Defining the content marketing vision, strategy, and collaborative framework to drive company growth. I am excited to work along side a talented team of marketers, communicators, strategists, editors, writers, and top creative people to deliver stories people love.

My latest best-selling book details how empathy defeats mean in any situation and leads to bigger profits and a better life. Chosen by Inc Magazine as one of the Best Inspirational Books of 2019 (Along with Michelle Obama’s "Becoming") Mean People Suck seeks to show professionals on all levels of an organization how to harness the power of their professional empathy, even in the face of a mean boss or a negative culture. Are you happy? Like your job?If you don’t, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t happy in their job. And they point their finger at the work culture, a mean boss… co-worker… or customer. Mean people really can suck the life, joy, and purpose out of our jobs. In this book, explore how you don’t have to be a victim of mean people, even if they also happen to be your boss or your co-workers. Empathy, kindness and self-reflection can save us all. In a world that seems a little too mean these days, let’s start a movement to suck a little less. "It’s time to eliminate the “brilliant jerk” as a lauded persona in the workplace and Michael Brenner shows us in Mean People Suck that no matter what business you are in, it’s the business of people that matters most."~ Steve Lucas (former) CEO, Marketo (an Adobe company)"Today I learned a much better way to deal with some of the pain and emotions I’d had built up from bad experiences with clients over the years. Mean people suck helps readers like myself to truly find empathy with people I’ve worked with in the past that haven’t gone as planned. It’s helping me to become a better person. Highly recommended."~ John Rampton, Entrepreneur and Founder of Calendar.com

The Content Formula answers the question: what is the ROI of marketing with content? With unused and wasted content costing marketers alone a $100 of billions a year, the time to take a step back and identity problem areas is now so departments can focus on the areas that yield the most benefit to the bottom line.Buy it now on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Content-Formula-Calculate-Marketing-Never/dp/0997050802/The book provides a step by step guide for marketers:1. How to build the business case for content marketing,2. How to find the budget to establish a new content marketing program, and3. How to measure content marketing success in business terms.Digital Marketing Growth Hacks is compilation from some of the world's most successful digital marketers on how we grew our business without spending a ton of money. Hear from Ian Cleary, Dave Kerpen, Erik Qualman, Andrea Vahl, John Jantsch, Viveka von Rosen, Lon Safko, Martin Shervington, Emeric Ernoult, Brian Massey, Phylis Khare, Andrew Davis and Jamie Turner on "how the world’s best digital marketers grew our businesses with digital marketing.Buy the book here:https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Marketing-Growth-Hacks-Businesses-ebook/dp/B079MDLVM2/My free chapter here:https://marketinginsidergroup.com/content-marketing/6-content-marketing-research-tools-youll-fall-love/

As a globally-recognized keynote speaker and author, my mission is to challenge and inspire professionals to lead with courage, focusing on their customers and teams. My approach? A blend of empathy, storytelling, and practical insights.In my latest book, "Mean People Suck," I delve into how empathy isn't just good for society – it's great for business too. Through real-life stories, I demonstrate how marketers and leaders can achieve greater profits and a more fulfilling life by understanding and valuing the perspectives of others.My other works, "The Content Formula" and "Digital Marketing Growth Hacks," reflect my journey in leading marketing at startups, large companies and my own firm. These experiences have shaped my insights on how content can drive meaningful business growth.Recognized by Forbes as a top CMO influencer and by the Huffington Post as a Top Business Keynote Speaker, my background includes pivotal roles in sales and marketing for global brands like SAP and Nielsen, as well as thriving startups. This diverse experience allows me to connect with a wide range of audiences, from entrepreneurs to corporate executives.What truly sets my speaking engagements apart is the "Presentations That Connect" strategy. Featured on Harvard Business Review and presented to leaders at NASA, this presentation on how to break through your fear and deliver better presentations has helped thousands overcome their fear of public speaking. It's about transforming fear into powerful stories that resonate and inspire.Whether I'm helping entrepreneurs, corporate executives, sales professionals, or emerging leaders, my goal is to unlock their potential as compelling communicators and storytellers. Let's embark on this journey to transform your team's approach to leadership, marketing, and personal growth.

