This week, I had the chance to sit down with someone whose work I’ve admired for a long time — Joshua Altman, Managing Director of Beltway.Media and one of the sharpest minds I know when it comes to strategic messaging, internal comms, and brand clarity.

What started as a casual conversation turned into a deep dive on:

Why storytelling isn’t fluff — it’s structure
What a “Chief Communications Officer” actually does
How Joshua transitioned from journalism into leading communication strategies for startups and federal agencies
And why most companies are jumping ahead to logos and websites before they’ve nailed the real foundation of their brand

We also talked about imposter syndrome, walking into boardrooms where no one looks like you, and the underrated power of asking good questions — especially to the people you already work with.

Whether you're running a startup, managing a growing team, or in the middle of a rebrand, this episode is for you.

💡 One of my favorite moments?
Joshua said, “The logo is a placeholder. Your story is the real brand.”
I felt that.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
02:21 Joshua Altman's Journey in Communications
05:04 Transition from Journalism to Brand Storytelling
07:39 The Birth of Beltway.media
10:20 Understanding the Role of a Chief Communications Officer
13:01 The Importance of Integrated Messaging
15:41 Navigating Government Communications
18:24 Addressing Imposter Syndrome in Professional Settings
21:12 Authenticity in Communication and Marketing
25:04 The Essence of Branding
32:17 Navigating Change and Building Trust
37:32 The Importance of Communication Strategies
45:14 Lessons from Clients and Mentors

TAKEAWAYS

Authenticity is crucial in communication.
Building trust with stakeholders is essential.
Effective storytelling enhances brand messaging.
Understanding your audience is key to successful communication.
Change management requires stakeholder involvement.
Communication strategies should be useful and engaging.
Branding goes beyond just a logo; it's about the story.
It takes multiple touchpoints to convert leads into clients.
Asking questions is vital for understanding client needs.
Navigating government communication requires a different approach.

Let’s Stay Connected!
Thank you for tuning in to the Innovative Entrepreneurs Podcast! If this episode inspired you to rethink innovation, share it with someone in your network who needs to hear it.
🔥 Subscribe & Leave a Review – Don’t miss out on future episodes!
💡 Want to be a guest on the show? Apply today and share your story!
🔗 Follow Me Online:
LinkedIn: @ericalbailey
Instagram: @businessbybailey
Facebook: @businessbybailey
We Are IconiQ (former CWG Digital) Website: https://weareiconiq.com/
Podcast Facebook: @innovativeentrepreneurspodcast
Podcast Instagram: @innovativeentrepreneurspodcast

Want to become a guest? Simply email: Tiffany@weareiconiq.com

🔗 Links & Resources:
Joshua's Website: https://beltway.media/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/cultivize/
Email: info@beltway.media
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beltway-media/

To Your Success,
Erica Bailey

Hey there — it’s Erica Bailey, and in this episode of the IconiQ Entrepreneurs Podcast, I’m diving into one of the most overlooked and expensive mistakes I see service-based businesses make every single day: losing leads silently.

I’m talking about:
Missed calls that never get returned
Slow or no follow-up
Leads who click “book now”… but bounce because no one responds fast enough
And more importantly — how to solve it with AI (without hiring a huge team or losing your mind).

If you're a coach, consultant, med spa, real estate agent, home service pro, or stylist — your calendar is your cash register. If people can’t reach you or don’t hear back fast, they don’t wait. They book someone else.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction and Gratitude
02:50 The Importance of Lead Management
04:58 The Cost of Missed Opportunities
07:23 The Power of Booking and Momentum
09:16 Email Capture and Nurture Campaigns
10:41 Speed to Lead: Why Minutes Matter
11:36 Reviews and Reputation Management
13:17 Leveraging AI for Consistency
15:40 Introducing AI Tools for Business Efficiency
16:40 _iconiQ Podcast outro.mp4

🔍 What You’ll Learn:
Why 97% of missed calls turn into lost business
The $126K/year cost of poor follow-up
How AI can book leads, answer FAQs & send custom replies
The power of instant email capture & CRM sync
Why review replies grow your revenue
What it really means to stay high-touch in an AI-powered world

