Are you ready to dive deep into the world of marketing, leadership, and storytelling? This week, we have something truly exceptional for all you marketing enthusiasts out there on the Surge Forward podcast!

I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with two phenomenal marketers for this two-part episode, Inside the Marketing Machine. Alex Dalgliesh Pardue and Kimberly Cox, have a unique lens into marketing teams across industries, cultures, and dynamics through their work at Braithwaite Communications.

In part two of this series, Alex and Kim discuss with me their secrets to success for career longevity, including the importance for continued growth and curiosity, knowing your career vision and the importance of the team you work with.

I have something very special for you this week. I sat down with Alex Dalgliesh Pardue and Kimberly Cox two amazing women in marketing that I was privileged to work alongside to launch a new brand. As the client, we had a lot of challenges… executives who truly didn’t understand what a mature marketing team could accomplish, much less how digital marketing worked and to top it off, we had no real growth goals given to us aside from “let’s see what happens.”

Having Alex and Kim by my side and backing up what I brought to the table, was invaluable. As I reflected back on who I could bring to my audience of Surge Forward, who better to help give us a glimpse into a wide array of how marketing teams work and influence than a power-pair who get to work alongside marketing teams, executives, and leaders every day. Kim and Alex work with my favorite agency, Braithwaite Communications, where storytelling is at the center of their culture and their service offerings.  

Alex has been with Braithwaite for more than 13 years, rising through the ranks and is currently serving as an Executive Vice President where she describes herself as a Curious thinker. Word wrangler. Strategic communications manager. Client counselor. News hound. Master project juggler. Organization fiend. Story lover. Alex’s experience spans across marking and she has worked with global brands such as Cigna, Evernorth, FMC, and James Hardie. 

Her partner in crime, Kim Cox, has more than a decade of marketing experience across numerous agencies, she landed at Braithwaite in 2020 quickly growing from Account Supervisor to Vice President, where she has been inspired by how their culture embraces storytelling at its core. Her extensive background has exposed her to marketing teams across various industries… think manufacturing to technology to pharmaceutical to retail and hospitality to education and healthcare, not to mention real estate and finance. Kim describes herself as someone who challenges the tried-and-true, who finds new ways to connect and communicate, building reputations and driving growth for businesses.

These two bring a depth of commitment and experience to the companies they work with that focus on quality and results back by marketing strategy and storytelling that they leverage not just to land their clients through the pitch process and create results for their clients, but to help influence leaders and stakeholders to buy into new initiatives and marketing programs in alignment with what is important to them- increased revenue, increased market share, increased awareness, -- moving the needle towards their growth KPIs. 

Are you ready to dive deep into the world of marketing, leadership, and storytelling? This week, we have something truly exceptional for all you marketing enthusiasts out there on the Surge Forward podcast!

I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with two phenomenal marketers for this two-part episode, Inside the Marketing Machine. Alex Dalgliesh Pardue and Kimberly Cox, who have a unique lens into marketing teams across industries, cultures, and dynamics through their work at Braithwaite Communications.

In part one of this series, Alex and Kim discuss with me how they empower marketers and leaders to use storytelling not just to win over clients, but get alignment and buy-in from internal stakeholders. They dive into how important it is to have a pulse on what the c-suite is focused on for growth so you can develop KPIs that resonate and gain your teams trust and a seat at the table. 

I have something very special for you this week. I sat down with Alex Dalgliesh Pardue and Kimberly Cox two amazing women in marketing that I was privileged to work alongside to launch a new brand. As the client, we had a lot of challenges… executives who truly didn’t understand what a mature marketing team could accomplish, much less how digital marketing worked and to top it off, we had no real growth goals given to us aside from “let’s see what happens.”

Having Alex and Kim by my side and backing up what I brought to the table, was invaluable. As I reflected back on who I could bring to my audience of Surge Forward, who better to help give us a glimpse into a wide array of how marketing teams work and influence than a power-pair who get to work alongside marketing teams, executives, and leaders every day. Kim and Alex work with my favorite agency, Braithwaite Communications, where storytelling is at the center of their culture and their service offerings.  

Alex has been with Braithwaite for more than 13 years, rising through the ranks and is currently serving as an Executive Vice President where she describes herself as a Curious thinker. Word wrangler. Strategic communications manager. Client counselor. News hound. Master project juggler. Organization fiend. Story lover. Alex’s experience spans across marking and she has worked with global brands such as Cigna, Evernorth, FMC, and James Hardie. 

