September 22, 2025 • 32 mins
Adrijana Daragon is a former brand expert with P&G, Europe. Enjoy this conversation with her about her company, Ad Marketing Strategy.com and hear about view on modern day marketing.
She is currently for hire as a Fractional CMO, GTM and Marketing Strategy for Startups. Connect with Adrijana through-
https://admarketingstrategy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrijana/
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.
She is currently for hire as a Fractional CMO, GTM and Marketing Strategy for Startups. Connect with Adrijana through-
https://admarketingstrategy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrijana/
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
And good morning and welcome back to Truly Significant dot
com Presents. I'm Rick Tokini. Our very special guest today
is a fellow Proctor in Gimble alum, Adrianna Deragon, and
she is a practicing marketing strategist chief marketing officer who's
(00:33):
got this great combined experience from not only Proctor, but
from Unilever and from her other client experiences. And today
we're going to be celebrating her significant career journey. Adriana,
welcome to our show.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Thank you, Rick, Yes, happy to join.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
We want to hear your entire backstory, starting from university
and where you went from there and then those first
few days at Procter and Gamble.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Sure. So I come from a family where we all
studied economics, so I started. I did my bachelor in economics,
but the masters I come from Lithuania, but the masters
I chose to study in Denmark linked to the entrepreneurship
and innovations. So it's really bringing the innovation what it
(01:27):
takes to to bring that to market. And when I
started my career quite early in when I was eighteen,
I worked in Unilever. That was my first experience in
marketing in the local office and that's where I really
liked what brand management is about and the customer working
(01:52):
with the customers the business together developing. And then I've
some more marketing experiences. I joined PNG in Geneva in Switzerland.
I didn't plan to go to Switzerland to live, but
that's what happens with Procter and Gamble had the headquarters
(02:14):
and I joined Erma in one of the regional offices.
So when I stayed there were after US moved to
the merger in the beauty company Kutti, and worked also
for after US for other international company in chemicals. But
the big shift for me happened when I got my daughter.
(02:37):
That's when I left the corporate world and moved to
the startups, to the scale ups. I was head of
marketing and one of the scale ups here in Switzerland
in the AI software company, so I really learned with
all the hype of Ai jen Ai being part of
the working with the tech team, and now I'm having
(03:00):
my own business.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
That's a big transition, coming from a giant corporation to
going to B to B startups. What has been the
biggest shock in that cultural change?
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Oh, definitely, I think it's First, I really wanted to
learn about AI with l Alam models Jenny, I all
that was seemed so fuzzy at that time.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
It was.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, just before the hype happened. And that's what I think.
It's working with the technology team first learning all that,
but second is also the different sizes. Coming from a
corporate with well structured roles and knowing how typical launch plans,
how it should be. It was really great school in
(03:53):
practang gamble and afterwards I can apply and also other corporate,
bigger companies, but in a startup what I liked it's
really this rapid culture of learning, shifting, apply, applying different
tests and seeing what goes. So it's really the different
(04:14):
way of working.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Exactly. We both came from a culture where decisions were
made on a very measured basis correct, and you describe
it as a rapid culture. If you're not fast enough
and the size enough, you're going to be left in
the dust when it comes to AI and the speed
(04:37):
of business today. So what is your big advice for
people that are thinking about leaving a fortune five hundred company.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yes, I think it's more What helped me was I
took the intermediate step in between after Frog ten Gamble,
I was working in another fortune five one hundred company
chemical companies and that's where we were launching new brand
within the big corporate So it was the startup within
(05:09):
the corporate world. So it was already still leveraging all
the all the different tools were within the big company,
but already learning to work with a different mindset with
the team. The team to grow and it was about
the sustainable, nobility focused textiles brand Naya. So it was
(05:33):
all about learning about new area and introducing completely new
or new solutions to the market. And that's it's a
lot about what is in a startups. It's a lot
about the novelty bringing that to the market. The it's
and learning as we go what works.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Absolutely, So we came from a company that built brands
that are trustworthy yes and deliver behind a brand promise
in your new journey, how are you able to achieve that?
But only faster.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I think the connecting with the mission and values is
really important. And then the startups, really the founders have
this idea of why they build a company, what was
the problem we try to solve, So that's really to
connecting that really and not forgetting it then starting to
work on the plans, really going back to the roots.
(06:36):
That's really what also in building the great brands in
pro frig Gamble in other companies is all about as well.
