Markigy: The Science of Marketing Strategy

Partnerships Are the New Growth Engine: The Next GTM Era W/ Amanda Nielsen

Episode Summary

In this episode, we unpack why partnerships have become the most powerful — and sometimes overlooked — growth engine in modern go-to-market strategy. Amanda Nielsen joins Leanne to break down how authenticity, community, and strategic collaboration are reshaping the next era of GTM and creating career-defining opportunities for marketers.

Episode Notes

In this episode, Leanne sits down with partnerships leader and multi-hyphenate creator Amanda Nielsen to talk about the real power behind modern marketing: authenticity, community, and the compounding force of partnerships. From reclaiming harmful workplace experiences to navigating sudden layoffs with transparency, Amanda shows how human-first marketing isn’t just refreshing — it’s effective, scalable, and the future of GTM.

Be Your Real Self (Seriously): Amanda says being totally honest—even about tough stuff like layoffs or dealing with a jerk at work (which inspired her brand, Thought Leader Labs)—is what actually gets you noticed and builds trust. Forget the perfectly polished stuff.
Partnerships are the Secret Weapon for Growth: Teaming up with influencers, consultants, and other partners is way better than cold calls. Why? Because you're borrowing their community's trust, and that shared credibility equals exponential reach (think big companies like HubSpot and Salesforce).
Relationships > Fancy Funnels: Stop stressing about perfect marketing dashboards. People buy based on relationships, word-of-mouth, and who they trust, not because they slid neatly through a chart. Amanda's take: Marketing attribution is basically made up. Lead with humanity, not metrics.

If you’re burnt out on traditional GTM or craving a more human, flexible path, partnerships may be your next career move — and Amanda’s Pivot to Partnerships cohort is where to start. Check out her Thought Leader Labs store for tech-humor merch, follow her on LinkedIn, and tap into the Markigy community for more episodes that blend strategy, creativity, and real-world marketing science.

Connect:

Amanda Nielsen

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

Websites:

https://verydemanda.com/

https://thotleaderlabs.com/

Maven Course:

https://maven.com/partnershipsschool/pivot-to-partnerships-the-best-kept-secret-in-go-to-market-careers?utm_campaign=markigypodcast

Leanne
LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannedow/