What Every CMO Should Know Before an IPO

Speak In Flow

In a B2B environment, people often overlook the human side. But at the end of the day, we're all human beings running a business. In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast, Robin Daniels, the "Ryan Reynolds of B2B" and CMO behind 2.5 IPOs, reveals how to be emotional, authentic, and fun while telling a story that motivates your team to work like a well-oiled machine.

Join Robin and Melinda to learn that fundamental human needs, to connect, to understand, and to feel inspired, lie behind every IPO, every board meeting, and every sales pitch.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The 3 Levels of Impact

Robin's signature framework

• Tactical (linear results)

• Strategic (team-powered leaps)

• Epic (exponential outcomes)

"If an idea doesn't make you ask 'Is this stupid?' it's probably not groundbreaking enough."

Why Leaders Must Overcommunicate

"In the absence of information, people invent their own stories."

Robin shares hard-won lessons from IPO journeys about cutting through uncertainty, even when the news isn't perfect.

The Marathon Mindset

How training for 26.2 miles taught Robin to rehearse until messaging lives "in your bones", and why he makes his teams practice in mirrors before big moments.

Authenticity + Humor = Brand Magic

From his “Ryan Reynolds of B2B” persona to his acting class days, Robin shows that mixing fun with function makes communication memorable.

“People don't just want to connect with the brand, but also with the people behind the brand.”

Connect with Robin Daniels

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robingdaniels/

About the Guest:

Robin Daniels is the Chief Business Zensai, a 3x CMO with over 20 years of marketing and growth leadership at Salesforce, LinkedIn, WeWork, and Matterport. A veteran of 2.5 IPOs and hyper-growth scaling, he specializes in building teams that marry operational excellence with human-centric storytelling.

Fun-facts:

• 🇩🇰 Global Roots: From Denmark to 50+ countries, Robin brings cross-cultural flair to boardrooms and marathon courses alike (he’s run 10+).
• 🎓 Proud Dad: Currently navigating college move-in days between keynote speeches and mirror rehearsals of Jerry Maguire monologues.

About Melinda:

Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results.

She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence.

Website: https://speakinflow.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow

Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall

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