Soft Sides

Guest: Stephanie Movahhed, Mindset & Business Coach

Laura is joined by Stephanie Movahhed, a mindset and business coach (she is also Laura’s coach). Stephanie spent the first chapter of her career developing frameworks, products, and teams at companies like Google and BCG. She frequently speaks about why we all have the potential for greater impact and influence if we can build and strengthen our mental fitness.

In this episode, Laura and Stephanie discuss some of the frameworks that Stephanie uses when coaching teams and executives. They also explore the meaning of influence and the importance of self-discovery. They discuss:

• Defining what you truly want to influence effectively


• Developing influence through empathy and curiosity


• Using mental fitness to manage your thoughts and behaviors


• Actionable steps for personal and professional growth

Connect with Stephanie Movahhed:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


• Link to Stephanie's website

Connect with Laura Colagrande:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

References: Stephanie mentions the Positive Intelligence (PQ) framework

Timestamps:
(00:00) -- Intro
(00:34) -- Defining Influence and Its Importance
(05:55) -- How to Identify Your Ideal Outcome
(11:36) -- The Role of Action and Designing What You Want
(14:49) -- Empathy and Finding Solutions That Work for Everyone
(20:30) -- Self-Command and Calmness in Effective Communication
(24:18) -- Training Mental Fitness for Positive Influence
(27:31) -- The Value of Group Dynamics in Professional Development
(31:19) -- Self-Discovery and Growth

Guest: Lashay Lewis, Founder of Authority Plug and B2B SaaS Advisor

Laura is joined by Lashay Lewis, Founder of Authority Plug and B2B SaaS advisor. Today, she has what some people call a “cult-like” following, but it was not always this way. Despite her 15+ years of experience and all her knowledge, like many of us, she struggled with imposter syndrome and faced a lot of rejection. She persevered, shifted her mindset, and is now experiencing a meteoric rise.

In this episode, Laura and Lashay dive into Lashay’s story, what inspired her to start her company, how she is growing her business, and her unique approach to working with B2B SaaS teams.

They discuss:

• How to deal with imposter syndrome and rejection


• Lashay’s mantra: Micro Action and Macro Patience


• Lashay’s unique approach to content and growth


• How marketers leverage a data-focused narrative to drive influence with internal teams


• Building a supportive network and finding your “village”

Connect with Lashay Lewis:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


• Lashay's Content Marketing Dashboard (used by over 2000 marketers every day!)

Connect with Laura Colagrande:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lashay also gives a shout-out to ⁠⁠Jess Cook, Dave Gerhardt, Tas Bober. They also mention Exit Five (B2B marketing community)

Timestamps:
(00:00) -- Intro
(03:40) -- Believing in Yourself and Overcoming Rejection
(09:11) -- Building a Strong Following and Seizing Opportunities
(11:31) -- Prioritizing Mental Health for Success
(25:56) -- Tying Yourself to Measurable Goals and Demonstrating Impact
(27:20) -- The Power of Data-Driven Content Marketing
(28:17) -- Aligning Marketing and Sales for Success
(29:44) -- Clear Communication and Collaboration
(30:43) -- Taking Micro Actions and Having Macro Patience
(32:52) -- The Transition to Strategic Business Growth
(46:21) -- Introducing Bofu.ai: An AI Writing Copilot
(49:21) -- Closing and Influence Shout Out

Guest: Mario Paganini, SVP of Marketing at Overjet

Laura is joined by Mario Paganini, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Overjet. Mario is known for his unique approach to building B2B brands and his commitment to creating hyper-relevant stories and differentiated campaigns that capture the audience's attention, even in very competitive industries like logistics and dental AI.

In this episode, Laura and Mario delve into key aspects of career growth, discussing good and bad managers, the role of luck in success, and how to find meaning and excitement in your role. Mario also shares the one piece of advice that changed how he behaves in meetings and manages his team.

They discuss:

• The role of luck and preparation


• Risk-taking, marketing, and storytelling


• How to evaluate a company’s market position and its potential


• How to find a role that suits you


• Transitioning from individual contributor to a manager role


• How to build trust and influence your team

Connect with Mario Paganini:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Laura Colagrande:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠

Mario also gives a shout out to ⁠Udi Ledergor⁠, ⁠Michelle McNamara⁠, Joe Spisak.

Timestamps

(00:00) -- Intro
(03:16) -- The Role of Luck
(04:11) -- Opportunity and Mentorship
(07:19) -- Learning from the Managers You Didn't Like
(08:13) -- Building Influence through Trust and Action
(11:14) -- Creating the Game You Want to Play
(11:56) -- Taking Bigger Risks
(12:49) -- Differentiating in a Competitive Market
(17:42) -- The Importance of Execution and Content
(22:43) -- Choosing the Right Industry and Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
(29:30) -- Finding Job Satisfaction
(40:57) -- Closing and Influence Shout Out

Guest: Lindsey Traub, Senior Director, Head of Partner Programs & Ops at Simpro

Laura is joined by Lindsey Traub, Senior Director at Simpro. Lindsey began her career as a BDR (business development representative), learned the fundamentals of B2B tech while working in customer success for many years, and eventually moved into leadership by crafting her own role in partnership operations. She is now highly regarded in the B2B and partnerships community.

