OnBase: Smashing Sales and Marketing Misalignments

Generative AI is not just another tool, it’s a complete shift in how decisions are made and work gets done.In this episode of the OnBase podcast, Paul Gibson sits down with Jim Sterne, author and AI thought leader, to explore how organizations must rethink leadership, culture, and ROI in the age of generative AI. They discuss why AI moves us from deterministic systems to creative ones, why traditional ROI models fail, how leadership misalignment slows adoption, and what it really takes to embed AI into workflows without losing human judgment. If you’re navigating AI transformation in your organization, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about it.About the GuestJim Sterne focuses his forty-five years in sales and marketing on using technology for marketing. He sold business computers to companies that had never owned one in the 1980s, consulted and keynoted about online marketing in the 1990s, founded a conference and a professional association around digital analytics in the 2000’s, and has lately been advising companies on the adoption of generative AI. He has written thirteen books on Internet advertising, marketing and customer service including the humorous Devil's Data Dictionary. His first book on AI was “Artificial Intelligence for Marketing: Practical Applications” (2017) and his latest is “The New Science of Customer Relationships: Delivering on the One-to-One Promise with AI” (2025).Sterne has consulted to some of the world's largest companies; lectured at MIT, Stanford, USC, Harvard, and Oxford. Since 2002, Sterne has remained active producing the Marketing Analytics Summit and spent 20 years with the Digital Analytics Association as cofounder and Board Chair Emeritus. He was named one of the 50 most influential people in digital marketing by one of the UK's premier interactive marketing magazines and was included in a list of the Top 25 Hot Speakers by the National Speakers Association. Sterne is on the Advisory Board of a variety of startups, has served on the Boards of his local library foundation and the Better Business Bureau, and the Editorial Board of the Applied Marketing Analytics peer-reviewed journal. His current passion is leveraging generative AI as a catalyst for innovation as seen in his TEDx talk.Connect with Jim.

AI is everywhere in B2B marketing. But most teams are still working with disconnected tools and fragmented data.In this episode of the OnBase podcast, Chris Moody sits down with Dan Rosenberg, co-founder of Octane11, to explore why composable B2B marketing is the foundation for real AI-driven growth. They unpack the myth that ABM is dead, why monolithic marketing clouds fall short, and how connected account-level data allows AI to replace outdated attribution models.Dan shares practical insights on building modular stacks, orchestrating buying groups, scaling multi-channel campaigns, and letting AI interpret what is actually driving pipeline and revenue.If you want to move beyond dashboards and truly connect marketing to outcomes, this episode is for you.About the GuestDan Rosenberg is a thought leader and frequent speaker on B2B data, marketing analytics, and the evolution of modern martech. He’s the Founder and CEO of Octane11, an AI-powered, multi-channel analytics platform built for agencies and enterprise B2B marketers. Previously, Dan served as Chief Strategy Officer and CMO at MediaMath and has held senior operating and investing roles across adtech, martech, private equity, and venture capital. He’s a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School and lives in New York City.Connect with Dan.

Great creative does not fail because of ideas. It fails because of operations.In this episode of the OnBase podcast, Chris Moody sits down with Michael Miller, founder and head of creative at Consigliere, to explore why modern CMOs must think like architects of complex marketing systems. They unpack the hidden operational bottlenecks that sabotage performance, why agencies often get blamed unfairly, and how outdated marketing models are slowing teams down.Michael also shares a pragmatic view on AI: use it to buy back time, streamline process, and visualize ideas, not to replace creativity. If you are leading marketing in a performance-driven environment and trying to protect brand and creative quality, this episode offers a blueprint for doing both.About Michael MillerMichael Miller has built an impressive track record over his 20+ year career, developing award winning creative and digital experiences for some of the world’s top companies including Delta Airlines, Jeep, Citi, Adobe, Southwest Airlines, Apple, Lucasfilm, AT&T, Nike and Etihad Airways.Prior to founding Consiglieri, Miller was the Vice President of Marketing at T-Mobile where he founded their internal agency & TMO studios, and led the modernization of the brand’s marketing, creative and digital operation. Miller also architected T-Mobile’s industry leading social organization.Miller was the SVP Executive Creative Director at Publicis | Razorfish for 12 years prior, leading global, digital transformation for some of the largest brands in the world.Connect with Michael.

