Episode 152: Silent GTM Growth Killers

Dublin has become the Silicon Valley of Europe, home to the European headquarters of tech giants like Google, HubSpot, LinkedIn, and Meta.A few weeks ago, we both found ourselves there - Jen at LinkedIn HQ and Casper at HubSpot HQ - so this week we're comparing notes on what we learned from two of the biggest players in B2B tech.In this episode, we discuss:• How B2B companies can better leverage LinkedIn for AI visibility• Why HubSpot's partner ecosystem continues to outperform• The changes both platforms are making behind the scenes• The ideas that stood out, and the ones we'll probably never implement• What all of this means for marketers, sales teams, and revenue leadersIf you're interested in learning what the biggest tech companies in the space are seeing, but don't have the time, budget or inclination to go all the way to Dublin to find out for yourself, this episode has got you covered.

We've all been there: pipeline's thin, the board wants more logos, and suddenly that off-ICP deal doesn't look so bad. But shortcuts have a funny way of catching up with you.This week we dig into the GTM moves that feel like a good idea at the time but quietly kill your growth in the long run. Between us, we've probably seen hundreds — maybe thousands — of companies make the same mistakes. At some point, you stop being surprised and you just can't ignore them anymore.In this episode, we unpack:Why your GTM budget is costing you way more than you thinkWhy "more leads" is almost never the silver bullet you hope it isThe ICP trap that makes the numbers look great until they aren'tIf you've ever said yes to a deal you knew wasn't quite right — this one's for you.

After a month away, we’re back with a topic marketers need on their radar: ChatGPT Ads.Casper shares early learnings from testing OpenAI’s new ad platform across B2B clients. The verdict? It’s a black box. Reporting is limited. Optimization is unclear. But early signals look promising.We unpack:What ChatGPT Ads actually look likeWhy the CPCs are surprisingly lowHow AI search is changing buyer behaviourWhy marketers are struggling with attributionWhether “AI visibility” deserves its own budgetIf you market in North America or Australia, this might be the cheapest experiment you’re not running yet.

What better way to celebrate our 150th episode than with a hypothetical about AI...How would you build a SaaS business that doesn’t get swallowed by AI?In this episode, we cover what founders, marketers, and operators should be thinking about now if they want to stay relevant as AI changes the rules faster than ever, including:Why some SaaS companies are losing product-market fit almost overnightThe role of proprietary data as one of the strongest AI-resistant moatsWhy hardware, human expertise, and service layers may become more valuable than ever.How community, owned media, and founder-led trust can protect your GTM strategyAnd so much more!If you’re building, marketing, investing in, or leading a SaaS company and wondering how to survive the AI blob coming for your town — this episode is for you 🫵

In this week’s episode, we dive into applying a growth mindset, in both work and our lives, including:What growth mindset actually looks like in how we think, talk to ourselves, and approach challengesA few common traps that can keep teams and individuals stuck in limiting beliefsWhy mindset matters so much at work, especially when testing new ideas and navigating changeSimple ways to build it into your team culture through better questions, reframing, and more empowering storiesAvailable wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, we dig into what personality and talent profiles actually say about how people work, lead, and collaborate.We compare our own results (some painfully accurate), and unpack how different strengths shape everything from big ideas to actually getting things done.We cover:• Why some people are wired to start things, while others finish them• What gives you energy at work vs. what drains you• How talent profiles can change how you delegate and build teams• Why the people who frustrate you might be exactly who you need• Whether you should actually use these profiles in hiringThere is no perfect profile. But understanding how people work? That’s where the gold is.Main takeaway: self-awareness is good — team-awareness is better.

Listener request alert 🚨Every villain needs an origin story. The same goes for marketing nerds, we guess 🤷🏻‍♀️In this episode, we share our marketing origin stories and unpack the moments, mistakes, and lucky breaks that shaped our careers.From customer support and telemarketing to blogging, gaming, and speaking on stage, we reflect on how small decisions and unexpected opportunities stacked up over time and led us to where we are today.We cover:How solving everyday problems at work became the gateway into marketingWhy being good at a job is not always a reason to stay in itThe early mentors and opportunities that gave us our first real momentumThe side projects and risks that created career-defining momentsWhat we would do differently if we could start againThere was no master plan behind our careers. Just curiosity, a few risks, and a lot of saying yes to things outside our comfort zone.Main take away: no one has it all figured out. We certainly didn’t. If you’re wondering what could happen if you took a chance, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we follow Jen into her first week as a brand-new VP of Marketing, armed with a 90-day plan and just enough restraint to not flip the table on day one.We cover:Why you need a 90-day plan (unless chaos is your strategy)The difference between diagnosing, learning, and actually doing somethingHow to avoid the classic mistake of moving way too fast and breaking everythingGetting early wins that matter (not just looking busy)Navigating internal politics without becoming “that personExpectation setting: why you’re not doubling leads in week one, sorry!If you’ve ever started a new role thinking “I’ll just figure it out” (and immediately regretted it), this one’s for you

In this episode, we crack open a GTM insights report and react to the trends inside.Which findings hold up?Which ones need context?Which insights are the ones we can't ignore?And which ones deserve our patetned hot take?If the latest GTM trends are making your spidey sense tingle and you’re wondering whether it’s just you or something bigger going on, this episode is for you.The report we refer to is available here:https://www.levelequity.com/report/go-to-market-insights-2026/

OK. That's it. We're done being diplomatic.This is the episode where we say what most marketers only vent about in Slack DMs.We call out:- Marketers who make the rest of us look bad- Leaders who have champagne taste on a tap water budget- Teams hiding behind AI buzzwords instead of fixing stuff- Companies that “go enterprise” by just raising prices- Strategy whiplash every six months- “Make it go viral” as an actual instructionNo frameworks. No filters. Just a brutally honest look at what’s making marketing harder than it needs to be.If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s you… or the room — just go ahead and press play.