In this episode of Performance Delivered, Steffen Horst speaks with Daphne Johnson, CEO and Growth Advisor at Daphne, about how legacy brands can successfully conquer new markets. Daphne shares her extensive experience working with Fortune 100 brands like Verizon, American Express, and Yahoo, and discusses foundational strategies such as understanding customer needs, identifying problems worth solving, and leveraging partnerships and technological innovations like AI. Daphne also delves into the...
Jun 26, 2025•27 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of Performance Delivered, host Steffen Horst welcomes Janet Jaiswal, Global VP of Marketing at BlueShift, to unpack what it truly takes to engage customers in today’s competitive B2B SaaS market. With a wealth of experience in senior marketing roles, Janet dives into the strategies that move the needle—from the first interaction to long-term retention. They explore how AI can proactively reduce churn, why personalized communication drives loyalty, and how to turn everyday custome...
Jun 12, 2025•27 min•Ep. 211
In this episode of Performance Delivered, Steffen Horst sits down with Lindsie Nelson and Andreas Voniatis to explore how AI is reshaping the way people discover information—and what it means for marketers. They break down the real impact of AI on search behavior, why users are shifting from keywords to conversations, and which industries are feeling the change most. From client sentiment to the rise of zero-click searches, this episode unpacks whether SEO is still a growth lever—or now just bra...
Jun 05, 2025•38 min•Ep. 210
In this episode of Performance Delivered: Insider Secrets for Digital Marketing Success , host Steffen Horst talks with Colin Clark, Global CMO at Dunlop Protective Footwear. Colin shares his journey from working with brands like the Chicago Cubs and Under Armour to scaling Dunlop’s marketing initiatives globally. He discusses the unique challenges of marketing across 75 countries with a small team, and how Dunlop customizes campaigns for both B2B and B2C segments. Discover how Dunlop leverages ...
Nov 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 209
In this episode, Doug Zarkin shares insights on how brands can deepen their relationship with consumers, moving beyond mere friendship to foster true brand love. He discusses the importance of human empathy in customer service, the brand value equation, and the significance of storytelling in marketing. Doug emphasizes the need for consistency in customer interactions and how understanding consumer insights can lead to more effective marketing strategies. On this episode, We'll talk about: Brand...
Nov 05, 2024•26 min•Ep. 208
Title: Insider Secrets for Digital Marketing Success Part 3 In this episode, we dive into the critical aspects of business operations and advertising strategies. Discover why jumping straight into campaign management can be a costly mistake and learn the essential questions you need to answer before spending your marketing budget. Our guest shares insights on customer value, conversion rates, and the importance of having a solid foundation of business metrics. Plus, we discuss the significance o...
Oct 29, 2024•29 min•Ep. 207
Title: Insider Secrets for Digital Marketing Success Part 2 In this episode, join Steffen Horst and digital marketing expert Navar Hopkins in Part 2 of their insightful series on how small businesses can thrive through digital advertising. Discover the essential strategies for effective advertising, explore the latest ad channels like local service ads and DemandGen, and learn how to avoid common pitfalls. With over 15 years of experience, Navar shares her expertise on budget allocation, convers...
Oct 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 206
Show Notes: In this episode, we kick off the first part of a special three-part series on how small businesses can grow through digital advertising. In today’s discussion, we dive into Google Search and Performance Max (PMAX) campaigns, exploring how small businesses can maximize their advertising efforts with the power of automation and AI-driven insights. Joining Steffen, is Navah Hopkins, a brand evangelist at Optmyzr, an award-winning PPC management suite powered by AI and machine learning. ...
Oct 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 205
In this Performance Delivered episode, Steffen Horst interviews Dawn Muller, CMO at Vitech, about the vital role of inter-functional coordination in achieving digital marketing success. Dawn shares her marketing journey, extensive experience in B2B marketing within the tech and professional services sectors, and her position at Vitech. The conversation explores the concept of market orientation, emphasizing the necessity of customer and competitor focus alongside inter-functional collaboration. ...
Oct 24, 2024•24 min•Ep. 204
In this episode of Performance Delivered , Steffen Horst sits down with Peter Mahoney, CMO at Goto, to explore the intricacies of marketing investments. Peter shares his expert tips on how to determine the right amount to spend on growth and how to prove it’s worth the investment. From understanding essential metrics and the hidden costs of customer acquisition to practical steps for measuring and improving ROI, this episode is packed with actionable insights for startups and established compani...
