Why This CMO Walked Away After a $12M Success
Thu Jul 31 2025
In this episode of The Aspiring CMO, Lev shares how he went from engineering student to affiliate marketer to raising $12 million in crypto… only to walk away and start all over again.
After that rapid success, Lev realized he could build something on his own terms. That spark led to Spines, a platform designed to give aspiring authors a real shot at publishing their work without the high costs or gatekeepers of traditional publishing.
We talk about his earliest days experimenting with digital marketing, the realities of scaling fast under pressure, and the difference between chasing growth and building with intention. Lev also opens up about the evolving role of a CMO, how to build trust in traditional industries, and why he believes human storytelling still matters, especially in an age of AI.
A must-listen for anyone navigating the chaos of building something real.
Let’s get into it.
Episode Topics:
00:00 – 00:40: Introduction00:41 – 03:07: From Electrical Engineering to Digital Marketing03:08 – 06:36: Starting in Affiliate and Building the First Business06:37 – 08:00: Lev’s First Big Win and Building Under Pressure08:01 – 08:42: Raising $12M in Crypto and the Turning Point08:43 – 10:43: Walking Away From Success to Start Again10:44 – 12:38: The Early Vision for Spines and Its Mission12:39 – 15:50: Disrupting Traditional Publishing Through Tech15:51 – 17:48: Building Brand Trust in a Crowded Market17:49 – 19:55: The Role of a CMO in a Founder-Led Company19:56 – 22:10: Why Storytelling Still Wins in a Data-Driven World22:11 – 23:45: Why Founders Need to Let Go of Short-Term Pressure23:46 – 25:20: When Speed Kills: Avoiding the Trap of Scaling Too Soon25:21 – 27:14: Defining Long-Term Success as a Founder27:15 – 28:35: What Positioning Really Means (and Why It’s Hard)28:36 – 29:55: What Founders Miss About Making People Care29:56 – 30:46: Advice for Early-Stage Marketers and Builders30:47 – 31:25: Final Thoughts and Advice to His Younger Self
🔗 CONNECT WITH LEV👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lev-david-digital-marketing-specialist/💻 Website: https://spines.com/
ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6
Subscribe to The Aspiring CMOFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured
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In this episode of The Aspiring CMO, Lev shares how he went from engineering student to affiliate marketer to raising $12 million in crypto… only to walk away and start all over again. After that rapid success, Lev realized he could build something on his own terms. That spark led to Spines, a platform designed to give aspiring authors a real shot at publishing their work without the high costs or gatekeepers of traditional publishing. We talk about his earliest days experimenting with digital marketing, the realities of scaling fast under pressure, and the difference between chasing growth and building with intention. Lev also opens up about the evolving role of a CMO, how to build trust in traditional industries, and why he believes human storytelling still matters, especially in an age of AI. A must-listen for anyone navigating the chaos of building something real. Let’s get into it. Episode Topics: 00:00 – 00:40: Introduction00:41 – 03:07: From Electrical Engineering to Digital Marketing03:08 – 06:36: Starting in Affiliate and Building the First Business06:37 – 08:00: Lev’s First Big Win and Building Under Pressure08:01 – 08:42: Raising $12M in Crypto and the Turning Point08:43 – 10:43: Walking Away From Success to Start Again10:44 – 12:38: The Early Vision for Spines and Its Mission12:39 – 15:50: Disrupting Traditional Publishing Through Tech15:51 – 17:48: Building Brand Trust in a Crowded Market17:49 – 19:55: The Role of a CMO in a Founder-Led Company19:56 – 22:10: Why Storytelling Still Wins in a Data-Driven World22:11 – 23:45: Why Founders Need to Let Go of Short-Term Pressure23:46 – 25:20: When Speed Kills: Avoiding the Trap of Scaling Too Soon25:21 – 27:14: Defining Long-Term Success as a Founder27:15 – 28:35: What Positioning Really Means (and Why It’s Hard)28:36 – 29:55: What Founders Miss About Making People Care29:56 – 30:46: Advice for Early-Stage Marketers and Builders30:47 – 31:25: Final Thoughts and Advice to His Younger Self 🔗 CONNECT WITH LEV👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lev-david-digital-marketing-specialist/💻 Website: https://spines.com/ ASK Anything on The Aspiring CMO show and get your questions answered right on the show!https://forms.gle/jswoQq8dy8u2oisT6 Subscribe to The Aspiring CMOFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaspiringcmoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaspiringcmo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theaspiringcmo/featured