Search is changing faster than ever. In this episode of the OnBase podcast, Chris Moody sits down with Andreea Westenberg to explore how digital visibility is evolving in an AI-first world. They unpack why content still matters, how generative engine optimization is reshaping discovery, and why trust and conversations are becoming new drivers of B2B revenue. From zero-click search to schema markup and conversion-focused websites, this episode offers a practical roadmap for marketing leaders who want to stay visible, relevant, and trusted as AI transforms how buyers research and decide.About the GuestAndreea Westenberg is a data-driven B2B marketing leader with 14+ years of experience in demand generation, digital strategy, and growth across startups, scale-ups, and IPO-stage companies. With an MBA and a background in SEO, SEM, and performance marketing, she focuses on deploying AI tools and optimizing digital visibility for generative search and large language models in the AI-first era.Connect with Andreea.

Single-buyer strategies are no longer enough.In this episode of the OnBase podcast, Paul Gibson sits down with Graham Reed, director of business creation at Ice Blue Sky, to explore how buying groups are reshaping B2B decision-making in the age of AI.They discuss why deals fail when teams focus on one contact, how AI improves relevance without replacing human judgment, the risks of black-box intent signals, and why sales and marketing alignment is critical to winning complex deals.If you are struggling with low-quality pipeline or disengaged stakeholders, this conversation will change how you think about modern B2B buying.About Graham ReedGraham Reed is the director of business creation at Ice Blue Sky, a specialist strategy-led, account-based marketing and demand generation agency focused on the technology sector. With a background that began in print marketing, Graham transitioned into B2B later in his career and quickly developed a deep passion for the discipline, particularly account-based marketing and buying group strategies. Over the past five years at Ice Blue Sky, he has worked closely with technology and channel-focused organisations to design highly targeted, data-driven marketing programs that drive early-stage sales engagement. Graham’s work is centred on understanding how modern buying groups operate and how relevance, strategy, and emerging technologies like AI can be combined to influence complex B2B buying decisions.Connect with Graham.

Sales teams have more training, more tools, and more AI than ever — yet execution in the field continues to break down.In this episode of the OnBase podcast, Barry Flaherty and David Thomson explain why traditional sales training fails and how teach-back sales training and AI coaching help teams build real capability without burning out sales reps.Drawing on decades of experience across enterprise sales, scale-ups, and behavioural science, they explore why information alone never creates transformation, how onboarding and ramp time can be fixed, and why AI should act as a coach, not a cop.If you lead sales, enablement, or go-to-market teams, this episode delivers practical insight you can apply immediately.What you'll learn:why most sales training doesn’t translate into performancehow teach-back sales training improves retention and confidencethe role of AI coaching in modern sales enablementhow to reduce ramp time and onboarding failurehow to scale sales teams without losing culture or empathyAbout Barry Flaherty Barry is a GTM and sales strategy Leader and Board advisor/member. He has 25 years of experience in Tech and Media that includes Enterprise Sales & Alliances in integration, cloud and automation. He is the Founder of All Good People and is now growing a portfolio of established Tech companies and scale up’s and capital raising.Connect with Barry.About David Thomson Founder and CEO of Suada, David is dedicated to helping organisations unlock the full potential of their people through cutting-edge digital learning solutions. With over 25 years of experience in sales, technology, and business transformation, he lead Suada’s global mission to revolutionise online learning by incorporating the science of retention and persuasion.Connect with David.

