Ashley Faus

Kogan Page Publishing

My book, "Human-Centered Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI" features three frameworks to help marketers build trust and attract, convert, and retain customers.

Key messages:

-	Trust is the key: People buy from people they trust, and people trust people like themselves. As marketers, we need to build trust with our audience to win and re-win their hearts, minds, and wallets.

-	The human connection becomes more important in the age of AI, because more technology makes it harder to find people you can trust and make authentic connections.

-	The Playground mindset shift: Marketing needs to evolve to match the modern journey. It’s no longer about rushing people to a purchase, it’s about building trust and rapport for long-term value exchange.

-	The Social Media Spectrum (communication, conversation, community): Social media continues to evolve, but too many brands are still focused on driving and participating in conversation about the brand, instead of meeting the audience where they are and fostering community.

-	4 Pillars of Thought Leadership (credibility, profile, prolific, depth of ideas): Thought leadership helps build trust, but it’s not the only type of content or creator that you need in the marketing mix.

Author, "Human-Centered Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI"

Atlassian

Head of Lifecycle Marketing, Portfolio

Director of Integrated Product Marketing

Product Marketing Lead, Software Teams Content 

Sr. Manager, Integrated Media

Sr. Corporate Communications Manager

Skyport Systems

Skyport Systems, acquired by Cisco, provides secure, hyperconverged infrastructure to modernize the DMZ, protect Active Directory, and secure legacy applications and remote branch operations.

Sr. Product Marketing Manager and Content Strategist

Palerra

Palerra, acquired by Oracle, pioneered the API-based Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB).

Sr. Manager, Content Strategy and Marketing Communications

Duarte, Inc.

Strategy and execution for all things marketing.

In addition to previous duties, manage budget, forecast, and annual planning for marketing strategy.

Sr. Marketing Manager

Manage a team of creative experts
Marketo integration, strategy, and execution
Analytics/KPI reporting and analysis
IP launches - Resonate multimedia, Slidedocs, Persuasive Presentations eCourse
Email campaigns, social media, and ad campaigns
Website branding and content updates
Editorial content strategy and execution
Executive presentations

Marketing Manager

Killick Aerospace

Killick Aerospace encompasses several companies that provide engine maintenance, accessory maintenance, airframe support, and parts and engine sales to the aviation industry. I oversaw the marketing activities for all companies in the Killick Aerospace portfolio. My duties include, but are not limited to:

Work with management and IT department for requirements gathering, implementation and documentation of CRM strategy 

Manage 3rd party programmer to update company websites, content manager for company websites

Manage relationships with outside vendors including designers and promotional representatives 

Coordinate all aspects of trade show exhibits, including marketing collateral, shipments, promotional items, and travel logistics

Co-creator and co-manager for print advertising budget

Track and measure success of marketing activities, including website traffic/SEO, referral lead source, and email campaigns

Marketing Coordinator

UserTesting.com

I helped research and implement a social media strategy, including Twitter and reaching out to bloggers. I also helped with customer service.

Independent Contractor

Solar Designs, Inc

Account manager for the company’s largest project, a commercial solar installation, worth $150,000

Improved profit margin by 5% through bulk-price negotiations with supplier

Grew affiliate partnerships from 2 to over 50 within 8 months, used direct Marketing to offer qualified leads and guaranteed revenue to new partners

Increased revenue opportunity by creating a training package for installers

Strategic analysis of customer and installer needs, led to over-hauling information-gathering form and presentation of final customer proposal

Wrote proposals with details about solar system design, environmental impact, and financial implications including up-front costs, rebates, ROI, and payback

OpenTech Media, Inc.

Research, layout, and copy for corporate brochure and website to present a more cohesive message to customers

Virion Interactive Agency

Competitive analysis, post-project analysis, client invoicing and work order processing

Account Management Intern

Director of Integrated Product Marketing, Atlassian

Marketer, writer, speaker by day... singer, actor, fitness fiend by night!

I've handled all aspects of marketing strategy and execution, from product marketing, to demand-gen, to content and events. I love telling the high-level stories that resonate with an audience and connecting the dots between types of assets and distribution channels.

