Ops Cast

Hosted by MarketingOps.com

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Episodes

256

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Ops Cast, by MarketingOps.com, is a podcast for Marketing Operations Pros by Marketing Ops Pros. Hosted by Michael Hartmann, Mike Rizzo & Naomi Liu

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 23949 min

The Missing Layer Between Strategy and Execution in Marketing with Charral Izhiman

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!What if the biggest marketing problem in your organization isn't the marketing team at all?In this episode, Michael Hartmann sits down with Charral Izhiman, Head of Marketing at Bayobab and author of The Marketing Movement, for a conversation about why so many organizations still misunderstand what marketing is supposed to do, and what it takes to fix that from both sides.Charral's perspective is refreshingly different. Her book isn't written to teach marketers how to market. It's written to help non-marketing leaders understand how to actually work with marketing. That framing opens up a rich discussion about the gap between strategy and execution, and why Ops professionals may be the best-positioned people in the business to close it. In this conversation, they discuss:The outdated assumptions organizations still hold about marketing, and how marketers unintentionally reinforce themWhy Ops teams sitting at the intersection of marketing, sales, finance, and leadership are uniquely positioned as translators across the businessThe SHAPE framework, and why "Activation" is the overlooked layer between planning and resultsWhy organizations romanticize strategy and celebrate execution but skip operational readiness in the middleThe Formula 1 metaphor for marketing leadership: everything that has to come together before you can even competeWhether you're in Marketing Ops, RevOps, or marketing leadership, this episode is full of ideas for anyone trying to bridge the gap between strategy, operations, and the rest of the business. The conversation doesn't end here. Explore the full SHAPE framework and more in Charral's book, The Marketing Movement: https://themarketing-movement.com/Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

June 8, 2026Episode 23849 min

Moving Faster Without Breaking Everything - AI, Risk, and the Human Side of Change with Andrea Tarrell

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!For years, the hard part of ops work was building the technology. Now the tech is getting easier while the people and process side is getting harder. So why are so many organizations still stuck debating AI instead of activating it?In this episode, host Michael Hartmann sits down with Andrea Tarrell, President of the Tech Services line at Trilliad and CEO of Sercante. Together, they discussed the human side of change in the AI world with speed, trust, risk tolerance, and the trade-offs GTM teams are making right now.In this episode:Why the technology got easier, but the people and process side got harderHow much of AI adoption is really a trust and change management problem, not a tech oneFear of job replacement vs. plain organizational inertiaAI may not replace your job, but someone using it well may outperform someone who refuses to adaptSolving the tension between "move faster with AI" and "watch out for the risks."What companies get wrong about risk management and tolerance for risk in the AI worldWhy old governance frameworks may not fit a world of fast experimentationAnd a lot more...Whether you lead an ops team or sit inside one, this is a timely conversation about innovation, speed, governance, and practical business reality.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone in the ops community who would find it valuable.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

June 1, 2026Episode 23757 min

The Dirty Little Secret of AI in Marketing Ops With David York

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!Today, most teams aren't just struggling to build their AI strategies. The real struggle begins when they try to execute their strategies. In this episode of Ops Cast, host Michael Hartmann sits down with David York, Chief AI and Innovation Officer at Helix CXM, to get practical answers about what it really takes for GTM organizations to move from talking about AI to operationalizing it.David has spent years working at the intersection of marketing operations, RevOps, automation, and AI transformation. Together, he and Michael discovered an uncomfortable truth about how most teams are already overwhelmed by manual work, fragmented processes, shadow systems, and operational debt. Piling "figure out AI" on top of all that creates more chaos. In this conversation, you'll hear:Why the gap between AI strategy and implementation is so hard to closeWhat operational excellence actually looks like in practice, and why it has to come firstWhy mapping how work gets done today is the critical first step before introducing AIThe real difference between automation and "automation plus intelligence"How to identify low-risk, high-value AI use cases (like partially manual lead routing) versus harder onesThe hidden costs teams underestimate: tooling, LLM costs, maintenance, and human monitoringWhere human judgment is still absolutely requiredPractical advice on where to start if you're feeling overwhelmed by AI pressure right nowWhether you lead a scrappy SMB or a specialized team inside a large enterprise, this is a grounded discussion about the reality of AI in modern GTM, beyond the hype and the LinkedIn hot takes.David also published a new book this week, AI-Powered Growth: A 7-Step Adoption and Transformation Framework, which goes deeper into how Marketing Ops leaders can systematically prioritize and operationalize AI initiatives. Grab a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/AI-Powered-Growth-7-Step-Adoption-Transformation/dp/B0H2QCZG5M/Enjoy the episode!Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

