CMO Strategies for Driving Growth with Jaleh Bisharat and Skillshare

“Focus is a marketing superpower. The hardest thing isn’t knowing what to do, it’s having the discipline to choose what not to do.”

In the Season 2 premiere of Growth Talks, Jaleh Bisharat, fractional CMO at Skillshare, joins Right Side Up Founder and host Tyler Elliston, to share her CMO playbook built on two decades of leadership across companies like Upwork, OpenTable, Novi, and NakedPoppy. She breaks down how CMOs can make an impact in their first 90 days and why focus is a marketing superpower.

Jaleh also shares how to build high-performing teams and turn customer insights into bold go-to-market strategies. Drawing on her time at Amazon, she explains why customer-centricity is not just a value but a mindset that drives long term success.

🗝️ Key Takeaways:

• Great CMOs think like CEOs. They look beyond brand performance, empower teams, and make bold decisions that drive sustained growth.
• Culture is shaped by example. A marketing leader’s energy, focus, and integrity influence every interaction—and define how teams operate at every level.
• The first 90 days are for listening. Great CMOs lead with curiosity, taking time to understand the team, set priorities, and build trust before making decisions.
• Focus is a strategic advantage. Marketing teams often drown in ideas. The best CMOs zero in on the 20% that drives 80% of results and align teams around what matters most.
• Customer Insights are your growth engine. Metrics are important, but direct conversations lead to sharper decisions and stronger product market fit.

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 - Resilience in Action: Jaleh’s Journey to CMO Leadership

02:52 - Navigating the First 90 Days as a CMO

06:05 - Understanding Team Dynamics and Customer Insights

09:01 - The Importance of Focus in Marketing Strategy

11:51 - The Role of Product in Marketing Success

14:54 - The Case for Fractional vs. Full-Time CMOs

28:16 - Transitioning Roles: From Interim to Full-Time CMO

30:22 - The Distinction Between Fractional and Full-Time CMOs

34:30 - Core Principles of Effective Leadership

44:39 - Customer-Centricity: Lessons from Amazon

46:04 - Advising Companies: What Matters Most

47:41 - The Value of Direct Customer Conversations

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

• Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/
• Novi: https://www.noviconnect.com/
• Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/
• Upwork: https://www.upwork.com
• OpenTable: https://www.opentable.com/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/

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