too long; don’t listen

In this episode of Too Long Don’t Listen, I break down how Coldplay turned Mylo Xyloto into a full-blown marketing masterclass. From world-building and emotional storytelling to immersive live experiences and co-creation with fans, this isn’t just about music, it’s about branding brilliance.

This is a live episode that was recorded in Galerie Bessaud on June 17th, in the heart of Paris.

They share their experiences in product marketing across tech and retail industries and we discuss the evolving role of product marketing, emphasizing adaptability, data-driven decision-making, and stakeholder management.

In this episode, Amit Alagh—Global Product Marketing Manager at Wolters Kluwer and award-winning PMM—shares practical insights on building trust, fostering cross-functional alignment, and leading with empathy. From navigating redundancy to mentoring the next generation, Amit breaks down what it really takes to thrive in product marketing—without losing your humanity.

In this episode, you will hear from Michele Nieberding, Director of Product Marketing, who share her journey from sales to product marketing. She dropped some serious knowledge on tracking success in our field, which can be tricky since our impact isn't always easy to measure. Michele emphasized aligning our efforts with company goals and using metrics like pipeline generation and win rates. She also highlighted the power of storytelling and the importance of collaboration with sales teams. It was an insightful chat packed with practical tips for us product marketers!

Michele's Background (00:00:46)  

Defining Product Marketing (00:04:08)  

The Importance of Measuring Impact (00:07:26)  

Challenges in Defining Success Metrics (00:08:35)  

The Analogy of OKRs and Video Games (00:10:36)  

Navigating Company Goals (00:12:32)  

Prioritizing Marketing Efforts (00:13:00)  

Using Game References for Strategy (00:14:07)  

Key Metrics for Product Marketers (00:17:16)  

Sales Enablement and Confidence Measurement (00:19:50)  

Feedback on Product Marketing Impact (00:21:04)  

Podcast Episode Timestamps

Understanding Challenges in Martech (00:21:10)  

The Power of Storytelling (00:21:56)  

Documenting Achievements (00:23:37)  

Tracking Wins and Losses (00:25:19)  

Creating a Brag Book (00:26:12)  

Collaboration in Product Marketing (00:27:12)  

Key Takeaways for Product Marketers (00:28:36)  

In this episode, I speak with Elliott Rayner about ways PMMs can use storytelling as a strategic engine in their day to day.

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Learning from Sports Marketing (00:03:35)  

The Importance of Storytelling (00:05:13)  

Learning Storytelling Skills (00:06:06)  

Psychological Aspects of Storytelling (00:09:04)  

Frameworks in Storytelling (00:12:48)  

Addressing Information Overload (00:16:35)  

The Role of AI in Marketing (00:20:01)  

Future of Product Marketing (00:23:20) 

The Importance of Product Marketing (00:23:31)  

Focusing on Strategy and Storytelling (00:24:43)  

Excitement in Product Marketing (00:25:55)  

Key Takeaway for Product Marketers (00:26:48)  

Using AI in Marketing (00:27:10)  

Elliot's Book on Storytelling (00:28:26)  

Closing Remarks (00:29:11)  

In this episode, I speak with Haya Barlas, Head of Product Marketing at JustGiving.

Haya's Current Role (00:01:26)  

Background in Sales and Marketing (00:03:34)  

Transition to Freelancing (00:06:25)  

Interest in Sustainability (00:07:40)  

Defining Product Marketing (00:14:29)  

B2B vs. B2C Product Marketing (00:15:39)  

Current Responsibilities at JustGiving (00:17:27)  

Positioning as Strategic Individuals (00:19:56)  

Insights-Led Approach (00:21:20)  

The Importance of Strategic Insights (00:23:34)

Market Intelligence Framework (00:24:57)

Understanding Product Intelligence (00:26:32)

Competitive Intelligence Action Steps (00:29:15)

Utilizing Internal Resources (00:31:11)

Addressing Imposter Syndrome (00:32:43)

Measuring Insights-led Success (00:34:36)

Hear from Miriam and her 13 years of experience in product marketing.

00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction

In this episode, I speak with the CEO and co-founder of TALAB, an app designed to support international students in London. Kazim shares how his own student experience inspired him to create a platform that streamlines essential services like event listings and personal assistance. He discusses the challenges of building TALAB, from skepticism to team-building, and the perseverance needed to succeed.

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Kazim's Background (00:00:42)  

Inspiration for Taleb (00:01:54)  

How Taleb Works (00:03:50)  

TALAB as a Social Buddy (00:05:06)  

Features of TALAB (00:06:11)  

Challenges in Building Partnerships (00:10:25)  

Pricing Model of TALAB (00:13:12)  

User Experience with TALAB (00:14:47)  

Partnerships and Marketing Strategy (00:15:51)  

Future Vision for TALAB (00:16:29)  

Expansion Plans (00:18:59)  

Work-Life Balance as an Entrepreneur (00:20:04)  

Kazim's Journey and Initial Challenges (00:22:03)  

Conviction in Entrepreneurship (00:24:06)  

Final Tips for Listeners (00:26:11)  

This is the second episode of the PMM Talk series, where we only cover PMM stories and learnings. In this episode, I speak with Hattie the PMM about her journey. From building productmarketers.com to having lived the CEO and CMO experiences, Hattie shares everything on this 2nd episode of the PMM Talk series.

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Introducing Hattie (00:00:57)  

Hattie's Background and Community Creation (00:01:39)  

Motivation Behind ProductMarketers.com (00:02:19)  

The Importance of Community for Product Marketers (00:03:31)  

Critique of Product Marketing Frameworks (00:05:05)  

Consultative Approach to Product Marketing (00:06:25)  

Personal Branding for Product Marketers (00:07:15)  

Building Authentic Personal Brands (00:08:03)  

Navigating Internal and External Branding (00:09:37)  

Transitioning from Employment to Community Leadership (00:13:15)  

Empowering PMs to Take Control (00:15:35)  

Order Takers vs. Strategic Leaders in PM (00:17:56)  

Building Personal Authority (00:20:27)  

The Role of Communication Skills (00:22:24)  

Shifting to a Strategic Approach (00:24:24)  

Aligning Incentives for Success (00:26:30)  

Identifying Colleagues' Goals (00:27:47)  

Communication as a Leadership Skill (00:31:04)  

Proactive Career Development (00:35:00)  

Community Building and Resources (00:36:57)

In this episode, we'll dive into the meaning of imposter syndrome, why some people have it and how to combat it. Join me as I deconstruct this topic.

Introduction to Imposter Syndrome (00:00:12)  

Theoretical Foundations of Imposter Syndrome (00:01:35)  

Self-Diagnosis Checklist (00:03:09)  

Common Experiences of Imposter Syndrome (00:04:26)  

Personal Experiences in the Tech Industry (00:08:01)  

Women in STEM and Imposter Syndrome (00:11:23)  

Acknowledge Imposter Syndrome (00:13:35)  

Actionable Steps to Combat Imposter Syndrome (00:14:42)  

Tracking Your Success (00:15:55)  

Asking for Feedback (00:18:05)  

Closing Remarks (00:20:13)