CMO Kathryn Sharfman on the balance of doing and telling

B2B Marketing Published: March 25, 2021
CMO Kathryn Sharfman on the balance of doing and telling

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Podcast episode summary:

The necessity of a balance between doing and telling, which has been learned throughout the years of working in marketing, is one of the most important skill sets to master for any marketer.

That skill comes from doing many things, trying various tactics, and recognizing when to unpack the value of all actions to the involved stakeholders.

Perfecting that balance doesn’t happen overnight; as Kathryn Sharfman shares, it can be tough sometimes.

On this episode of the Radically Transparent Podcast, Kathryn Sharfman, CMO and Chief Platform Officer of Sun Exchange discusses the necessity of balance in decision-making, communication, leading teams, and transformation and how that balance impacts the success of both short—and long-term outcomes.

She also discusses how to take stakeholders along on a value-driven journey with you as a marketing leader and why it’s essential not to undervalue the time it takes to include them in your vision.

More about Kathryn Sharfman

Kath is the Chief Platform Officer for Sun Exchange, a global platform that enables people to earn income from solar power while making a positive impact.

She is also on the CMO Council’s African Advisory Board, a 16,000+ global network of marketers and was included in Forbes’ CMO Next Top 50 List this year.

Kath has over 21 years of full spectrum digital experience with both start-ups and global corporations, specializing in scaling businesses with:

  • Hundreds of brands from the Queen to Tencent, Kodak, HSBC and MI5
  • Most industries, including government, fintech, FMCG, retail, alcohol, sport, hospitality, tourism, non-profit, and entertainment
  • Audiences from 5 to 80 years of age, in diverse languages including Gujarati, Xhosa, and Germa,n and around the world from Italy to Rwanda and on to Hong Kong

Like what you heard?

Radically Transparent is one of Oktopost’s popular original podcast shows. It is famous for asking renowned modern-day marketers and sales leaders to expose what keeps them up at night professionally and so much more!

New episodes air every Thursday on B2B Marketing Now, a podcast channel built for marketers by marketers. You can catch all episodes here.

For more mind-blowing conversations and to keep up with the show everyone is talking about this year, subscribe to B2B Marketing Now for free wherever you listen to podcasts or catch us on Apple PodcastsSpotify or follow Oktopost on LinkedIn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is balancing marketing execution and stakeholder communication crucial for B2B success?

Mastering the balance between 'doing' (executing marketing initiatives) and 'telling' (communicating their value) is a paramount skill for B2B marketers. This ensures that actions are not only effective but also clearly understood and valued by stakeholders, which is vital for securing buy-in and driving overall business success.

How can B2B marketing leaders effectively engage stakeholders in their strategic vision?

B2B marketing leaders must intentionally guide stakeholders on a value-driven journey. It's crucial not to undervalue the time required to include them in the vision, openly communicating decisions, transformations, and team leadership insights to foster alignment and shared understanding.

What impact does balanced decision-making have on short-term and long-term B2B outcomes?

Balanced decision-making in B2B marketing leadership, which integrates communication, team leadership, and strategic transformation, directly influences the success of both short-term tactical goals and long-term strategic outcomes. This approach ensures that immediate efforts contribute to sustainable growth and impactful organizational change.

What are the most important skill sets for B2B marketing leaders to master for sustained success?

A crucial skill set for B2B marketing leaders involves perfecting the balance between action and articulation. This means consistently trying various tactics, learning from outcomes, and critically, recognizing when and how to unpack the value of all marketing actions to involved stakeholders, thereby translating effort into recognized business impact.

How does extensive digital experience contribute to scaling B2B organizations?

Extensive full-spectrum digital experience is a key driver for scaling B2B businesses effectively. Leaders with this background can leverage insights from diverse industries and brands to implement robust digital strategies, allowing organizations to reach broad audiences, optimize operations, and achieve significant growth and transformation.

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