Executive Guidance

Offering insights from Toptal’s key industry and consulting executives, the Executive Guidance blog is a hub for in-depth analysis of trends, strategies, and technologies that can help business leaders gain a competitive edge.

Share

AI, Search, and the Next Evolution of Commerce Content: Insights from Forbes

Discover how Emily Jackson, SVP of eCommerce at Forbes, is shaping the next era of digital publishing. In this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast, she shares insights on how commerce content became a key revenue driver, the evolving role of AI in product discovery, and how Forbes balances editorial trust with business growth.

36-minute episodeLearn More
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

This episode’s host, Jeff Gangemi, is the Growth and Digital Marketing Practice Lead at Toptal. Jeff has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients.

Building an AI-ready Culture: Lessons from Ricoh’s Digital Transformation

Discover how Ricoh’s Vice President of Portfolio Software Solution Development, Ashok Shenoy, is leading AI-driven transformation by focusing on people, process, and data. In this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast, Shenoy shares how Ricoh built an AI-ready culture, overcame adoption challenges, and scaled AI to improve business operations.

29-minute episodeLearn More
TJ Urglavitch

TJ Urglavitch

This episode’s host, TJ Urglavitch, has over a decade of leadership experience in the hosting and cloud services industry. He helps organizations navigate the complexities of cloud computing adoption and transformation, ensuring scalable and efficient technology solutions.

Rethinking B2B Marketing: The Power of Brand in Long-Term Growth

Discover how Evidenza co-founder and former global head of development of The B2B Institute at LinkedIn, Peter Weinberg is redefining B2B marketing by challenging conventional wisdom. In this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast, Peter shares insights on the balance between brand and performance marketing and why distinctiveness—not just differentiation—is the key to long-term success.

43-minute episodeLearn More
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

This episode’s host, Jeff Gangemi, is the Growth and Digital Marketing Practice Lead at Toptal. Jeff has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients.

Insights on Building Content-Driven, Agile Marketing Teams at Airbnb, Salesforce, and Logitech

Discover how Logitech marketing leader Hayley Nelson is reshaping content strategy using agile principles, newsroom-style storytelling, and deep customer insights. In this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast, she shares lessons from Salesforce, Airbnb, and Logitech on building high-impact content marketing teams that drive trust and engagement.

39-minute episodeLearn More
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

This episode’s host, Jeff Gangemi, holds an MBA from Cornell University. He has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients.

Reinventing Gifting: Inside Edible’s eCommerce Transformation

Discover how Edible’s VP of eCommerce, Erica Randerson, is driving bold brand transformation and redefining the gifting experience through data, AI, and innovation on this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast.

23-minute episodeLearn More
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

This episode’s host, Jeff Gangemi, holds an MBA from Cornell University. He has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients.

Cybersecurity in Digital Transformation: Insights From Inside Google Cloud

Discover how agile cybersecurity practices and workforce enablement can drive digital transformation and safeguard businesses in this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast.

54-minute episodeLearn More
Michael Figueroa

Michael Figueroa

This episode’s host, Michael Figueroa, is a seasoned information security leader with experience at the Advanced Cyber Security Center and Toptal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in high-tech crime investigations from George Washington University.

B2B Marketing: Keys to Innovation and Growth in B2B SaaS

Uncover strategies for thriving in the B2B SaaS world and fostering lasting customer connections on this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast.

32-minute episodeLearn More
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

This episode’s host, Jeff Gangemi, holds an MBA from Cornell University. He has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients.

AI and Cybersecurity: Challenges and Opportunities

Discover how AI, cybersecurity, and public-private collaboration are transforming government technology and workforce efficiency on this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast.

54-minute episodeLearn More
Michael Figueroa

Michael Figueroa

This episode’s host, Michael Figueroa, is a seasoned information security leader with experience at the Advanced Cyber Security Center and Toptal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in high-tech crime investigations from George Washington University.

Cybersecurity Insights: Proactive Thinking, Ad Platform Safety, and More

Tune into this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast for a deep dive into cutting-edge cybersecurity strategies, securing advertising platforms against digital threats, and the challenge of recruiting top cybertalent.

35-minute episodeLearn More
Michael Figueroa

Michael Figueroa

This episode’s host, Michael Figueroa, is a seasoned information security leader with experience at the Advanced Cyber Security Center and Toptal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in high-tech crime investigations from George Washington University.