It really kear focusing on the promise, really the the
equity of the brand, and that's also in the startups,
really knowing the mission, the value values and having that
(06:57):
as an off star.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, that's right. I was going to ask you what
what the north star means to you today because it
was sure different at Procter. What is the north star?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I think it's more, I seem more for me the balance,
the balance between mind and heart, so really about knowing
where you want to go, being resilience of all the
mind the mind paths, but in the same time, listening
(07:33):
to my own heart and what makes my heart sing.
I think that's what really made me to create. Also
what the work I like now do like in my
in my business because it's exactly more now it's the
time and I know much more about myself. Well, really
(07:54):
I can also connect with people who have similar mission
want We have very strong innovation, we really want something
to bring to the market. But in the same time,
the struggle most probably from the business side marketing side,
so it's more about this connecting, but it needs to
(08:15):
be the strong idea why they created something that sol
This mission part is very important.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
You just hit paydirt for me because this show is
about people that have transitioned from success to significance, and
only people that are in the zone of significance. Say
what makes my heart sing? Yes, there's a joy that
you have now recognized about what makes you happy, what
(08:50):
makes your work more significant, and what makes you of
greater value to everyone that you're working with.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
True, I think it took time to discover that and
finally listening to my heart more. And I didn't know
I wanted to do something on my own. Freedom was
important to me and bringing innovation to life was important
to me, but in which capacity, which way I didn't know?
I didn't know for some times. So it was really
(09:22):
took time to be open, to take time to reflect
and at the same time have the conversations with people
to her to to connect with people, what other different
ways to achieve that. So for me, it was a
lot about about being close to the innovation big working
(09:48):
with the teams who are really have something great. So
that's what I like to work with a startup scale
ups who have really strong innovation. I work with am
medical technology startups and a lot in also with bio technology,
so they typically have an innovation we worked long time,
(10:12):
but we are coming from it from technology background, so
they are not necessarily yet thought about what the customer needs,
what are really the market dynamics of the product, And
that's well, I can see a lot of those innovations either.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Star stop.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yes the startups fail or they really struggle a lot
because they are mission lead. They have great technology, but
it takes more to win in the market. So that's well,
there's people who are passionate about what we do. I
think that's what makes me my heart sing. Then I
(10:56):
can make the impact when they make the impact of
what we do that bring to life, then I can
really see, okay, my efforts really make make the difference.
And then the startup, smaller company world, I can see
that impact faster.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
In that fascinating and what I've learned in my post
Procter days is that small companies startups in particular, have
one or two geniuses inside their company, and that the
strengths of those geniuses are about their original idea. But
(11:38):
I bet you nine times out of ten those geniuses
needed mentoring when it came to storytelling, correct. And I
would love for you to share an example of when
you've been able to go into one of these startups
and mentor the leaders and to help them shape the
story and the narrative of their own companies.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yes, and that's one of the current also startups I
work with. We are in education technology space, and we
had very knowledgeable, very noble mission of bringing more humanity
and the effectiveness to the teaching, So really bringing those
(12:26):
capabilities within the teacher, within the teachers so that basically
the students can can benefit from that as well. And
what really was originally the founder was very very knowledgeable
in the in that space. Plus also he really also
(12:48):
liked to work on the research and development technology part
of a product. This is what was his say, uh
safe space that he really liked to spend time. What
he was not so comfortable about is all the go
to market storytelling commercial aspects. But its key for him
to grow the business to reach actually those customers. He
(13:11):
needed to dedicate here as well the resources in the area,
so working together building the just the roadmap, what it
could look look like, what a segments to focus, what
would be the go to market. It really opens the
eyes of him how he can do more what he
likes and how the leveraging over resources he can be
(13:36):
more successful. So that was really nice. Like this is
where you can see that we have yes great foundation,
but the mentors coaches support can really help them in
the areas for them to excel where they need help.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
That is such a recognized about pattern and helping others
and mentoring others. In speaking of mentors, before we take
a commercial break, I want you to take a few
minutes just to recognize and thank the several mentors that
have shaped your storytelling and your skill set along the way.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
I think my mentors come from my teenagehoody. Yes, then
we helped to shape my personality. So two mentors. One
was my high school director and chemistry teacher. I was
not so fascinated about the hemistry, but I liked her
(14:38):
life lessons and what she always said ask the question
why not only take information as it is, but ask
the question why. So it's really proning to dig deeper,
have a critical thinking, assess the information, and cut through
the house and the UH, and that's really what helps
(15:02):
me now when I have I work in a technology
UH filled with all my startups and gale ups. There
is a lot of innovation. There is a lot of
things happening in the way I field, so it's constant
bombarding of new information, but cutting through the through that
(15:23):
and really knowing what to focus on is critical. So
that's now I remember always her question why and second
mentor would be I would say also from high school years,
I was in a youth journalist club as writing for
a local newslet newspaper and it was coordinated by one
(15:46):
of the teachers from different school. But I really loved
that she is so social, open and taking time to
connect with people. So this an empathy part of her
really left the mark for me. And also I was
(16:09):
quite shy teenager, and that helped to open up and
see that connecting with people, taking time to UH to
learn about the people can really make the life fuller
and also open to new perspectives.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
That is so refreshing to hear you had that a
chemistry teacher and a youth journalism club leader helping you
ask the critical questions and then learning how to connect
with people what what a beautiful combination there. Okay, we're
going to take a quick commercial break. I'm gonna throw
(16:53):
it to you first, Adriana, tell us about your company
and where our listeners can contact you to learn about
your enterprise.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Sure, so my company is called ad Marketing Strategy dot com.