May 25, 2026Episode 23652 min

From Marketing Spend to Business Strategy with Ondar Tarlow

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!What separates a marketing team that drives growth from one that just stays busy?Ondar Tarlow came into marketing from the business side rather than the traditional marketing path, and that lens changes how he reads a P&L, how he allocates budget, and how he earns credibility with finance and the executive team.In this episode of Ops Cast, host Michael Hartmann sits down with Ondar, marketing consultant and former CMO, for a practical conversation about thinking commercially. They get into why so many marketers struggle to articulate how their company actually makes money, how to translate strategy into a budget and investment plan, and how to secure buy-in from the people holding the purse strings without getting blindsided in the room.Michael and Ondar discussed:Why coming from the business side reshapes how you approach marketingThe reason so many marketers can't explain how their business makes moneyWhat separates growth-driving teams from teams stuck executing activityHow to turn strategy into a real budget and investment planThe biggest mistakes leaders make when seeking buy-in from finance and the boardBalancing spend across acquisition, retention, partnerships, and brandWhy minimizing surprises is a hallmark of strong operatorsWhere AI is already creating a practical advantage in research and learningHow cheap access to strategic knowledge changes career development, and its risksWhat community building (Fast Lane Drive, Worn & Driven Magazine) teaches about retentionWhat makes a brand partnership strategically valuable versus just promotionalIf you've ever wanted to be the marketer the executive team actually listens to, this conversation is a roadmap for getting there.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

May 18, 2026Episode 23545 min

Stop Performing at Work And Start Rehearsing With Kira Troilo

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!Why is it so hard for teams to say what they actually think?We nod in meetings, then raise concerns in Slack afterward. We approve work, then reopen it at the last minute. We pile up version 20, 30, 40 of a deliverable, wondering why nothing ever feels finished.In this episode of Ops Cast, host Michael Hartmann sits down with Kira Troilo, founder of Art & Soul Consulting, who brings two decades of theater experience into the world of team collaboration. Her insight is that most teams are stuck in "performance mode," being careful and polite, when what they really need is "rehearsal mode," where it's safe to be messy, disagree early, and surface the truth before it gets expensive.Michael and Kira discussed:Why politeness is a hidden source of inefficiency, and what the "silence tax" actually costs organizationsThe real reason approval cycles balloon into endless rounds of revisionsHow theater's "first rehearsal" tradition translates to designing better team kickoffsWhy tools, workflows, and AI don't fix the underlying communication problemPractical tactics teams can adopt this week to give honest feedback earlierWhether AI and automation make these collaboration challenges better or worseHow leaders can shift from managing output to designing how their teams work togetherIf you've ever felt that rework, fire drills, and misalignment are symptoms of something deeper on your team, this conversation will give you a new lens and a starting point.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

May 11, 2026Episode 23456 min

From Marketing to RevOps - What It Actually Takes to Build It From Scratch with Chelsea Gill

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show! Most RevOps advice assumes your organization is already halfway in your success journey. But what happens when you're starting from zero, with no clear blueprint, inconsistent data, and a team that can't agree on how revenue actually works? In this episode, host Michael Hartmann sits down with Chelsea Gill, CMO at Resultant, who recently expanded her role to include RevOps and Customer Experience. What started as a need for better data and process quickly revealed a full-scale management change challenge across the entire organization.Chelsea and Michael discussed:What Chelsea expected when stepping into RevOps and what she actually foundWhy most RevOps frameworks assume more maturity than most teams haveWhat a "beta" version of RevOps actually looks like in practiceHow to change behavior across sales, marketing, and leadership (not just process)The role of empathy and storytelling in building organizational trust around dataWhether marketing has contributed to its own credibility problem inside the businessIf you're going through the messy middle between marketing, sales, and operations, or trying to build RevOps without a roadmap, this episode is a must watch for you.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

May 4, 2026Episode 23354 min

From Revenue Marketing to Resilient Marketing: How Operators Actually Survive the Next Era with Dr. Debbie Qaqish

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In today's episode of Ops Cast by MarketingOps.com, we're going beyond systems, processes, and technology to talk about how Pros are actually doing and executing the work. Marketing has grown into a measurable revenue engine, but that transformation has come at a cost, and the pressure on operators is now constant, unrelenting, and in many cases, unsustainable.Our guest is Debbie Qaqish, one of the original pioneers of Revenue Marketing and Marketing Operations, and the founder of her new venture, The Growth Factor. Debbie has spent years helping organizations turn marketing into a measurable driver of business growth, and now she's tackling the human side of that shift, focusing on resilience, leadership, and how marketers can perform at a high level without burning out.Key Topics Include:The evolution of Revenue Marketing and where most companies get stuck todayWhat comes next after accountability and measurement defined the last eraHow AI is rebuilding the role of marketing ops and the expectations placed on teamsWhy does the pressure on marketers feel different now than even a few years agoWhat resilience actually looks like in practice for marketing ops and RevOps rolesHow "caveman brain" shows up in high-stress work environments and affects decision-makingSimple resets operators can use when stuck in fight-or-flight modeWhat effective leadership looks like when pace and pressure are this highHow operators can move from surviving to performing at a high levelIf you've been feeling the weight of constant pressure, changing expectations, and the demand to do more with less, this episode will give you a different lens on what's happening and what to do about it.If you're ready to think about performance, leadership, and resilience in a way that actually fits the reality of modern marketing ops, tune in!For leaders looking for a reset, here is the 10-Minute Leadership Reset™ Ops Cast (https://www.growthfactor.us/opscast)Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to join the conversation at MarketingOps.comEpisode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