Elevating Brands with Strategic Content Marketing & Thought LeadershipIn today's digital landscape, the power of content marketing isn't just in the message, but in the connection it creates. As a seasoned Content Marketing Strategist, I specialize in crafting strategies that drive growth, engage audiences, and deliver tangible ROI.What I Bring to the Table:- Customer-Driven Content Strategy: Crafting content that not only ranks but resonates. I focus on delivering value and ensuring your brand stands out.- Consistent, Quality Content: From ideation to execution, you need compelling and original content that keeps your brand relevant and engaging.- Data-Driven Results: Reports that don't just show growth, but tell the story of your brand's expanding influence and reach.My Approach:- Customer-Centric Content Strategies: I believe in content that answers your audience's most pressing questions, positioning your brand not just as a choice, but as the solution.- Business Growth Through Engagement: Reaching new audiences and converting them into loyal customers is at the heart of what I do. It's about creating a digital experience that showcases your expertise and engages effectively.- Original Content for Business Impact: I focus on nurturing your network, generating organic social shares, and achieving top search engine rankings. It's about being seen as the go-to expert and the preferred vendor.As a Keynote Speaker and Author, I also share these insights on larger stages, inspiring businesses to adopt a more empathetic and effective leadership style and an ROI-driven approach to marketing.If you're looking to elevate your marketing efforts, or seeking a speaker who can bring fresh, actionable insights to your audience, let's connect. Our conversation will be a step towards transforming your marketing strategy and achieving the growth you envision.

Built the NewsCred Content Marketing consulting practice by helping brands connect with their audiences through stories people love to read and share.Led the strategy team, advising top brands from all over the world to build effective content marketing platforms that earn customer attention vs. buying it, and build customer relationships at scale. Defined a marketing strategy framework and delivered workshops and coaching to more than 30 brands.Grew the strategy business for NewsCred from zero to nearly $1 million in just over a year.

Led the content marketing transformation at SAP to activate employees, influencers and industry thought leaders to share their stories and their expertise.In the first year we generated just under a million new visitors to SAP.com. Thousands of leads were qualified and nurtured with our sales partners to just under $1 million in software revenue. After various transformations, the program continues today with thousands of contributors and millions of dollars contributed to SAP’s bottom line. Also shared content marketing, thought leadership, and personal branding best practices across the company getting hundreds of SAP employees to become contributors. Finally, led our “Future of Work” integrated marketing program coordinating a documented content strategy, marketing and activation plan across all departments (sales, marketing, customer service product, and pro services.

Led a world-wide inbound marketing transformation initiative to significantly reduce our cost-per-acquisition of net new customers through effective digital, social media marketing and content marketing techniques. Built and managed the SAP Business Innovation blog, seeking to become a destination of business insights and answering the most important customer questions on how strategic leaders can grow their business through technology and innovation.Led the development of a content marketing strategy and framework for inbound marketing, digital programs and social media marketing to drive customer acquisition, support and retention across all phases of the customer buying cycle.

Implemented a multi-million dollar online marketing plan for North American regional marketing that achieved a quantifiable return in pipeline dollars created. Generated a high double-digit growth rate over the previous 2 years. In this position, I also drove SAP’s regional Social Media Strategy and annual strategic media plan to produce more leads and pipeline for sales at a lower cost and higher efficiency of spend. Some additional success factors include reductions in cost per lead, increase in media efficiency and increase in lead conversion rates over the previous years.

Executed the company’s first coordinated marketing plan to improve pipeline opportunity dollars, lead generation and brand awareness that resulted in a 67% increase in website traffic, a doubling of qualified leads and a $10 Million increase in marketing pipeline dollars.Other responsibilities included:- Lead Generation- Online Programs (SEO, SEM, PPC, email, etc.)- Analyst and Press Relations- Agency Management- Media Planning- Event Planning (Web Seminars, Trade Shows, User Conference)- Author for all company collateral including articles, press releases, case studies

Implemented the company’s first strategic marketing plan to improve brand awareness, lead generation, and client acquisition and retention, resulting in a tripling of website traffic, a doubling of leads generated, a 10% increase in new client sales and improved sales force satisfaction and effectiveness.

At this $2 Billion marketing information division of the Nielsen Company, I managed product development for the company's first global, web-based, business planning software product. The product line exceeded projections in delivering $12 million in added revenue in it's first full year.As a spokesperson and member of Nielsen's "Speakers Bureau" I spoke at industry conferences and represented the company in multiple press releases and trade publication articles.

I had Retail Field Marketing and P&L responsibility over new and existing products addressing the retail vertical in space management, pricing strategy and business planning. Results: 2-year average sales growth of 10% across the vertical line of business and a 2 pt. increase in sales force satisfaction.

Through multiple promotions, I served the marketing information needs of several large retail and consumer packaged goods companies including Rite Aid, Pathmark, Sargento Cheese, Helene Curtis, Kimberly-Clark, Kraft/Miller and Wrigley. Results: Achieved sales targets for each reporting period, raised client satisfaction, closed multiple Million dollar deals and doubled revenue from one client in a fiscal period.