105: The Playbook for Your First 90 Days as a Marketing Leader - with Leela Gill, Full-Stack B2B CMO | REPLAY EP 04

** Originally published on January 4, 2023 **

This episode is an early gem from when the podcast first launched and features the incredibly sharp Leela Gill, a three-time CMO and builder of high-growth B2B teams. Her advice on navigating the first 30-60-90 days in a new marketing leadership role is timeless. And her take on KPIs, internal branding, and enabling your sales team as thought leaders? Still fire.

It’s one of those episodes I come back to often, and I hope you’ll find value in it too.

Want a follow-up with Leela? Drop a comment, review, or DM me. I'm all ears.

— Jane

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In this episode of "Women in B2B Marketing," host Jane Serra interviews Leela Gill, accomplished B2B CMO and former CMO at One Health. Leela shares her journey from engineer to three-time CMO and how that technical foundation still shapes her marketing leadership today. The conversation covers what great CMOs prioritize in their first 90 days, the importance of intentional leadership, and why internal culture-building is just as critical as pipeline metrics.

Leela shares insights on:

• How to audit a new company and create your first 90-day plan
• Navigating pressure from sales while staying strategic
• Building trust with technical teams as a marketing leader
• Why pipeline and net revenue retention are the new must-track KPIs
• The evolving role of brand ambassadors, influencers, and raving fans
• How to turn your sales team into thought leaders
• Rethinking email marketing (and why LinkedIn might be your new ESP)
• Why "helping is the new selling"
• The rise of customer marketing and cross-functional alignment
• Advice for women entering B2B marketing: ask for advice, not feedback, and find a rockstar mentor

Key Links:

Guest: Leela Gill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leelagill/

Host: Jane Serra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeserra/