119: Punching Above Your Weight Starts with Reputation - with Michelle Denogean, CMO at Mindtrip

Michelle Denogean has one of those careers that makes you stop and take notes. From dreaming of Super Bowl ads to running marketing at eHarmony and Edmunds, advising dozens of startups, writing a book, and now leading as CMO at Mindtrip—she’s lived the full spectrum of B2B and B2C. In this conversation, we dig into what’s working in B2B marketing today, how to scale reputation and relationships, and the career lessons Michelle learned the hard way (and turned into her leadership superpower). Here’s what we cover:Why “reputation” resonates more than “brand” with startup foundersCustomer-as-hero marketing and the power of relationships in B2BScrappy (not crappy!) ways to build brand without big budgetsHow to “punch above your weight” as a startup and look bigger than you areThe decline of email as a pure demand channel (and what to do instead)Why culture is your frontline brand assetHow tough feedback reshaped Michelle’s leadership styleBreaking out of the box: taking on projects beyond your roleNetworking early and outside your company to open career doors This one is packed with practical takeaways and some real talk about the realities of leading teams, advising founders, and building reputation in 2025. Key Links: Guest: Michelle Denogean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledenogean/ Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/ –– Like WIB2BM? Show us some love with a rating or review. It helps us reach more listeners. <3