Claim OwnershipMarketing Careers Uncovered
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© Dave Heywood
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A podcast about building a career in marketing, without the clichés.
Each episode explores the real lessons marketers learn over time, from early roles through to senior leadership. We talk about decision-making, credibility, confidence, and the trade-offs that shape how marketing careers actually progress.
It’s for marketers who want clearer judgement, practical perspective, and a more honest view of what it takes to grow and stay relevant in the profession.
Each episode explores the real lessons marketers learn over time, from early roles through to senior leadership. We talk about decision-making, credibility, confidence, and the trade-offs that shape how marketing careers actually progress.
It’s for marketers who want clearer judgement, practical perspective, and a more honest view of what it takes to grow and stay relevant in the profession.
48 Episodes
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You can have the best plan in the world, but if the environment is a mess, you’re just decorating a sinking ship.When things don’t go to plan, it’s not always because the work was bad. From unclear decisions to conflicting priorities, the stuff that sits above the work often determines whether your strategy ever actually lands or just ends up as a footnote in a slide deck.Heather Hurd has seen this from every angle - starting as a copywriter, moving into brand strategy, and now as a consultant helping organisations assess their "marketing readiness." She spends her time asking the deeper questions that most teams skip, diagnosing the structural roadblocks that keep marketing functions from ever reaching their full potential.Drawing on what she’s learned inside fast-moving startups and corporate giants, we discuss:The 6 factors of marketing readiness: A diagnostic toolkit for looking under the hood of any organisation.The template trap: Why "bespoke" strategy so often defaults to recycled busy-work when pressure hits.The sidelined marketer: What happens to the mission when marketing loses its seat at the top table.The silent kkill: How to use active listening to build high-level influence, regardless of your job title.The aspiration gap: Why a "moonshot" mission might be the very thing eroding your team's trust.Subscribe to get the Extended Cut, where we go deeper on managing leadership friction, the real psychology of executive buy-in, and the career signals that tell you whether an organisational culture is truly ready, or simply not worth your time.
If we stopped posting tomorrow, would anyone care?Social isn’t the new kid on the block anymore. But too many teams are still stuck in the churn - posting constantly without being clear what job social is actually doing for the business.Beth Thomas has seen this from every angle. Platform-side at TikTok. Brand-side at Deliveroo. Now as Co-Founder of Slice, working with teams trying to bring clarity and intent back into social.Drawing on what she’s learned inside fast-moving brands and from sitting at the platform level, she breaks down:Why content pillars aren’t a strategyHow Ryanair used social to shift brand perceptionWhat “grown up” social actually looks liWhy most reporting is measuring the wrong thingsAnd what it really means to earn respect at the top tableSubscribe to get the Extended Cut, where we go deeper on social search behaviour, brand measurement, internal politics and what it actually takes to shift perception inside an organisation.
Confidence doesn’t come from reading the right materials or waiting until you feel ready.It comes from showing up, asking better questions, and staying in the room when it’s uncomfortable.PPC practitioner and community builder Charley Brennand shares how she broke into marketing without a traditional route, ran head-first into gatekeeping, got fired early on, and kept going anyway.We talk about:- why “soft skills” aren’t soft at all- what actually builds confidence over time- learning by proximity rather than permission- why being turned away can become fuel rather than a stop signSubscribe to get the Extended Cut, where we go deeper on how Charley reframed rejection, built credibility without the traditional track record, and learned to find her voice by showing up when it would have been easier not to.
Too many marketers still think GTM means picking channels and launching campaigns. But that’s just the end of the process.Luis Clark, EMEA go-to-market lead at Monday.com breaks down what GTM actually means inside a complex, multi-product, global business. We talk about how sales, product and marketing should pull together, why storytelling alone won’t land your proposition, and how to stop mistaking marketing execution for commercial strategy.You’ll hear:- how Luis reinvented himself from radio DJ to SaaS GTM lead- what really causes GTM confusion (and how to fix it)- why standing still is the riskiest option of all- and how to build confidence in a job you feel underqualified forSome smart, straight-talking advice for anyone trying to connect marketing to business impact - or make their own leap into a more strategic role.