Let’s Stay Connected!
Thank you for tuning in to the Innovative Entrepreneurs Podcast! If this episode inspired you to rethink innovation, share it with someone in your network who needs to hear it.
🔥 Subscribe & Leave a Review – Don’t miss out on future episodes!
💡 Want to be a guest on the show? Apply today and share your story!
🔗 Follow Me Online:
LinkedIn: @ericalbailey
Instagram: @businessbybailey
Facebook: @businessbybailey
We Are IconiQ (former CWG Digital) Website: https://weareiconiq.com/
Podcast Facebook: @innovativeentrepreneurspodcast
Podcast Instagram: @innovativeentrepreneurspodcast

Want to become a guest? Simply email: Tiffany@weareiconiq.com

🔗 Links & Resources:
GET YOUR AI EMPLOYEE FOR JUST $1: https://solutions.weareiconiq.com/

To Your Success,
Erica Bailey

Are you pouring money into marketing with no idea what’s actually working? In this episode, Erica Bailey sits down with CRM and lead nurturing expert Jason Kramer, founder of Cultivize, to expose the blind spots that cost businesses thousands—and the simple systems that fix them.

Jason shares his journey from teenage side hustler to CRM strategist for 7-figure companies, and how most businesses are sitting on gold they’re not mining. Discover how to close the gap between marketing and sales, why your CRM isn’t doing what you think it is, and how follow-up automation can unlock hidden revenue.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to CRM and Human Behavior
02:46 The Importance of Best Practices in CRM
05:40 Entrepreneurial Journey and Control of Destiny
08:17 Understanding CRM and Its Core Functions
11:01 The Role of Lead Nurturing in Sales
13:56 Marketing Automation and Its Impact
16:49 Best Practices for Midsize Businesses
19:35 Real-Life Examples of CRM Success
22:39 The Future of CRM and Marketing Integration
28:59 Leveraging Existing Relationships for Growth
32:49 The Importance of Accountability in Business
37:27 Understanding Business Growth and Operations
41:10 Identifying Business Needs and Pain Points
45:52 Choosing the Right CRM for Your Business
52:06 The Art of Follow-Up in Lead Nurturing

Takeaways

Understanding human behavior is crucial in CRM.
Natural conversations lead to better insights.
Education is key in marketing and sales.
Marketing often lacks strategic alignment.
Follow-up is essential for closing deals.
CRM should integrate with existing tools.
Segmentation of leads enhances communication.
Nurturing leads requires consistent engagement.
Building relationships is fundamental to sales success.
The right CRM can transform business operations.

Sound Bites
"It's all about education."
"Marketing is broken."
"It's all about karma."

Let’s Stay Connected!
Thank you for tuning in to the Innovative Entrepreneurs Podcast! If this episode inspired you to rethink innovation, share it with someone in your network who needs to hear it.
🔥 Subscribe & Leave a Review – Don’t miss out on future episodes!
💡 Want to be a guest on the show? Apply today and share your story!
🔗 Follow Me Online:
LinkedIn: @ericalbailey
Instagram: @businessbybailey
Facebook: @businessbybailey
We Are IconiQ (former CWG Digital) Website: https://weareiconiq.com/
Podcast Facebook: @innovativeentrepreneurspodcast
Podcast Instagram: @innovativeentrepreneurspodcast

Want to become a guest? Simply email: Tiffany@weareiconiq.com

🔗 Links & Resources:
Jason's Website: https://cultivize.com/learnmore/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/cultivize/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nhiaTSIdNrXOxs2GJtUkc?si=C-9GQ-GhRtqu03Q7YEyZJw&nd=1&dlsi=fcb614f4c10b49b4
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleighkramer/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwbLwcOh0_fAeID-wtjpeGg?view_as=subscriber

Free CRM Fit Assessment
cultivize.com/crm-fit-assessment

Download CRM Comparison Guide
cultivize.com/crm-comparison-guide

Access CRM Trends & Insights
cultivize.com/get-cultivized

Test Your Email Delivery
cultivize.com/email-marketing-testing

To Your Success,
Erica Bailey