How can marketers build stronger connections by truly listening to their customers?
In this episode of Connect To Market, host Casey Cheshire sits down with Emily Ward, Vice President of Marketing at Maxwell, to explore why direct customer conversations are still one of the most powerful tools in a marketer’s toolkit. Emily shares how common obstacles like egocentric thinking, fear of honest feedback, and internal gatekeeping can prevent teams from deeply understanding their audience and how to break through them.
She unpacks practical ways to get closer to customers, from partnering with customer success teams to leveraging events, outreach, and qualitative feedback to uncover real pain points. Emily also reflects on her marketing origin story, the importance of differentiating yourself in a crowded market, and how emerging technologies like AI are reshaping SEO, inbound tracking, and the future of marketing. Throughout the conversation, she offers grounded advice for leaders who want to adapt, learn faster, and continuously refine their strategies based on what customers actually need.
In this episode, we cover:
Why talking directly to customers is essential for effective marketing
How to overcome internal gatekeeping and fear of customer feedback
Practical methods for uncovering deeper customer pain points
How AI and emerging technologies are influencing modern marketing strategies
If you’re a marketing leader looking to build more authentic connections and create strategies rooted in real customer insight, Emily’s perspective offers clear, actionable guidance for staying relevant and effective in an evolving landscape.
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Connect with Emily:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-ward-marketing-vp/
Maxwell: https://himaxwell.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emilyward011
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Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/connect-to-market-6138391
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Connect To Market is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through branded podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/
