Ops Cast After Dark: Reflecting on the year, mentorship, and more! w/ Naomi Liu, Michael Hartmann & Mike Rizzo

The “Three Amigos” (as Michael H. says) jump on a special recording of what may become a new set of special episodes we are calling “Ops Cast After Dark”.

In this episode, the team reflects on the past year of growth within the community plus we discuss the importance of mentorship for both the mentor and the mentee. 

FYI: Adult beverages were consumed during the recording of this episode.

Hi, I’m Michael Hartmann, I’m Naomi Lou, and I’m Mike Rizzo. And this is ops cast, a podcast for marketing ops pros and rev ops pros created by the MO Pros. The number one community for marketing operations. As professionals tune into each episode as we chat with real professionals to help elevate you in your marketing operations career.

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another special episode of OpsCast brought to you by the MO Pros. Uh, we’re going to call this kind of the first of what we think might be a series of ops mops after dark. So, uh, if you’re listening to this and it’s an appropriate time, feel free to open up a, an adult beverage or a non adult beverage.

Yep. We’ve all got something here. And, uh, I am joined. It’s just, it’s the three Amigos tonight. Um, Naomi and Mike were here, say hello? Hello with a very delicious glass of red in my head. I really wish I could like cheers or something virtually we need the sound effects. Just like I turned on the sound effects and I was looking for them, but there’s nothing.

I mean, when you need it, it’s not there. It’s like, it’s not there. Right. Well, good. Yeah. So, uh, Yeah, we, we, we, we, we were talking about doing something like this for awhile, and it seemed like an appropriate time given that, you know, how much has gone on in the last year. Like, I mean, you were just kind of starting to outline some of the things that have happened over the course of the last year.

I mean, this is, you know, the podcast is one of them, but you know, what do you kind of, what’s your thought about what has happened and transpired over the last year? You know, um, I it’s been an incredible like year in general. Um, uh, for those that are listening to this episode, um, you know, I think we’re what, like 35 episodes or so into the podcast.

35, which is just, which is just wild. Um, we all kind of had this idea of like, well, wouldn’t it be fun to just talk, shop about marketing ops all the time and, um, pull in these incredible guests. And we’ve been fortunate to do that. And exactly a year ago, uh, in November was when Naomi and, uh, Johnny who was one of our original, like founding admins of, of the MO Pros.

Um, they were interviewing me because we were turning on like a brand new set of programs. I mean, everything, everything from ambassadors to chairpersons, to a new forum, to like a paid membership model, which, you know, we’re still working on trying to figure out that the right programs for all of you to decide that that’s worthwhile for your investment, but like, All of it was launched literally a year ago.

And we went from, I think at the time and I wish I had the numbers pulled up. Maybe while we’re on, I can go look about it. But, you know, we were like under a thousand, I think members and now we’re well over 2200, like I think we’re at 2,500 if I remember. Right. So it’s, it’s been a tremendous year of growth.

All the way across the board. And like, when I reflected on that, I think yesterday morning, I sort of like fell over and realized, oh my gosh, it’s only been a year. Only all reports and analytics could look like that. I’ll put it to the right. Everybody wants that. Yeah. So I, you know, I think just. It’s it’s an inappropriate time to reflect, you know, you’re coming into the holidays.

End of year. People are often thinking about budgeting and planning for the new year, but for us, I’m, you know, in at least in the U S in November, for those of us that celebrate, celebrate the holiday, you know, to give things to others. Um, I think. You know, it’s an appropriate time to be thinking about all the people that we’re thankful for.

Inclusive of our guests, Michael, who runs our podcasts, all the chairpersons, you know, Naomi who’s been involved in a big advocate, um, and everybody who just keeps contributing to making this place a special. Community to learn and connect for me from each other. Um, I think it’s inappropriate time to be reflecting on those things and thinking about kind of what’s coming next, you know, so we will open up this, I think in the next couple of days, I’ll open up applications for the chairperson program again.

So we’ll get a new, uh, a new, you know, group who are going to lead each one of the marketing automation platforms and represent those for 12 months. Um, and so I think, you know, Being thankful and reminiscent about where we’ve come and where we’re going is definitely the, the right tone for, for maybe the very first OpsCast after dark episode.

But I just, I definitely need to have, um, my own drink next time. I think that deserves a cheers though. It does deserve a cheers. Yeah, I got the kombucha. And so that’s the California version of a boozy drink, I think bougie it’s. So I’m in Texas, I’m just having a Texas beer. So there you go. There you go.

And a big one at that, but yeah, I think, you know, um, things that are coming down the pipe, there’s, there’s a lot of really exciting stuff that people don’t know is coming. Um, and I’m, I’m, I’m chomping at the bit to tell folks, but I can’t say I can’t spill the beans yet. Um, but you know, on the topic of this idea of, you know, new leaders coming in and thinking about the importance of leadership and mentorship, uh, I think that was something that, you know, we definitely wanted to get into this evening.

Um, You know, for, for those who are listening out there, if you’re interested in kind of stepping up as a mentor, or you’ve had a really strong mentor, we want to learn from you and we would love your involvement, but I’d love to open up the floor around like this idea of like really what, what mentorship’s all about.

Um, you know, and hear from you both. I think the topic of mentorship is a bit timely because, um, I was just thinking the other day that around two years ago, today, maybe just a little bit more than that, um, there was like a, really a woman that I admire a lot, um, in the, just the marketing space, she reached out to me and said that she knew of a, um, a really bright.

Potential marketing ops star. And she was kind of a bit lost because she didn’t really know if that was a career that she really wanted to be in still. Or if it’s something that like, if she, it was a proper career path and what did that look like? And if I would mind meeting with her, so I met up with her and I think she listens to this podcast.

I’m I’m not going to call her out by name, but, um, I met up with her at the, at the coffee shop at whole foods. And we spent maybe an hour or two, just kind of like talking through career pathing and marketing and what marketing ops is and how I got my career path and got my start. And you know, how you can really make it to be market ops is one of those things where, you know, if there’s something within it that you’re interested in, you can really kind of hone in on that and fine tune it to what you want it to be.

Right. And, um, fast forward a year later, she now works. So I had a role on my team and, you know, I had kind of just like, I was in the process of like recruiting with our internal recruiters and hiring. And then all of a sudden our internal recruiter was like, Hey, we got this applicant. And she said that she knows you, and that she had met with you, but a year ago, And do you want to speak to her?

And I’m like, oh my gosh. Yes, of course. And it’s just quite serendipitous when we’re talking about the, you know, the mentorship thing, because while she may probably view me as a, as a mentor, when it comes to marketing operations and like career pathing and things like that, there’s also things that I think that new hires and, and people who are new to the, to the space and industry can also teach me.

And so I’ve learned a lot from her as well. Right. A lot of that is patience, you know, um, you know, seeing it with bright, uh, new eyes and things like that, but, um, perseverance, patience and perseverance. Yes, that’s right. Um, so yeah, no, I think the, the topic of mentorship, I think it, it kind of goes both ways.

You can, it’s not always just like a one directional thing. Right. You can always learn from the people that you’re potentially mentoring as well. And I think it that’s like super important to keep in mind as well. I, I totally agree. And, you know, part of what, you know, we, we start talking about it. It’s kind of the last year.

One of the things I’ve been sort of reflecting on is just how amazing this community is at being willing to share and help and, um, and guide others just on a general level. And, um, it’s, you know, it’s crazy to me, I’m, you know, I, I think about like, what would it have been like for my career, if I had had.

10 15, 20 years ago, may I think it would have been a huge, huge help to have had that. And it did what didn’t exist. So I’m, I’m really excited that it’s Sarah now and that we can be a part of that and help you. Um, like you, you now, me, I haven’t, I haven’t gone through the, quite the scenario you did where you kind of were mentoring somebody that you then ended up hiring.

I actually had the opposite at one point where I had somebody who I was, I had reached out to and built a relationship as a mentor and ended up going to work for the company, not for him, but for someone just, uh, under his, his, uh, organization. And actually it was weird because it ended up sort of. Making that whole mentorship relationship, um, strange, but I think, yeah, but I do think, I think, um, I still got a lot out of it as the mentee, but I’m, I’m currently sort of formally mentoring at least two people.