What does it actually mean to become more strategic as a marketer? And how do you hold your nerve when the numbers dip and everyone wants a quick fix?We discuss why so many capable marketers get stuck in the operator role, how commercial context changes how your work is judged, and what to do when performance wobbles without throwing the strategy in the bin.We cover:why activity is often mistaken for strategyhow marketers build strategic credibility over timewhat KPI dips are really telling youhow to slow the room down when pressure ramps upthe difference between fixing tactics and fixing the real problemSubscribe to get the Extended Cut, where we go deeper on how Bethan built her strategic viewpoint, how marketers develop commercial judgement over time, and how to navigate KPI wobbles without losing credibility or binning the strategy.
What does it actually take to build a high-performing team - that stands up for years to come?In this episode ,I’m joined by Mick Rigby, founder and CEO of Yodel Mobile, to talk about what it really takes to build and keep a team together over the long term.Mick has grown people from interns into leaders, retained a senior team for close to a decade, and adapted his leadership style through start-up life, scaling, and acquisition - without losing the culture that made it work in the first place.We talk about:why loyalty is built slowly, not incentivisedhow leaders need to change as organisations growthe role empathy plays in high-performing teamshow neurodivergent thinking shapes better leadershipwhat skills will still matter as AI reshapes marketing
Lizi started out cold-calling journalists from a pitch pod and faxing press releases for London agencies. Today she’s co-founder of Songue PR, helping deep-tech clients stay visible in a world where AI tools surface trusted sources - not ads.This episode covers:how she landed her first PR role on her 64th applicationthe reality of learning pitchcraft from the ground upwhy pitching isn’t a prompt you throw at ChatGPTand how earned media is becoming essential again in the AI ageSubscribe to get the Extended Cut, where we go deeper on how she built her agency, what UK brands get wrong in the US, and how AI visibility audits are changing comms strategy.
Ever landed a role you didn’t quite feel ready for - and had to get good, fast?Brandt Bodamer knows the feeling.He took on a digital marketing role overseas with little more than curiosity, hustle, and a copy of Digital Marketing for Dummies in his bag. That leap became the foundation of a career that’s since taken him into agency leadership and founding Adduro.io - a growing adtech firm helping brands show up across streaming and audio platforms.But this isn’t just a startup story.We get into:How to earn credibility without faking itWhat it really takes to grow fast when you feel out of your depthMaking the shift from capable doer to credible leaderWhat building a business without investor cash actually looks like Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Getting the title is one thing. Getting taken seriously as a leader is another.Louise Thompson knows that gap well. She spent years as a comms director before moving into coaching, and she’s worked with plenty of smart marketers who’ve found the step up tougher than expected.We get into:why outputs don’t cut it at senior level - it’s all about outcomesthe behind-the-scenes groundwork that makes meetings easierhow to stop micromanaging without losing standardsfinding a leadership style that feels like you, not a copy-and-pasteIf you’ve just stepped up to head-of or director, or want to position yourself as ready for the next big leap, there's plenty here for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever felt like you didn’t have the right background to make it in marketing?Brooke didn’t go to uni. She didn’t have a head start or a polished CV. What she did have was persistence, a lot of self-awareness, and someone willing to throw down a challenge - in the form of a sales book and a second chance.Today she’s Managing Director at Broadley Speaking - a sales and marketing consultancy that helps businesses find and convert high-value opportunities.In this episode, we talk about:how she broke into the industry with zero formal experiencethe moment a single interview nearly derailed everythingwhat rejection taught her about leadership and listeningwhy she hires for attitude, not academicsand what resilience actually looks like when you’re living it - not just posting about it Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if the biggest threat to good marketing isn’t budgets, tech, or AI - but overcomplication?In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Keenen - ex-CMO, ex-BuzzFeed, now founder of ViVV Labs - to dig into why marketing so often loses its way. We cover the cost of vanity metrics, the illusion of attribution, and how confidence without clarity is everywhere.We also talk about what it really takes to move from tactical work to strategic leadership - and why simplifying your thinking might be the most powerful thing you do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We talk a lot about optimisation in marketing - but too often, it means nudging a button colour or tweaking a landing page.Slobodan ' Sani' Manić wants to change that. A former developer turned conversion strategist, Sani shares how one offhand comment flipped his view of marketers, and how it led him to a mindset built around asking better questions, not just running better tests.We dig into:why most marketers inherit a narrow view of their rolehow SEO and CRO became siloed (and why that’s a problem)what real optimisation looks like - and what stops teams doing itthe mental trap of always spotting what’s brokenhow to stay curious (and sane) in an AI-saturated worldA great listen for anyone who wants to think sharper, work smarter, and stop pouring water into leaky buckets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We often use the