How to build a powerful marketing machine | Emily Kramer (Asana, Carta, MKT1)

Summary

In this insightful interview, Emily Kramer discusses her approach to simplifying complex marketing concepts, effective team building, and her admiration for thought leaders in the marketing space. She emphasizes the importance of clarity and adaptability in marketing roles, especially when it comes to working with founders and building strong teams. With a focus on B2B marketing, Emily shares her experiences and offers valuable advice to professionals in the field, encouraging them to reach out for resources and guidance through her website and social media.

Takeaways

• 😀 Simplifying complex marketing ideas in interviews helps assess communication skills and gauge how well someone can handle complexity in the job.
• 😀 It's important to ask interview questions that not only assess a candidate’s ability to perform but also reveal insights into their personality and approach to work.
• 😀 Emily Kramer admires marketers like Ashley Meyer, who bridge marketing and investing, showing the potential for marketers to diversify into other roles like fund management.
• 😀 Arielle Jackson from First Round is recognized for her invaluable support to founders and marketers, especially those in the startup ecosystem.
• 😀 Kevin Lee, head of marketing at Oyster, is admired for his ability to grow marketing teams while sharing valuable insights through newsletters and talks.
• 😀 A marketer’s ability to simplify ideas is crucial, especially when breaking down complex topics for non-expert audiences or collaborators.
• 😀 Emily emphasizes the importance of a collaborative marketing environment, where learning from peers and colleagues fosters professional growth.
• 😀 Having a strong support system in marketing, such as the 50+ marketers in Emily's fund, is essential for growth, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.
• 😀 Thought leadership in marketing isn't just about personal visibility; it's about contributing to broader discussions that help others in the industry succeed.
• 😀 Marketing is often perceived as a foggy, unclear function, but breaking down complexity and fostering clarity can help product managers and marketing teams work more effectively together.
• 😀 Emily encourages marketers and founders to reach out to her through platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn, where she provides resources on team-building and angel investing.

Q & A

What is Emily's approach to interviewing candidates for marketing roles?

Emily focuses on simplicity when evaluating candidates. She often asks them to explain complex concepts in simple terms to test their ability to communicate effectively and teach others. This helps her gauge their ability to simplify and clarify complicated marketing strategies.

How does Emily handle candidates who struggle with simplifying their explanations?

Emily encourages candidates to simplify their answers multiple times if necessary, sometimes asking them to repeat their explanation in an even simpler way. This process is repeated to ensure that they can distill the information in an easily understandable manner.

Who are some of the marketing leaders Emily respects and why?

Emily admires Ashley Meyer, a marketer turned fund manager, for her work in the marketing industry and her insights into startup funding. She also respects Arielle Jackson from First Round Capital for her support of founders and marketers in the startup space, and Kevin Lee, the head of marketing at Oyster, for his work in growing marketing teams while managing a newsletter.

What role does networking play in Emily's career and marketing work?

Networking plays a significant role in Emily's career. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with other marketers, noting that she has access to a network of over 50 marketers in her fund, which allows her to exchange knowledge and gain insights from others in the industry.

What resources does Emily offer for marketers and founders?

Emily provides various resources for marketers and founders, including courses, newsletters, a job board, and angel investing opportunities. These resources can help individuals build their marketing teams and enhance their marketing strategies.

How does Emily use humor in her approach to interviews?

Emily incorporates humor into her interviews by joking with candidates when asking them to simplify their explanations. This lighthearted approach helps make the process less intimidating while still maintaining a focus on clarity and communication.

Why does Emily believe it's important to simplify complex marketing concepts?

Emily believes that simplifying complex marketing concepts is crucial because it allows marketers to communicate their strategies effectively. This ensures that all team members, from executives to new hires, can understand and contribute to the marketing efforts.

What makes the 'fog of marketing' analogy important in the context of this conversation?

The 'fog of marketing' metaphor reflects the confusion and complexity that often surrounds marketing within a company. Emily and the interviewer discuss how clarifying these complexities can help both marketers and founders work together more effectively to navigate and implement successful marketing strategies.

How can the listeners contact Emily for more insights or resources?

Listeners can contact Emily through her social media profiles on Twitter and LinkedIn. Additionally, they can explore her website (mk21.co), where they can access courses, newsletters, job boards, and learn more about her work with marketers and founders.

What final thoughts does Emily share about the podcast?

Emily expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to share her insights on the podcast and looks forward to future collaborations. She also acknowledges the potential impact the podcast could have on helping marketers and founders better understand and navigate the complexities of building marketing teams.