In this episode of the OnBase podcast, host Paul Gibson sits down with Kate Mackie to unpack why humanizing B2B marketing is no longer optional—and how brand resonance directly impacts modern go-to-market success. Kate shares her journey from agency to EY, revealing why the traditional separation between brand and demand no longer works in today’s complex, elongated B2B buying cycles.She explains why trust is a brand’s most valuable currency, how buying groups have doubled in size, and why marketers must deliver consistent yet human experiences across every GTM motion. From aligning sales and marketing, to building creative consistency without losing personalization, to proving brand impact on revenue, this episode is a masterclass in modern enterprise marketing.Kate also explores the disruptions defining today’s market, how AI will accelerate personalization, and why human differentiation will matter more as buyers increasingly use AI as part of their research process.Key TakeawaysBrand and demand work as one spectrumBrand builds broad awareness and trust; demand converts that trust into action. Separating them weakens both.Buying groups have doubled in sizeEnterprise decisions now involve 15 people, meaning brands must influence far more stakeholders, many of whom never speak to sales.Human-centered branding drives trustEmotional relevance and clear purpose help companies stay top-of-mind through long, nonlinear buying cycles.Overconsistency reduces relevanceRigid, one-size-fits-all branding prevents teams from tailoring messages to different roles, needs, and motivations.Alignment across brand, GTM, and sales is criticalDisconnected campaigns and target lists create massive audience wastage and inconsistent buyer experiences.Customer expansion offers the quickest winsBuilding brand trust with existing clients is cheaper, faster, and often more impactful than new-customer acquisition.Measurement must combine brand and demand signalsBrand salience requires tracking awareness, consideration, social listening, and pre/post lift, not just revenue metrics.AI accelerates personalization but needs guardrailsAI can tailor creativity at scale, but only when backed by strong segmentation, a clear brand truth, and human oversight.Human differentiation will matter more as buyers use AIAs customers rely on AI for research, human experience, emotion, and trust become the true competitive advantage.Marketers must speak the language of the C-suiteTo secure buy-in, brand value must be tied directly to commercial outcomes, not marketing jargon.Quotes“Brand and demand are one and the same. It’s just the difference between talking to a mass audience or a targeted one.”“When buyers use AI as part of their research, the human experience becomes the biggest differentiator.”Resource RecommendationsB2B Marketing Fundamentals, a book by Kate MackieWiredShout-OutsJennifer Aaker, General Atlantic Professo at Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessCaroline Day, Global Director, B2B Institute at LinkedInDenise Persson, CMO at SnowflakeAbout the GuestKate Mackie is a Partner (EYGP LLP) and the Global Marketing Lead at the global EY organization. She is a transformational global leader who drives innovative marketing strategies and helps the business embed lasting change. Her passion lies in transforming the narrative around B2B marketing and driving a humanized approach to growth. She is the author of 'B2B Marketing Fundamentals: Drive Impact Across Brand, Reputation, Relationships, and Revenue'.Connect with Kate.

In this episode of OnBase, host Paul Gibson sits down with Joel Harrison for a wide-ranging and deeply insightful conversation about one of the most pressing issues in modern B2B: trust. Together, they unpack how trust is eroding across society, why it has become the backbone of successful ABX programs, and how marketers can differentiate in an era flooded with AI-generated “average content.”Joel shares his personal journey from magazine editor to industry leader, and why he believes trust, not just technology, is the true engine behind influence, brand affinity, and long-term customer relationships. The conversation explores how AI is challenging credibility, how strategic thought leadership can reclaim it, and why authenticity must be built intentionally rather than assumed.Whether you’re a marketer, seller, or B2B leader navigating the new era of AI-driven engagement, this episode provides a powerful framework for building trust at scale, without losing the human touch.Key TakeawaysTrust is the new competitive differentiatorTrust isn’t a soft metric, it’s the oxygen of B2B relationships. Without it, brands will struggle to generate engagement, earn consideration, or influence buyers who are increasingly overwhelmed and time-poor.Average content is everywhere, quality is the real moatAI has made it easier than ever to produce content, but most of it lacks authenticity, depth, and accuracy. Joel argues that this creates an opportunity: brands that invest in high-quality thought leadership will stand out faster than ever.Thought leadership must be strategic, not randomAccording to Joel, true thought leadership:Is rooted in robust dataConnects to a long-term narrativeInfluences every stage of the funnel, from brand to demand to salesIncludes credible experts and voices internally and externallyWhen executed well, these programs deliver 52% better ROI than traditional marketing.Advocacy is massively underutilized in B2BCustomer recommendations, peer validation, and community influence play a foundational role in trust, but most companies underinvest in structured advocacy programs. Joel highlights emerging “TrustTech” tools that are beginning to change this.AI must be used with oversight, not blind automationAI is powerful for efficiency, research, and content acceleration, but hallucinations and inaccuracies can damage credibility. Human oversight is non-negotiable, both at the beginning and the end of the workflow.ABX thrives when trust comes firstSignals alone aren’t enough. Buyers won’t engage with sales if they've never heard of you or don’t trust your brand. Trust-building must begin long before intent signals surface, and it must extend through the entire customer lifecycle, not just new logo acquisition.Quotes“Thought leadership isn’t a blog post. It’s a strategic, data-driven idea deployed across the entire customer journey.”Resource RecommendationsAndy Lambert’s newsletterLuan Wise’s newsletterCDP Institute’s newsletterPaul Cash’s LinkedIn postsShout-OutsScott Stockwell, Founder at WorkmatikGraham Wylie, Growth CMO, B2B SaaS & ServicesBarbara Stewart, Buyer & Customer Experience ConsultantRobert Norum, ABM and Growth Expert, B2B MarketingAbout the GuestAs editor-in-chief of B2B Marketing and one of its founders, Joel plays a strategic role in the company, focusing on the development of all B2B Marketing’s content, products and services – including events, training, reports and the magazine.He’s also an ambassador and evangelist for B2B more generally, and a regular speaker at conferences and at in-house marketing team meetings.Connect with Joel.