So your listeners can go there and have a quiz
which is about to diagnose Vevia currently with the marketing
efforts and what would be the key key focus areas
(17:26):
we can focus on and to make the business more
effective and grow.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
That's ad Marketing Strategy dot com. Correct, very good. All right,
We're going to be right back with Adriana after this
quick message from the one and only Marcus Aurelius.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
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This book reminds me of one of my more stirring quotes,
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(18:15):
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(18:38):
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Speaker 3 (18:39):
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Visit truly significant dot com and celebrate the most truly
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Speaker 1 (19:32):
And we are back with our special guest, Adriana Deragon.
She told me before the show that she did you
marry into a French family? Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Correct? My husband is French.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Welcome to the tribe, Ah, you do. We French people
are often known for their great food, but not necessar
necessarily for their wonderful hospitality.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
But we're changing that today as we speak. I want
to talk to you a little bit more about the
business challenges that some of these small companies face. Everybody
wants to build communities, and they want to build communities fast.
But you and I know that communities sometimes take time
(20:26):
to listen to people and to understand them, deeply understand them,
listen to them. But yet there's this speed of business
that's there that you're trying to get to that community fast.
Where's the bridge to that? Where do speed intersect building trust?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I think it's it's very hard to crack, but it's
a lot about first being mindful that the community also
requires a lot of engagement, and it's really also building
a way that is self fulfilling community that is allowing
(21:07):
different dialogues to happen about the topic, so being the
space for people to discuss. And quite an often mistake
I see from companies is thinking that they could fully monitor, fully,
fully be in charge of all the conversations and it
should be only about the brand and their communities. So
(21:28):
it's and this is why people like especially today, they
can uh they can quickly sense that that it's more
as an advertising channel versus really the place for the community.
And I think one of the areas to focus is
really why the community exists, so it's bigger. It's a
(21:50):
b link to the purpose and the key key area
of the problem the customers have and this is what
are the common links between in them and really building
a community can be even bigger than the solutions we
have currently and that it takes time. And I work
(22:14):
with one client currently who she is in her company
is in a wellness area and the goal is to
also path to build a community for the migrant emigrant
background people to connect to feel accepted in the local area,
(22:37):
express and find the come on come on traits and
the and the activities to do together. And that's my
result further than only like the offering the company has.
So that's I think it's one area where it takes
time to monitor but in the same time find those
(22:58):
key key people who or from the community who can
actually also bring to life the topics.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
That's the second time that you've spoken above community in
these conversations. If you really listen to Adriana, she's talking
about ecosystems. If you if you think your company can
answer the question why the why your community exists and
(23:30):
then make the community bigger than the solution. Now you're
into ecosystems.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
So give me an example of a company that you've
worked with it has made that transition to solar system
versus community.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
It was in the still my uh yeah. In one
of the previous projects I worked on, it was about
building in sustainability the community of passionate full value chain partners.
So it includes really diverse a CoSystem because that's how
(24:09):
we can move the needle. That all that talking and
really seeing the constraints in different areas, and that's b
to be not b to see a community which is
even harder to crack. So it was making that platform
valuable and open that people could really share that also
(24:31):
the constraints, not only like the success stories and what
we are working working on, but really being a valuable
platform for them to go and find the peer to
peer discussion about the solutions to their problems in a
sustain sustainability about recycling, recycling, but new solutions to the
(24:54):
recycling technologies. What we would actually would make h to
reach our goal goals faster.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
M hm. So fascinating. I think it's a skill set
into itself that Adriana Will could bring to your companies
if you're considering her and your work is way outside
of Europe. I know that you're you're based in Europe.
Do you have a lot of business right in the
United States today? I do.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
I think it's one of the key markets as well.
I work on the global businesses. So also the Yes,
so I work with in Europe and in the in
US because there is for especially for technology solutions. They
are really agnostic across and finding the customers. It's just
(25:48):
a matter of focusing what are the top priority markets.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Indeed, tell me what you're doing with the PNG alumni
network and what it means to you.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Oh, yes, I really. I reconnected with a lot of
colleagues recently when I attended this year PMG Alumni conference.
It happened in Europe in Germany, and it was so
nice to see fellows with whom I worked ten to
(26:20):
fifteen years ago and to see their journeys. So I
think it's really fascinating and how strong this network is
both on humanitarian aspect that we have a PNG Alumni
Foundation doing great job supporting the projects, projects which have
(26:46):
strong mission or within the communities, and second is also
there is a startup area as well, So it was
so fascinating to see a lot of it's called cut pull,
and that was so fascinating to see people who also
made that jump like me from the corporate to the startups.
(27:09):
It is a bumpy journey, like with a lot of learnings,
but that was for me.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
It's really.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I'm happy to be part of this community because the
fundamentals we learned about the business brand management. We are
really care and the people are are so like minded.
Even when we leave PPNG about what we want to
do in the future with the purpose.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
It's so true. I'm going to tell you I left
OVER forty years ago, but I never left. It's never
left my heart and mind. And I've written numerous books,
this last latest one truly significant, which there's still five
(28:00):
verse six chapters on PNG people because I just I
just love what they've done to move from success to significance,
the hearts that are found, the PNG Foundation that works
around the world to help people who are in need
(28:22):
and just to bring them up, lift them up, and
to help create these ecosystems around the world. I just
think it's the greatest thing we could possibly do. It
be doing, aside from running our own enterprises, because it's
about giving back and that core value. I hope and
(28:46):
I wish becomes a part of all these new enterprises
that are being built out there to have a some
purpose beyond making profit.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, I think it's an off stole or why that's
what connects people people or two. Yes, to drive the profit,
but in the same time do that in a meaningful way.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
That's exactly right. I'm gonna wrap up this wonderful conversation
with this question. If I were to write a book
about you, and it was to highlight all the things
that you've achieved, Let's say it's twenty or thirty years
from now, what do you want that title of your
(29:34):
book to be?
Speaker 2 (29:41):
I would see because it's also my wish even to father,
to explore that how to make your hot sing?
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Oh wow, I would write that book. I love the
title and everything that you said today was so inspiring,
especially to young entrepreneurs, because what if you're going through
this trench, this valley in your life where your heart's
(30:14):
not singing. You got to recognize that.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
It might take some time, but be open, be open
to that journey.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
That's right, and be mindful, open heart, and be mindful
of what's going on in your life and I know
that for some of you that it may be frustrated
in your current jobs. Think through what you're going to
do in the future. Don't make premature leaps to something else.
(30:54):
Try to at least plot out and plan what you
can achieve on your career journey, and try to consider
the road is significance otherwise known as have a purpose
and a real why behind what you're doing. I'll let
you have the final word. Tell us one more time
(31:15):
about how we can contact you and your business and
for those of our listeners out there that want to
get in touch with you today, how will that happen?
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Sure so I help startups and scale ups as a
fractional CMO to build the brands and grow the business
with clarity and you can get Also, yeah, just a
first indication where your marketing efforts are and what would
(31:47):
be the unlocked growth opportunities in just doing a frequiz
on my website AD Marketing Strategy dot com and rich
od I'm happy to just learn about your ideas as
well in this field.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Beautiful. Thanks again, Adriana. We really appreciate you being on
today's show and folks, as we always say, we wish
you success. But on your own unique way to significance.