April 27, 2026Episode 23249 min

You’re Ignoring 25% of Your Audience - And Ops Owns It with Mike Barton

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!In today’s episode of Ops Cast by MarketingOps.com, we’re breaking the misconception that digital accessibility is just a compliance issue. Instead, we’re exploring why accessibility should be viewed as a strategic advantage, a lever for better customer experience, stronger performance, and sustained growth.Our guest is Mike Barton, the leader of Corporate Communications and Content Marketing at AudioEye. He shares how accessibility isn’t just about ticking boxes or worrying about lawsuits; it’s about enhancing the experience for all customers, creating more inclusive content, and ultimately driving business success.Key Topics Include: • The real definition of digital accessibility and why it’s often misunderstood • How accessibility impacts revenue and growth opportunities when ignored • Why designing for accessibility improves the overall customer experience for everyone • Where Marketing and Revenue Ops teams should focus on accessibility through email programs, websites, campaigns, and more • Best practices for ensuring accessibility across different channels • Quick wins for Ops teams to implement accessibility changes without getting overwhelmedIf you haven’t thought about accessibility in your workflows, this episode will show you exactly where to start and how to implement changes that will have a lasting impact.If you’re ready to take actionable steps to make your marketing, web operations, and campaigns more accessible, tune in!Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to join the conversation at MarketingOps.com.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

April 20, 2026Episode 23145 min

From $500K to $22K: Rebranding, AI, and the New Rules of Growth with Michael Yehoshua

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!What happens when you throw out a nearly finished $500K rebrand… and rebuild it in two months for $22K?In this episode of Ops Cast, Michael Hartmann sits down with Michael Yehoshua, CMO at WiseStamp, to discuss a decision that most marketing leaders would never make and why it worked.Michael walked into an 18-month rebrand that looked polished on the surface but was fundamentally disconnected from real customer insight. Instead of finishing it, he scrapped the entire effort and rebuilt the brand using AI in a completely different way.What followed was not just a faster rebrand, but a change in how decisions get made. From analyzing customer conversations for emotional signals to rethinking how content is structured for LLM-driven discovery. This conversation challenges many of the assumptions behind traditional marketing, SEO, and brand strategy.This is not a tools discussion. It is about how marketing and operations teams need to rethink data, signals, and decision-making in an AI-shaped environment.Topics covered include:• Why a nearly complete $500K rebrand was scrapped• How AI was used to listen to customers instead of just generating content• What analyzing tone, intent, and “aha moments” reveals beyond transcripts• How Marketing Ops teams should think about capturing new types of signals• Why optimizing for LLMs is different from optimizing for traditional search• The shift in content, backlinks, and site structure for AI-driven discovery• Why traffic can drop while conversions improve• What metrics matter when traditional SEO signals become less reliable• Why brand may become more important, not less, in an AI-first worldIf you are in Marketing Ops, RevOps, or growth, this episode forces a hard rethink. Not about tools, but about how decisions should be made going forward.Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to Ops Cast, and join the conversation at MarketingOps.com.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show

April 13, 2026Episode 23048 min

The AI Gold Rush Problem: Big Investment, Unclear ROI with Naomi Liu and Mike Rizzo

Text us your thoughts on the episode or the show!Welcome to another episode of Ops Cast by MarketingOps.com, powered by The MO Pros. Host Michael Hartmann is joined by co-hosts Mike Rizzo and Naomi Liu for a candid, no-guest conversation about one of the biggest questions in operations right now, which is what are we actually getting from AI?With massive funding announcements, rapid product releases, and constant noise around AI, it is easy to assume everyone is seeing results. But when you look closer, most teams are still struggling to measure real impact beyond surface-level efficiency gains.In this episode, we discussed the gap between hype and reality, exploring why ROI is so difficult to quantify, where AI is genuinely useful today, and the expectations that users have for what the technology can actually deliver.In this episode, you will learn:1. What OpenAI’s massive funding signals for the future of AI and operations2. Why most teams cannot clearly measure ROI from AI initiatives3. The difference between time savings and real revenue impact4. Hidden costs of AI tools that make ROI harder to track5. Why AI adoption often fails without proper change management6. The belief gap, skill gap, and expectation gap are slowing teams down7. How fear and uncertainty are shaping AI adoption inside organizations8. Why the “AI gold rush” does not guarantee real business value9. What AI agents can and cannot do without human oversight10. Why strong operators become more valuable in an AI-driven worldThis episode challenges the assumption that AI automatically drives value and offers a more grounded perspective on how operators should think about adoption, measurement, and long-term impact.Episode Brought to You By MO Pros The #1 Community for Marketing Operations ProfessionalsSupport the show