The Fractional C-Suite Retreat
 

The Fractional C-Suite Retreat

https://feed.podbean.com/fractionalcsuiteretreat/feed.xml

Joseph Frost, Co-Founder of yorCMO, hosts this exclusive retreat for executives to unwind and hear from their peers about new opportunities and innovations in the C-Suite.

Episodes

Scaling Success: Strategic Marketing and Team Synergy - Jason Parker and Dave Blanchard- Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #60

Tuesday Feb 27, 2024

Tuesday Feb 27, 2024

In this episode, Joseph Frost dives into the fascinating journey of K9 Resorts, a luxury dog boarding and daycare franchise, with co-founder Jason Parker and Dave Blanchard, a seasoned fractional Chief Marketing Officer from Your CMO. They discuss the pivotal role of strategic marketing and the right team composition in scaling a business, especially in the post-pandemic era. Through insightful anecdotes and practical advice, listeners will gain valuable lessons on growth, marketing, and remote workforce integration.

 

Takeaways:

  • The Power of the Right Team: Understanding the importance of surrounding yourself with capable individuals for business growth and scalability.
  • Fractional CMO Impact: How a fractional Chief Marketing Officer brings strategic insights and catalyzes significant growth in your business.
  • Hybrid Workforce Opportunities: Embracing flexibility in the workforce can unlock talent and opportunities previously unseen.
  • Cultural Collaboration: The crucial role of in-person interaction in establishing company culture and effectively integrating new team members.
  • Strategic Marketing for Franchises: Highlighting the necessity of detailed planning and strategic marketing for the success and profitability of franchisees.
  • Accelerating Profitability: How digital marketing strategies and pre-opening sales initiatives can significantly shorten the path to profitability for new locations.
  • Grassroots Marketing: The importance of local community engagement and grassroots efforts for franchisees to ensure success.
  • Brand Messaging and Rebranding: The impact of rebranding and clarifying brand messaging to resonate with customer values and expectations.

 

Quote of the Show:

"The transition to a more digital and remote marketing strategy isn't just a trend; it's a necessary evolution to stay relevant and effective in today's market." -Jason Parker

 

Links

 

Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com/ 

Read more

Navigating the AI Revolution in Marketing - Kim Jackson - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #59

Tuesday Feb 13, 2024

Tuesday Feb 13, 2024

In this insightful episode, Joseph Frost sits down with Kim Jackson, a seasoned leader in capital markets and marketing, and a champion for female entrepreneurship. Kim shares her invaluable insights on integrating AI into marketing strategies, forming cross-functional teams for innovation, and the importance of messaging in the age of AI. Dive into a conversation full of actionable advice for C-suite leaders looking to leverage AI for business success.

 

Takeaways:

  • Strategic AI Integration: AI must be integrated thoughtfully across business operations, requiring leadership beyond the IT department to truly drive innovation and efficiency.
  • Building Diverse Teams: The success of AI projects hinges on forming diverse, cross-functional teams that bring together various business functions and perspectives.
  • The Importance of Messaging: Effective communication about AI's role and goals is crucial in overcoming resistance and fostering an environment of acceptance and enthusiasm.
  • AI and Job Transformation: AI is set to reshape the workforce, not by eliminating jobs but by creating new opportunities and requiring new skills.
  • Content Strategy in the AI Era: Quality of content should prevail over quantity, with AI serving as a tool to enhance creativity and relevance rather than dilute it with volume.
  • Ethical AI Use: Ethical considerations must be front and center in AI deployment, ensuring that technology serves humanity's best interests.
  • Leveraging AI for Competitive Advantage: Organizations that embrace AI thoughtfully and strategically can significantly outpace competitors, making AI competency a critical strategic asset.

 

Quote of the Show:

"The future of work with AI isn't about displacement but transformation. It's an opportunity to evolve our roles and create value in new, unforeseen ways." – Kim Jackson

 

Links

 

Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com/

Read more

The Future of Business Strategy - John Lund - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #58

Tuesday Jan 30, 2024

Tuesday Jan 30, 2024

In this insightful episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of business strategy, with a focus on the integration of AI, the importance of fractional leadership, and the challenges and opportunities of managing remote teams. Guest speaker John Lund, an expert in business strategy and coaching, shares valuable insights and practical tips for C-suite executives and small to medium-sized business owners looking to navigate the changing business environment.