My writing has been published on TIME, Forbes, The Journal of Brand Strategy, and The Muse, and I've spoken on various marketing topics for INBOUND, Harvard Business Review, and MarketingProfs.

Visit https://ashleyfaus.com/ for more information about my book, "Human-Centered Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI".

(Views are my own)

When you're friends with smart marketers, you feature each other as an example when you write a book 😀

Devin Bramhall released her book recently, and she featured my Playground framework.

I released my book in May, and I featured her community work from her time at Help Scout.

Per usual, there's a blooper pic if you swipe through 😂

Buy "Human-Centered Marketing": https://amzn.to/480QQLI

Buy "B2B Content Marketing Strategy": https://amzn.to/4i3SLne

(Thanks to MarketingProfs B2B Forum for the cozy background and in-person photo opp 😊)

Head of Lifecycle Marketing, Portfolio at Atlassian

I don't have many rituals before I step onstage to speak.

But I DO love my glitter face mask tradition 😀

Excited to speak about building trust in the buyer's journey MarketingProfs B2B Forum this morning, 10:20am EST!

Grateful for another award for my book, "Human-Centered Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI" 🎉

Need a gift for yourself or a marketer you love? Get 40% through December 1st!

Grab a copy: https://lnkd.in/eJWZHRF8

Need some light reading en route to allllll the Thanksgiving dinners?

Free sneak peeks:

Thought leadership: https://lnkd.in/eXCZ2qPf

Buyer's journey playground: https://lnkd.in/esQDz9EK

Congrats to all the winners: https://lnkd.in/emxkNFZ2

When I was VERY early in my career, I had to make an expensive decision on behalf of the business.

I was SO worried about it!

Tons of money.
Literally minutes to make the choice.
No time to call my boss for approval.

I decided to spend the money, and trusted that my boss would be ok with it once I finally talked with her.

Y'all... It was paying $50 for valet parking.

But at that time in my life, $50 for parking seemed absurd.

At that time in my career, I wasn't well-versed in how businesses expenses and vendor agreements worked.

And I was genuinely worried about confirming with a vendor that they could pay $50 for valet parking because they were running late to film a customer testimonial during a big conference.

My boss was thrilled that I made the decision to spend the $50 on faster parking vs. potentially losing the filming slot with the customer.

Now as a seasoned marketer, I cringe at my younger self, thinking how silly it was for me to even worry about $50 valet parking. 

OF COURSE that is a no-brainer call!

But... does your team know when it's a no-brainer decision? 

Do they trust that their leaders will back them up when they need to make real-time "expensive" choices?

Do they have a framework for when to escalate?

If you're rolling your eyes at folks making bad calls, it's worth taking a step back to understand whether they have context and trust to make good calls.

Because it's ACTUALLY expensive to do things cheap.

"Which bakery did this come from?"

"Wait, YOU made these!?!"

"You should open a bakery..."

People say this to me frequently when I bring treats to the office, the theater, birthdays, etc.

There's some AMAZING commercial-scale bakeries out there, AMAZING home bakers out there, and everything in between (including my amateur baker status).

After baking treats and buying treats over the years, I've started applying my marketing nerdery to the questions of perception, compliments, trust, etc. in this space.

And so, I'm curious...

In the comparison below, which option would you pay more for?

How much would you pay for a dozen of the cupcakes shown in the picture?

Assume that each option has comparable cost of goods sold, etc. to not bias the results too much, and you can make whatever assumptions you want about where the cupcakes came from, who took the pictures, if they're AI-generated vs. human, etc.

Please nerd out with me about the intersection of my baking hobby and my marketing brain 😋

"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure." - Goodhart's Law

I've been on a bit of a metrics and attribution kick lately, and I talked a bit about Goodhart's Law in my conversation with 🍁 Glenn Schmelzle on the Funnel Reboot podcast.

The heart of it is something that marketers continually struggle with...

We know we gotta measure.
But we know we can't measure everything.
And without everything, it kinda feels like we have nothing.

The problem is that we're so focused on capturing every. little. detail. in a way that we can easily show in a dashboard, but we miss the big opportunities that actually help people move through a buying process.

We talked about the core frameworks in my book that help you do just that: create a journey that helps the HUMANS make decisions, take action, and solve their problems (and yep, drive revenue for your business)!

Hear the full episode: https://lnkd.in/emxHSDgk

Grab a copy of the book: https://amzn.to/480QQLI

B2Btail 

Helping B2B Manufacturers Attract Their Ideal Customers Online

Most B2B companies are great at what they do but struggle to be found online by the customers they’re best equipped to help.

At B2Btail, we help manufacturers and B2B companies stop being the best kept secret by building strong digital foundations and using educational marketing to attract high-value customers.

Our work combines search engine optimization (SEO), content strategy, LinkedIn marketing, and foundational website enhancements to improve visibility and generate more qualified leads.

What we do:

Build and execute SEO strategies that help manufacturers rank for buyer-intent keyword phrases

Create and repurpose educational content that speaks directly to soulmate customers

Implement LinkedIn lead generation systems using live video, original content, and smart outreach

Guide companies through our Digital Game Plan to uncover growth opportunities, ideal markets, and the buyer’s journey

Develop marketing strategies that support long-term inbound lead generation and customer engagement

Who we help:

Manufacturers who are tired of being invisible online

B2B companies that want to attract better-fit customers but don’t have a marketing team

Business owners looking for a clear marketing roadmap they can execute over time

If you’re trying to grow but feel stuck with inconsistent leads, confusing messaging, or outdated digital presence, we can help you change that.

Let’s talk about building your Digital Game Plan or launching a lead-generating content strategy that finally gets you found.

Relentless Business Growth Advocate

Exit Your Way®

With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, eCommerce, and healthcare, I bring a hands-on approach to transforming businesses so owners can sell their businesses and generate the wealth the desire.

Challenges we help you solve:

Developing and executing initiatives to significantly increase business value.

Enhancing leaders' abilities to inspire teams and drive continuous improvement.

Streamlining operations to reduce costs and boost profitability.

Providing resources to prepare businesses for sale.


Results from our work with clients:

95%+ business sale success rate, often selling businesses for up to 20% over market value.

A business you love to own but you can sell when you want to the best buyers.

 Fractional Chief Exit Officer

Navigating the challenges of scaling, preparing for a business exit, or selling a business? Feel like you're not tapping into your business's full potential?   - You're not alone. 

Many business owners grapple with realizing the true value of their business in a market that often seems stacked against them. 

I'm Damon Pistulka, and at Exit Your Way®, we're not just about transactions; we're about transforming businesses one at a time.

Imagine a scenario where your business doesn't just meet your expectations but exceeds them to increase your value 2x+ its current market value. 

Picture a business sale / business exit success rate that's not the average 25% but is 90%+. 

That's the Exit Your Way® difference.

With decades of hands-on experience across diverse sectors, we've honed a unique approach that focuses on YOU:

Unlock Potential: We delve deep, identifying hidden strengths and opportunities, ensuring your business is operating efficiently and effectively.

Strategic Growth: Our tailored services propel your business forward, amplifying its value and appeal.

Achieve Your Vision: Whether you're aiming to double revenue, quadruple business value, or exit the market with unparalleled returns, we're your partners in realizing that dream.

Our manufacturing, ecommerce, construction, and occupational rehabilitation clients don't just achieve their goals; they surpass them. They experience transformative growth, often selling above market prices. 

We give owners peace of mind, confidence, and the freedom to envision a brighter, more prosperous future.

If you're a forward-thinking business owner, eager to elevate your venture and see tangible, lasting results, let's connect. 

Experience the transformative power of Exit Your Way® and envision a future where your business doesn't just succeed; it thrives. 

Let's redefine success, together.

If you want to learn more, contact us:

info@exityourway.com
833-BIZ-EXIT (249-3948)
www.ExitYourWay.com

Co-Founder | Managing Director | CMSH

Navigating the complexities of selling a business can be daunting. 

With a mere 25% success rate in the traditional market, many business owners feel trapped, undervalued, and overwhelmed. 

