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In this episode, we sit down with Dario Berrebi to unpack one of the most overlooked shifts in brand storytelling: becoming the guide, not the hero. Think Yoda, not Luke Skywalker.

We explore why purpose-driven brands struggle with positioning, how to tell stories that resonate without sounding self-important, and why solving boring problems beats chasing cool ideas.

You’ll walk away with a smarter way to communicate your value—one rooted in empathy, simplicity, and timeless storytelling structure.

WE COVERED:

• Why most purpose-driven brands get storytelling backwards
• The “Hero’s Journey” framework—and how to flip it for your customer
• How to stand out by solving boring, painful problems
• Real talk: what scrappy SMBs can do instead of trying to look “premium”
• Tactical brand building on a tight budget: second-hand gear, focused offers, and positioning
• How to make your brand feel human, not polished to death
• The power of telling the truth—even when it’s messy

FOR WHO?
If you’re a founder, marketer, or creative working on a mission-driven product—and you're tired of performative branding that doesn't convert—this episode gives you a more grounded, actionable playbook.Most brands position themselves as the hero.

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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Account-based marketing (ABM) used to be expensive, slow, and reserved for enterprise teams. But that’s changed. In this solo episode, we walk through a smarter, faster, more human approach to ABM, one that even small B2B teams can run using AI, psychology, and clear structure.

We break down how to build a focused account list, how to personalize outreach without sounding robotic, and how to align sales and marketing around real signals, not wishful thinking.

You’ll learn how to combine AI agents and human-first strategy to warm up leads, engage buying committees, and track what actually moves the needle. If your team is sick of spraying cold emails and hoping for the best, this one’s for you.

WE COVERED:

• Why modern ABM works best with small teams and smart tools
• How to build a high-intent target list using AI and intent data
• The psychology behind warming up accounts before outreach
• What real personalization looks like (and why most teams fake it)
• Why buying committees need tailored messages, not a single CTA
• How to use AI agents to do the heavy research for you
• The playbook for launching multitouch campaigns that actually convert
• How to measure success beyond clicks: engagement, velocity, and pipeline

FOR WHO?
If you’re a founder, GTM lead, or marketer inside a B2B startup (especially in tech, sustainability, or Web3), and you’re trying to make outbound work without burning your list or your reputation, this episode gives you the playbook.

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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Michael Maximoff is the co-founder of Belkins, the #1 B2B appointment-setting agency, and a leader in revenue growth strategies. In this edition of Growth Leap, Michael breaks down how he scaled Belkins to 8 figures by focusing on acquisition, retention, and revenue alignment.

We dove into why traditional marketing and sales silos no longer work, how to make outbound effective in 2025, and why retention is the key to sustainable business growth. Michael also shared insights on structuring sales teams, setting up shared KPIs, and integrating marketing, sales, and customer success into a single revenue engine.

Michael discussed the importance of founder-led sales in the early years, how he structured compensation to drive retention, and why the best growth teams obsess over long-term value instead of short-term wins. We also covered the role of partnerships, content-driven outbound, and how to stay financially disciplined while scaling.

We covered:

• Why acquisition and retention must go hand in hand for growth
• Outbound sales in 2025: How to make it work without spamming inboxes
• Sales and marketing alignment: How shared KPIs transform results
• Founder-led sales: Why early-stage CEOs must drive sales themselves
• Financial discipline: How tracking every dollar helped Belkins scale
• Building trust in B2B: Why relationships matter more than volume

Whether you’re a startup founder, sales leader, or marketer looking to scale without burning cash on ineffective tactics, this episode is packed with insights on how to build a sustainable growth machine.

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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David Pereira is the CEO of Omoqo, and Büşra Coşkuner is a seasoned product coach, both experts in helping teams build products that actually matter. In this edition of Growth Talks, David and Büşra break down the biggest challenges in product management, from prioritization and experimentation to balancing discovery with execution.

We dove into how to avoid wasting time on ideas that won’t work, test assumptions quickly, and make ruthless prioritization a habit. David and Büşra also shared insights on working with business pressures while maintaining a strong product vision and execution strategy.

