B2B Agility with Greg Kihlström™: MarTech, E-Commerce, & Customer Success

What if the most valuable part of your event isn't the event itself? Agility requires brands to see channels not just for what they are, but for what they can become. This is especially true for the events channel, which has transformed from a point-in-time logistical exercise into a continuous engine for data and community. Today, we're going to talk about the evolution of event marketing. In a world of hybrid experiences, the role of events has shifted from a standalone tactic to a strategic, data-rich channel that can drive the entire customer lifecycle. We'll explore how enterprise brands are moving beyond simply managing logistics to integrating event platforms into their core Martech stack, proving ROI, and building year-round community from what used to be a single moment in time. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jonathan Kazarian, CEO & Founder at Accelevents.   About Jonathan Kazarian   Jonathan Kazarian is the CEO and founder of Accelevents, a leading event management platform that was recently recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the top 100 fastest-growing private companies in America. At Accelevents, his visionary leadership and innovative approach have propelled the platform to the forefront of the event technology industry. With a keen focus on driving user engagement and redefining the event experience, Jonathan's strategic expertise has established Accelevents as a key player in transforming how events are created, marketed, and experienced globally. As an industry thought leader, Jon actively publishes insights on the events landscape and frequently speaks at industry events such as EventMB's Event Tech Innovation Summit, BizBash Live, and INBOUND.   Jonathan Kazarian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkazarian/   ---------- Resources ----------    Accelevents: accelevents.com   We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658 Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days). The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1  Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3  Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba  Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com  

What if the most important part of your website navigation is the one most brands treat as an afterthought? Agility requires not only adapting your marketing messages, but also re-evaluating the fundamental ways customers interact with your digital properties. It means recognizing that established tools, like site navigation, may no longer meet the expectations of a new generation of users. Today, we're going to talk about the evolution of on-site search from a simple utility to a strategic, AI-powered content discovery engine. We'll explore how changing consumer expectations, particularly from younger demographics, are forcing brands to rethink digital experiences, and why the humble search bar may be the key to unlocking deeper engagement and building trust. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Sameer Maggon, Founder and CEO at SearchStax.   About Sameer Maggon   Sameer Maggon is the founder and CEO of SearchStax, the Search Experience Company. A lifelong builder, he has spent over 20 years driving search innovation — from building search infrastructure to creating an AI-powered platform that delivers modern search experiences. Known as a search craftsman, Sameer has built SearchStax into a global SaaS platform serving content-rich, regulated industries such as healthcare, higher education, financial services, and the public sector. Beyond his work, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family and mentoring engineers to become tomorrow's innovators and leaders. His conviction guides it all: Search is complex, search is hard — and worth solving.   Sameer Maggon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggon/   ---------- Resources ----------    SearchStax: https://www.searchstax.com   We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658 Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days). The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1  Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3  Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba  Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com  

With the rush to adopt generative AI, what's the greater risk for a large enterprise: the cost of inaction, or the cost of a poorly executed action? Agility requires more than just adopting new tools; it demands a fundamental shift in how teams learn, collaborate, and measure value in a rapidly changing landscape. Today, we're going to talk about what happens after the initial AI hype cycle. Many organizations have invested in powerful new platforms, but the real challenge isn't procurement—it's enablement. How do you move AI from a series of isolated pilot projects to a core capability that empowers your teams, enhances creativity, and drives measurable business outcomes without introducing unnecessary risk? To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Prince Boucher, Director, Forward Deployed Creatives at Luma.    Prince Boucher on LinkedIn: https://Linkedin.com/in/princeboucher   ---------- Resources ----------    Luma: https://lumalabs.ai/   We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658 Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days). The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1  Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20   Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3  Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba  Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com    

Why is it that B2C marketers can target someone who left a pair of shoes in their cart and follow them around the internet for a week, but that same level of precision just hasn't been the same for B2B? Agility requires closing the gap between insight and action. It's not enough to know who your audience is; you need the capability to reach them precisely, wherever they are, at the moment it matters most. Today, we're going to talk about why B2B advertising has historically lagged behind its B2C counterpart in audience targeting and activation. We'll explore the challenges of working with fragmented data and the new opportunities that are emerging to create highly precise, actionable audiences by combining different data sources in a new way. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Mark Connon, CEO at Bombora.   About Mark Connon   Mark Connon was Chief Operating Officer at TapAd when Experian acquired that company in 2020 — becoming TapAd's General Manager and EVP of Product and Marketing for Experian Marketing Services. As the former SVP, Global Chief Mobile and Data Officer at AOL (a subsidiary of Verizon formerly known as Verizon Media Services), Connon led mobile advertising and data strategy, as well as enterprise-wide data commercialization. He has held a number of C-level positions at both public and private marketing and advertising companies and currently serves as an advisor or board member for several companies in the ad/martech space.   Mark Connon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markconnon/   Resources    Bombora: https://bombora.com/ Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/   Keep up with the latest B2B Marketing insights by following the B2B Agility Podcast: https://www.b2bagility.com Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

"Despite the global opportunity available to so many businesses, most are constrained by finite resources. So, the more interesting question isn't "what should we translate?" but rather, "what's the real cost of not localizing the right customer touchpoint, and how do you even begin to calculate that risk?" Agility requires more than just speed; it demands the sensitivity to know when a universal message fails and a local one is needed. It's the capacity to pivot your entire customer experience to resonate in a new market, not just as a translation, but as a native conversation. Today, we're going to talk about navigating the complexities of global expansion. We'll get into the strategic decisions leaders have to make when localizing content, such as where to spend the budget for maximum impact, and the critical choice between leveraging AI for scale and speed versus deploying human experts for nuance and connection. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Ilya Spiridonov, Chief Commercial Officer at Alconost. About Ilya Spiridonov   Ilya Spiridonov is the Chief Commercial Officer at Alconost, an ISO-certified localization company that has been helping businesses grow internationally since 2004. He leads the company's sales and revenue strategy, focusing on building long-term client partnerships and driving sustainable growth. With expertise in scaling global sales operations, Ilya oversees everything that fuels revenue - from business development and client success to aligning commercial initiatives with Alconost's localization and technology services.   Ilya Spiridonov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyaspiridonov/   Resources    Alconost: https://alconost.com/en    Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/   Keep up with the latest B2B Marketing insights by following the B2B Agility Podcast: https://www.b2bagility.com  Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com