And, um, plus people that work for me, which is a big part of what I like about leading is, is seeing people succeed and growing, um, And I get like you Naomi, like I think I get just about as much out of that as they get out of it. Um, maybe sometimes more. Um, and then I’ve got mentors of my own too, and I, it’s something that I’ve actively, you know, over the course of the years I’ve actively pursued during, during the last year, I actually actively pursued sort of building a, uh, Uh, I guess it advisory board, like a personal advisory board that, you know, sort of a mix of people.

So it’s been really interesting. I think it’s, it’s humbling to kind of get perspectives and I intentionally included people that were both sort of ahead of me and behind me are older than me and younger than me are different fields. So it’s, um, Uh, I encourage people to do it. Um, I think there’s a lot to can get, you can get from both, both of those, but you’re right.

Patients is a good one. Um, it’s a good term date to get out of that. Naomi.

That’s awesome. I, uh, I sort of like, feel like I, uh, I fall, I like now I know why we met, I call cause you were like, oh, I’m going to, I’m going to target this guy. Who’s like this random to trying to do this random thing. Like, I’m going to try to teach him something and maybe he’ll teach me something. Yeah.

Is that what happened? No, I’m just kidding. I’m sorry. I just like cleared my throat and everybody’s ear. So for all you listeners, sorry about that. It’s all it’s got your you’re drinking. We clear our throats on air. So I’m just worried because I’m drinking beer that I’m going to have to, I may miss muting in time for, I think you should just like, be all natural, right?

Like it’s just UVU. Yeah, exactly. Is that your advice now? That’s your advice for me? The oh, natural. You be, you. I’m going to be me for all the listeners who listened to the last episode before this one, the, uh, audio branding. That’s our new audio brand. It’s the all natural. Uh, so that’s so funny. Um, there was something you were just, you were just talking about and I wanted to, oh man, I wanted to drill into it a little bit further.

Uh, see that’s my, that’s my strategy. I, I ramble on for a while and then see you forget what you were going to ask me in the middle of it. I feel like I was like, it was nah, man. Darn it. No problem. We’re just gonna, we’re just gonna have something else. And then what was it about the, how I had a mentor who then I ended up working at the same company and it changed the relationship that one or something else.

It was, it was definitely something else though. That is really interesting. Yeah. To unpack. So maybe we can unpack it a little bit. Like what made that a little bit like interesting. I think that was, I think that was the word you used. Was it made it interesting? Yeah. Well, I think, I think if, if the way it, part of it is how it came out, right.

We were just having one of our regular get togethers. I think we met once a month or so. And it was back then it was local. And so we were meeting for breakfast coffee and. We were talking and I was kind of ready for transition and work. And so we were talking about that and he’s like, you know, there’s somebody in my organization who could use somebody like that and they’re looking for somebody.

And so he put, he put me in touch with people and then I think he also took a step back. Right. So like, it was part of it. I think it was his, the way he handled it was he took a step back as opposed to leading in. And I think it was a really large company. So I kind of understand it, right. He doesn’t want to.

Um, I think he was trying not to influence somebody else’s, you know, hiring decision just simply based on this relationship that he and I had, and I hadn’t worked with him. So, I mean, it was just a, it was a, um, long story short. I, one of my uncles had, had worked with him. They were kind of at competitor companies and got to know each other, and that was kind of the way I had met him.

So I think that was what made it part of what made it different. And then once I got there, I did try to kind of continue that and it just sort of petered out right. To be told. And part of that was on me. And I think part of that was just him. Um, and where he was, he actually ended up having some health issues.

I don’t have any ill will about it. It’s just, I think sometimes these things do run a know, they run their course and, uh, it’s time to, to move on to another one and they also think that’s okay. Yeah. I agree. I think it’s definitely okay for, for these things to come to an end. I think that’s the hardest part for us as a community in general, when you’re thinking about like, how do you actually run a mentorship program, um, for a formalized mentorship program of any kind is like, what does that look like?

It’s different for everybody, you know? And how long should that relationship last? And, you know, I certainly can’t. I can’t match make, I can’t say like, oh, like Michael has these skills and Naomi has these and therefore you two should hang out. Um, and so we, we do that, you know, we do the best we can to create the opportunity for connection.

But I think, you know, the, one of the takeaways I had from, from both of your stories about mentor ship and the mentor mentee relationship, is that, um, You know, there’s, there’s Michael and I think Naomi, the person that, that you were referring to, you took initiative, right? You took the initiative to try to figure out who you should be connected to and or that other individual took the initiative to do that.

And that’s an important step. And I think a lot of, a lot of that is missing, um, especially early in your career. You know, the entrepreneurial minded folks that I’ve met that are young, you know, early career kind of employees have done a great job of that. I’ve seen some people do a really great job with that, but I personally didn’t do a very good job of that.

I didn’t understand, um, that it was a benefit to go reach out to people and ask for help or advice, or just how. How to do something or learn, or what have you. Um, and it wasn’t until I was a little further into my career where I realized that I really, I needed, I needed more of that. Which is why, you know, I guess the community started.

Right. But like the funny, like, maybe it’s like, maybe it’s the, uh, what do you call it? The stereotypical millennial in me, maybe I fell into that category for a little while. And I think I did, um, I’ll fall on my sword on that one a little bit and, and realize that I just didn’t seek it. But like for the, for the audience listening, I think.

Yeah. It’s you got to take the initiative to ask for the help and you might have a mentor in your life. You don’t even realize is actually your mentor. Um, I certainly have a handful of those. I attend to just think of them as friends now. Um, you know, two of them are on this show with me, but every day, right?

Like we have opportunities to connect with each other and pick each other’s brains about, you know, I might, I might say, Hey Naomi, like, there’s this new program or this new opportunity I was thinking about taking on. Um, what do you think? And she’s like, eh, Is that really serve the needs of whoever. Like you’re like, what’s your goal.

Right. And so I think it’s important to just be taking the initiative and then look within your circles, like who actually, who was already sort of fulfilling that role as a mentor. And, and then like, you don’t have to put a title on it, but like you can formalize it a little bit more and be intentional about spending time with that person, even if it’s virtual.

Right. And so I think that that was the takeaway that I had from. For both your stories is like the initiative to go find somebody to hang out with it and learn from. And I think it’s also important to like surround yourself with people that have different viewpoints than you, because otherwise you kind of catch yourself in this like weird echo chamber, you know, which is unfortunately happened with a lot of other larger topics.

That are happening in the world, which shall not be named. That is very good kind of podcast. Yeah, no, we don’t. We don’t. We push the limits on the boundaries of sales and marketing relationships. Maybe not that one skim we’re going to like skip that, but yeah. Yeah. Group think is a dangerous thing.

Diversity of. Um, is important. I actually talked about that at the summer camp events, right? I, I, I gave a little hat tip to the importance of that. And the lesson that I learned from, uh, MH Lyons, who is the CEO of Stack Moxie. She was constantly advocating for diversity of thought in her organization. And I was like, gosh, What a tremendous, like, way to think about the world.

And so, um, you know, absolutely. I totally agree with that, Naomi. Well, I think one of the things that tells you right, is. I think being willing to realize that you can use and learn from other people and, and be coached it, I guess, is a better term. Maybe is, um, I think a lot of people perceive it as a weakness and I actually think of it as a strength.

Right. I think it recognizing that, you know, you may have blind spots or you may have areas that are not your strongest and being willing to accept that. And, and to. To surround yourself with people who can help you either. If it’s building a team, right, fill it, you know, bringing in the strongest people you can to fill those gaps where you’re not as strong, or if it’s getting, you know, coaches, mentors, whatever that can help you.

Minimize the downside of that. Right. So I think that’s, um, I, I do think there’s this perception that if I have to go and ask somebody for help, it’s a sign of weakness. And I think it’s, I think you should absolutely think to me, I would rather say, I don’t know, and look for help than to be sort of cocksure and, and act like I know it all when I don’t.

Cause eventually that comes back and by. Yeah. Yeah. Without a doubt, I think, um, you know, shameless plug a little bit for this. Like what this all kind of makes me think about is some of the, some of the recordings that we’re getting from the upcoming career fair, they were. And, uh, I brought in some, some guests and one of them was a career coach.