Have a great week,
And good morning and welcome back to Truly Significant dot
com Presents. I'm Rick Tokini. Our very special guest today
is a fellow Proctor in Gimble alum, Adrianna Deragon, and
she is a practicing marketing strategist chief marketing officer who's
(00:33):
got this great combined experience from not only Proctor, but
from Unilever and from her other client experiences. And today
we're going to be celebrating her significant career journey. Adriana,
welcome to our show.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Thank you, Rick, Yes, happy to join.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
We want to hear your entire backstory, starting from university
and where you went from there and then those first
few days at Procter and Gamble.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Sure. So I come from a family where we all
studied economics, so I started. I did my bachelor in economics,
but the masters I come from Lithuania, but the masters
I chose to study in Denmark linked to the entrepreneurship
and innovations. So it's really bringing the innovation what it
(01:27):
takes to to bring that to market. And when I
started my career quite early in when I was eighteen,
I worked in Unilever. That was my first experience in
marketing in the local office and that's where I really
liked what brand management is about and the customer working
(01:52):
with the customers the business together developing. And then I've
some more marketing experiences. I joined PNG in Geneva in Switzerland.
I didn't plan to go to Switzerland to live, but
that's what happens with Procter and Gamble had the headquarters
(02:14):
and I joined Erma in one of the regional offices.
So when I stayed there were after US moved to
the merger in the beauty company Kutti, and worked also
for after US for other international company in chemicals. But
the big shift for me happened when I got my daughter.
(02:37):
That's when I left the corporate world and moved to
the startups, to the scale ups. I was head of
marketing and one of the scale ups here in Switzerland
in the AI software company, so I really learned with
all the hype of Ai jen Ai being part of
the working with the tech team, and now I'm having
(03:00):
my own business.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
That's a big transition, coming from a giant corporation to
going to B to B startups. What has been the
biggest shock in that cultural change?
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Oh, definitely, I think it's First, I really wanted to
learn about AI with l Alam models Jenny, I all
that was seemed so fuzzy at that time.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
It was.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, just before the hype happened. And that's what I think.
It's working with the technology team first learning all that,
but second is also the different sizes. Coming from a
corporate with well structured roles and knowing how typical launch plans,
how it should be. It was really great school in
(03:53):
practang gamble and afterwards I can apply and also other corporate,
bigger companies, but in a startup what I liked it's
really this rapid culture of learning, shifting, apply, applying different
tests and seeing what goes. So it's really the different
(04:14):
way of working.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Exactly. We both came from a culture where decisions were
made on a very measured basis correct, and you describe
it as a rapid culture. If you're not fast enough
and the size enough, you're going to be left in
the dust when it comes to AI and the speed
(04:37):
of business today. So what is your big advice for
people that are thinking about leaving a fortune five hundred company.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yes, I think it's more What helped me was I
took the intermediate step in between after Frog ten Gamble,
I was working in another fortune five one hundred company
chemical companies and that's where we were launching new brand
within the big corporate So it was the startup within
(05:09):
the corporate world. So it was already still leveraging all
the all the different tools were within the big company,
but already learning to work with a different mindset with
the team. The team to grow and it was about
the sustainable, nobility focused textiles brand Naya. So it was
(05:33):
all about learning about new area and introducing completely new
or new solutions to the market. And that's it's a
lot about what is in a startups. It's a lot
about the novelty bringing that to the market. The it's
and learning as we go what works.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Absolutely, So we came from a company that built brands
that are trustworthy yes and deliver behind a brand promise
in your new journey, how are you able to achieve that?
But only faster.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I think the connecting with the mission and values is
really important. And then the startups, really the founders have
this idea of why they build a company, what was
the problem we try to solve, So that's really to
connecting that really and not forgetting it then starting to
work on the plans, really going back to the roots.
(06:36):
That's really what also in building the great brands in
pro frig Gamble in other companies is all about as well.
It really kear focusing on the promise, really the the
equity of the brand, and that's also in the startups,
really knowing the mission, the value values and having that
(06:57):
as an off star.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah, that's right. I was going to ask you what
what the north star means to you today because it
was sure different at Procter. What is the north star?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I think it's more, I seem more for me the balance,
the balance between mind and heart, so really about knowing
where you want to go, being resilience of all the
mind the mind paths, but in the same time, listening
(07:33):
to my own heart and what makes my heart sing.
