Lauren and Sydney dive deep into the sometimes cringey, always interesting world of networking—especially for introverts. The conversation kicks off with hilarious banter about dreaded networking mixers, awkward icebreakers, and the classic name-tag dilemma (should fashion and function ever clash?). Lauren and Sydney, representing the extrovert-introvert spectrum themselves, swap personal stories about their own networking wins, fails, and full-blown party meltdowns. From planning the "perfect" ...
Jul 01, 2025•26 min
Season 3 of Pretty Funny Business is HERE — and so are the cameras 👀 New mics. New format. Same unfiltered hosts. * LinkedIn’s most cringe post formats * Brutally honest skills we should endorse each other for * Why “corporate authenticity” is a lie (but also? kinda fun) * A client who smoked a literal pipe on a Zoom call * The infamous iTunes gift card scam moment (it’s real, and it happened live) We’re talking about the gap between how people show up online vs. real life, and why LinkedIn is ...
Jun 04, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Alright, buckle up, because in this episode of Pretty Funny Business, Lauren and Sydney bring on a very special guest, Juanita Woods, their legendary bookkeeper. Yep, the woman who keeps their financial chaos in check! Juanita spills the tea on how she went from a stable government job to running the show behind the scenes at PFB HQ. The convo kicks off with Juanita’s early love for numbers (yes, some people actually enjoy math), her side hustle adventures, and how she became an irreplaceable pa...
Feb 04, 2025•56 min
OUR FIRST IRL PODCAST!!! Count down from 12 with us as we share our FAVORITE PICKS of 2024! Holiday cheer and a whole lot of laughs! Join us as we navigate the highs and lows of creating a podcast live, all while juggling our personal and business lives. We share everything from Diet Coke anecdotes to our latest self-care rituals, like keeping up with perfect acrylic nails. The convo takes a turn as we dive into the yolo strategy of implementing Salesforce for EMMIE because hey, who said you can...
Dec 17, 2024•49 min
In this episode of Pretty Funny Business, we’re chatting with Phil Gamache, the genius behind the Humans of Martech podcast. Phil takes us on a journey through his world of marketing automation, the wild ride of podcasting, and even the creative chaos of AI-generated content. We dive into what it’s like to turn a passion project into a full-time gig, the ups and downs of small business life, and how to keep your industry connections alive while chasing big dreams. Plus, Phil gets real about bala...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 11 min
In this episode, Pretty Funny Business gets a bit of a glow-up with marketing ops powerhouse Helen Abramova, Director of Marketing Technology at Avalara joining us. Helen talks us through her journey from tech newbie to full-blown ops expert, with all the twists and turns along the way. We dig into her new role, get the lowdown on her approach to leveling up in marketing ops, and swap notes on the art of balancing work and life. We also dive into her passion projects — think: teaching tech skill...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 3 min
In season one, Kimi Corrigan joined us for a snake draft of our dream MOPs teams. Now, we’ve cornered her to focus on the star of the show. Us. I mean. Her. Get ready for a wild ride as bestie-of-the-show Kimi Corrigan, VP of Marketing Operations at DataRobot, spills all about her latest chaotic weekend, from party-planning headaches to dreaming up future gatherings (with a little less chaos next time). We dive into the good stuff, like the all-too-real struggles of home repairs, wardrobe planni...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.prettyfunnybusiness.com SPOILER ALERT: THE MOMS ARE ALWAYS RIGHT. Will Aitken joined us for episode 12 of Pretty Funny Business Season 2, and logged a major grievance against his wife, Mary Lynn, who allegedly chose to not pick up a Cinnabon for him while she was out running solo errands across the street from the mall. Will called up Mary Lynn to interrogate her live, but unfo…...
Oct 09, 2024•31 sec
Podcast Description: On this episode of Pretty Funny Business , Lauren and Sydney chat with sales trainer and content creator Will Aiken. They dive into his journey from sales to becoming a LinkedIn sensation, his thoughts on the role of humor in business, and why he’s not sold on AI in sales. Will also shares hilarious personal stories from life in Nova Scotia, including his tragic Cinnabon craving, and discusses the ongoing rivalry between sales and marketing. It’s a blend of laughs, insights,...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 5 min
In this episode, Sydney, Lauren, and Laura dive into the magic of those so-called "weak ties" and how they can actually be a game-changer for networking and landing new business opportunities. Laura gets real about how she launched her quirky dinner series, Weak Ties/Strong Bonds (yes, it’s as fun as it sounds), and how it’s been a goldmine for building connections. They also get into the nitty-gritty of email marketing vs. social media—spoiler alert: personalized emails win every time. Of cours...