Um, someone who kind of helps you find the next role that’s right for you and market yourself appropriately. Um, just cow and Maxim, Mari, or talk a little bit about climbing the corporate ladder. Um, and Jeff Cavani today, and I, we connected, he’s a CMO at digital PI and we recorded a session on, you know, whether or not it’s the right move for you to go into a consulting role.

And each one of those sessions that we’ve done actually touch on this idea of like, you know, uh, mentorship, career growth and surrounding yourself with the right people in their own way. Um, and. You know, for, for those that are interested in just hearing from them, you know, come to that event, it’s obviously free for up to the entire community to come check that stuff out.

Um, But like, I think the, the message reigns true that the community at large, you know, Michael, you kind of said it earlier, like everybody in this space, whether they’re in the actual MO Pros community, or they’re just a part of the broader community that like, you know, they are a marketing or rev ops professional out there.

I think there’s this like underlying, I get the sense that there’s this like underlying desire to. Right. Um, it almost feels like it’s ingrained into the persona of that role. Um, problem-solvers seem to be folks that want to help. Um, and, and so I think just, just, you know, connect with folks in and around the community and who have roles similar to yourself, but also don’t be afraid, you know, to step outside of that and connect with people who do something totally different from you, uh, and try to learn from them.

It speaking of like being out of your comfort zone, I recently, I don’t know if I told the two of you, but I recently got appointed, um, as a, as a board member to, um, uh, a medical. Yeah. So, yeah. So yeah, to, um, an organization called Trek, which stands for translating emergency knowledge for kids. And let me tell you.

The amount of imposter syndrome that I have, like sitting in a zoom call or in a meeting with folks who are like, you know, a top pediatrician of the year for Canada research chair for so-and-so council, head of pediatrics that, and I’m sitting here. I have no idea what they’re talking about. The acronyms I’m like fiercely, like trying to Google them while looking at the camera on my phone.

No idea what they’re saying. Totally out of my element, complete, like so uncomfortable, but I kind of love it too, because I’m learning so much. And if I can provide, and you know, there’s a reason why they wanted someone from outside of industry, because like they had said as well during this. You know, vetting process it’s they, it was like an echo chamber.

They’re all just carbon copy clones of themselves. Right. And they wanted somebody who was going to help give them some guidance around comms and marketing and technology and getting their name and brand out there. Um, and for sponsorship and fundraising opportunities and things like that. And, you know, I threw my hat in the ring.

I was just, did not expect anything. Getting appointed to the board and I’m like, oh my gosh, what did I just do? Whole thing, you know, like, Aw. You know, and it just, it was terrifying, but it’s also been a ton of fun. Um, and you know, I’ll be the first to say, I’m sorry, can you guys repeat that? Or can you please spell out what that means?

Because I have no idea what, you know, FCR, PML out a lot or whatever. It’s like, I don’t know what that means. You guys have to say it. Right. So. Um, it’s just, yeah, I’m just kidding. No, I have no idea what these acronyms mean, you know? And so, um, yeah, it’s just, it’s I just like it just kind of, when you had said that about being outside of your comfort zone, like I can, that is for sure outside of my comfort zone, but it’s been just a blast to kind of, you know, put myself out there and like, Learn a lot and just like, kind of have, you know, takeaways for like, how can I apply some of the ways that they’re going about problem solving different things to, you know, my day-to-day.

How did you find out about that? So a good friend of mine, um, he actually, like, I guess he got it on an email or something like that and was like, Hey, you should apply for this. What really, you know, but then I read through the description and I’m like, it’s actually pretty much what I, like. I can offer them guidance on this.

And if they’re actually looking for somebody, so, you know, I sent them, my LinkedIn sent them my resume and you know, it’s a, it’s a nonprofit organization, you know, it’s all volunteer based people. Right. And so for our time and expertise and, you know, I just, it was something that was super fascinating to me and, and it, you know, I didn’t think it would actually lead anywhere, but then all of us that, and now I’m on a board of directors from my bio.

My headshot is next to people who have like a dozen letters after their name. I love it. I just, I’m curious. I’m curious if it’s. Um, I get the imposter syndrome. That totally makes sense. Right. Especially there, but do you ha so kind of bring it back to the mentorship a little bit. Do you have some people that are beyond the board that are kind of helping guide you through this process and how to handle them?

