#99. 6 Tips & Tricks to Survive (and Thrive) SKO 2024 (with Ashima Bhatt)

Tis the season for SKOs (Sales KickOffs)!  After years in various roles in B2B marketing most recently the Director of Product Marketing at RingCentral, Ashima calls herself a “Product Storyteller.”  We discuss her path into product marketing management and the necessary elements needed for SKOs to really be a success. In fact, she even wrote a blog about it—"6 Tips & Tricks to Survive (and Thrive) SKO 2024 as a PMM."  From aligning on goals to building a memorable agenda, SKOs really can be FUN and we’re here to help you through it. This is an episode for: product marketers, sales teams and anyone in need of SKO inspiration. What’s in the Spice Cabinet??  Folks planning for SKOs - you need this blog, "6 Tips & Tricks to Survive (and Thrive) SKO 2024 as a PMM.” Keep up with Ashima on her site!  Ashima’s favorite coffee table book?  The Advertising Concept Book: Think Now, Design Later by Pete Barry Product Marketing Leaders to follow: CEO of Wynter, Peep Laja Jason Oakley - has a great newsletter  Fave SKO memory? “None that I can share out loud. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…that’ll tell you how much fun you can have at an SKO.” Ashima’s presentation preparation practice “I feel confident when I've practiced my presentation, because I don't want to have to rely on the confidence monitors. I try my best to because then you look more natural, right?”  Walkout song?  Taylor Swift - Shake it Off What does “Presentation Thinking” mean to you?  “Really, it's not just about creating slides, right? It is empowering everyone to communicate more effectively and telling a story not just through words, but through visuals. And I always look at presentations as the slides support the speaker, like really, everyone's eyes should be on the speaker—glancing at the slides—but you should be commanding the room and the presence. You know, your energy, your story, the way that you tell it should be commanding, and the presentation is the backup dancer.”