Her partner in crime, Kim Cox, has more than a decade of marketing experience across numerous agencies, she landed at Braithwaite in 2020 quickly growing from Account Supervisor to Vice President, where she has been inspired by how their culture embraces storytelling at its core. Her extensive background has exposed her to marketing teams across various industries… think manufacturing to technology to pharmaceutical to retail and hospitality to education and healthcare, not to mention real estate and finance. Kim describes herself as someone who challenges the tried-and-true, who finds new ways to connect and communicate, building reputations and driving growth for businesses.

These two bring a depth of commitment and experience to the companies they work with that focus on quality and results back by marketing strategy and storytelling that they leverage not just to land their clients through the pitch process and create results for their clients, but to help influence leaders and stakeholders to buy into new initiatives and marketing programs in alignment with what is important to them- increased revenue, increased market share, increased awareness, -- moving the needle towards their growth KPIs. 

In this episode, I delve deep into the world of building partnerships with even the most challenging internal clients and colleagues. Why? Because cultivating positive relationships doesn't just make our workday smoother—it sets the stage for career longevity and personal growth.

Join me as I explore:

🤝 The transformative power of strong partnerships

🔥 Navigating difficult relationships with finesse and empathy

💡 How a positive work environment fuels productivity and well-being

🌱 Nurturing professional growth through collaboration

🔑 Practical strategies to build lasting partnerships

Let's create workspaces where we lift each other up, learn together, and achieve amazing things!

As always, your thoughts and feedback are incredibly valuable. Let's keep the conversation going in the comments! Have you experienced the magic of thriving through partnerships? Share your stories and insights with me through LinkedIn or Instagram.

Grab the Internal Client Persona template I mention as a great tool to help support you in forging stronger partnerships at: GET IT HERE and read more about how I leverage this in my LinkedIn article: Creating Impactful Relationships: How to Leverage Internal Client Personas to Drive Career Growth

Read the Harvard Business Review article I mentioned here: READ IT NOW

And... one last great resource for you! The book The Outward Mindset by the Arbinger Institute. 

Confidence plays a pivotal role in our achievements. It not only aids us in maintaining boundaries but also empowers us to cultivate trusted partnerships, expand our network, and excel as high-performing marketers who deliver impactful, high-quality work.

Imposter Syndrome affects 25-30% of high-achievers, and roughly 70% of adults experience it at least once in their lives. This phenomenon hampers our capacity to exhibit the necessary confidence for substantial career growth. It often traps us in a cycle that leads to burnout, heightened frustration, and anxiety.

During this episode, I delve into the imposter syndrome cycle, outline the five distinct categories of imposter syndrome, and highlight their defining characteristics. This knowledge will enhance your self-awareness, enabling you to recognize if you are experiencing these behaviors.

Furthermore, I share practical strategies that you can immediately implement. These approaches will serve as a solid foundation, supporting your journey toward developing the confidence required to propel your career forward.

I invite you to listen to the episode today and share your thoughts. Have you taken any steps to overcome imposter syndrome or bolster your confidence? Your insights are valuable!

Feeling overwhelmed and burnt out in the fast-paced world of B2B professional services marketing? Yearning for tools to protect yourself and infuse emotional intelligence into your daily life? Look no further! Join us in this episode as we sit down with Francesca Carey, a talented graphic designer with a decade of experience in various industries, including commercial real estate, healthcare, insurance, and AEC.

Francesca's unique ability to set boundaries and prioritize her well-being amidst the demands of business development and sales enablement sets her apart. Throughout our conversation, you'll be inspired by her confidence, emotional intelligence, and unwavering work ethic, which have earned her respect from internal clients and leaders, ultimately driving higher win rates and revenue for her clients.

Discover the power of mindset in safeguarding your well-being and unlocking success in the world of B2B marketing. Francesca delves into the importance of emotional intelligence, work-life integration, and setting boundaries for success. Prepare to be empowered with the tools you need to thrive in your career.

In this episode, we explore Francesca's approach to respectfully communicating boundaries, how she deals with unrealistic deadlines and stress, and the elements of emotional intelligence that keep her centered. Whether you're a marketing professional or not, Francesca's advice on navigating demanding work environments and preserving your healthy mindset is invaluable.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Francesca Carey as she shares her secrets to designing happiness in your professional journey.

