This week, hosts Steph Quantrill (Cue Marketing) and Ben van Rooy (Human Digital) sit down with Chanel Clark, founder of The Marketing Club (TMC), fresh off the very first Marketers Day. They unpack how one marketer’s side project turned into a cross-Tasman movement — complete with 1,000-strong Slack channels, sold-out events, and a goody bag that broke wrists. From the courage to start small to the art of building community, this episode celebrates the people shaping marketing’s new frontier. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How The Marketing Club Started as a Side HustleChanel reveals how a lonely “first marketing hire” moment led to a grassroots community for marketers craving connection. Turning Feedback into Fuel for GrowthHow two years of Slack comments and DMs evolved into New Zealand’s newest marketing festival — and why feedback loops build stronger brands. Behind the Scenes of Marketers DayFrom panel curation to sponsor wrangling, learn what it really takes to pull off an inaugural industry event that doesn’t just “talk marketing” but feels it. The Power of Authentic CommunityWhy TMC grew from 30 coffee-meet-ups to thousands of marketers across NZ & Australia — and what brands can learn from genuine connection. Funding and Fearless DecisionsThe unvarnished truth about self-funding, ticket pricing, and choosing people over profit when building something that matters. Lessons in Inclusivity and ChemistryThe delicate balance of curating panels that feel human, diverse, and unscripted — where real opinions replace corporate fluff. Bonus Nuggets Ben’s emotional couch-buying saga and Steph’s hydroponic strawberry field trip  The infamous TMC goody bag — a tote so heavy attendees complained, yet so good Ben still raves about the serum. Why Rocket Spark only discovered TMC through a podcast, proving no one knows your brand as well as you think. Chanel's “$3.50 spring-roll moment” — when event catering literally hit the bottom line. Chanel’s candid advice: “If you’re building community for clout, don’t.” Why Listen?  Steph, Ben, and Chanel pull back the curtain on what it takes to rally a marketing nation, the lessons behind launching Marketers Day, and how vulnerability became TMC’s secret growth engine. Whether you’re a brand leader, event planner, or marketer craving purpose, this one will have you rethinking what “building an audience” really means.