 

Takeaways:

  • Understanding New Leaders' Challenges: Post-COVID, upcoming leaders lack casual mentoring experiences, impacting their ability to manage and understand the company as a whole.
  • Intentional Connections and Cross-Department Learning: Encourage inter-departmental involvement in meetings and processes for broader learning and better decision-making.
  • Effective Time Management in Meetings: Implement unconventional meeting times and extended casual pre-meeting durations to foster interaction and rapport.
  • Clarifying 'What Winning Looks Like': Ensuring every team member understands their role and success metrics simplifies management and aligns efforts with company goals.
  • Adopting OKRs for Goal Setting: Objectives and Key Results, coupled with collaborative projects, provide a clear and effective framework for goal setting and achievement.
  • Leveraging AI for Efficiency: AI tools like ChatGPT can revolutionize processes, from analyzing contracts to setting goals, boosting efficiency and quality.
  • Importance of Fractional Leadership: For many SMBs, fractional executives offer the right balance of expertise and flexibility, driving growth without overcommitting resources.
  • Embracing Remote Work and Outsourcing: Modern businesses must leverage remote work, outsourcing, and AI to stay competitive and adapt to the new work landscape.

 

Quote of the Show:

  • "The key to effective management in a virtual environment is clear communication, understanding what winning looks like, and involving team members in process creation." - John Lund

Links

Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

Read more

Leading with Heart - Maura Kautsky - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #57

Thursday Jan 18, 2024

Thursday Jan 18, 2024

In this insightful episode, Maura Kautsky, President of Sales Xceleration, joins Joseph Frost to discuss the evolving roles of sales and marketing in the C-suite. Maura Kautsky emphasizes the need for clarity in roles, the power of fractional leadership, and the integration of AI in sales and marketing strategies.

 

Takeaways:

  • C-suite Time Management: C-suite leaders should focus more on their core responsibilities and less on peripheral meetings and tasks.
  • Fractional Leadership Benefits: Fractional sales or marketing leaders can provide specialized, part-time leadership, particularly useful for growing companies.
  • Importance of Role Clarity: Clear role definitions in an organization prevent overlap and inefficiency.
  • AI in Business: AI should enhance, not replace, human expertise, particularly in sales and marketing.
  • Adapting to Technology: Companies must stay informed about technological advancements and integrate them appropriately into their strategies.
  • The Need for a Sales Playbook: Documentation of sales strategies and processes is crucial for consistency and success.
  • Founder's Dilemma in Sales: Founders should delegate sales roles to qualified sales leaders to focus on business growth.
  • Empowering Teams: Leaders should empower their teams to manage their time effectively and focus on their primary responsibilities.

 

Quote of the Show:

  • "Leadership is not just about leading; it's about listening and adapting to the needs of your team and the market." - Maura Kautsky

 

Links

Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Frost Media Group

Learn more at https://frostmediagroup.com

Read more

Creating Meaty Content - Wendy Lieber - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #56

Tuesday Jul 18, 2023

Tuesday Jul 18, 2023

Creating engaging, sticky, actionable content can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Find out in this episode of the Fractional C-Suite Retreat how to recognize which topics to cover in content and where to find your company’s hidden gold mines of content. Who better to learn from than the Co-Founder of Content Bacon, Wendy Lieber?

Wendy talks about some of the techniques she uses when helping other companies discover their meatiest content. Whether trying to generate leads, create awareness about the brand, or convert prospects to clients, Wendy has the keys to successfully do so. 

 

 

Takeaways:

  • Wendy says that C-Suite Executives need to do two things: tell a compelling story about your company to connect with customers on a deeper level and pay attention to the changes happening with AI, without getting distracted from your main objectives.
  • An involved leader is an inspiring leader. With the virtualization of the workplace, informal meetings became harder to nurture, and structured communication became more important. Stay active in chats and meetings to inspire your team.
  • There are three mistakes a company can make: a website without actionable items may create traffic, but may not direct traffic effectively, a company’s CRM database may be an untapped gold mine, and a company may be ignoring its current customer base. 
  • A strategy involves having a plan that you're involved with, determining how you want to communicate with your audience, making sure that you are adding value, solving problems, and educating the organization on your goal. 
  • The best research comes from listening to the customers and subject matter expert interviews. Listen to the pain points that need solving and the interests of the buyers by getting closer to the perspective of the customer.  
  • If you’re stuck on creating content, start by looking at the frequently asked questions or the not-asked-frequently-enough questions that you wish your prospects would ask more of. If someone asks you directly, others may be Googling the same question.
  • When working with freelancers for content creation, a fixed strategy and leadership team helps prevent any disruption from unpredictable or inconsistent workers. Having layers of protection including an accountability structure will protect the end user and customer.  

