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/

The brands people remember rarely play it safe, and in industries where most companies follow the same path, success often comes from doing something different. So, what’s the most effective way to grow your brand?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Amanda Smith hears from Ryan Shapiro and Rachel McDougall, President and Founder of peomg, to discuss the strategy that fueled their growth and how prioritizing authenticity has become their competitive advantage.

You’ll learn:

• How breaking industry norms can drive brand growth
• Why audience value real, human brands over synthetic marketing
• How authenticity helps B2B brands standout in a saturated market

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Setting the stage for meaningful innovation

(00:27) Meet the guests: The minds behind the conversation

(00:48) Why going against the industry playbook works
(01:17) Choosing authenticity over synthetic branding

(01:33) Inside peomg’s holiday campaign

(01:58) Key takeaways and final insights

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 Ryan Shapiro and Rachel McDougall on LinkedIn

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmcdougall1/

peomg https://www.linkedin.com/company/peomg/

Innovation without direction is a liability. Ideas alone don’t move the business forward. Sustainable companies know that to create real value, innovation must serve customers, solve meaningful problems, and drive revenue. So how do you build innovation that delivers lasting impact?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Amanda Smith hears from Darrian Mikell, Director of Finance and Strategy at Humanly, about how companies can turn innovation into tangible business outcomes. Darrian emphasizes that it starts with listening to customers and translating insights into measurable results.

You’ll learn:
• Why innovation without a clear purpose can hurt more than it helps
• How to think about innovation differently from simply growing a business
• How innovation connects directly to revenue and cash flow

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Darrian Mikell
(01:13) Innovating with purpose vs. innovation for its own sake
(01:53) Using micro-experimentation and synthesizing customer feedback
(02:51) Balancing cash constraints with incremental growth

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 Darrian Mikell on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/darrianmikell/

Humanly https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanlyhr/

It’s a classic story: an exciting vision and a bold team making it big with their entrepreneurial spirit… and as soon as they scale, it starts to fade. Decisions take longer, everything gets bogged down in approval processes, and the culture? It turns into a cycle of meetings, endless back-and-forth, and the dreaded “we’ll follow up next quarter.” What was once a fast, agile team now feels like it’s stuck in neutral.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Downey hears from Nick Smarrelli, Professor and Director of Entrepreneurship at Butler University. Nick shares how to keep entrepreneurial thinking alive through growth, highlighting the importance of speed over perfection, enthusiasm as a force multiplier, and embracing risk-taking. Nick’s approach shows that scaling isn’t about avoiding mistakes but learning quickly and adapting.

You’ll learn:

• Why speed is more important than perfection when scaling
• How to use enthusiasm to drive culture and team engagement
• Why celebrating mistakes can foster innovation and growth

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Nick
(00:15) The importance of speed over perfection in scaling
(01:00) How enthusiasm drives team engagement and culture
(02:00) Normalizing risk-taking and celebrating failures
(03:00) Why compounding small efforts leads to bigger outcomes
(04:00) How adaptability is the key to success in scaling
(05:00) The importance of learning and adapting as you scale

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.

Scaling a business is thrilling… until you realize you’re chasing every opportunity and losing sight of what really matters. Too many companies spread themselves too thin, making mistakes that could have been avoided with sharper focus.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Elsts Downey hears from Andrew Thompson, Co-Founder of West2East, about the biggest mistakes companies make when scaling or acquiring businesses. Andrew shares how success comes from sticking to a proven process and focusing on what works, not reinventing the wheel. His advice is clear: stay strategic, focus on growth, and always optimize, don’t complicate.

You’ll learn:

• The importance of staying committed to your growth process
• Why you shouldn’t try to reinvent the wheel when acquiring a business
• How focusing on growth rather than perfection ensures long-term success

Jump in the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Andrew Thompson

(01:44) Lack of process commitment

(02:00) Over-expecting and reinventing the wheel

(02:20) Predicting success via proven models

(02:39) Protecting profitability during acquisitions

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.

Most B2B brands think content is just for driving awareness. But what if content could be the key to solving your biggest trust issues with customers?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Amanda Smith speaks with Cecilia Romero, Founder and Operator of Miss 7x7. With her background in event planning, Cecilia has mastered the art of using content to transform the customer experience. By sharing inspiration boards, behind-the-scenes insights, and process breakdowns, Cecilia helps clients feel confident and involved every step of the way.

You’ll learn:

• How content creates trust before you even meet the client
• Why transparency helps clients make quicker decisions
• How content leads to smoother, faster customer experiences

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Cecilia
(00:12) Why content is key to building trust
(01:00) How inspiration boards help clients visualize their vision
(02:00) The power of behind-the-scenes content
(03:00) How transparency cuts down on back-and-forth
(04:00) Content’s role in setting client expectations
(04:45) How content helps align clients with your brand’s process
(05:30) Cecilia’s approach to using content for long-term client 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 Genius Cuts for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

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

Follow Cecilia Romero on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliaromero1/

Miss 7x7 https://www.miss7x7.com/