At Exit Your Way®, we've flipped the script. 
Leveraging 20+ years of hands-on experience in manufacturing, eCommerce, and healthcare, we guide businesses to achieve 2x+ their current market value with a 90%+ business sale success rate. 

Our integrated approach ensures you're not just selling a business but realizing its true potential. Let's transform your hard work into tangible wealth. Connect with me to discover how.

If you want to learn more about how Exit Your Way® might help you preparing and selling a business, contact me at info@exityourway.us

Business Broker

As part of the overall Exit Your Way® efforts helping clients build and sell valuable businesses we help clients identify, review, and acquire businesses.  We walk clients through a proven process to evaluate businesses appropriately in stages to ensure they are making informed decisions efficiently to ge the right deals done.

Business Acquisition Advisor

Helping business owners solve strategic and operational issues with fractional CEO & COO services.  Fractional CEO & COO resource to solve business challenges hampering growth or owner freedom.  Fractional CEO & COO resource to solve strategic sales challenges allowing owners to achieve their short and long term goals.  Fractional CEO & COO resource to onboarding new executives so they are more effective and are more productive, faster.

Fractional CEO, COO

Increasing sales & business value.  Sales consulting to help owners create sales momentum, increasing sales and business value.  Sales consulting to ensure businesses are creating the profits today and providing the long term business value the owners need to fuel their life after the business.  Sales consulting to help business owners achieve their goals

Sales Consulting

Our Team has over 40 years experience in providing certified business valuations, fairness opinions and pricing services of debt and equity securities in connection with transactions, stock ownership plans, and disputes.  Our process returns your certified business valuation in days not weeks with more calculation methods and risk assessments to ensure accurate and fair certified business valuations.  We have the certifications needed to back up all certified business valuations including certified business valuations used for legal and IRS matters.

Business Valuations

Management Consulting to help owners solve problems hampering business growth. Helping owners restart growth in plateaued businesses.   Helping business owners break through performance challenges by solving operational and executional challenges.  Management Consulting with the knowledge, tactical skills to help your company increase business value 25%, 50% or more.

Management Consulting

The Faces of Business - Business professionals sharing life and business experiences to entertain, engage, build community, & help others succeed.  Our guests share stories and information to inspire and educate.  

There are incredible people all around us.  We share their stories and knowledge.

Live Tuesday & Thursday at 3:05 pm PT. on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

All episodes are released on popular podcast channels.

All past episodes:  https://exityourway.us/the-faces-of-business/

The Faces of Business | Livestream / Podcast Host & Producer

The Manufacturing eCommerce Success Series – Hosting guests helping manufacturers connect with great people and resources helping manufacturers improve and grow their businesses. 

Co-host weekly event with Curt Anderson from www.B2BTail.com. 

Every Monday & Friday at 10:32 am PT speakers share real world information about key aspects of ecommerce/digital sales/sales growth/leadership. 

Shows broadcast live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Manufacturing Ecommerce Success Series | Livestream Co Host & Producer

Cross NW - Business Advisors

Cross NW - Cross Northwest, Inc. is a boutique Business Advisory / Investment Banking firm that helps business owners build dominating businesses and sell a business for more money.  Cross NW does this by providing Sales Acceleration, Results Management and Merger & Acquisition Advisory/ Business Brokerage services for business owners of privately held companies.  Our hands-on resources and value improvement expertise allows us to increase business values, make companies run better and guide companies through the process to successfully sell a business transitions.  NO B.S.  JUST RESULTS

★Sales acceleration services to drive top line revenues and profits
★Results management to focus the organization on building business value and prepare companies for a transition.
★The "Exit Your Way" system for developing and measuring progress towards exit value goal
★Strategic and tactical services working alongside business owners and staff to make things happen  
★Coordination of business transactions
★Business advisory for new business buyers to continue the success long after the sale

Managing Partner - Sell a Business

Ecommerce MGMT Cooperative

Helping companies that want to improve their digital sales strategies through live stream training that builds a foundation of knowledge which can be applied to real world solutions in businesses.

Leadership Team

Evergreen Renewable LLC

Management consulting and project development company

Manage the business and consulting projects for process developers, manufacturers, and commercial customers.  

