In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw sits down with Poonam Nath, Executive Leader of Product Operations at Fiserv, to explore how product operations drive customer success, accelerate revenue, and reduce friction in a complex fintech landscape. Poonam shares her journey from finance to product strategy, explains the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and unpacks why bundled pricing, onboarding speed, and client experience are key differentiators in today’s payments market. If y...
Jul 02, 2025•29 min
Eric Holtzclaw talks with Karen Chalmers, VP of Marketing & Partnerships at interVal, about the surprising truth behind small business valuation, the $84 trillion wealth transfer, and how interVal is helping advisors and business owners take control of their futures. Learn how AI and storytelling intersect in the financial space—and why you need to know what your business is really worth. To connect with Karen, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareneachalmers/?trk=author-info__article...
Jun 25, 2025•29 min
In this episode of The Claw, host Eric Holtzclaw, Chief Strategist at Liger, sits down with Paul Clark—angel investor and co-founder of VentureSouth. Together, they explore how VentureSouth makes startup investing accessible for newcomers and seasoned investors alike, with a special focus on high-growth companies in the Southeastern U.S. Paul shares his journey from medieval history scholar to investment banker to startup backer, and explains how VentureSouth helps everyday investors support loc...
Jun 18, 2025•27 min
In this episode of The Claw, host Eric Holtzclaw talks with Aby Varma, founder of Spark Novus, about helping marketers move beyond AI experimentation and toward strategic adoption. They explore the evolution of AI in marketing, the importance of purpose-driven integration, and how to shift the conversation from tools to transformation. Aby also shares how Spark Novus is empowering CMOs and marketing teams to implement AI with intention, and how his Marketing AI Pulse community is sparking collab...
Jun 11, 2025•27 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw sits down with Jason Kramer, Founder and CEO of Cultivize, to explore how a better CRM strategy can transform sales and marketing alignment. They discuss common tech gaps, the ROI of follow-up automation, and why most companies are leaving money on the table. Jason shares his journey from graphic designer to CRM expert, offers actionable insights for complex sales cycles, and reveals a tool that helps visualize CRM impact in real dollars. If your leads...
Jun 04, 2025•26 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw sits down with William King, Co-Founder and CEO of SuperCopy, to talk about one of the biggest pain points in marketing: keeping your brand voice consistent, across every channel, team, and piece of content. In this episode, you'll hear about: - The power of defining brand voice and audience before content ever gets created - Why brand guidelines often fail in execution—and how AI can fix that - How SuperCopy uses data to fuel content that resonates - ...
May 28, 2025•29 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw sits down with Dr. Julian Reed—professor at Furman University and founder of ActivEd—to explore how movement is transforming learning. Julian shares the science behind kinesthetic education, the challenges of scaling an edtech startup, and how Active Ed is helping students nationwide learn through motion. From classroom innovation to state-level contracts, this is a powerful conversation about education, entrepreneurship, and the connection between phy...
May 21, 2025•24 min
What really motivates people to take action? Whether it’s improving employee health, increasing workplace safety, or driving engagement in company initiatives, incentives matter. But how do you design rewards that actually work?In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw sits down with Don Doster, CEO of Go Pivot, to explore the science behind behavior change, employee engagement, and corporate wellness strategies that drive real results. From gamification and point-based rewards to total well-b...
Mar 12, 2025•28 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw is joined by Luis Scott, the founder of Eight Figure Firm Consulting . Luis shares his fascinating journey from being a lawyer to creating a consultancy that helps law firms scale to eight-figure revenues. Luis and Eric dive into the complexities of marketing within the legal field, navigating ethical rules that vary by state, and pushing the boundaries when it comes to self-promotion. Luis shares insights from his experience helping law firms expand t...
Nov 27, 2024•28 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw, Chief Strategist at Liger, sits down with Stefanie Beach, Founder and CEO of SMB Media Consulting. Stefanie shares the journey behind building her agency, offering insights into how SMB helps brands achieve revenue goals through digital media strategies. They discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship, evolving client needs, and the importance of flexibility in scaling a business. Stefanie also dives into the rise of sustainable media practices and ho...
