Personal branding without personal growth is just performance. Too many businesses mistake visibility for influence, skipping the internal work that creates true differentiation. In a world where everyone operates from the same baseline, standing out requires clarity, depth, and alignment, and yet most brands never get there. So what exactly are the common misconceptions businesses have about personal branding?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Adam Sockel sits down with Ashley Schroeder, Co-Founder and President at Loob, to unpack what it really takes to build an authentic personal brand. Ashley explains that it all begins with a solid foundation, starting with understanding who you are, who you serve, the impact you want to make, and the values that guide you.

You’ll learn:

• Why personal branding without personal growth turns into performance instead of differentiation
• The difference between visibility and a true personal brand and why most people get it wrong
• How defining your why and values becomes the foundation for standing out and guiding your business

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Why personal branding is widely misunderstood

(01:00) The biggest misconception about personal branding

(01:45) Why platforms and visibility are not the foundation

(02:10) The role of purpose and values in standing out

(02:40) Why everything feels like a commodity today

(03:00) Simplifying brand strategy into something actionable

(03:20) Showing up authentically without performing

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

Follow Adam Sockel on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-sockel/

Follow Ashley Schroeder on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/schroederashley/

Loob https://www.loobitup.com/

The real ROI of events is built long before anyone walks through the door. Yet many entrepreneurs still define ROI by numbers—leads, pipeline, conversions—when not all returns are immediately quantifiable. So what does it take to design events that truly drive ROI?In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Amanda Smith hears from Jeremiah Berkheimer, Founder at Pact Haus, to talk about the secrets to event-driven ROI.

Jeremiah challenges the idea that it’s all about the numbers, and explains why the real value is built through frictionless, meaningful connections.

You’ll learn:
Why traditional event metrics fail to capture true ROI
How creativity enhances operational excellence in event planning
How to design event experiences that foster real human connection

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why event ROI is hard to prove
(00:45) Rethinking ROI beyond data
(01:30) Treating events like a brand or destination
(02:00) The disney example of designed experience
(02:45) ROI starts before the event
(03:20) Designing connection during the event
(03:50) Extending ROI after the event
(04:20) Why emotion drives results
(04:40 ) How creativity makes event operations more impactful
(05:00) The real goal: Long-term relationships

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

Follow Amanda Smith on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-alexander-smith/

Follow Jeremiah Berkheimer on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eventnerd/

Pact House
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacthaus/

In a world increasingly powered by AI, human connection remains a powerful differentiator, and that’s especially true in tech marketing. While AI is reshaping the middle of the marketing funnel, the moments that build trust, capture attention, and influence decisions are still deeply human. So how can businesses create meaningful, human-centered experiences that stand out?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Elsts Downey hears from Winona Rajamohan, Product Marketing Manager at Seel, to explore how businesses can put memorable human experiences at the heart of tech marketing. Winona explains why marketers should focus less on purely technical execution and instead tap into the fundamental human desires that drive trust and connection.

You’ll learn:

• Why the rise of AI makes human connection even more valuable in marketing
• How memorable experiences build trust and deeper customer relationships
• How to balance human connection and technology across the buyer journey

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Rethinking B2B marketing in an AI-driven world
(01:00) Why AI makes human connection more important
(02:00) Creating memorable in-person experiences
(03:00) Where trust is built in the buyer journey
(05:00) A simple framework for human-centered marketing

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

Follow Rachel Elsts Downey on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelelstsdowney/

Follow Winona Rajamohan on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/winonarajamohan/

Seel https://www.linkedin.com/company/addseel/