Growth Insights for CEOs

From Economic Insight to Growth Strategy: What CEOs Should Do Now
At our most recent CEO Growth Talks, I spoke with Taylor St. Germaine, Senior Economist at ITR Economics. The timing couldn’t have been better — the latest GDP numbers had just been released, and Taylor broke down what they mean for CEOs planning growth.
As always, ITR brought a clear and fact-based perspective. The economy is growing. Consumer spending is strong. And while some industries are facing headwinds, opportunities abound for leaders who are ready to act.
But the real question for CEOs isn’t just what the economy looks like. It’s: how do you prepare your business to grow in this environment — and the one coming next?
Recent Posts

Winning the Budgeting Game in Healthcare Marketing, Part One
Thu, Oct 10, 2024 — In today's competitive healthcare landscape, securing and effectively utilizing marketing budgets is crucial for success. However, traditional budgeting methods may not be sufficient today as the industry shifts from sales-heavy to marketing-focused strategies, and a plethora of data and analytics become available to help measure goal attainment. I recently spoke with Scott Alexander from Jairus Marketing about smart budgeting in today’s healthcare industry. We talked about how today’s budgets are complex, data-driven decision-making processes compared to the arbitrary and unscientific budget exercises of the past. Winning the budgeting game in healthcare requires understanding regulatory concerns, operational considerations, and clinical/hospital systems as critical pieces of the value analysis equation.

Healthcare Marketing: Getting Your Value Propositions Right, Part 2
Thu, Oct 3, 2024 — My last blog featured highlights from a recent conversation with Jairus Marketing CEO Scott Alexander. This conversation spotlighted the long-reaching benefits of compelling value propositions in healthcare marketing. For the second half of this topic, let’s explore how tailoring value propositions to specific audiences is essential for success in healthcare.

20 AI-Powered Strategies to Supercharge Your SaaS Sales
Wed, Oct 2, 2024 — AI (artificial intelligence) is taking the entire technology sector by storm. And all SaaS vendors are adding AI functionality to their product offerings to stay competitive, as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) syndrome takes hold. The same is happening in the SaaS industry; smart tools can help your sales and marketing team make better and faster decisions, plan, and craft a better customer service approach. As a SaaS CEO, CSO, or CMO, these solutions will open a whole new set of opportunities for growth, oversight, and measurement that can help you be a more prepared and better-informed leader.
Stay up-to-date with the latest from Chief Outsiders

Healthcare Marketing: Getting Your Value Propositions Right
Wed, Sep 25, 2024 — As a healthcare marketing specialist, I know how challenging it can be to articulate your value to your target customers. I often see what people think are effective value propositions, but they're just sales-based marketing buzzwords that require a dictionary, an encyclopedia, or a concordance to understand. I recently spoke with Scott Alexander, CEO of Jairus Marketing, an innovative healthcare marketing firm that tactically helps healthcare companies build brand awareness, market demand, and sales opportunities.

Preparing for Tomorrow: How to Thrive Amid 2024’s Economic Uncertainty
Wed, Aug 7, 2024 — It is no secret that the US economy is experiencing more turbulence than most jetliners – and that is saying a lot! If you have been following ITR Economics' monthly Trends Report™, you are probably aware of ITR’s mild recession forecast for the industrial sectors and slower growth forecast for GDP this year. ITR is also predicting a 3.0% rate of inflation in 2024. Now here is the big question: Should you be worried? Regardless of the projected intensity, our economy is nonetheless experiencing a choppy season. Though having a plan is crucial, keeping your eye on the bigger picture is paramount. ITR forecasts that the US economy will shift back into broad-based growth, moving from a downward economy at the end of 2024 to a period of sustained growth during 2025. The transition from sluggishness to accelerating rise over 12 months is noteworthy.

AI Marketing Trends Every CEO Should Know
Tue, Jul 16, 2024 — As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the marketing landscape, companies can deploy smarter, faster, and more efficient marketing strategies. With AI tools and capabilities evolving at a breakneck pace, staying on top of the latest trends is crucial for CEOs looking to gain a competitive edge. Based on HubSpot's AI Trends for Marketers report, here are the top AI trends shaping the future of marketing for companies of all sizes and stages.

Hiring at the Right Level: Fractional or Full Time?
Wed, Jul 10, 2024 — Finding the right leadership talent isn't just about filling a title; it's about matching skills and responsibilities to an enterprise's needs. The importance of strategic hiring decisions cannot be minimized. However, putting the right person in the correct position is critical, and sometimes, that may mean something other than a permanent, direct hire.

Creating Compelling Assessments that Drive Value
Tue, Jul 9, 2024 — Does your business need a health checkup? Just as you would not wait for symptoms to turn into a full-blown illness before seeing a doctor, savvy leaders understand the value of regular assessments to keep their organizations healthy and thriving. Assessments are a vital diagnostic tool, revealing strengths, weaknesses, and hidden issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Much like preventive healthcare, they provide early warnings, allowing leaders to address concerns before they escalate into crises.

99 and Counting Backwards
Tue, Jul 2, 2024 — Out for a walk on a cool May morning, I saw a pickup truck pull alongside. It was Ray from up the street. “Are you around May 31st?” he asked. “I’m having a 99th birthday party.” That’s funny, I thought, Ray can’t be much over 70. “Yep, this one is my 99th. Last year’s party was my 100th. Figured there’s no way I’d ever live to be 100, and I really wanted to have a 100th birthday party. So I did!