Yeah. So there were, there’s two women that I really highly admire. Um, just, and you know, one of them is in the marketing space and the other one is not, but they both have tons of board experience. And before I even applied, I had kind of run it by them. Like, what’s the time commitment look like? Like, what am I completely insane for doing this?

Like, What does this look like? And they’re like, no, it’s great. You should definitely get some board experience. And both of them followed up along the way. And we’re like big advocates of it and help to prep me for, um, uh, the interview and then like what to, and what’s to be expected essentially. And so they were just like great to kind of bounce ideas off of, and then when I got appointed, They were like, yes, that’s great.

You know, you’re, you’re, you know, um, single-handedly introducing, uh, gender diversity and person of color into this bar. And so yeah, there were definitely huge advocates for it, but yeah. So that’s awesome. Honestly, I personally feel, uh, Like imposter syndrome. Like, I don’t know, on a pretty regular basis when I’m in this community, like anytime we get into, you know, panel discussions or, or whatever, I’m like at this point, like, I, I actually don’t know hardly anything like these people that we’re pulling in nowadays.

So I feel you on that one, like some of these meetings. We’re speaking the same language. I know you’re speaking English, but I do not understand what you’re saying. And I feel like it’s just, I need it’s we’ve only had like two meetings so far. I just need a bit more time and exposure, so, yeah. Yeah. That’s all right.

Did you try throwing out all the acronyms? Like yeah. Well, when you get an MQL and then it hurts to an SQL and then they started there where I started maybe getting bigger. Maybe it can just ABM. I haven’t tried that yet, but I think maybe for the next one I will for the AGM. Yeah. Yeah. Let’s see. Next time you can just, you know what, you should just skip it.

You shouldn’t even like you should, you should just go in and say, you know what? Um, I’d like to volunteer myself to run a presentation about the acronyms that we use so that I can avoid you feeling confused. The next time I start talking about marketing stuff. So I’m just gonna, I’m just gonna run you through them.

Let me, she explained this. Wow. I mean, it can be educational. It doesn’t have to be. That’s fantastic. Halfway through the spinal too. So, so jealous. It’s going to happen. He keeps coming back to the adult beverage. Doesn’t it? Well, OpsCast dark folks. Welcome to the first of many hopeful, hopefully. So my big qualm with all this.

Yeah, this is totally random and off topic. Yeah. I have a qualm mom. Anyway, does anyone

seems like a made up word WAM. It’s an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry or fear, especially about one’s own conduct a misgiving. Okay. So yeah, apparently. All right. That’s interesting. So my qualm that maybe I used the wrong word. That’s interesting. Isn’t it? Um, about podcasting. Is that like, we’re doing all this fun stuff here.

We are doing ops cast after dark. Why don’t podcast providers allow us to create different tracks within one podcast subscription, right? Like, like I don’t want to have to label this episode pot OpsCast after dark and let someone decide if they want to listen to those episodes or not. I would just rather you be able to like, look at it.

You know, it’s like going to a website and then there’s many pages on a website, right? Come on. Let’s go on here. So shout out to all the podcasts, producers or providers out there. Let’s find a way to make that technology a little bit. Okay. Well, you know, you, you, you know, right when we did all of the kind of research on the platforms, how disjointed the whole.

Sort of support ecosystem is for this stuff. Yeah. Yeah. This has been a tremendous learning curve. Anybody wants mentorship, uh, around podcasting, Michael and I, he had a conversation with somebody, so who was wanting to start like us. I got connected from three different community. You know which one it is Mike.

Oh yeah. And, uh, I kind of talked through it. Right. Lessons learned, what would we have done maybe a little differently. So it was, yeah, it was, yeah. I mean, it’s, it’s been a tremendous learning experience. Yeah, definitely. It’s been, it’s been a lost looking back at our chat history and, um, it was November 1st where I was like, Hey, why don’t we do a segment called OpsCast after dark and Michael, you would say, can we have cocktails during these episodes?

And you were just assuming that was part of it. Right. I had to ask specifically.

I assumed by default the title implied title meant like there will be adult beverages on the sentence. Next challenges. I hate to make assumptions. I mean, it could be, it could be like an ASR episode. I don’t know where we’re just like, okay, we can just click the microphone and repeatedly just learn about it more.

