Challenges and opportunities in aligning data across sales, marketing, and product teams• The need for accurate attribution models to track customer interactions throughout the journey• The shift from traditional lead generation to considering buying networks and multiple decision-makers• How the SaaS model pushes marketers to deliver ongoing value, reduce churn, and support long-term successA dynamic conversation between B2B leaders, exploring how to leverage data, AI, and cross-department collaboration to enhance marketing strategies, improve sales processes, and create long-term value for customers.

Subscribe to our Newsletter In this episode of B2B Marketing Leaders, Olga Bondareva - founder of ModumUp Agency - talks about content marketing in B2B with experts from international companies:• Irina Chernova, EMEA Targeted Demand Manager at NetApp• Rachel Roundy, Product Marketing Lead, AI at Snowflake• Ryan Lucas, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager at FLSmidthTogether they discuss:• The essential role of content marketing in the B2B buyer’s journey and sales enablement• How to align content marketing with sales teams to drive business growth• Why localized content across regions and languages performs better• The importance of consistent, always-on content to build trust and credibility• How to use AI tools for content creation, optimization, and personalization at scale• Common challenges like managing too many voices and avoiding content duplication• Emerging trends such as dynamic content creation and humanizing B2B communicationA valuable discussion between B2B experts who understand how to connect marketing, sales, and technology, offering insights on how to align teams, use AI effectively, and maintain a customer-first approach to drive business success.