Oct 24, 2024•29 min•Ep. 203
In this episode of “Performance Delivered,” Steffen Horst is joined by Asaf Wolff, SVP of Growth and Experience at the University of the People, to discuss the transformative role of marketing automation and technology in student recruitment and global outreach. Discover how Asaf drove a 500% growth in student numbers at the world’s first nonprofit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university. Learn the strategies behind reducing acquisition costs, creating personalized marketing funnels...
Oct 24, 2024•25 min•Ep. 202
In the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and human creativity is reshaping the landscape. Are you prepared to harness the power of AI while preserving the invaluable human touch? Dive into this enlightening episode to discover how industry leaders are navigating this dynamic shift. In this episode, we are joined by David Stark, the Chief Marketing Officer at Openstream. With over 25 years of experience in growth marketing and digital pr...
Jun 25, 2024•27 min•Ep. 201
Ever wondered how to stand out in a crowded market? This episode dives into the art of building a challenger brand with insights from an industry expert who has done it time and again. In this episode of Performance Delivered, we are joined by Dhiraj Kumar, the Chief Marketing Officer at Dashlane, a leading password management platform protecting 2.5 billion credentials. Dhiraj brings a wealth of experience from scaling multibillion-dollar businesses at companies like Facebook, PayPal, and Bluev...
Jun 18, 2024•29 min•Ep. 200
Imagine boosting your marketing efficiency without expanding your team. In this episode, we delve into how AI can revolutionize your marketing workflows, making your strategies more effective and streamlined. In today's episode, I’m thrilled to have Chris Arden, a seasoned fractional CMO who helps early-stage startups develop their go-to-market strategies. With a rich background leading marketing efforts at top companies like Adidas, Puma, and Canyon Bicycles, Chris shares his insights on integr...
Jun 11, 2024•22 min•Ep. 199
Are you leveraging AI to streamline your business processes, or is it just another tech trend you’re observing from the sidelines? In today’s episode, we demystify the integration of AI into less tech-savvy sectors, focusing on substantial benefits over the tech hype. Joining us today is Benjamin Brown, Vice President at AKASA, a leader in generative AI solutions for healthcare revenue management. With a rich background spanning from journalism to marketing major AI-powered platforms, Ben shares...
Jun 04, 2024•30 min•Ep. 198
Imagine starting a marketing department from scratch in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment. How do you align a new team with the established rhythm of a thriving company? This episode unveils the highs and lows of building a marketing framework that not only meets but accelerates business objectives. Welcome to today’s episode, where we explore the intricate dance of establishing and expanding a marketing function within a company. My guest, Dan Malgran, VP of Marketing at Steno, brings a wea...
May 28, 2024•29 min•Ep. 197
In today's digital age, filling the pipeline is more challenging and critical than ever. But how can agencies leverage the latest in generative AI to not only survive but thrive? Tune in to this episode where David Howard, VP of Marketing at BuzzBoard, dives deep into modern strategies for business growth. David brings years of experience in pioneering next-generation marketing strategies and building successful teams. With BuzzBoard's AI-driven platform at his disposal, he's here to share how a...
May 21, 2024•28 min•Ep. 196
Are you tapping into the full potential of zero and first-party data? Zero and first-party data are eclipsing third-party data… When brands use this data strategically, they can drive more sales and acquire more customers because they know exactly who they’re selling to. But a majority of brands are missing out on this opportunity—are you one of them? Sean Simon, founder of Cogent, is here to break down how brands can use zero and first-party data to drive performance in media and e-commerce. We...
May 14, 2024•27 min•Ep. 195
Content creators are the entrepreneurs of the future… And user-generated content has enormous potential in the influencer marketing space… With user-generated content done right, you can drive exponential conversions… But many brands don’t understand how to make user-generated content that works. Daniel Salcedo, the founder of Bolder, is here to give you an inside look at user-generated content. Listen to learn: The role of content creators in the marketing funnel When to use UGC vs influencer m...
May 07, 2024•29 min•Ep. 194
Does your marketing work? Many companies produce marketing content that looks great but doesn’t get results. But what is the secret to converting leads with marketing? And how can you sync your marketing with your financial model? John Harlow, a seasoned CEO and consulting leader, is here to share a CEO’s view of marketing partnerships. Listen to learn: Why you need to reduce leads to grow conversion How to measure marketing effectiveness The pros and cons of internal marketing teams vs. agencie...