I didn’t know what SMR was. Well, I think I had heard, I had heard about it. I think we’ve talked to that acronym. We’re back on acronyms. Did Dick, you know, so my old brain, it takes so many things at one time. Autonomous sensory Meridian response is when it’s listen to the person working for some medical, you know?

Yeah. Or the person who’s on an advisory board for a medical group right now. I, I like ASMR. For whatever reason, it tickles my brain in a funny way. So I, I think it’s fascinating and all that stuff, but that’s a funny, this has been fun. I, you know, so mentorship, community connectedness initiative, we talked about initial.

So take the initiative to go figure out how to be more involved. Uh, you know, it may be in your own org on your own team, learning from other teams. Um, heck our community, you can come be involved in the community if you want. Uh, Hey, thank you. You’re you’re the, the, the bee’s knees, you know, something about HubSpot or Marketo or Eloqua or Pardot.

Did I leave any of them? I think I got them. All right. Oh, well, there’s that too? What they call Salesforce marketing cloud. We’re still trying to figure it out. Um, active campaign. Um, but yeah. So what did you say? There’s going to be some openings for people to kind of be. The community leaders for that. So for those go outside your comfort zone.

Yeah. Go outside your comfort zone. Um, I have the, I have the program info is pulled up right here in front of me actually, because I was working on the form. Um, yeah, the, the, so for anybody who’s not aware of ways that you can get involved in the community. The chairperson program is one of them and basically the gist of it in summary.

And what five bullets here is there’s one marketing ops professional per marketing automation plan. Um, and you own that role for 12 months. And, and so you have direct input on how this community, the MO Pros community can better serve the members of the group that you represent. So if you sign up to represent Marquetto, uh, ideally, you know, you have kind of direct input on how we can better serve that audience.

Um, ideally you’re driving conversations, you know, as often as you can, you’re a volunteer, right? So, you know, Help drive interesting conversations about the platform that you represent, um, and then maybe help us source additional folks that can teach all of your kind of constituents of that platform, expertise, new things.

Uh, and then the last thing is that we would love for you to share your expertise about the platform that you represent. Um, you know, on our blog, ideally like once a month, um, those are kind of the basics of how that program works. There’s a whole bunch of perks that come with. Um, but we definitely look for folks that are, you know, community minded, they demonstrate, thought leadership and expertise.

They have diversity of thought. It’s actually included in our list of things that we’re looking for. Um, they enjoy building relationships, so that should hopefully come naturally to you. And, you know, it’s kind of obvious, but like you’re organized. We got manage our team ever found a disorganized Mopro I don’t just know.

You haven’t seen you, haven’t seen my office and, but it’s like organized chaos. It’s very different. Yeah. It’s true. My piles are organized. Yeah. Like, you know where something is, but if someone moves it, you know, then you’re going to know if I like it. You know, a good thing we should’ve done. I think, you know what, that’ll be the differentiation for ops casts after dark, we have to record video and then we’ll also publish video.

Cause then people can actually see us enjoying our adult beverage. But, um, Yeah. So like for those that are, that are, can’t see my camera, I’m going to show Naomi and Mike, like my office, there’s this giant comforter, just sitting in an office chair, but is it a comforter or is it a Snuggie with like arms, you know, that you like wrap yourself in?

It’s definitely a comforter though. I feel like I should go get me some Snuggies from the nineties. Again, those are good. I kind of want to snug for the two weeks in Texas where I need it for.

From the nineties we’re supposed to, that we’re going to, supposed to get down on this freezing, I think tomorrow night. So we’ll see. I need like, I, instead of a Snuggie, I need like a life raft. Like Vancouver is currently cutting. From the rest of Canada because of the, the atmospheric rain that we’ve been having.

So every single highway outside leading out of the greater Vancouver area is either flooded, broken, or just. You can actually drive, like I put into ways, directions to Calgary, just to see what would happen. And it said error could not find a route. Yeah. I heard about this earlier today. There’s like the only way to get into like Canada and Vancouver right now is from the U S basically like you have to kind of like go out and around or something.

