Why Strategy Fails Without Culture (Especially in B2B)
Tue Feb 03 2026
In this episode, Ian sits down with JP Laqueur, SVP of Marketing & Culture at DataBank, to explore how brand, culture, and CEO-led thought leadership work together to create lasting differentiation in B2B.
JP explains why DataBank prioritizes culture-first marketing, how involving the CEO in media and content unlocks disproportionate impact, and why disciplined PR often outperforms flashier tactics. The conversation also covers how marketing teams should think about video, written content, AI-driven discovery, and why human connection may become even more valuable in an AI-saturated world.
Key Takeaways:
Culture is a competitive moat competitors can’t copy. Facilities and technology can be replicated, people and behaviors cannot.CEO-led storytelling scales trust. Thoughtful PR and executive content outperform most paid tactics when done consistently.Brand work compounds over time. Earned media, strong culture, and clear positioning reinforce each other across customers, employees, and investors.
Episode Timestamps:
*(14:01) The Trust Tree: Culture is the strategy
*(31:06) The Playbook: SEM is still working
*(46:45) Quick Hits:
Sponsor:
Pipeline Visionaries is brought to you by Qualified.com. Qualified helps you turn your website into a pipeline generation machine with PipelineAI. Engage and convert your most valuable website visitors with live chat, chatbots, meeting scheduling, intent data, and Piper, your AI SDR. Visit Qualified.com to learn more.
Links:
Connect with Ian on LinkedInConnect with JP on LinkedInLearn more about DataBankLearn more about Caspian Studios
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In this episode, Ian sits down with JP Laqueur, SVP of Marketing & Culture at DataBank, to explore how brand, culture, and CEO-led thought leadership work together to create lasting differentiation in B2B. JP explains why DataBank prioritizes culture-first marketing, how involving the CEO in media and content unlocks disproportionate impact, and why disciplined PR often outperforms flashier tactics. The conversation also covers how marketing teams should think about video, written content, AI-driven discovery, and why human connection may become even more valuable in an AI-saturated world. Key Takeaways: Culture is a competitive moat competitors can’t copy. Facilities and technology can be replicated, people and behaviors cannot.CEO-led storytelling scales trust. Thoughtful PR and executive content outperform most paid tactics when done consistently.Brand work compounds over time. Earned media, strong culture, and clear positioning reinforce each other across customers, employees, and investors. Episode Timestamps: *(14:01) The Trust Tree: Culture is the strategy *(31:06) The Playbook: SEM is still working *(46:45) Quick Hits: Sponsor: Pipeline Visionaries is brought to you by Qualified.com. Qualified helps you turn your website into a pipeline generation machine with PipelineAI. Engage and convert your most valuable website visitors with live chat, chatbots, meeting scheduling, intent data, and Piper, your AI SDR. Visit Qualified.com to learn more. Links: Connect with Ian on LinkedInConnect with JP on LinkedInLearn more about DataBankLearn more about Caspian Studios Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.