Nov 13, 2024•26 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw, Chief Strategist at Liger, is joined by Greg Brooks , CMO and Partner at SearchTides . Together, they dive into the fast-paced world of marketing, where it's never a "set it and forget it" game. Greg shares his unique background as a professional poker player and how it shaped his approach to marketing strategy. They also discuss the evolving challenges in SEO and how forward-thinking companies like SearchTides stay ahead in an ever-changing marketpla...
Oct 16, 2024•31 min
In this episode of The Claw, host Eric Holtzclaw, Chief Strategist at Liger, welcomes Jon MacDonald , CEO and founder of The Good . Jon shares how his unique background in computer science and visual arts helped him bridge the gap between functionality and user experience. He touches on the evolution of digital experiences from the early days of Flash to today’s optimized e-commerce environments, highlighting the importance of usability and consumer-centered design. Eric and Jon emphasize that b...
Oct 02, 2024•27 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw sits down with Darren Horwitz, founder of TenTen Group , to discuss large-scale global brand transformations. Darren shares insights into how TenTen helps organizations navigate rebranding, offering services around planning, building, and managing the entire process. Darren dives into the five critical pillars to consider when rebranding a company. He also shares insights on the importance of cataloging existing branded materials, considering the timin...
Sep 18, 2024•30 min
In this episode of The Claw, host Eric Holtzclaw interviews Jim Pietrusznski, CEO of Soulsight , a brand design agency specializing in consumer packaged goods and services. Jim shares insights on how his agency builds and revitalizes brands by connecting human truths with product truths to evoke subconscious emotional responses. He discusses the importance of empathy in brand relationships, the evolution of his career, and the agency's approach to brand innovation, renovation, and activation. Ji...
Sep 04, 2024•27 min
In this episode of The Claw Podcast, host Eric Holtzclaw sits down with Steve Gielda, President and Co-Founder of Ignite Selling , to explore the vital relationship between sales and marketing. They discuss strategies for bridging the common gaps between these functions, focusing on aligning efforts to support successful product launches and drive revenue growth. Steve shares actionable insights on identifying key decision-makers, uncovering hidden decision criteria, and communicating the unique...
Aug 21, 2024•31 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw, Chief Strategist at Liger, is joined by Mike Petchenik, owner and founder of Petchenik Media Group . Together, they dive into the world of media consulting, covering everything from earned media and PR to crisis communications and media training. Whether it's dealing with viral social media posts or internal company issues making headlines, this episode equips you with the tools to handle media interactions confidently and effectively. Eric and Mike d...
Aug 07, 2024•30 min
In this episode, Eric sits down with John Miller , founder of Scribewise and author of " Playing It Safe Sucks: A Manifesto for Courageous Marketing ." John shares his journey from PR to founding a content marketing agency, discusses the evolving landscape of content marketing in the age of AI, and emphasizes the importance of courageous marketing strategies for building brand awareness and trust. Listen in for insights into the significance of dark social, the misconceptions about SEO, and how ...
Jul 17, 2024•27 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric delves into brand strategy with Kate DiLeo , founder of The Brand Trifecta . Kate shares her journey from pursuing a PhD in linguistic anthropology to becoming a successful brand architect. She discusses her innovative Brand Trifecta methodology, focusing on authentic messaging that drives customer conversion. Join Eric and Kate as they explore the synergy between sales and marketing, the importance of a unified message, and the challenges of maintaining brand c...
Jul 03, 2024•26 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric is joined by Max Traylor of MaxTraylor.com . Max delves into his journey from running a traditional marketing agency to becoming a consultant's consultant. Max shares insights on productizing consulting services, emphasizing the importance of focusing on high-ticket, low-volume engagements before scaling to broader models like group workshops or courses. He also discusses the value of specialized knowledge, imposter syndrome, and the balance between personal lif...
Jun 19, 2024•18 min
In this episode of The Claw, host Eric, Chief Strategist at Liger, discusses with guest Anita Toth , also known as the Hidden Revenue Hunter, the importance of relational marketing in B2B contexts. The conversation highlights how C-suite executives and marketing leaders need to understand their customers beyond mere transactions to build lasting relationships. Anita emphasizes that customer relationships are emotional, and maintaining that emotional high is crucial to avoiding buyer’s remorse an...