It’s crazy. Yeah. It’s really, it’s really actually quite. Devastating for, and the people are trapped, like, you know, on the highways and stuff. Yeah. It’s crazy. So it’s good not to end us on a negative parts and thoughts go out. It’s all that. Yeah, definitely. Well, while there’s like not able to get to somewhere else, they can listen to this episode and know that we feel that we’re thinking about.

Yeah. Well, that’s it. Once we get this one published quickly, then.

Well, it’s like, yeah, we’ll have to do another one about like, uh, the feature the next year, the year ahead, or the couple of years ahead, Mike. So be prepared next time. Not like this. Don’t just show up. Yeah. I’ll try to be prepared to X time. I want to, like, I don’t, I wish there was like, That’s super stellar way for me to like, share all the fun stuff that I want to like build for this community.

But I think it’s just going to come out a little crumbles, little drips at a time. Maybe we need to do a live stream. Yeah, we could do that. It can pop up. I know how to do that. Uh, you know, we have a community full of experts so we can figure it out. We can figure it out. Yeah. And then we can mentor somebody on how to do it.

There you go. Uh, any, any last thoughts before we wrap it up? No, nah, no. Set it all. We set it all. Someone else who’s out there in the community who wants to just come on ops cast after dark, uh, Let’s do it. Yeah. Just come hang out. Let’s just do the OpsCast separate after dark episodes. We’re just. To join has to bring the topic and has to like tell us what they want to talk about.

How about that. That’s actually, you know what, we can put this out into the world too. Like if your maybe ops after dark is, is the place where like, we get a little dicey, like we actually just bring on people who are like an it and like sales and other groups. And we just learn from each. And like we challenged the status quo, whether we build new relationships or finance, finance, finance, I liked that dev ops data scientists, party animals.

I’m in, I’m totally in Naomi. What do you think? I think that sounds like a great, great idea. Well, it was your idea. So you have to smell it. Yeah. Obviously that’s why it like, yeah, come on. I’m trying to be humble here. Yeah. Well, for those of you that don’t realize, like now we actually is the leader of all of the madness.

Like every time someone refers her, like she is the founder of the community. And I love that she’s the founder of the community. It’s my favorite thing. Ever every time that ever happens, I’m like, yes, please. It is so not about me. It is so about everybody else. That’s my favorite part. Oh my God. I always have to correct them.

And then I send them your LinkedIn and they’re like, did they just kind of ignore it? And they’re like, oh anyways, it’s a, it’s a white guy with a beard who looks like, you know, like, come on, come on. No, if we ever need to fundraise, we can start like a thing. And you just shave like different parts of your beard, you know?

And like, Ways and like you have handlebars and it mustache then like chin strap. I could do that with me, cause I cannot, I have tried many times to grow a beard. It just doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t work. My never goes away. If I’m going to fundraise though. I think the, like, what’s the thing that I have to do.

I have to like, wear a vest. Right. But it’s like a vest that everybody wears, like Patagonia, but I haven’t, I don’t think we’re going to

like the idea of it though, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Don’t ever, so there’s a Twitter feed out there about like, Things investors say or something. If you, if you want to have a good laugh, it’s worth it. It steps you a little deep in to the startup. What’s better. Is it better than the F Jerry Instagram one?

That’s a good one. Uh, credit again is a good one too. We’ve seen that one.

I know nothing. I know. Not to watch you speak. Is that a new acronym? I’m confused. All right. All right. I think we, I think, I think we should end there. Right. Yeah. I feel like it sinking. All right. Thanks y’all and thanks to all of you listening and putting up with our nonsense tonight. Hopefully, uh, some of you will reach out and want to be a part of the next OpsCast after dark as late.

Now, he said, bring your ideas for topics. So if you want to do it, maybe we could even do the dinner. Don’t come to the dinner party without an appetizer. Yeah, you got it. It’s like potluck. Yeah, exactly. Except you over the wall, the guest is the only one providing the food. So right. There we go. It’s that kind of like, exactly.

All right. Awesome. Well, thanks to everyone again, as always. Thanks for listening. Uh, and, uh, remember to subscribe, you know, S uh, send us your feedback, rate us all that kind of stuff. Bye everyone. Bye.