★ Evaluation of technologies, applications, and project development opportunities. 
★ Technical support, business strategy, and diligence for project development and execution.  
★ Develop business plans for project finance and development.
★ Identify and connected with potential investment groups.
★ Present business plans to interested investment groups.
★ Manage project development and business improvement projects.
★ Provide leadership, direction, and business management for the company

President | General Manager | Consultant

Synergy Systems Inc.

Machining, stereolithography (SLA), and urethane molding of components and assemblies for aerospace, defense, medical, and technology companies.

Managed the business - Company needed significant structural and operational changes to become competitive in the marketplace.  

★Implemented formal cash usage controls from holding company 
★Implemented weekly performance review/cash management meetings with holding company
★Implemented weekly soft close to measure estimated profitability on a weekly basis
★Combined similar capabilities in subsidiaries to increase utilization of equipment and efficiency
★Utilized Kaizen to restructure business processes 
★Implemented ERP system to provide streamlined financial and operational information
★Created visual factory scheduling system to reduce WIP and slow moving products
★Assisted management and staff in completing AS9100 certification audits.
★Worked directly with SBA personnel to maintain 8A certification
★Maintained Boeing Gold supplier rating for quality and delivery
★Fostered relationships with large aerospace and nuclear customers seeking 8A certified suppliers

➤Company cash neutral in 120 days. Cash positive in 180 days
➤Reduced G&A costs by 20% and increased operational productivity by 25%.  
Turn around role for Alaskan Native Corporation holding company.

Vice President | General Manager

Olympic Fabrication LLC

Precision fabrication of ground support equipment, vessels, and facility subsystems for aerospace and NQA1 nuclear customers.  

Managed the business for the holding company with an on-site General Manager - Company needed significant organizational changes to become an efficient producer.  Lead the General Manager and Operational Management team to make these changes. 

★Implemented formal cash usage controls from parent company 
★Implemented weekly performance review/cash management meetings with parent company
★Eliminated capabilities to focus on core strengths
★Managed extensive 5S organizational work with operational team
★Provided operational direction to develop plans to increase throughput up to 2X as needed to complete projects
★Worked directly with SBA personnel to maintain 8A certification
★Assisted management and staff in completing AS9100 and NQA1 certification audits.
★Fostered relationships with aerospace and nuclear customers seeking 8A certified suppliers 

➤Company cash neutral in 90 days. Cash positive in 120 days
➤Ultimately increased revenues over 20% and profitability over 70%  

Turn around role for Alaskan Native Corporation holding company.

Vice President

EverGreen Renewable LLC

Energy company working to develop a 50 MGY Washington State based corn ethanol facility. Elected not to construct facility due to market conditions. 
.
★ Researched and selected technology partners to develop off grid corn ethanol production facility
★ Developed business plans and identified team to construct and operate the corn ethanol facility
★ Conducted technology diligence and economic modeling to determine commercial feasibility for   project
★ Developed investor package to raise funds for the $150 million corn ethanol facility.

Project Developer

CNC Diversified Manufacturing, Inc.

Complex 5 axis machined precision components and assemblies for tier 1 aerospace and defense manufacturers. 

Managed the business - Company needed significant changes to turn around financial and operational performance.

★Eliminated processing constraints inoperations resulting in over 50% sales increase.
★Increase machine utilization over 45% through organizational process changes
★Developed operational KPI's to ensure high machine utilization
★Set up 24/7 operational schedule to increase utilization of key equipment
★Combined operations into one facility to improve costs and efficiency
★Implemented communication and process changes to improve Boeing customer rating from red to silver “High Performer” for delivery and quality
★Coordinated technical efforts to reduce overall production times approximately 40% on titanium products.
★Increase throughput of company by over 25%
★Developed supply chain and internal controls to complete composite tooling project which doubled sales during the 4 month project period

➤Company cash neutral in 120 days.  Profitable in 270 days. 
Turn around role for private equity group

VP, Operations

Automated Metal Techologies

Precision sheet metal fabrication 

Managed the company - Implemented significant changes throughout the business to grow the revenues and profits.