 

 

Quote of the Show:

  • “Write for humans first, search engines second.” - Wendy Lieber



Links

 

Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Read more

The Six Truths of Marketing - Marguerite Yeo - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #55

Tuesday May 30, 2023

Tuesday May 30, 2023

On this episode of the Fractional C-Suite Retreat, we’re joined by a strategic and data-driven seasoned marketing executive with 14 plus years of experience. She’s a marketing maven who is adept at developing marketing strategies and integrated demand generation plans. Welcome to the show, CMO at yorCMO, Marguerite Yeo! Marguerite joins the show to share her six truths of marketing, dispel lead generation myths, and look towards the future of marketing



Takeaways:

  • There is no silver bullet magical tactic for success in marketing. Each company must use integrated marketing that combines both online and offline, organic and paid, digital and non-digital tactics, and utilizes email, events, social media, and webinars. 
  • No one person in an organization is in charge of purchasing a product or service. You are marketing to the CEO, CIO, CFO, and all the individual employees who have to implement and use the product. 
  • Don’t prioritize quantity over quality. The wrong request to marketing professionals can result in ineffective ads, leads that don’t convert, and customers that don’t fit your ICP. While this approach might be cheaper in the short-run, it will not create a long-run ROI.
  • Encourage synergy between sales and marketing employees by conducting interviews with representatives from the opposite department. This will allow marketing employees to screen sales employees and vice versa. 
  • Though trade shows are glamorous and attractive forms of advertising, they can be ineffective and expensive due to setup, breakdown and T&E costs. They often result in a high quantity of bad leads, rather than a decent number of qualified leads.
  • Operations are often neglected, but it is critical nowadays to monitor and track every single tactic that you implement. This may include tracking the right KPIs, picking the right MarTech tools, and force correcting based on feedback. 
  • Leverage AI to help marketing efforts. Use it to add a predictive aspect to marketing, rather than only looking back on the past to see what has been effective. AI may not eliminate jobs, but it will eliminate people who don’t adapt to its presence. 

 

Quote of the Show:

  • “Instead of asking marketing, ‘what's the cheapest way to get the most leads?’, the right question should be, ‘what's the most cost effective and efficient way to achieve sales targets and retain customers?’” - Marguerite Yeo



Links

 

Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Read more

Focusing On The Future Of Marketing - Ken Acer - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #54

Tuesday Apr 25, 2023

Tuesday Apr 25, 2023

Today’s guest is a seasoned marketing executive with a proven track record of helping companies tackle marketing problems. With over 35 years of experience he’s worked with large corporate environments, small organizations with minimal marketing, and everything in between. Our guest this week is a fractional CMO at yorCMO. Welcome to the show Ken Acer! Ken joins host Joe Frost for a discussion on identifying the different marketing needs of organizations, the value of AI in marketing, and how to distinguish between fads and innovations.

 

 

Takeaways:

  • There is no one right answer to what marketing means to you. Marketing spans a wide range of ideas from strategy to product. Ultimately marketing is what your organization needs for long term growth. 
  • When revamping your marketing department, start by looking at the competition. If you can identify their market size, market share, and how they serve customers, you can identify where you best fit into the market. 
  • When it comes to distinguishing between fads and long term customer needs, you need to observe your customers. Talk to real users and observe what features they may be adding themselves, and understand why they are doing it. 
  • When forecasting customer needs, you need to focus on things that offer a concrete benefit to the customer. While a certain marketing fad or new technology may seem promising, if it doesn;t actually benefit the customer, don’t focus on it. 
  • When looking at using a tool, you need to understand the why behind the tool first. Wanting to “use AI in marketing” is like “wanting sales reps to make phone calls”. Focus on use cases for technology, rather than just the usage of technology. 
  • One major benefit of conversational AI models like Chat GPT is its ability to compose data in people friendly formats. Asking for help on the first draft of an email to a client or the demographics of a company are valuable uses of that technology. 
  • As a marketer, part of your role is to help enable your sales teams, but finding balance between the departments can be difficult. You need to help them with short term goals while focusing on the long term initiatives of the company

 

 

Quote of the Show:

  • “You have to be able to try to think about what the unmet needs are today that will be important in two or three years”. - Ken Acer



Links



Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Read more

Focusing on Retention - Nanda Grandison - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode # 053

Tuesday Apr 04, 2023

Tuesday Apr 04, 2023

Today’s guest is an accomplished and disciplined B2B marketing executive. She has a solid track record of developing and executing growth marketing strategies and has extensive expertise and experience in managing multinational teams. Please welcome to the show, Nanda Grandison! Nanda is a fractional CMO at yorCMO, and joins the host Joe Frost to share what she sees as the biggest opportunities for C-Suite executives.