David discussed the importance of setting outcome-based goals instead of getting caught up in feature-building, while Büşra outlined a framework for effective assumption testing that ensures teams learn fast. We also covered how to prevent roadmaps from becoming feature factories and the common mistakes teams make when trying to scale their product development.

We covered:
✅ Prioritization strategies: How to decide what’s worth building (and what’s not)
✅ Experimentation 101: How to validate assumptions before committing resources
✅ Balancing discovery vs. delivery: How to manage roadmaps without overloading teams
✅ Ruthless focus: How saying no leads to better, faster decisions
✅ Real-world case studies: Examples of what worked—and what failed—in product teams
✅ Managing business pressure: How to balance leadership expectations with product strategy

Whether you’re a product manager, startup founder, or team leader trying to build high-impact products without drowning in unnecessary work, this episode is full of actionable strategies to help you focus, learn fast, and execute effectively.

Follow David & Büşra on LinkedIn
🔹 David Pereira
🔹 Büşra Coşkuner

Where to Find Michel:
📰 Newsletter: Stun and Awe
🔗 LinkedIn: ichel Gagnon
🐦 X (Twitter): @michelgagnon

📢 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your team!

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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Laura Erdem is a Sales Manager - Americas at DreamData and a social selling powerhouse who’s helping redefine how B2B companies connect with their audience. In this episode, Laura shares her journey from traditional outbound sales to building a multi-million-dollar pipeline through LinkedIn and social selling strategies.

We dove into how Laura uses LinkedIn to create meaningful connections with buyers, track measurable revenue impact, and build trust through authentic, human-centric content. Laura also discussed the balance between structured and flexible approaches to social selling, offering practical advice for sales teams and leaders alike.

Laura highlighted how DreamData aligns sales and marketing efforts to drive results, with shared reporting and insights that ensure everyone is pulling in the same direction. She also gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how DreamData is expanding into the U.S. market and adapting its sales processes to meet the demands of a fast-moving, transactional environment.

We covered:

• Social Selling 101: How Laura’s approach to LinkedIn has generated over $2 million in measurable revenue for DreamData.
• Metrics that Matter: Beyond likes and comments—tracking engagement, clicks, and conversions that drive real business results.
• Cold Outreach vs. Warm Outreach: Why traditional outbound sales is struggling and how social selling creates higher-quality leads.
• Scaling Social Selling: Practical tips for sales teams to personalize and implement social strategies at scale.
• Aligning Sales and Marketing: How DreamData creates shared goals and accountability between teams to drive growth.
• Market Expansion: Lessons from DreamData’s move into the U.S. market, including the importance of hiring local expertise.
• The Future of Social Selling: How AI is enhancing social strategies while keeping human connection at the center of sales.

Whether you’re a B2B sales pro, marketer, or founder looking to build stronger relationships with your customers and scale your pipeline, this episode is packed with actionable tips and insights to help you take your sales game to the next level.

Where to Find Laura

• LinkedIn: Laura Erdem
• DreamData: dreamdata.io

Where to find Michel:

• Newsletter: Stun and Awe
• LinkedIn: Michel Gagnon
• X: @michelgagnon

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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Adam Boita is the Chief Marketing Officer at Ecologi and a seasoned marketing leader with over 17 years of experience across iconic brands like PlayStation and Pernod Ricard. In this episode, Adam shares his journey from consumer marketing to leading climate action initiatives, guiding businesses to embed sustainability into their operations.

We discussed how Ecologi helps companies fund high-impact climate action projects, tackle the complexities of carbon credits, and leverage innovative tools to integrate sustainability seamlessly. Adam shared insights into Ecologi’s transparent approach, the importance of trust in climate action, and how his team ensures businesses achieve measurable impact.

Adam also highlighted the role of creative storytelling and humor in climate messaging, showcasing how Ecologi’s campaigns inspire businesses to take their first steps toward sustainability. He provided practical advice on balancing brand-building with performance marketing, creating awareness campaigns that drive long-term results.