★Implemented improvements that allowed 30% growth with a reduction in company staffing.
★Applied visual work in process scheduling at workstations
★Implemented programming software to dynamically nest production requirements on a daily basis
★Developed kan ban replenishment of raw sheet stock from supplier
★Utilized automatic sheet feeders and implemented remote video cameras for lights out operation
★Provided customers 3 business day service on custom items
★Managed supply chain and inventory at customer locations to eliminate stock outs

➤Increased revenues approximately 50% in 24 months
➤Company set new records for sales and profit %
Private owner

VP | General Manager

Helping Founders Scale, Prepare, and Exit | Value & Profit Growth | Live Streaming Business Development | Buying & Selling Businesses | Chief Exit Officer | LinkedIn Live Stream Host

Running a business was supposed to give you more freedom, not take it away.

But somewhere along the way, growth slowed. The work got heavier. You’re buried in day-to-day decisions, your team is busy, but results aren’t where they should be. Instead of scaling, it feels like you’re stuck.

That’s not failure. That’s a business plateau. And it’s more common than most business owners are willing to admit.

I help fix that.

For more than 25 years, I’ve worked with owners and leadership teams in manufacturing, ecommerce, and B2B services to help them grow businesses that run better, generate more value, and eventually become sellable when the time is right.

Through Exit Your Way, I guide B2B companies to build systems, elevate teams, and create exit options, even if they don’t plan to sell for years. Through our work at B2Btail with the Digital Game Plan strategy development/execution process, we help companies stop being the best kept secret by creating marketing foundations that attract their ideal customers and position them for long-term success.

My focus is simple: helping you build a business that works, whether you’re in the room or not.

Common challenges I help solve:

Low visibility: Your best customers don’t know you exist. We fix that by aligning messaging, strategy, and marketing assets to bring them to you.

Owner overload: If everything depends on you, growth hits a wall. We help build teams and systems that keep moving, even when you step away.

Exit confusion: You want out someday, but the path forward is unclear. We build companies buyers want and owners are proud of.

When it works, here’s what changes:

Customers find you because your message finally speaks their language

Your team handles the day-to-day, freeing you to focus on higher-value work

You move from reacting to leading, and from being stuck to scaling intentionally

I’ve built and sold companies, led investor-backed teams, and helped founders grow from $5 million to $30 million and beyond. I bring the tools, perspective, and calm needed to lead through messy growth and prepare for clean, profitable exits.

But this isn’t just about growth or selling. It’s about control over your time, your team, your income, and your future.

If you’re ready to lead again instead of constantly catching up, I’d be glad to talk.

damon@exityourway.com

425-654-7757
exityourway.com | b2btail.com

You’ve built something great. Let’s make sure it works for you.

Damon Pistulka √

Your customer is the hero.

You’re the guide.

Remember that to earn trust and drive sales.

Most businesses position themselves as the hero:

🔷We do this.

🔷We built that.

🔷We’ve been around since…

But your customer doesn’t care about your story…

They care about how you help them succeed.

When you make them the hero in your messaging:

🔥Your story supports theirs

🔥You become a trusted guide

🔥Your brand becomes magnetic

When you clearly help people understand how you might help them succeed your messaging resonates more clearly.


⚡Show people how things will be better working with you! ⚡


How would your messaging change if it was all about your customer’s success?


⭐ Helping owners grow their businesses with coaching, training, systems, and a supportive community. ⭐

👉Subscribe to "The Best Kept Secret Sauce" newsletter for strategies that turn conversations into opportunities.

🔔 Follow me for thoughts on relentless business growth, leadership, and life.

Video credit - readersdigest

#StoryBrand #CustomerSuccess #MessagingMatters #MarketingStrategy #DigitalGamePlan

Helping Business Owners Achieve Significant Profit Growth | Transformative Business Development | Transaction Advisory | LinkedIn Live Stream Host

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The Battle

Ashley Faus

Damon Pistulka √

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The Battle

Ashley Faus

Damon Pistulka √

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ashley Faus's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreAshley Faus's LinkedIn Performance