Apr 30, 2024•29 min•Ep. 193
Consumer behavior can give you powerful insights on your business… When you analyze the purchase behavior of your best customers… Your next growth and acquisition strategies become clear… And you can tailor your marketing to maximize advertising efficiency… Jim Davis of clothing brand Buck Mason is here to show you how to read consumer purchase behavior so you can drive sales and convert leads into long-term customers. Listen to learn: How seasonality affects consumers When consumers decide vs. ...
Apr 23, 2024•35 min•Ep. 192
Are your marketing tactics really converting clients? Without data, it’s all guesswork. You might be wasting thousands of dollars on a campaign that doesn’t bring in revenue. My guest, Tim Luukkonen, is here to fix that. He’s going to show you how to tell a compelling marketing story with data… So you can make informed decisions to get prospects through your pipeline. In this episode, Tim reveals: The basic data collection systems you need to implement How to take advantage of data trends Why so...
Apr 16, 2024•31 min•Ep. 191
Too many brands are trying to keep up with competitors and fail to differentiate. Too many brands are getting lost in the digital clutter. Don’t be one of the too many brands. Martin Pazzani is a veteran of the marketing and brand building industry. His experience managing some of the world’s largest and most iconic brands has given him unmatched insight into what works... and what trends to avoid. This conversation is a must listen for everyone looking to build their brand equity, break through...
Apr 09, 2024•30 min•Ep. 190
The B2B sales process is becoming ever more like that of B2C sales. Behind this long-term trend is the understanding that the people behind B2B buying decisions are behaving more and more the way they do as B2C buyers. All of this makes my conversation with Bryant Lau all the timelier and more important for anyone involved in B2B marketing. Bryant is the Head of Demand at Flockjay, a business services company that both recruits and trains candidates for positions in tech sales and connects them ...
Apr 02, 2024•23 min•Ep. 189
Most companies build a sales team and expect them to self-generate leads; few have an efficient method to feed their sales pipeline. Today’s guest, Ian Bellais, spearheads the partner marketing efforts as VP of Business Development at Verified First. With over 20 years of experience creating thriving, robust pipelines and revenue streams, Ian shares the power of partner marketing and what it takes to get any company into, and benefiting from, marketing through organizations to their end users in...
Mar 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 188
Personalizing the customer experience is the smartest way to improve retention, add value, and increase revenue. But how do you collect the right data, and how do you use it intelligently to create highly relevant experiences across the entire customer journey? Brian Border is the Head of Marketing for JustAnswer, the leader in connecting customers to professional services experts. JustAnswer is revolutionizing the way customer data is collected and used to build robust consumer profiles across ...
Mar 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 187
There is often a lot of uncertainty surrounding social media marketing, especially among B2B companies. There is the time crunch to create content for the various platforms. The pressure to keep up with other brands. And questions about future trends. Kathy Dunlay helps bring clarity and direction to companies looking to maximize their social media efforts. The Founder of New England Sales & Marketing has over 30 years of strategic marketing experience in the tech and digital spaces. Her fir...
Mar 13, 2024•30 min•Ep. 186
Your company’s positioning, says Lee Wochner, is what determines your marketing, design elements, and messaging. Get it right, says the CEO of L.A.-based full-service marketing agency Counterintuity, and positioning can be key to setting your business apart from the competition… not to mention help you refine your target market and spot what you’re doing wrong with your marketing… and ensure you aren’t wasting money on campaigns that don’t work. We take a deep dive into that, including… A multi-...
Mar 06, 2024•27 min•Ep. 185
Mattan Danino, CEO of WEBITMD, sees a gap in digital marketing services. And he’s passionate about working with small and medium-sized businesses who aren’t served by bigger agencies. To that end, he strives to provide better results for clients by looking not only at the performance from individual marketing channels but also activities across all channels. He leverages technology to track – and act on – those results, including CRM, advanced automation tools, and more. He says that helps bridg...
Feb 28, 2024•27 min•Ep. 184
Part 2 of our two-part series with the Queen of Cold Calling, Wendy Weiss, is here! If you tuned into Part 1, you know what Wendy is all about, but if you didn’t… Wendy is an author, speaker, sales trainer, and so much more! Wendy’s track record is impressive— she’s recognized as one of the leading authorities on lead generation, cold calling, and new business development. In this episode, we’ll pick right up where we left off and chat with Wendy about overcoming rejection, why you need to optim...
Feb 21, 2024•30 min•Ep. 183