Sep 17, 2024•59 min
In this episode, we chat with Michael Eckstein, the accountant who's making waves in the marketing agency world—and not just because he’s dubbed himself ‘LinkedIn’s cutest accountant.’ Michael spills on the wild side of accounting, like that time a client casually mentioned a safe stuffed with cash or another who brushed off a $140,000 tax bill like it was no big deal. We dive into how Michael’s all about those deep, personal connections with his clients, going way beyond the usual number-crunch...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Summary In this episode, Sydney and Lauren interview Jon Miller, the OG founder of Marketo (among other successes, of course). They discuss various topics, including Jon's experience with yoga, his new startup, and what his family thinks he does for a living. They also delve into the early days of Marketo and the challenges of being an entrepreneur. The conversation touches on the differences between Marketo and HubSpot, as well as the evolution of marketing automation platforms over the years. ...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 8 min
In this mini episode, Lauren and Sydney celebrate the second birthday of their company, EMMIE Collective. They reflect on the growth and success of the company over the past two years, including the number of listeners to the Pretty Funny Business podcast, the number of signed consultants, and the number of clients. They also discuss their profit-sharing and charitable donation initiatives, as well as their pop-up parties and merchandise sales. They express gratitude for their dedicated listener...
Aug 14, 2024•15 min
Lauren and Sydney review their trip to Denver, discussing their reasons for choosing the city, their matching pajamas, and their sales kickoff and planning retreat. They talk about their stay at the Trailborn Hotel in Estes Park and their hiking adventure to Emerald Lake. They share funny moments, such as their disappointment with the Wendy's Biggie Bag, their encounter with a marmot, and Sydney's phone falling off a cliff. They also discuss the concept of 'raw dogging' a flight. Lauren and Sydn...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Per usual, we chat about many topics, both personal and professional. Chloe shares her story of moving to France and working in marketing. She's been active in the MOPs community, speaking at AntiCon and MOPs A Palooza coming up! Learn more about the pros and cons of living in France while discussing life and work in general. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.prettyfunnybusiness.com/subscribe...
Jul 17, 2024•59 min
Lauren and Sydney record a special bonus episode to recap a pretty funny business story that happened in the marketing slash sales ops space. For your entertainment only, a few quotes from the episode: * "Hello and welcome to the most chaotic episode of Pretty Funny Business to ever be recorded!" * "I don't think I know how to be petty, but this may be as petty as I get." * "Dearest listeners, may ye be reminded that I have incredible phone anxiety. Like, will not make a phone call." This is a p...
Jul 09, 2024•13 min
David Kreitter joins us! His background in marketing automation started with his journey working at Marketo to and now with his own automation consulting business. He's a real OG. We chat the importance of the Marketo community and the development of best practices within the community. Plus, where should marketing ops sit in the org? The conversation touches on topics such as the role of automation in marketing, the challenges of working with different marketing tools, and the future of marketi...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 3 min
AJ Navarro isn't just any Marketing Ops pro. He's a meat smoker, a car rental tips machine, a watch guy, and has a top tier manager (hi Cam). We met AJ at MOpsapalooza last year (buy your tickets for this year!!!) and had a blast getting to know him better on this episode of Pretty Funny Business. Learn about how AJ is shaping his own career path and what his Barbie accessories would be. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prettyfunnybusiness/message Support this...
May 10, 2024•50 min
Heyo! Our first episode where YOU, dear listener, can ask us ANYTHING -- but mostly it was Cam Conrad this time around. What's our favorite MarTech tool? What is the biggest difference between consulting and working in-house? Why don't sales people just click the right buttons in their CRM? Is Taylor Swift on the downswing? Do you miss working in an office? What did you want to be when you grew up? Who would win in a footrace? And MORE! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com...
Apr 16, 2024•49 min
Join us on a blind date to meet a fellow smarty pants woman in MOPs that we've somehow never really chatted with before. Andrea Lechner-Becker is the whole package: smart, opinionated, funny and a bad-ass. We had the best time getting to know her through her journey into Marketing Ops by way of relational databases of dog portraits at an art gallery, leading LeadMD, being a fellow young bride, a Fur Mommy (hi Dave), and a part time citrus farmer. These days Andrea is a content creator on LinkedI...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 9 min
We flip the script on ourselves and answer all the questions we tortured our guests with in Season 1. It's definitely too unhinged for an AI summary, so you'll have to buckle up for the ride through our early careers, business travel (mis)adventures, vitamin D deficiencies and Travis Kelce hot takes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prettyfunnybusiness/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prettyfunnybusiness/support This is a p...