term 'customer centricity' – but what does that really look like in practice?Monzo Bank is well known for clarity - not just in its product, but in how it speaks. And Harry helped make writing it a core business function.We explore how words can influence culture, shape products, and power customer experience far beyond the marketing team. We get into:Why Monzo unified brand and UX writing under one teamHow writing became part of onboarding for every employee, and how they built guidance people actually useWhat most businesses get wrong about tone of voice and guidelinesIf you’ve ever argued that “words matter” inside a business, Harry shows you how to prove it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Think a rebrand is just a new logo and some shiny new colours? Think again.In this episode, I’m joined by Amy Walters, founder of Bloomify, to lift the lid on what a rebrand really involves — and why most businesses get it wrong. We get into how she’s approaching her own live rebrand, the difference between a refresh and a full rethink, and how to know if a rebrand is actually needed or just a shiny distraction.You’ll hear:how Amy built her freelance business one step at a timethe messy reality of rebranding your own businesshow real brand building starts by understanding the “why” behind the workA grounded, real-world look at what a rebrand really takes — and why it’s harder (and more personal) than it looks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After reading HubSpot’s 2025 trends report, I found myself wondering: is AI really reshaping marketing careers, or are we just getting swept along by another hype cycle?In this episode, I’m joined by Em Brown, a junior exec navigating AI expectations before she’s had time to build her craft, and Sam Birkett, a seasoned strategist who’s lived through more than one marketing hype cycle.Together, we get into:what AI means for skill-building, judgement, and career progressionwhether prompt-writing is replacing creative thinkinghow trend reports are shaping perception (and not always helpfully)and why knowing what good looks like still matters more than everOne for anyone trying to progress in their career without losing their instinct to algorithms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What starts with cash-in-hand dog walking and ends with a £2M agency exit? But behind the shiny headline is the reality most people don’t talk about. Long nights, hard lessons, and the mental load of leading from the front.Kathryn Strachan joins me to talk about what actually goes into building something that lasts. Breaking into marketing from scratch, scaling fast, burning out faster, and learning how to lead along the way.No fluff or founder fairytales. Just the good, the bad, and the bits most people skip over.Pick up a copy of her book 'Scaling Success: How to build a brand that breaks barriers' here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it take to write copy that doesn't just read well, but actually connects with people?In this episode, I chat with Alice Brown about how she built her career helping brands uncover what their customers really think, and turning that into language that drives action.We get into her shift from surf coaching to marketing, what most people get wrong about content, and why human insight still beats AI every time. Alice also shares a refreshingly practical take on how to get better feedback, what ‘big ideas’ really look like, and how to bring more of yourself into your work - without it turning into fluff.Find out more about Alice and her work at https://www.7th-wave.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever feel like your career isn’t following a straight line? Kyle Hamilton’s certainly didn’t. From planning to become a neurosurgeon to washing dishes in France, shooting ski photography, and eventually running a marketing agency in the Canadian Rockies, his journey is anything but conventional.In this episode, we explore why failing fast and often is key to success, how Kyle built a business around the lifestyle he wanted, and why stepping away from the noise of digital marketing can sometimes be the best move for entrepreneurs.If you’re feeling stuck or considering a change, Kyle’s story is proof that you don’t need it all figured out - you just need to start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when you realise the traditional career path isn’t for you? Marina never set out to become a marketer - yet years of hands-on experience led her to launch her own content marketing agency.In this episode, we discuss how she built a business that fits her lifestyle, why formal marketing education isn’t always necessary, and the biggest lessons she’s learned along the way. Marina also shares her take on storytelling, authenticity, and the fine balance between keeping up with trends and staying true to your own approach.If you’re thinking about taking control of your career or want an insider’s view on what it takes to stand out in content marketing, hit listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What do political campaigns, global corporations, and social impact initiatives have in common? Influence.I’m joined by Natasha Plowman, a communications strategist who’s worked across financial services, FMCG, and politics. She’s shaped corporate reputations at HSBC, Diageo, and Coca-Cola, and played a key role in the award-winning ‘This Girl Can’ campaign.We explore how she transitioned from politics to marketing, the art of influencing, and why understanding the fundamentals of business is key to getting ahead. And she shares her thoughts on navigating the AI-driven marketing landscape while keeping human connection at the core.If you’re interested in building a career in reputation management or just want to hear from someone who’s mastered the balance of business and influence, give her a listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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