Jun 05, 2024•26 min
In this episode of "The Claw," a marketing-focused podcast for C-suite executives, host Eric Holtzclaw interviews Adam Rubenstein , co-founder and CEO of Traq.ai . The discussion revolves around the challenges and solutions in sales visibility and how AI can transform sales processes. Adam elaborates on Traq.ai's capability to provide detailed insights into sales conversations, enabling sales leaders to strategize more effectively and coach their teams based on real-time data. He highlights the ...
May 15, 2024•29 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric is joined by Patrick Burns, a prominent figure in the realm of B2B marketing and branding. Patrick, the founder of Patrick Burns Co. , shares his journey from entrepreneurship right out of college to establishing a successful marketing agency. Now, at the forefront of his industry, Patrick dives into his approach to leveraging LinkedIn for B2B success, crafting strategies that resonate with C-suite executives, and mastering the art of digital communication. Eric...
May 01, 2024•25 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric Holtzclaw is joined by Brady Jensen, CEO of Aggregate Insights. Brady shares his expertise in utilizing primary intelligence to refine go-to-market strategies, highlighting the significance of understanding customer needs for product development and market alignment. With a background that transitions from sales to product marketing, he emphasizes the value of direct customer feedback in crafting and validating market approaches. Join Eric and Brady as they disc...
Apr 24, 2024•22 min
In this episode of The Claw, Eric is joined by Rachelle Kuramoto, a renowned figure in the realm of content strategy and brand consultancy. With a career spanning over two decades, Rachelle shares her journey from exploring genetics to finding her true calling in the world of storytelling and business. Now overseeing content and brand for BIP Ventures, she delves into her role in shaping the narrative and strategy behind content that not only educates but also connects on a deeper level with aud...
Apr 10, 2024•34 min
Teresa delves into the transformative power of navigating liminal spaces, emphasizing the critical role of trust, both cognitive and vulnerability-based, in fostering resilient and innovative teams. Drawing from her extensive experience in leadership and strategic development, she outlines how leaders can effectively guide their teams through transitional phases, underscoring the importance of growth, embracing change, and the necessity of embracing conflict as a catalyst for creative solutions....
Mar 27, 2024•34 min
In this episode, we take a dive deep into equity crowdfunding and marketing strategies. Eric sits down with Jason Fishman, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Niche Agency, to talk about his company's niche - marketing targeting of investors for startup seed capital raising. To connect with Jason, click HERE . To connect with the show's host - Eric Holtzclaw - click HERE . To subscribe to our YouTube Channel (and access most of the podcast and video content we've produced),...
Dec 06, 2023•23 min
When we're receiving messages, we want simplicity - and yet, when we're on the other side, as the sender, we have a propensity to push over-complicated, redundant, and jargon-laden messages out into the ether. In this episode, Eric sits down with Ben Guttmann, the Founder of the Digital Natives Group and author of "Simply Put," to talk about why this is and what we as marketers can do to bridge this divide. To connect with Ben, click HERE . To connect with the show's host - Eric Holtzclaw - clic...
Nov 29, 2023•24 min
In relational work, individuals with some sort of public-facing presence are at an advantage because people don't want to buy from a company but from an individual. They're in it to work with you, the expert - not your brand. That's what they're buying into. In many business-to-business companies, though, it's often a challenge to convince those experts to step forward. That's where someone like Emma Donovan, Co-Founder and Director of the human-centric brand studio Dapper, comes in. In this epi...
Nov 15, 2023•27 min
Most organizations, whether they realize it are not, service organizations. A lot of the work that happens in organizations is separated and spread out across a variety of different nodes so much so that it's easy to lose sight of whether the value to customers and employees is actually being manifested. In this episode, Eric sits down with Patrick Quattlebaum, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of service design consultancy Harmonic Design, for a talk about how organizations deliver val...
Nov 08, 2023•30 min
Doing your research when working in social media can save your brand so much potential trouble. It can get spooky when you make an unforgivable mistake on social media. On this throwback episode of The Claw, our Social Media Coordinator, Stella Huffman chats about social media horror stories that made her cringe. To connect with Stella Huffman, click HERE . To connect with Eric Holtzclaw, click HERE . To subscribe to our YouTube Channel (and access most of the podcast and video content we've pro...
Oct 25, 2023•24 min
