Navigating the software market has never been more complex. As AI reshapes how buyers research, evaluate, and select technology, B2B companies face a new reality: purchasing decisions are often influenced long before a prospect ever visits their website. So how can businesses build trust and stay visible in an increasingly AI-driven buying journey?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Elsts Downey hears from Bryn Jones, Co-Founder of PartnerStack, to explore the evolving power of B2B partnerships. Bryn breaks down how partnerships can amplify trust, drive distribution, and even influence AI-driven buying behavior. Drawing from real-world examples, he explains how companies can orchestrate their partner ecosystems to stand out in a crowded market.

He shares practical insights on orchestrating partner networks, navigating competitive landscapes, and experimenting with new approaches to distribution and growth. The conversation also explores the intersection of partnerships, community, trust, and AI, and why these relationships are becoming an increasingly important driver of business success.

You’ll learn:

• How to leverage B2B partnerships to influence AI-driven buyer behavior and increase adoption.
• How to orchestrate technology, agency, and user-generated content partnerships for measurable business growth.
• How to experiment within your partner ecosystem to unlock untapped opportunities and early returns.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Setting the framework: Understanding modern B2B partnerships

(1:00) The evolving buyer journey: Why trust in partners matters

(2:00) AI’s impact on consumer behavior and decision-making

(3:00) Partnership strategies: Tech, agency, and user-generated approaches

(3:30) Early wins and experimentation: Unlocking growth potential

(4:00) Key takeaways and final thoughts on B2B partnerships

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

Follow Rachel Elsts Downey on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelelstsdowney/

Follow Bryn Jones on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryn-jones/

PartnerStack http://www.partnerstack.com/

Standing out in a noisy professional world can feel like an impossible balancing act. How do you build a personal brand that amplifies your voice without overshadowing, or being overshadowed by, the corporate brand you represent?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Amanda Smith hears from Anne Murlowski, VP of Marketing at Claravine and an advocate for female leadership, about navigating the intersections of personal and corporate branding. Anne shares how she has grown her personal brand through her podcast SaaSy, while simultaneously preparing to launch a branded podcast for Claravine, illustrating how these efforts can serve different purposes while reinforcing each other.

She breaks down practical strategies for building both types of brands and explains how thoughtful alignment between personal and corporate messaging can empower careers and elevate visibility.

You’ll learn:

• How to distinguish personal vs corporate branding
• How to show up consistently in shared spaces for better visibility
• How to unify messaging across personal and corporate platforms

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Introduction and setting the stage

(00:01) Personal brand focus: Empowering female leadership

(01:50) Corporate brand focus: Connecting with customers

(02:30) Bridging personal & corporate brands

(03:00) Wrapping up and takeaways

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

Follow Amanda Smith on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-alexander-smith/

Follow Anne Murlowski on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemurlowski/

Claravine https://www.claravine.com/

B2B buyers aren’t following a straight path anymore.

Many marketers still rely on traditional SEO, websites, and review pages to capture attention, but today’s buyers are increasingly turning to AI and LLMs to compare their options and validate their decisions. This shift creates a critical question for modern organizations: how do you get discovered when your audience’s first stop isn’t Google, but a machine-powered assistant?

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Amanda Smith hears from Sydney Sloan, Chief Marketing Officer at G2, to break down the practical steps organizations can take to stay visible in the age of AI. Sydney shares practical advice on Answer Engine Optimization, leveraging user-generated content, and building content workflows that align with how buyers actually research today.

You’ll learn:

• How the B2B buyer journey is changing in an AI-first world
• Practical strategies to improve discoverability
• How to create content workflows that combine human insight with AI efficiency

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) The changing buyer journey

(02:00) Introduction to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

(03:00) Content engineering and Human-AI collaboration

(04:00) Leveraging user-generated content

(04:40) Bonus rips and website optimization

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore our big little wins newsletter for more B2B content strategy insights. https://shareyourgenius.com/blog/

Follow Amanda Smith on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-alexander-smith/

Follow Sydney Sloan on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydsloan/

G2 https://www.g2.com/