Feb 23, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Join us for a long overdue introduction to Krystle Trankito, EMMIE's real OG consultant. Get to know what she'd be like as a Barbie, her extreme people pleasing that led to near medical disaster (RIP appendix), and more about our favorite laptop-toting mob wife chic queen. We take you on a journey of our very first Pretty Funny Business Trip, where Sydney flew to Cleveland and the gang made their way to Put-in-Bay. Come for the ferry ride, stay for the lobster bisque. --- Send in a voice message...
Feb 09, 2024•58 min
IT'S A CLIPS EPISODE PEOPLE! Thanks to the help of the incomparable Courtney McAra, a top fan and VIPV, we managed to assemble a highlight reel of what is, in our opinion, the prettiest, funniest, and businessiest moments of season 1. It's the hardest we've ever made our poor editor work (we love you Tim!!!) so hope you enjoy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prettyfunnybusiness/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prettyfunnyb...
Jan 19, 2024•49 min
This is what they call in the biz a "fan-service" episode. All season long we have been checking in with our Marketo PVs about where they were at THAT Marketo Summit (2016 in Las Vegas with Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff, for the uninitiated). You won't believe the bomb Heleen drops on us this episode!!! Aside from that, you will absolutely love getting to know Heleen, one of EMMIE's consultants and an OG in the Marketo freelancing space. Hear all about her digital nomad days and getting married with...
Dec 29, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Join Sydney Mulligan and Lauren Aquilino for a hilarious journey into the business realm with Crissy Saunders, half of the powerhouse duo that founded of CS2. This podcast is the ultimate blend of romance, sarcasm, and entrepreneurial chaos, as she spills the beans on her trans-Atlantic romance turned into balancing toddlers and building a business. Get ready for a whirlwind of witty anecdotes and valuable insights into the magical art of making family life and business thrive simultaneously. It...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr
Listen as Sydney Mulligan and Lauren Aquilino unravel the wonderful world of Jeff Kew, a MOps legend . We dive into Jeff's fascinating journey from advertising to marketing automation, his hiatus from LinkedIn, and his passions beyond marketing operations. Get ready for an engaging convo filled with helicopter adventures, philosophical musings, and a much-needed deep dive into the allure of Uniqlo's simplicity. Tune in for this blend of humor, insights, and candid discussions that illuminate the...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 11 min
We're spotlighting the inspiring story of Vanessa Griffiths, the creative force behind Gift Better Co. Vanessa's journey is quite the adventure, starting from her roots in marketing support and evolving into a standout event planning expert. Her path is a shining example of continuous growth, constant learning, and the courage to embrace change. In this episode, we'll also delve into Vanessa's entrepreneurial venture – the founding of Gift Better Co. This isn't just any company; it's Vanessa's w...
Dec 01, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Get ready to embark on a whimsical journey with the latest installment of Pretty Funny Business. In this episode, your hosts Lauren Aquilino and Sydney Mulligan take you on a rollercoaster ride through the fascinating world of revenue operations with special guest, Natalie Furness. We're shining the spotlight on Natalie, the trailblazer whose journey from rags to revenue-riches will have you both laughing and inspired. Forget about humble beginnings – Natalie turned her ambition dial up to 11 an...
Nov 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Lauren Aquilino met Courtney McAra ten years ago over red lipstick and karaoke. We learn how she came up with business name, and what it was like working at the mothership Marketo pre-IPO. Spoiler Alert: She wasn't invited to the IPO party. She confesses she doesn't know what VIPV is and listens to this podcast on 2x speed (can you imagine omg). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prettyfunnybusiness/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/po...
Nov 10, 2023•55 min
Did you know that KIDS THESE DAYS are actually learning MARKETING OPERATIONS in COLLEGE??? Thanks to Dr. Julz, they are. Julz is an absolute gem, and the only real life PROFESSOR of Marketing Technology I have ever met. Listen in as these nerds sort through multiple levels of nerd-dom, including but not limited to: Funko Pops, our Harry Potter houses, school, competitive shooting, and Lauren's vague relation to Pimp My Ride. I dare you to find a more interesting person than Julz James. I'm waiti...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 7 min