I think that's what really made me to create. Also
what the work I like now do like in my
in my business because it's exactly more now it's the
time and I know much more about myself. Well, really
(07:54):
I can also connect with people who have similar mission
want We have very strong innovation, we really want something
to bring to the market. But in the same time,
the struggle most probably from the business side marketing side,
so it's more about this connecting, but it needs to
(08:15):
be the strong idea why they created something that sol
This mission part is very important.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
You just hit paydirt for me because this show is
about people that have transitioned from success to significance, and
only people that are in the zone of significance. Say
what makes my heart sing? Yes, there's a joy that
you have now recognized about what makes you happy, what
(08:50):
makes your work more significant, and what makes you of
greater value to everyone that you're working with.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
True, I think it took time to discover that and
finally listening to my heart more. And I didn't know
I wanted to do something on my own. Freedom was
important to me and bringing innovation to life was important
to me, but in which capacity, which way I didn't know?
I didn't know for some times. So it was really
(09:22):
took time to be open, to take time to reflect
and at the same time have the conversations with people
to her to to connect with people, what other different
ways to achieve that. So for me, it was a
lot about about being close to the innovation big working
(09:48):
with the teams who are really have something great. So
that's what I like to work with a startup scale
ups who have really strong innovation. I work with am
medical technology startups and a lot in also with bio technology,
so they typically have an innovation we worked long time,
(10:12):
but we are coming from it from technology background, so
they are not necessarily yet thought about what the customer needs,
what are really the market dynamics of the product, And
that's well, I can see a lot of those innovations either.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Star stop.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yes the startups fail or they really struggle a lot
because they are mission lead. They have great technology, but
it takes more to win in the market. So that's well,
there's people who are passionate about what we do. I
think that's what makes me my heart sing. Then I
(10:56):
can make the impact when they make the impact of
what we do that bring to life, then I can
really see, okay, my efforts really make make the difference.
And then the startup, smaller company world, I can see
that impact faster.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
In that fascinating and what I've learned in my post
Procter days is that small companies startups in particular, have
one or two geniuses inside their company, and that the
strengths of those geniuses are about their original idea. But
(11:38):
I bet you nine times out of ten those geniuses
needed mentoring when it came to storytelling, correct. And I
would love for you to share an example of when
you've been able to go into one of these startups
and mentor the leaders and to help them shape the
story and the narrative of their own companies.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Yes, and that's one of the current also startups I
work with. We are in education technology space, and we
had very knowledgeable, very noble mission of bringing more humanity
and the effectiveness to the teaching, So really bringing those
(12:26):
capabilities within the teacher, within the teachers so that basically
the students can can benefit from that as well. And
what really was originally the founder was very very knowledgeable
in the in that space. Plus also he really also
(12:48):
liked to work on the research and development technology part
of a product. This is what was his say, uh
safe space that he really liked to spend time. What
he was not so comfortable about is all the go
to market storytelling commercial aspects. But its key for him
to grow the business to reach actually those customers. He
(13:11):
needed to dedicate here as well the resources in the area,
so working together building the just the roadmap, what it
could look look like, what a segments to focus, what
would be the go to market. It really opens the
eyes of him how he can do more what he
likes and how the leveraging over resources he can be
(13:36):
more successful. So that was really nice. Like this is
where you can see that we have yes great foundation,
but the mentors coaches support can really help them in
the areas for them to excel where they need help.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
That is such a recognized about pattern and helping others
and mentoring others. In speaking of mentors, before we take
a commercial break, I want you to take a few
minutes just to recognize and thank the several mentors that
have shaped your storytelling and your skill set along the way.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
I think my mentors come from my teenagehoody. Yes, then
we helped to shape my personality. So two mentors. One
was my high school director and chemistry teacher. I was
not so fascinated about the hemistry, but I liked her
(14:38):
life lessons and what she always said ask the question
why not only take information as it is, but ask
the question why. So it's really proning to dig deeper,
have a critical thinking, assess the information, and cut through
the house and the UH, and that's really what helps
(15:02):
me now when I have I work in a technology
UH filled with all my startups and gale ups. There
is a lot of innovation. There is a lot of
things happening in the way I field, so it's constant
bombarding of new information, but cutting through the through that
(15:23):
and really knowing what to focus on is critical. So
that's now I remember always her question why and second
mentor would be I would say also from high school years,
I was in a youth journalist club as writing for
a local newslet newspaper and it was coordinated by one
(15:46):
of the teachers from different school. But I really loved
that she is so social, open and taking time to
connect with people. So this an empathy part of her
really left the mark for me. And also I was
(16:09):
quite shy teenager, and that helped to open up and
see that connecting with people, taking time to UH to
learn about the people can really make the life fuller
and also open to new perspectives.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
That is so refreshing to hear you had that a
chemistry teacher and a youth journalism club leader helping you
ask the critical questions and then learning how to connect
with people what what a beautiful combination there. Okay, we're
going to take a quick commercial break. I'm gonna throw
(16:53):
it to you first, Adriana, tell us about your company
and where our listeners can contact you to learn about
your enterprise.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Sure, so my company is called ad Marketing Strategy dot com.