In this episode of OnBase, Paul Gibson talks with Tejal Patel about why ABM often falls short in large enterprises and how companies can fix it. Tejal shares how her B2C background shaped her customer-centric approach and explains the key issues she sees inside big tech—misalignment, data quality gaps, siloed teams, and overreliance on ABM as a standalone strategy.She contrasts this with the agility of smaller organizations and outlines practical ways to improve targeting, use intent data, strengthen sales–marketing alignment, and unify brand and demand. This conversation offers clear, actionable advice for anyone trying to make ABM work at scale.Key TakeawaysABM is a tactic, not a standalone strategyTejal argues that ABM only works when paired with brand, awareness, nurture, and customer-centric messaging. Without broader demand creation, ABM becomes narrow and ineffective.Sales and marketing alignment remains the biggest barrierLarge enterprises struggle with global vs. regional disconnects, mismatched KPIs, and long internal approval cycles, slowing execution and creating misfire between strategy and action. Smaller companies excel because they have fewer layers, faster decision-making, and shared prioritization.Data quality is the silent killer of ABMMessy CRM data, fragmented systems, mismatched account naming, and inconsistent scoring models undermine targeting, personalization, and sales handoff. Clean data and agreed lead quality criteria must come first.Intent data only works when paired with first-party signalsGreat ABM prioritizes first-party data, then layers on external intent. Messaging should be mapped to where accounts are in their journey, not just industry segmentation. Audience clusters can be built based on behaviors, not just firmographics.Brand and demand must run in parallelBrand builds trust with the 90% who aren’t yet buying; demand captures the 10% who are. Both motions must reinforce each other with consistent messaging across all touchpoints, internal and external.Simplification accelerates performanceTejal shares examples where hundreds of micro-campaigns were consolidated into fewer, audience-grouped programs, leading to clearer measurement, stronger engagement, and faster pipeline.AI will finally unlock true personalization at scale, but only with clean inputsAI can accelerate content, sales enablement, and buying-group messaging, but only when built on a foundation of strategy, quality data, and customer-centric principles. Otherwise, AI simply amplifies the noise.Quotes“Smaller companies succeed because they’re aligned, agile, and closer to the spirit of ABM.”Tech recommendationsMiroChatGPTCanvaResource recommendationsThe Rundown AI newsletterLisa Adams (LinkedIn) – insights on AI and modern marketing org designHarvard Business ReviewShout-outsJuskiran Sond, Senior Global Digital ABM Marketing Manager at Riverbed TechnologySuyasha Kale, Senior Paid Social Advertising Manager - Global at TeamViewerBrett Rieser, EMEA & LATAM Growth Marketing, Senior Manager at Palo Alto NetworksAbout the GuestTejal Patel has 25+ years experience in marketing transformation, strategic planning, organisational design & change management. She has held senior leadership roles at Cisco, Microsoft & Nokia. She specializes in creating practical yet ambitious strategies that deliver tangible success. She is skilled at building and retaining high-performing teams. Known as a turnaround expert, Tejal combines strategic vision with hands-on execution and inspires a culture of collaboration and empowerment.⁠Connect with Tejal⁠.

In this episode of OnBase, host Chris Moody sits down with Jasmeet Sawhney to explore what it means to lead marketing in an AI-driven world. Jasmeet shares his unconventional journey from engineer to marketing executive, emphasizing how technical fluency and creativity are now inseparable in leadership roles.They dive deep into the evolving responsibilities of marketing leaders, how AI is reshaping strategy, execution, and team structures, and why the biggest risk is failing to evolve. From scaling personalization to rethinking attribution and ROI, Jasmeet offers a candid and forward-looking perspective on how leaders can guide their teams through this transformation.This episode is a must-listen for marketing, sales, and business leaders navigating the AI revolution and seeking actionable insights for long-term success.Key TakeawaysAI is no longer optional: AI is no longer a buzzword, it’s a business necessity. Marketing leaders must integrate it across every function, from data analytics to customer engagement.Leadership must get technical: Future marketing leaders can’t avoid data or tech. Understanding AI, automation, and analytics is critical for setting effective goals and strategies.Don’t just hire AI experts, build internal fluency: Instead of creating isolated “AI teams,” leaders should train and empower existing staff to integrate AI into daily workflows.Personalization at scale is the new standard: AI enables hyper-personalization down to the stakeholder level, not just the account level. This is where real competitive advantage lies.Measure what matters: AI offers new opportunities to track touchpoints across the customer journey, finally making ROI and attribution measurable with greater accuracy.Change requires courage: Creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking are essential to unlocking AI’s potential, leaders must champion innovation even when outcomes are uncertain.Quotes“This is the biggest opportunity of our generation. If we don’t leverage AI, that’s what’s really at stake.”Tech RecommendationsClaude (Anthropic) – For content creation and ideation.Veo (Google LLM) – For AI-driven media and video content.Lovable – For AI-powered design support.Figma – For creating lightweight AI agents and workflows.Resource RecommendationsBook:Nexus: The History of Information Networks by Yuval Noah HarariPodcast:Marketing Against the Grain by HubSpotShout-OutsMohanbir Sawhney, Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management – mentor and thought leader in marketing innovation.Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder & CTO of HubSpot – admired for bridging strategy, culture, and technology.Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia – inspiration for fearless creativity and constant evolution.About the GuestJasmeet is a marketer with deep roots in technology, data analytics, and AI. He is currently Global Head of Marketing at Axtria. Earlier, Jasmeet was CEO of YibLab, which was one of the fastest growing marketing technology and solutions providers, ranked Top 50 among the fastest growing companies in NJ. Jasmeet has 20+ years of experience building and scaling marketing operations for both small and large companies. He is an investor, advisor, and mentor to multiple firms, and has received several company and individual awards - Inc. 500, Deloitte 500, Crain’s Fast 50, SmartCEO Future 50, Red Herring, NJBiz Business of the Year, Top CMO, and Forty Under 40, among others.Connect with Jasmeet.