Marketing Spotlight: Building Brands With Product-led Storytelling

Discover how bold product innovation and product-led storytelling can transform brands and enhance customer experiences on this episode of the Executive Guidance podcast.

41-minute episodeLearn More
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

This episode’s host, Jeff Gangemi, holds an MBA from Cornell University. He has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients.

Finding the Best Marketing Channels for Your Small Business: A Strategic Guide to Increasing ROI

Small businesses cannot afford to think small with marketing. Toptal’s Growth and Digital Marketing Practice Lead outlines five steps to guide decision-makers in selecting the most effective marketing channels.

10-minute readContinue Reading
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

Jeff is the Growth and Digital Marketing Practice Lead at Toptal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and an MBA from Cornell University with an emphasis in leadership and innovation. Jeff has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients. Before joining Toptal, he held senior management roles at Accenture Song, Material, and Telus International.

The Creative Advantage: How Leading Brands Drive Demand With Innovative Marketing Strategies

Don’t let data-centric marketing overshadow creative innovation. Toptal’s Growth and Digital Marketing Practice Lead shares fresh—and refreshed—approaches for creative marketing in the digital age.

10-minute readContinue Reading
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

Jeff is the Growth & Digital Marketing Practice Lead at Toptal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and an MBA from Cornell University with an emphasis in leadership and innovation. Jeff has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients. Before joining Toptal, he held senior management roles at Accenture Song, Material, and Telus International.

The 4 Crucial Stages of Successful Generative AI Integration

Adoption of Gen AI is on the rise, but research suggests that only 10% of companies are successfully scaling their AI initiatives. In this article, an artificial intelligence and data analytics leader explains the key steps organizations must take to achieve their AI ambitions.

8-minute readContinue Reading
Chas Stikeleather

Chas Stikeleather

Chas Stikeleather is an artificial intelligence and data analytics leader with experience at Bain & Company and Toptal. He has spent most of his career helping Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and SMBs across industries to optimize their data. Chas holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stetson University and a master’s degree in analytics from North Carolina State University.

Elevating Developer Experience in Cloud Computing: A Strategic Guide for Organizational Leaders

Propel your company’s cloud technology with a superior DevEx strategy. Toptal’s Cloud Services Practice Lead explains how to achieve faster delivery of services and increased user satisfaction.

9-minute readContinue Reading
TJ Urglavitch

TJ Urglavitch

TJ has more than a decade of leadership experience in the hosting and cloud services industry and guides clients through the complexities of cloud computing adoption and transformation. He holds a degree in accounting from Delaware County Community College and accreditations for both Scrum and the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

Choosing an AI Tool Set for Content Personalization

Today’s marketing teams are expected to provide personalized experiences. Discover how to meet customer demand with the latest developments in AI content personalization from Toptal’s Growth Marketing Practice Lead Jeff Gangemi.

12-minute readContinue Reading
Jeff Gangemi

Jeff Gangemi

Jeff is the Growth Marketing Practice Lead at Toptal. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and an MBA from Cornell University with an emphasis on leadership and innovation. Jeff has spent the past 15 years building demand generation, content marketing, and digital programs that drive meaningful transformation and growth for both internal teams and external clients. Before joining Toptal, he held senior management roles at Accenture Song, Material, and Telus International.

The Business Value of Design on Your Organization’s Bottom Line

Design is a critical driver of innovation, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage. Sara Kahlau, a leader in digital customer experience, explores design’s far-reaching business value.

12-minute readContinue Reading
Sara Kahlau

Sara Kahlau

Sara Kahlau is a leader in digital customer experience with a background in strategy consulting at Booz & Company (now Strategy&) and Toptal. She has worked with PwC and L’Oréal Groupe and held execution-focused CXO roles across several industries. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Technology Sydney, where she double-majored in marketing communications and management.

Assessing the Business Value of New AI Initiatives: A Strategic Framework

Some AI initiatives cut costs and drive innovation—others waste company resources without much ROI. An artificial intelligence and data analytics leader describes an effective framework for evaluating whether an AI project can deliver tangible, hard-hitting value.

9-minute readContinue Reading
Chas Stikeleather

Chas Stikeleather

Chas is an artificial intelligence and data analytics leader with experience at Bain & Company and Toptal. He has spent most of his career helping Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and SMBs across industries get the most out of their data. Chas holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stetson University and a master’s degree in analytics from North Carolina State University.

Join the Toptal® community.