Buckle up and get ready to dive into all the ways you can create different templates, frameworks, boilerplate, automations, and of course leverage AI so you can take back control of your time.

This episode builds off the most recent episode of Surge Forward, featuring Lindsay Diven where we talk about Unleashing the Power of Automation for marketers. With so many projects to deliver and never having enough time in the day, much less your internal clients giving a reasonable amount of time to deliver high quality materials... you need to take things into your own hands! 

Let's talk about all the things you can do and start to brainstorm what your toolkit could look like and you could be sitting pretty with a smile the next time a one-day-wonder hits your desk, knowing you have just the right tools in your kit to kick this one out of the park and still log off at 5pm.

Let's Surge Forward together!

🎙️ Join us for a powerful new episode of Surge Forward podcast: "The Marketer's Journey: Unleashing the Power of Streamlining"! 🌟

Welcome to the Surge Forward podcast, Episode 4: The Marketer's Journey - The Importance of You. In this episode, I delve deep into the fundamental role that YOU play in achieving success in your career and personal life. 

Join me as I explore the significance of the tools, resources, and approaches you adopt to elevate your impact, create a surge forward in your professional journey, and regain the happiness and excitement that should accompany your career. Your mindset and mental/emotional well-being are critical for any forward progress to occur.

To achieve your goals, you must first believe that they are attainable and have faith in your ability to make them a reality. Moreover, being in a good mental space is essential for unleashing your creativity and strategic thinking. I discuss how taking care of your mental and emotional well-being sets the stage for success in your professional life.

In this episode's conclusion, I share three actionable steps you can take to lay the foundation for a stronger mindset and prioritize your well-being before embarking on your career aspirations. By implementing these practices, you'll create the space necessary to cultivate a resilient mindset and unleash your full potential.

Tune in to the Surge Forward podcast and discover how investing in yourself and focusing on your mental well-being are pivotal steps towards achieving your professional goals. Join me on this transformative journey as I work to empower you to bring your best self to every opportunity life presents.

In this episode of Surge Forward, Elisha Miller dives into the importance of mindset in the journey of a marketing professional. Recognizing that insights alone cannot fuel career growth and passion, she emphasizes the need to understand one's vision for life and career. The episode features a special guest, Nicole Doyle, a seasoned marketing professional with extensive experience in proposals, pitches, and sales enablement.

Nicole's diverse background working in different industries and cultures brings a unique perspective to the conversation. As she recently transitioned into a communications-driven role at a Fortune 100 global consultancy firm, Nicole emphasizes the significance of emotional intelligence and impactful approaches to elevate one's career.

Join Elisha and Nicole as they share an engaging and thought-provoking conversation, delving into the power of self-awareness and taking action. Nicole's passion project, SoulBloom, is introduced, which empowers business leaders not only through strategic guidance but also by helping them embrace their authentic selves and desires.

Throughout the episode, listeners are encouraged to challenge their mindset, build strong partnerships, navigate complex relationships, and redefine success in their marketing careers. Nicole's warm and approachable demeanor adds depth to the conversation, making it an enlightening and empowering experience for all professionals in the field.

Tune in to Surge Forward Episode 3 to gain valuable insights and practical advice on shifting your mindset, finding career fulfillment, and creating the life you truly desire as a marketing professional.

In this episode, we delve into the core elements of driving your productivity, impact, and influence as a B2B marketer. I explore how these factors contribute to your overall career satisfaction and growth. The focus is on the power of influence and the need to challenge our core beliefs and change how others perceive us.

I address the concept of the "script" and how it affects our reactions to certain situations. For example, when faced with a new rush deadline, we often prioritize it above everything else, sacrificing our own expertise. I also discuss the belief that being a high performer and meeting every demand will lead to recognition or promotion.

To change this script and align ourselves with our desired career goals, we need clarity on what we truly want. I encourage marketers to envision their dream job and emphasize how crucial it is to be authentic to ourselves and not create a vision based on others' expectations.

While I emphasize the importance of being realistic, I acknowledge that achieving your vision will require dedication, effort, and time. Listeners are invited to challenge their thinking and commitment to personal growth. Without a willingness to change, no external resources or strategies will magically transform your career growth or happiness.

We address three significant challenges faced by B2B marketers: the lack of respect from internal clients or leaders, exhaustion and overwork, and losing passion or belief in oneself. For each challenge, I provide a glimpse of possible solutions and promise to dive deeper in future episodes.