Strategic Marketing & The Rise of Fractional CMOs: Insights with Angelo Ponzi

BizBlend

In this insightful episode of the BizBlend podcast, host Sana sits down with Angelo Ponzi, a seasoned marketing expert and fractional CMO, to explore the true power of strategic marketing and how fractional leadership is reshaping business growth. With decades of experience transforming brands like AT&T, Purina, and Johnny Rockets, Angelo shares real-world case studies that explain the key difference between strategy and execution—and why most marketing fails without a customer-first approach.

Whether you're a startup founder or leading a mid-sized business, this episode will help you cut through marketing myths, rethink your data, and see why hiring a fractional CMO may be the smartest decision for scaling sustainably.

Tune in to discover the marketing blueprint your business needs.

About the Guest:
Angelo Ponzi is a veteran marketing strategist and fractional CMO with over 30 years of experience leading global and startup brands. He’s the founder of The Ponzi Group and author of The Strategy Blueprint. Angelo specializes in strategic brand positioning, marketing operations, and aligning internal teams to drive revenue.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic marketing is not about social media or ads—it starts with deep customer insight.

• Most companies confuse tactical actions with strategic intent, which derails growth.

• A fractional CMO brings high-level strategy at a lower cost, offering flexibility without sacrificing leadership impact.

• Talking to your customers—regularly and with consistency—is critical for success.

• Implementation is where most strategies fail. 92% of plans break down in execution.

• Metrics need to be tailored to your business model; ROI looks different in B2B vs. B2C.

• Data-driven decisions must factor in market behavior, customer lifecycle, and internal capabilities.

• “Grandmother research”—simple, early insights—can prevent costly missteps.

• Case studies covered include sustainable straw rollouts, HVAC industry misalignment, and retail product launches with geographic bias.

Connect with the Guest:

• LinkedIn: Search Angelo Ponzi

• Website: https://www.craftmarketingandbranding.com/ (access free marketing course, videos, downloads)

• Book: The Strategy Blueprint on Amazon (Paperback + Kindle)

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