Know Before You Go: The Empathy Codified Playbook for RSA Conference 2025

Most vendors won’t admit this, but we will:Your brand doesn’t have a messaging problem. It has a presence problem.And it’s why buyers leave RSA feeling numb, unseen, and unready to trust you.In this episode, Dani Woolf sits down with Zachary Hyde, someone she doesn’t always agree with, which makes this conversation one of the most honest and urgent before a major conference.Together, they break down why most GTM teams think they’re being empathetic but are actually performing a buyer-first fantasy while still clinging to control.If you're showing up to RSA Conference this year with a booth, a badge, and a team under pressure to "drive pipeline" - this is your mirror.Listen before you land in SFO.What We Cover:Why vendors fail to empathize with buyers at conferencesHow canned “empathetic marketing” actually erodes trustWhy emotional presence is a muscle to be consistently massagedThe difference between tone-matching and real psychological safetyRed flags buyers spot immediately and won’t tell you aboutWhat to do this week to actually build trust at RSA (no fluff, no fake discovery)  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit audience1st.substack.com