We covered:

• Climate action for businesses: Ecologi’s transition from consumer subscriptions to B2B solutions, empowering companies to fund impactful sustainability projects.
• Navigating carbon credits: Tackling controversies and ensuring transparency and quality in climate action initiatives.
• Engaging messaging: Using humor and wit to break down barriers and inspire businesses to act.
• Campaign planning: How Ecologi balances brand awareness and performance marketing to drive measurable results.
• Lessons for startups: Building trust through transparency, investing in brand identity early, and aligning profit with purpose.
• Practical insights: Strategies for integrating sustainability into operations and communicating impact effectively.

Whether you’re a startup founder, marketer, or corporate leader looking to align your business goals with meaningful climate action, this episode will give you the insights and actionable strategies to achieve the impact you're aiming for.

Where to find Adam:

• LinkedIn: Adam Boita
• Ecologi's website: https://ecologi.com/

Where to find Michel:

• Newsletter: Stun and Awe
• LinkedIn: Michel Gagnon
• X: @michelgagnon

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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Send us a text

Mariana de la Roche Wills is the founder and CEO of de la Roche W Consulting and a leading voice in the blockchain and Web3 space. Mariana shared her journey from law and public policy to becoming a prominent advocate for using blockchain technology to address global challenges.

We discussed how blockchain empowers individuals by returning control of data to the people, creating opportunities for financial inclusion, and fostering transparency and accountability. Mariana highlighted the transformative potential of blockchain through projects like Ethic Hub, focused on agricultural financial inclusion, and the Demia, which leverages blockchain for carbon credits and sustainability.

Mariana also explained the role of stablecoins in driving financial inclusion in underserved regions and how startups can responsibly implement blockchain technology. We explored governance models, open-source tools, and the importance of aligning blockchain solutions with real-world problems.

We covered:

• Blockchain’s potential: Empowering individuals and fostering transparency in critical sectors
• Real-world applications: EthicHub’s decentralized finance solution for Global South farmers and Demia, focused on enhancing carbon credits.
• Financial inclusion: How stablecoins are reshaping access to financial tools in underserved regions
• Best practices for startups: Leveraging blockchain thoughtfully to address real needs
• Governance and collaboration: The importance of open-source tools and community-driven decision-making
• Mariana’s insights: Lessons from her work with INATBA, BC100+, and global blockchain initiatives
• Practical advice: Balancing innovation and regulation while aligning blockchain solutions with long-term impact goals

If your a startup, innovator, or impact-driven leader looking to use blockchain and Web3 to create meaningful change, this episode is for you.

Where to find Mariana:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariana-de-la-roche-es/
- Website: De la Roche W. Consulting

Where to find Michel:
- Newsletter: Stun and Awe
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

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In this episode, I spoke with Julia Zhou, co-founder of Tidal Impact, and President of the Sigma Squared Society. Julia shared her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to co-founding Tidal Impact with a focus on shifting businesses from merely reducing harm to creating a meaningful impact.

We explored how startups can play a pivotal role in building a regenerative economy and why they are uniquely positioned to adopt sustainable practices faster than larger corporations. Julia also explained the importance of redefining success beyond financial metrics, stressing the need to focus on the positive societal and environmental outcomes a company can achieve.

We discussed the work of the Sigma Square Society, a network fostering connections among young entrepreneurs, and how building emotional intelligence and personal awareness are crucial for driving systems change.

Julia emphasized the need for businesses to develop a theory of change to measure long-term impact and shared her thoughts on the evolving world of impact investing, where diverse funding models are necessary for different types of impact-driven companies.

We covered:

• Tidal Impact’s mission: Helping businesses measure and manage ESG and create positive impact
• Startups' role: How they can lead the charge in building a regenerative economy
• Redefining success: Moving beyond financial metrics to focus on impact
• The Sigma Square Society: Supporting young entrepreneurs and fostering systemic change
• Theory of change: A framework for measuring long-term goals and impact
• Impact investing: The need for diverse funding models to support various businesses
• Personal stories: Julia’s journey and insights on aligning business goals with personal values
• Lessons learned: Challenges in systems change, team building, and securing funding

Where to find Julia:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-zhou-3a94a5b3/
- Website: Tidal Impact, Sigma Squared Society

Where to find Michel:
- Newsletter: Stun and Awe
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon

Support the show

• Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
• You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
• Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
• For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email marketing@stunandawe.com.
• Support the show on Patreon

Follow us:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter