In this episode of Marketing Tips, we’re joined by Nicole Milstead, CMO of Agiloft, whose path to the CMO seat was anything but traditional. From earning a master’s in social work to running analyst relations at SAP by age 28, Nicole’s journey proves that curiosity, empathy, and data obsession can outperform any straight-line career.

She shares how marketing ops became her secret weapon, why emotional branding builds trust, and what ex = cx actually looks like in practice. You’ll also hear her blueprint for building high-performing teams, transforming outdated systems, and why being a good human might be the most underrated leadership skill of all.

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Nicole Milad's Journey

00:55 Nicole's Non-Traditional Career Path

02:51 Current Role and Responsibilities at Agile Loft

03:38 The Importance of Marketing Operations

09:40 Driving Top of the Funnel Awareness

17:50 Leadership and Accountability

27:11 Final Takeaways and Advice for Marketers