In this OnBase episode, host Chris Moody reconnects with marketing visionary Jon Miller for a deep dive into the evolution of B2B marketing and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of go-to-market strategy.Jon shares his remarkable journey, from studying physics to co-founding Marketo and Engagio, joining Demandbase, and now launching his next venture at the cutting edge of AI. He reflects on the lessons learned from past technology revolutions, drawing parallels between the early internet era and today’s AI boom.Listeners gain an inside look at how AI is fundamentally changing both software innovation and buyer behavior, why marketers must shift from quantity to quality-driven personalization, and what it takes to build organizations that thrive in an AI-first world.This episode is packed with insights for anyone navigating marketing’s AI transformation, from creative storytellers to data-driven tacticians.Key TakeawaysThe Biggest Shift Since the Internet AI isn’t just another tech trend, it’s as transformative as the rise of the internet. We’re entering a new era where software can do things we never imagined, enabling businesses that couldn’t exist before.The “Jagged Frontier” of AI AI excels at some tasks and fails at others. The key is daily experimentation, understanding where AI amplifies your strengths and where human oversight is indispensable.From Quantity to Quality The goal isn’t to send more emails, it’s to deliver more relevant experiences. AI’s true power lies in helping marketers achieve genuine one-to-one personalization through smarter orchestration, not mass automation.The Human – AI Partnership Future success lies in collaboration: humans provide creativity and empathy; AI handles data, optimization, and orchestration. Together, they create outcomes neither could achieve alone.Culture Determines AI Success Technology adoption starts with leadership. Organizations must build AI fluency into their culture, encouraging training, experimentation, and open sharing of prompts and insights.Emotion Drives Storytelling Even in B2B, emotion matters. Great storytelling taps into curiosity, excitement, and drama, whether through stealth launches, community intrigue, or relatable human experiences.Marketing Measurement Is Broken B2B marketers are still judged on MQLs and short-term results, despite the nonlinear reality of buying behavior. We need new ways to measure marketing that reflect its true long-term impact.Quotes“Don’t use AI like a faster typewriter. Use it as a new form of intelligence that helps you think better.”Tech recommendationsDescript – For seamless AI-powered video and podcast editing.Crosby.ai – An AI-enabled law firm combining automation with human legal review.Resource recommendationsBooksThe Advantage by Patrick Lencioni – A guide to building healthy, high-performing organizations.Setting the Table by Danny Meyer – Lessons on culture and leadership from the hospitality world.Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet – Empowerment and leadership through intentional communication.NewsletterAlmost Timely Newsletter by Chris Penn.Kieran Flanahan Newsletter on Medium.Shout-outsChris Penn – AI strategist and co-founder of Trust Insights.Kieran Flanagan – SVP, Marketing, AI & GTM (SVP) and B2B growth expert and AI prompt innovator.Kathleen Schwab – Author of Marketing in the Great Big Messy World.About the GuestJon Miller is a marketing technology pioneer and serial founder. He co-founded Marketo, Engagio, and later served as CMO of Demandbase, helping redefine how B2B companies go to market. Now building his next AI-focused startup, Jon also advises tech companies on strategy and growth. A frequent keynote speaker and author of The Definitive Guides to ABM and Marketing Automation, he’s been recognized as one of the world’s top B2B marketers.Connect with Jon.

