The Break to Build Podcast

This is the last episode of season one of The Break to Build podcast 🙏🏽

In this episode, Kristan and Chae pulls back the curtain on:

• How Pacer's specialized project management platform is reshaping productivity for major players like Marriott and Hyatt

• The importance of deep industry knowledge in building tech that resonates and creating a value ladder in the ecosystem of people that interact with the product experience

• Leveraging AI and user feedback to adapt to the ever-changing needs of hospitality

• Why the guest experience is the ultimate litmus test for any hotel technology application

And so much more.

If you're fascinated by the transformative power of technology in traditional industries, or simply curious about what goes on behind the scenes to create those magical hotel stays - this episode is for you.

Featured Expert: Kristan Reading, Director of Sales and Customer Success - Pacer

Join us on LinkedIn or Substack to discuss this episode and share your thoughts on how you tackle value creation and which project management applications have changed the game for you and your team.

In this episode of Break to Build, Chae O'Brien sits down with Jacqueline Furniss, the Senior Director of Product Strategy at Abcam, a leading life sciences company. Jacqueline shares her unique career journey, starting from a passion for genetics and transitioning through the dot-com boom to her current role. The discussion delves into the complexities of aligning product strategy with the diverse needs of researchers, scientists, and drug developers, and explores the impact of AI on product innovation and customer experience.

• Jacqueline's non-linear path from studying genetic engineering to pivoting into the dot-com boom where she worked with major companies like DoubleClick, Excite, and E*TRADE, and finally returning to her roots in the life sciences sector at Abcam.
• The significance of data-driven decision-making in product strategy and modern-day leadership.
• The criticality of rigorous data analysis and financial diligence in driving product innovation.
• The rising costs of research data processing and storage and their implications for academic institutions and businesses.
• Strategies for presenting and managing data effectively to drive value creation and organizational innovation.

Featured Expert: Jacqueline Furniss, Senior Director of Product Strategy - Abcam

Join us on LinkedIn or Substack to discuss this episode and share your thoughts on how you tackle value creation and product innovation in the field of Life Sciences.

In this episode of the Break to Build podcast hosted by Chae O'Brien, Julie Kelley unveils the intricacies of fostering innovation in public relations and substantiates the concept of public-facing impact. This engaging conversation paints a vivid picture of how modern brands must listen and respond to their customer base more attentively than ever before.

Kelley demystifies the traditional boundaries of public relations by highlighting the necessity of brands to engage in an active dialogue with the public, which often leads to heartfelt, impactful stories that resonate with consumers and the media alike. With real-world examples from chocolate manufacturing to energy companies, Kelley advises on the importance of transparency and humanity in business narratives, revealing the imprint these stories leave on a brand's reputation and consumer loyalty.

Key takeaways:

• Public-Facing Impact: Kelley introduces a term outlining how public perception can significantly color every business decision, urging companies to actively shape this perception through transparent practices.
• Listening More than Ever: With the rise of social media and real-time feedback, Kelley emphasizes the importance of businesses listening to their audiences to remain relevant and impactful.
• Telling Stories Mid-Development: Sharing a brand's journey can have a more significant impact than waiting for the final product reveal, as demonstrated by her review of past client stories.
• Informed Tactical Communication: Strategic communication at the onset can prevent confusion and align public perception with the brand's mission, saving both money and reputation as seen with Owlette's example.
• Authentic Brand Relationships: Kelley shares that genuine brand connections transcend beyond business transactions and must reflect a company's ethos in treating people and the planet with respect.

Featured Expert: Julie Kelley, Chief Communications Strategist - Julie Kelley Communications

Join us on LinkedIn or Substack to discuss this episode and share your thoughts on the challenges you've experienced with traditional public relations and your thoughts on embracing PFI as a new way of breaking through those obstacles to growing your brand's awareness.

In this insightful conversation, host Chae O'Brien welcomes Kexin Chen, a leading authority on executive marketing strategies at Salesforce, for a deep dive into the intricacies of cultivating fruitful CXO relationships and navigating the role of a modern-day Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). The episode unravels the evolving landscape faced by today's marketing leaders and explores the delicate balance between personal connection and showcasing commercial value.

Key Topics Covered:

Building and nurturing personal relationships with C-suite executives is as crucial as demonstrating the commercial and strategic value of partnerships.

The role of the modern CMO has significantly expanded, now influencing strategic decision-making and leading comprehensive customer experiences.

Aligning with the CRO, CIO, and CFO is essential to articulate marketing ROI and balance sustainable and efficient growth with technological progress.

Creating a culture of psychological safety, innovation, and calculated risk-taking across marketing teams fosters resilience and adaptability.

A well-structured data strategy is foundational for any successful AI integration within marketing operations, emphasizing trust, accuracy, and sustainability.

Featured Expert: Kexin Chen, Head of Global Executive Marketing, Salesforce

Join us on LinkedIn or Substack to discuss this episode and share your thoughts on how you're championing the role of modern-marketing leadership today.

In this episode, we dive into the impending cookieless future of digital advertising, Google's Privacy Sandbox, and alot more. Our guest, Jeff Greenfield, CEO at Provalytics and respected advertising veteran, offers a roadmap for advertisers bracing for this change. We'll explore the latest strategies, tools, and technologies set to replace traditional cookies, focusing on privacy-first advertising, the rise of first-party data, and how agencies and brands can start to get their media buying process agile and adapted for 100% cookie deprecation. Jeff shares practical steps advertisers can take in the next 90 days and is a must-listen for digital marketers, advertising professionals, and anyone tasked with running programmatic media buys in 2024.

Key Topics Covered:

• Preparing for the transition to cookieless advertising with Google's Privacy Sandbox
• The rise of privacy-first advertising models
• Harnessing the power of first-party data
• Innovative targeting techniques in a post-cookie world
• Practical steps for advertisers in the next 90 days

Featured Expert: Jeff Greenfield, CEO of Provalytics

Connect with Us: Engage with us on Twitter or our blog to share your thoughts on the transition to cookieless advertising. Join us on LinkedIn or Substack to discuss this episode and share your thoughts on how you're adapting to a cookie-free advertising future.

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in reshaping the enterprise research journey. Our guest, Andy Roy, CEO of Improvize and AI Consultant, shares his insights on how AI revolutionizes productivity and operational efficiency across various sectors, from sales and marketing to healthcare. We delve into the potential of AI chatbots and LLM architecture, the importance of a clear AI change management strategy, and the role of AI in the customer experience. Whether you're an enterprise leader, a tech enthusiast, or someone curious about the future of work, this episode offers valuable perspectives on navigating the AI transformation in enterprises.

Key Topics Covered:

• The role of AI in enterprise transformation
• The potential of AI chatbots and LLM architecture
• The importance of a clear AI change management strategy
• The role of AI in the customer experience

Featured Expert: Andy Roy, CEO of Improvize and AI Consultant

Connect with Us: Join us on LinkedIn or Substack to discuss this episode and share your thoughts on how useful AI chatbots can be in collecting rich zero and first-party quality data the enterprise buyer research journey.