 

Takeaways:

  • As a CEO, you need to ensure that there is a renewed focus on driving growth through retention. You want to make sure you are understanding the clients you have inside your organization and know how to course correct when appropriate.
  • Referrals are typically organic and are a great way to re-invest in a client. There is transparency with clients in making referrals and how it shows your appreciation or gratitude to clients.
  • When you are onboarding clients, you want to make sure that you are being extremely thoughtful and documenting every step of the process. You want to check on a regular basis to make sure that proper service is being provided to clients.
  • You want to be able to help clients understand what is coming down the line and show them what else you can do to help them. This will help the clients better understand their future and how you are setting them up for success.
  • If you have employees working remotely, hybrid or in person, you want to make sure that the employees still feel connected to the clients. 
  • There are many different types of ways to connect with clients, ranging from leaning on vendors to host an event to traveling several hours away to a destination to connect with a client.

  

Quote of the Show:

1:25 “It's not an or for retention versus acquisition. It's an and.”

 

Links

 

Ways to Tune In


Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Read more

Working Hand in Glove - Aditi Karandikar - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode # 052

Tuesday Mar 28, 2023

Tuesday Mar 28, 2023

Today’s guest is a data-driven performance marketing executive with over a decade of experience and demand generation. She's grown and mentored lean marketing teams from scratch. She was named one of the 10 most inspiring women leaders in 2021 by I E R A Women Leaders Magazine. Please welcome to the show, Aditi Karandikar. Aditi is a CMO at YorCMO. Aditi joins the host Joe Frost to share her thoughts on new opportunities within the c-suite level. 

 

Takeaways:

  • Back in the day, marketing was seen as a cost center but it has now flipped to be considered part of the revenue creators of a company. 
  • Demand generation is an end-to-end strategy tactic which leads the purchase funnel to sales to close. It is integrated across multiple channels of paid search and SEO among other channels.
  • Product marketing and demand generation work very closely together, and sometimes provide a wider reach than ARPR. Only after you have created a brand and have product knowledge will you then see it lead to demand generation.
  • When it comes to demand generation and marketing, you can’t have one without the other. Whether they are directly or loosely integrated, they need to work together to showcase success.
  • You need to have a mix between paid search or SEO Driven and getting leads at in person conferences or webinars. Both are necessary ways of trying to increase your sales funnel.
  • It’s important to maintain your brand awareness with any of your potential clients but you should also take note of if they are ready to buy now or not. If they aren’t ready yet, keep them in mind but they don’t get the same level of attention as someone who is ready now.
  • The advancement of AI technology has helped many marketers explore and test out new ideas, but it still is in an infancy stage and shouldn’t be considered the end all be all.

 

 

Quote of the Show:

7:59 “Product marketing and demand generation  go hand in glove.”

 

Links

 

Ways to Tune In


Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Read more

Championing Client Experience - Chad Person - Fractional C-Suite Retreat - Episode #51

Tuesday Mar 14, 2023

Tuesday Mar 14, 2023

On this episode of The Fractional C-Suite Retreat, we’re joined by an accomplished B2B marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience leading marketing and sales initiatives for B2B enterprises. He has developed deep expertise in areas like marketing strategy, messaging, positioning, product and corporate rebranding. Today’s guest is a CMO at yorCMO, Chad Person. Joe sits down with Chad to learn about why client experience is so important, which KPIs and metrics matter the most, and how B2B buyers have changed. 

 

 

Takeaways:

  • C-suite leaders need to be focused on client experience. There are hundreds if not thousands of touchpoints your clients have, and you need to make sure they have a smooth experience. 
  • While client experience has existed in the B2C world, companies in the B2B and professional services industries are only now focusing on it. 
  • When determining metrics to track client excellence, start by figuring out the results you want to achieve, and how you want to grow the business. Once that is set, find the metrics that match up most closely with that vision. 
  • While it is important to track metrics, it is equally as important to understand those metrics. Translating the data into meaningful improvements can often be the most challenging part of the process. 
  • When it comes to retaining clients, your product offerings matter less than how strong of a client experience they have. Even if you have the best services in the industry, if their experience is lackluster, your clients will start to look elsewhere. 
  • While NPS is a valuable metric to take into account, it is often a lagging indicator. When tracking client experience, look to leading indicators like the number of new proposals being generated with existing clients.
  • The average B2B buyer has changed and evolved. Modern B2B buyers are looking for companies that can meet them where they are. For companies, this means fully understanding your buyers, and knowing what they are looking for.

 

 

Quote of the Show:

  • “Be the leading champion.” - Chad Person



Links



Ways to Tune In

 

Fractional C-Suite Retreat is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Read more
Load more

Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125