In this episode of OnBase, host Paul Gibson sits down with Callum Brodie to explore the evolution of content marketing in B2B and why every brand today needs “content with a pulse.” Drawing on his unique background in journalism, Callum explains how storytelling, empathy, and a genuine understanding of the audience’s “why” can help brands build trust and long-term relationships.The conversation dives into the shift from promotional messaging to value-driven narratives, the importance of human stories in corporate content, and how to sustain momentum in audience-first marketing. Callum also discusses how AI is reshaping creative industries and how to balance automation with human creativity.Listeners will gain practical insights into building brand trust, uncovering authentic stories, and fostering a “drumbeat” approach to content that resonates with customers across every stage of the funnel.Key TakeawaysTrust is the foundation of engagement Before driving conversions, brands must earn audience trust through transparency, relevance, and empathy. Effective storytelling begins with understanding what truly keeps customers awake at night.From promotion to purpose B2B brands must move beyond slogans and focus on substance. The best content educates, informs, and inspires rather than sells.The power of human stories Even in B2B, emotion drives connection. Every product, service, or technology has a human benefit behind it, marketers just need to uncover and tell those stories.The “five whys” framework By continuously asking why, from the first content idea to campaign execution, marketers can reveal the root motivations and create more impactful storytelling.The drumbeat approach Consistency is critical. A steady rhythm of content distribution across channels sustains engagement and trust over time.AI as a creative partner, not a replacement AI can amplify productivity and ideation, but it will never replace human intuition or creativity. The key lies in using tools like ChatGPT strategically while maintaining editorial rigorQuotes“An effective piece of content marketing should leave the audience more informed and engaged. They may not be ready to buy, but you’ve taken that first step toward trust.”Resource RecommendationsBlog:Seth Godin’s Daily Blog – For concise, thought-provoking insights.Neil Patel’s Blog – For SEO and digital strategy.Books:Powerful B2B Content by Gay Flashman – A guide to impactful storytelling in B2B marketing.Shout-outsGay Flashman, Founder, Formative and Author of Powerful B2B Content.Neil Patel, Digital Marketing Expert and Author.Aniket Mendaka, CMO at Firstsource Solutions.About the GuestCallum Brodie is a seasoned multimedia business journalist with extensive experience in the insurance industry. Currently serving as Associate Director of Marketing at Firstsource since April 2023, Callum has held various prominent roles including Senior Account Director and Deputy Team Lead at Formative Content from May 2017 to April 2023. Previous positions include Senior News Reporter at MoneySavingExpert.com and multiple editorial roles at Incisive Media, where responsibilities ranged from News Editor to Senior Features Writer. Callum's journalism career began at the Grimsby Telegraph and Slough Observer. Callum holds a BA in History from Bangor University, completed in 2007.⁠Connect with Callum.⁠

In this episode of OnBase, host Chris Moody sits down with Madhup Mishra to explore how AI is collapsing traditional go-to-market funnels and reshaping product marketing as we know it. From redefining buyer journeys to measuring real engagement, Madhup offers a candid, strategic look at what it takes to win in an AI-driven world.He shares his philosophy of “clarity through confusion,” explains how product marketing has evolved from storytelling to enablement, and offers insights into building trust and advocacy with increasingly skeptical, data-driven buyers.Listeners will come away with a modern blueprint for product launches, buyer enablement, and authentic community building, all while balancing automation with the human touch.Key TakeawaysAI is Collapsing the Funnel: Traditional marketing funnels are giving way to nonlinear, AI-powered buyer journeys, where time-to-value and hands-on validation matter more than nurture sequences.Product-Led Growth is Accelerating: Buyers expect to experience value immediately—the product must now tell its own story, not just the sales team.From Persuasion to Enablement: Marketers must help buyers make confident decisions, not just convince them with clever messaging.Advocacy is the New SEO: Developers and customers who share their experiences online are now fueling AI search recommendations. Building authentic advocacy impacts discoverability and trust.Measure Engagement, Not Just Activity: Pipeline matters, but depth of engagement—expansion, demos, and authentic community chatter—is the real measure of success.AI Must Be Purposeful: Don’t launch “AI for AI’s sake.” The best AI products solve real, high-friction problems and integrate naturally into customer workflows.Quotes“Advocacy isn’t optional anymore. If your community isn’t talking about you, AI search engines will recommend your competitors instead.”Tech recommendationsGong – For sales insights and understanding customer conversations.Amplitude – For in-product analytics and mapping the customer journey.Resource RecommendationsBooks:Obviously Awesome by April Dunford – A masterclass in product positioning.Shout-OutsSimon Sinek, Author and Inspirational speaker on business leadership for inspiring purpose-first leadership.April Dunford, Positioning Consultant, Speaker, and Author for redefining how companies position their products.Ethan Mollick, Associate Professor at The Wharton School for his thought leadership on AI and business innovation.About the GuestMadhup leads Product Marketing for SmartBear, creating product and solutions messaging, positioning, and sales enablement, and launching new products. He deeply understands SmartBear’s core developer and development team audience and can strategically communicate the impact of its products throughout the software development lifecycle. With over two decades of technology experience in companies like Hitachi Vantara, Volt Active Data, HPE SimpliVity, Dell, and Dell-EMC, Madhup has held a variety of roles in product management, sales engineering, and product marketing. Madhup lives in Central Massachusetts with his lovely wife, their son, and their dog. In his free time, he loves to travel, bike, and run.Connect with Madhup.