In this episode, Shiv is in conversation with Mike Maynard, the Managing Director/CEO of the Napier Group, a PR firm.

Mike shares his unconventional career journey from electronics engineering to marketing and recounts his initial interest in mathematics and eventual pivot to electronics engineering, sparked by a school project. 

Despite enjoying engineering, he realized his strengths lay in explaining technical details rather than executing them, leading him to roles in technical support and eventually to marketing. 

Mike discusses the lack of planning in his career and how opportunistic decisions led him to buy a tech agency just before the dot-com crash in 2001. 

He elaborates on the challenges and importance of bridging the empathy gap between engineers and marketers, emphasizing communication as a crucial factor. 

The episode also explores the impact of regulatory processes on hardware companies, the importance of diligent marketing in the age of AI, and the evolving landscape of B2B podcasts. 

Mike wraps up by offering career tips for those transitioning to marketing, underscoring the value of data analysis skills over traditional creative skills.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:27 Mike's Journey into Technology

01:54 Transition to Marketing

04:22 Challenges in Marketing and Engineering

09:00 Bridging the Gap Between Teams

13:27 Handling Hardware and Software Delays

18:56 Lean Approaches and Reputation Management

21:45 The Hype and Reality of Tech Products

22:10 The Silicon Valley and Bangalore Comparison

23:07 The Importance of Perseverance for Founders

24:51 Product-Led Development vs. Marketing

27:11 The Role of Gen AI in Marketing

34:20 The Future of Podcasting in B2B Marketing

38:47 Career Tips for Aspiring Marketers

42:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Note – above timings are approximate; exact timing may be off by a minute or so

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