In this episode, Lindsey shares her framework for preparing for a big meeting with an executive, the importance of communication, and how she approaches driving influence with different groups and stakeholders.

They discuss:

• The journey from BDR to leadership in partnerships


• A (non-cringe) framework to share wins and updates with GTM teams


• How to prepare for a meeting with the C-Suite


• How to handle feedback and avoid defensiveness


• The importance of managing up

Connect with Lindsey Traub:

• ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Laura Colagrande:

• ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠Youtube⁠

Timestamps

(00:00) -- Intro
(04:01) -- Crafting a Unique Role in GTM and Partnerships
(09:21) -- How to Think about Influence
(11:58) -- How to Think about Internal Communication
(27:41) -- Preparing for Executive Meetings
(27:57) -- Creating a Concise Talk Track
(28:51) -- Rehearsing to Reduce Fear and Improve Delivery
(30:00) -- Controlling the Conversation
(30:55) -- Handling Defensiveness and Responding to Questions
(34:37) -- Assuming Trust and Understanding Different Perspectives
(36:33) -- How to Get Yourself Mentally Ready for Important Meetings
(40:02) -- Building Rapport and Understanding the Audience
(41:24) -- Life Hack: Video Recording (and Gong shout-out)
(41:41) -- Closing: Influence Shout Out and Rapid Fire Questions

Guest: Alex Poulos, CMO at Crossbeam

Laura is joined by Alex Poulos, Chief Marketing Officer at Crossbeam. Alex is a software engineer by training who transitioned into product management and later moved into marketing and leadership roles. He has extensive experience across all GTM functions and is an award-winning CMO with multiple exits.

In this episode, Laura and Alex delve into the importance of what Alex calls “radical responsibility” and the balancing act that CMOs must perform. Alex emphasizes that these traits are seemingly conflicting (humility and decisiveness, agility and conviction, etc.). He also explains his approach to driving influence cross-functionally, starting with an effort to understand other executives' priorities.

They discuss:

• The importance of “radical responsibility”


• The balancing act of seemingly conflicting CMO traits


• Understanding cross-functional priorities and driving influence


• GTM strategies and Ecosystem-Led Growth

Connect with Alex:

• ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Connect with Laura Colagrande:

• ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠

Book referenced in their conversation: Ecosystem Led Growth by Bob Moore

Timestamps

(00:00) -- Intro
(01:29) -- Alex's Non-Linear Journey to Becoming a CMO
(05:12) -- CMO's (seemingly) Conflicting Traits
(10:08) -- Building Self-Awareness as a Leader
(13:29) -- Dealing with Unknowns and Ambiguity
(14:39) -- Taking Radical Responsibility
(17:07) -- Focusing on What You Can Impact
(17:48) -- Radical Responsibility
(19:12) -- Cross-Functional Executive Relationships
(21:08) -- The Leverage of an Executive Team
(21:31) -- Building Alliances and Navigating Internal Dynamics
(22:34) -- Ownership and Solution-Oriented Thinking
(25:01) -- Product Market Fit and the Pull of the Market
(26:00) -- Beyond the Obvious: Are We REALLY Listening?
(26:55) -- Ecosystem-Led Growth and Partnerships
(30:00) -- Listening to Customers and Prospects
(31:51) -- Understanding Vertical Use Cases
(40:06) -- Closing: Influence Shout Out and Rapid Fire Questions

Guest: Simone Thomas, Product Marketing at Meta

Laura is joined by Simone Thomas, Product Marketing Manager at Meta. Simone started her career in advertising, got her MBA at Wharton, worked in product strategy at Nordstrom, and then joined the product team at Meta.

In this episode, Laura and Simone dive deep into the importance of storytelling and people skills. Simone also explains how non-work related experiences (like volunteering at homeless shelters) have shaped the way she approaches product marketing and cross-functional collaboration.

They discuss:

• Why people skills are a superpower


• Volunteering experiences, community, and storytelling


• How to build trust with product teams


• Influencing cross-functional teams and managing up


• Self-awareness in professional growth

Connect with Simone Thomas:

• LinkedIn

Connect with Laura Colagrande:

• ⁠LinkedIn⁠


• ⁠Youtube⁠

Book referenced in their conversation: Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg.

Timestamps

• (00:00) -- Intro


• (00:50) -- Day in the Life: Product Marketing at Meta


• (05:05) -- Volunteering Experiences and Developing Empathy


• (08:52) -- Creating Authenticity and Vulnerability in the Workplace


• (11:53) -- Overcoming Fear and Building Human Connections


• (15:30) -- The Power of Storytelling in Influencing Others


• (25:13) -- The Most Important Skill You Need in Tech


• (26:16) -- The Power of Self-Awareness and Vulnerability


• (32:00) -- Trust as the Ultimate Currency


• (36:09) -- The Importance of Listening and Thoughtful Communication


• (46:58) -- Closing: Influence Shout Out and Rapid Fire Questions