Episode Summary:

There’s one part of leadership no one prepares you for: the hard conversations. Whether it’s underperformance or misplaced potential, these conversations are uncomfortable but unavoidable. 

In this episode, Manny Ataebi, Demostack's CMO, gets brutally honest about how to achieve clarity, empathy, and zero regrets. He drops hard truths and heart-forward advice on managing performance, coaching with empathy, and making the tough calls when attitude isn't enough. From skip levels and PIPs to founders hiring out of FOMO, we cover it all with zero sugarcoating.

This one’s for the managers in the trenches. If you’ve ever wondered when to coach, when to cut, or how to protect your culture, Manny’s got answers. And stories. And probably a little tough love.

Timestamps:

01:25 – Manny’s framework: When underperformance happens, what's next?

03:19 – Coaching vs. wrong role: The stress factor and impact on team morale.

04:31 – Working with founders: early hiring mistakes, and how to fix them.

06:26 – Hiring smart for startups: work ethic, street smarts, and fire in the belly.

07:05 – The year-one review and spotting growth potential.

09:25 – Transitioning team members across roles: real stories and structure.

11:36 – Difficult conversations: why surprise = manager failure.

14:31 – Role play, real scenarios, and preparing your team for exec-level readiness.

16:42 – QBRs and letting team members lead in front of leadership.

18:36 – Different styles, different focus: how Manny adjusts his management approach.

22:19 – When it’s a motivation issue: Candy Crush and the “Farmville” effect.

24:35 – Self-improvement mindset: what separates strivers from coasters.

26:07 – Managing through pivots: startup vs. scale-up realities.

27:32 – The energy vampires of the team: Eeyores, excuses, and responsibility.

29:31 – Let them fail (a little): growth through discomfort.

30:25 –  Game Time! If Manny weren’t a CMO, what would he be?

32:10 – Life coach dreams, physical therapy passion, and a heart for helping others.

35:22 – Acting aspirations, fake film pitches, and final laughs.

About the guest: 

Follow Manny Ataebi on LinkedIn. 

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Demostack

Cybersecurity Marketing Society

CyberMarketingCon

Upcoming Events:

RSAC 2025 Marketers Party

Sunday, April 27 – Vibes, wagyu, and every cybersecurity marketer you love. You know the drill.

👉 RSVP now before it’s too late.

Subscribe & Show Some Love: 

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and send this to a coworker playing Candy Crush during Zoom calls.

💌 Feedback or Wanna Be on the Show?

Email: [email protected] 

Follow your hosts on LinkedIn:

👉Gianna Whitver

👉Maria Velasquez

Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. Join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, on our main LinkedIn page, or on our podcast LinkedIn page, and keep up with us on Twitter.

See you in the next episode!