So your listeners can go there and have a quiz
which is about to diagnose Vevia currently with the marketing
efforts and what would be the key key focus areas
(17:26):
we can focus on and to make the business more
effective and grow.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
That's ad Marketing Strategy dot com. Correct, very good. All right,
We're going to be right back with Adriana after this
quick message from the one and only Marcus Aurelius.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
This is Marcus Aurelius reappearing to proclaim that truly significant
conversations with big hearted people is a rare piece of literature.
This book reminds me of one of my more stirring quotes,
waste no more time arguing what a good man should
be be one. If you're stepping into your next life
(18:15):
chapter of your career and questioning what lies beyond success,
this book is for you. Dive into forty soul stirring
stories from luminaries like doctor Jane Goodall, ed Asner and
Emily Chang. Stories that urge you to pursue purpose, serve others,
(18:38):
and build a legacy.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
That outlasts you.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Authored by Rick TOLKINI Truly Significant will challenge your view
of success and ignite a life of impact. Order now
at TinyURL dot com backslash truly significant and begin living intentionally.
Maybe your epitaph will.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Read she gave outrageously extended grace unceasingly and lived to
help others so that death found her empty.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Visit truly significant dot com and celebrate the most truly
significant people in your life with the truly Significant community.
How bold of you to make your next chapter matter
and be truly significant.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
And we are back with our special guest, Adriana Deragon.
She told me before the show that she did you
marry into a French family? Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Correct? My husband is French.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Welcome to the tribe, Ah, you do. We French people
are often known for their great food, but not necessar
necessarily for their wonderful hospitality.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
But we're changing that today as we speak. I want
to talk to you a little bit more about the
business challenges that some of these small companies face. Everybody
wants to build communities, and they want to build communities fast.
But you and I know that communities sometimes take time
(20:26):
to listen to people and to understand them, deeply understand them,
listen to them. But yet there's this speed of business
that's there that you're trying to get to that community fast.
Where's the bridge to that? Where do speed intersect building trust?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I think it's it's very hard to crack, but it's
a lot about first being mindful that the community also
requires a lot of engagement, and it's really also building
a way that is self fulfilling community that is allowing
(21:07):
different dialogues to happen about the topic, so being the
space for people to discuss. And quite an often mistake
I see from companies is thinking that they could fully monitor, fully,
fully be in charge of all the conversations and it
should be only about the brand and their communities. So
(21:28):
it's and this is why people like especially today, they
can uh they can quickly sense that that it's more
as an advertising channel versus really the place for the community.
And I think one of the areas to focus is
really why the community exists, so it's bigger. It's a
(21:50):
b link to the purpose and the key key area
of the problem the customers have and this is what
are the common links between in them and really building
a community can be even bigger than the solutions we
have currently and that it takes time. And I work
(22:14):
with one client currently who she is in her company
is in a wellness area and the goal is to
also path to build a community for the migrant emigrant
background people to connect to feel accepted in the local area,
(22:37):
express and find the come on come on traits and
the and the activities to do together. And that's my
result further than only like the offering the company has.
So that's I think it's one area where it takes
time to monitor but in the same time find those
(22:58):
key key people who or from the community who can
actually also bring to life the topics.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
That's the second time that you've spoken above community in
these conversations. If you really listen to Adriana, she's talking
about ecosystems. If you if you think your company can
answer the question why the why your community exists and
(23:30):
then make the community bigger than the solution. Now you're
into ecosystems.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
So give me an example of a company that you've
worked with it has made that transition to solar system
versus community.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
It was in the still my uh yeah. In one
of the previous projects I worked on, it was about
building in sustainability the community of passionate full value chain partners.
