Join us as Sandy Carter, an expert in digital innovation and Chief Operating Officer at Unstoppable Domains, shares her insights on the future of B2B marketing and buying. With a distinguished career at Amazon, IBM, and various startups, Sandy offers a deep dive into the integration of digital identities, the importance of community in B2B, and the critical role of AI in building trust. This episode examines the potential of digital twinning and the metaverse in creating immersive buyer experiences and how AI can ensure the authenticity of digital content. Sandy’s forward-thinking perspectives provide B2B professionals with the tools to leverage technology effectively while maintaining genuine customer trust and engagement.

See her talk at SXSW here.

Hello, and welcome to B2B Explorers, the podcast where we explore the future of B2B buying, marketing, and selling.

Hi everyone, I'm Nitin Julka, a B2B product manager and a former B2B buyer myself.

My name is Zane Homsi, also a B2B product manager, building technology to make go to market easier and more delightful. We're thrilled to embark on this journey with you.

We launched this podcast because we are deeply interested in the impact of AI on B2B buying, marketing, and selling. We call it Explorers because we don't know what the future holds. So as we explore and learn together, we wanted to bring you along on our journey. Our hope is that each episode provides you with practical takeaways and more importantly, new ways of thinking about B2B buying, marketing, and selling.

We're excited to learn alongside you and share our findings, and thank you so much for joining us.

Join us as Dan Horowitz, an expert in both the advertising and sales spheres, delves into the evolving world of B2B buying, marketing, and selling. With a rich background in digital marketing and current leadership roles at LinkedIn, Dan offers unique insights into the alignment of sales and marketing teams, the strategic application of AI across the buying, selling & marketing processes, and the creation of compelling content that resonates deeply with B2B buyers. This episode unpacks how to harness the potential of AI to streamline sales processes and enhance buyer engagement, and why maintaining human interaction remains crucial in closing deals. Dan’s expertise provides actionable strategies for B2B professionals aiming to leverage technology while ensuring their teams deliver maximum value in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

In this episode, Andrew Covato, Founder & Managing Director of Growth By Science, shares insights from his extensive experience in ad tech at companies like Snapchat, Google, Facebook, and Netflix. He discusses the challenges and evolution of B2B marketing, emphasizing the need for improved measurement and ad efficacy. Andrew also examines the impact of AI and data regulation on marketing, advocating for a shift from correlation-based strategies to a more scientific, causality-focused approach. Looking forward, he shares his vision for the future of marketing technology, where scientific approaches and AI integration lead to more accountable and successful marketing practices.

See here for more of Andrew's thought leadership in the space.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

In this episode, we're joined by James Borow, co-founder of Market AI, who shares his insights on the intersection of artificial intelligence, B2B buying, marketing, and selling. James, with his extensive experience from his time at Snapchat and through the acquisition of his ad tech business, Shift, provides a thoughtful exploration of how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape. He discusses the shift towards chat-based interfaces, the nuances of marketing automation, and the subtle yet significant impact of privacy regulations on marketing strategies. James also touches on the role of AI in streamlining marketing operations, making them more efficient and personalized. Additionally, he offers his perspective on the evolving role of marketers in this new era and the potential of augmented reality in consumer engagement. The conversation extends to his views on investment trends in AI and MarTech, emphasizing practical insights over speculation. This episode offers a clear-eyed view of the current state and future possibilities of B2B marketing in the AI age, aimed at professionals looking for grounded perspectives in the rapidly changing digital landscape.

Checkout his podcast, Taking Inventory, here.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Heinz, a seasoned expert in B2B marketing, to discuss the evolution of B2B buying, the growing complexity of buying committees, and the critical role of communities in marketing strategies. Matt, with over 15 years at the helm of Heinz Marketing, shares valuable insights on tailoring messaging for diverse committee members and the increasing importance of a strategic, process-driven approach to sales. He emphasizes the enduring need for human interaction in sales processes, despite advancements in AI, and sheds light on effective marketing orchestration and community building as key components of successful B2B marketing. Join us for a deep dive into the nuances of modern B2B buying and selling, where Matt Heinz offers practical advice for navigating today's complex sales landscape.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

Join us as Dave Karel, a seasoned B2B marketing executive and current CMO at Crunchtime!, unpacks the challenges and opportunities in today's B2B marketing landscape, from the heightened expectations of buyers to the saturation of traditional marketing tactics. Learn about the importance of choosing the right personas & creating content that resonates, how AI technology promises a new era of personalized marketing that can adapt to the individual needs of each buyer, and the necessity of sales and marketing alignment to deliver truly delightful buyer experiences.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

Join Ruth Stevens, a B2B consultant, educator, and writer, as she explores the changing world of B2B buying and the critical role of integrating sales and marketing with AI advancements. Ruth breaks down the complexity of B2B buying processes, emphasizing the importance of understanding buying groups and individual roles within them, such as end-users and specifiers. She discusses how Martech tools are reshaping the identification of key decision-makers and influencing the buying journey from need identification to final selection. Ruth also addresses the evolving relationship between sales and marketing, highlighting the significance of customer experience and digital transactions in today's market. Tune in for a concise yet comprehensive look at the future of B2B buying, where AI plays a pivotal role in both sales and marketing.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

In our latest episode, Jann Schwarz, a founder of the think tank the B2B Institute, delves into the intricate dynamics of B2B buying and marketing's future. He outlines the inherent complexities and uncertainties of group decision-making in B2B transactions, where indecision often prevails due to high stakes and stringent requirements. Jann emphasizes the pivotal role of social proof and collective confidence in overcoming this indecision, highlighting that buyers are predominantly passive knowledge receivers influenced by trusted recommendations and external validations. As AI reshapes the landscape, the focus shifts towards leveraging it for theoretical knowledge acquisition while human interactions concentrate on building trust and credibility through social proof. Jann advocates for a harmonious integration between sales and marketing, urging businesses to articulate a differentiated value promise clearly. This approach aims to foster marketplace effectiveness, transcending traditional performance metrics to build collective buyer confidence and align closely with customer needs, thereby ensuring a credible and trustworthy market presence.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.

In this episode, Dan Morrill, LinkedIn's Head of Marketing Technology, provides an in-depth look at the evolution of B2B marketing and the strategic implementation of AI technologies in marketing workflows. He details LinkedIn's campaign creation process, emphasizing the significance of first-party data and the critical decision-making between building versus buying in the tech stack. Dan highlights the transformative impact of generative AI in refining pitches and streamlining purchase discovery. Furthermore, he discusses the challenges of managing a content supply chain across various lines of business and the push towards democratizing data insights to empower marketing teams. Dan's insights offer a comprehensive view of the future of B2B marketing, where AI not only enhances operational efficiency but also enables more personalized and effective marketing strategies.

Note: The opinions expressed here are our own and not an official representation of our employer's views on these topics.