So it includes really diverse a CoSystem because that's how
(24:09):
we can move the needle. That all that talking and
really seeing the constraints in different areas, and that's b
to be not b to see a community which is
even harder to crack. So it was making that platform
valuable and open that people could really share that also
(24:31):
the constraints, not only like the success stories and what
we are working working on, but really being a valuable
platform for them to go and find the peer to
peer discussion about the solutions to their problems in a
sustain sustainability about recycling, recycling, but new solutions to the
(24:54):
recycling technologies. What we would actually would make h to
reach our goal goals faster.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
M hm. So fascinating. I think it's a skill set
into itself that Adriana Will could bring to your companies
if you're considering her and your work is way outside
of Europe. I know that you're you're based in Europe.
Do you have a lot of business right in the
United States today? I do.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
I think it's one of the key markets as well.
I work on the global businesses. So also the Yes,
so I work with in Europe and in the in
US because there is for especially for technology solutions. They
are really agnostic across and finding the customers. It's just
(25:48):
a matter of focusing what are the top priority markets.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Indeed, tell me what you're doing with the PNG alumni
network and what it means to you.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Oh, yes, I really. I reconnected with a lot of
colleagues recently when I attended this year PMG Alumni conference.
It happened in Europe in Germany, and it was so
nice to see fellows with whom I worked ten to
(26:20):
fifteen years ago and to see their journeys. So I
think it's really fascinating and how strong this network is
both on humanitarian aspect that we have a PNG Alumni
Foundation doing great job supporting the projects, projects which have
(26:46):
strong mission or within the communities, and second is also
there is a startup area as well, So it was
so fascinating to see a lot of it's called cut pull,
and that was so fascinating to see people who also
made that jump like me from the corporate to the startups.
(27:09):
It is a bumpy journey, like with a lot of learnings,
but that was for me.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
It's really.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I'm happy to be part of this community because the
fundamentals we learned about the business brand management. We are
really care and the people are are so like minded.
Even when we leave PPNG about what we want to
do in the future with the purpose.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
It's so true. I'm going to tell you I left
OVER forty years ago, but I never left. It's never
left my heart and mind. And I've written numerous books,
this last latest one truly significant, which there's still five
(28:00):
verse six chapters on PNG people because I just I
just love what they've done to move from success to significance,
the hearts that are found, the PNG Foundation that works
around the world to help people who are in need
(28:22):
and just to bring them up, lift them up, and
to help create these ecosystems around the world. I just
think it's the greatest thing we could possibly do. It
be doing, aside from running our own enterprises, because it's
about giving back and that core value. I hope and
(28:46):
I wish becomes a part of all these new enterprises
that are being built out there to have a some
purpose beyond making profit.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, I think it's an off stole or why that's
what connects people people or two. Yes, to drive the profit,
but in the same time do that in a meaningful way.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
That's exactly right. I'm gonna wrap up this wonderful conversation
with this question. If I were to write a book
about you, and it was to highlight all the things
that you've achieved, Let's say it's twenty or thirty years
from now, what do you want that title of your
(29:34):
book to be?
Speaker 2 (29:41):
I would see because it's also my wish even to father,
to explore that how to make your hot sing?
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Oh wow, I would write that book. I love the
title and everything that you said today was so inspiring,
especially to young entrepreneurs, because what if you're going through
this trench, this valley in your life where your heart's
(30:14):
not singing. You got to recognize that.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
It might take some time, but be open, be open
to that journey.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
That's right, and be mindful, open heart, and be mindful
of what's going on in your life and I know
that for some of you that it may be frustrated
in your current jobs. Think through what you're going to
do in the future. Don't make premature leaps to something else.
(30:54):
Try to at least plot out and plan what you
can achieve on your career journey, and try to consider
the road is significance otherwise known as have a purpose
and a real why behind what you're doing. I'll let
you have the final word. Tell us one more time
(31:15):
about how we can contact you and your business and
for those of our listeners out there that want to
get in touch with you today, how will that happen?
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Sure so I help startups and scale ups as a
fractional CMO to build the brands and grow the business
with clarity and you can get Also, yeah, just a
first indication where your marketing efforts are and what would
(31:47):
be the unlocked growth opportunities in just doing a frequiz
on my website AD Marketing Strategy dot com and rich
od I'm happy to just learn about your ideas as
well in this field.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Beautiful. Thanks again, Adriana. We really appreciate you being on
today's show and folks, as we always say, we wish
you success. But on your own unique way to significance.
Have a great week,
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