RevOps Champions Podcast

Beyond Random Acts: Building a Scalable Marketing Operating System | Jennifer Zick

Written by Brendon Dennewill | January 28, 2026 at 9:16 PM

 

In this episode of RevOps Champions, host Brendon Dennewill talks with Jennifer Zick, CEO of Authentic and creator of the Authentic Growth Marketing Operating System. With 25+ years in B2B marketing across startups, PE-backed companies, and global organizations, Jennifer unpacks the predictable pattern she’s seen as companies scale: founder-led, sales-driven growth eventually leaves behind a trail of “random acts of marketing.”

Jennifer explains the “little marketing vs. big marketing” shift, where marketing stops being a sidecar to sales and becomes a strategic, leadership-aligned growth discipline across the full customer lifecycle. The conversation covers why marketing often lacks the right seat in the organization chart, how RevOps becomes the glue for execution and measurement, and why fractional leadership is evolving into a long-term operating model, especially as AI improves tactical efficiency without replacing executive judgment.

This episode is essential listening for CEOs, revenue leaders, CMOs, and RevOps professionals who want more predictable growth, clearer ROI, and a scalable marketing system that supports acquisition, retention, and valuation over time.

 

What You’ll Learn

  • The growth lifecycle shift: founder-led → sales-driven → go-to-market strategic
  • Little marketing vs. big marketing
  • The evolution of fractional CMOs from a temporary “bridge” to a long-term operating model
  • Why RevOps/Marketing ops acts as the connective tissue
  • The predictability mindset
  • The measurement ecosystem beyond CAC/LTV

Resources Mentioned

 

Listen

 

 

About the Guest

 
 

Jennifer Zick is the Founder and CEO of Authentic®, a leading fractional CMO and marketing transformation firm that helps growing businesses overcome random acts of marketing and build disciplined, scalable growth systems. With more than 25 years of experience across startups, private equity–backed companies, and global organizations, Jennifer is the creator of the Authentic Growth® Marketing Operating System, designed to align marketing strategy with revenue goals and long-term business value.

A recognized leader in the fractional CMO space, Jennifer is an Inc. 5000 member, Fast 50 awardee, and multiple-time honoree for leadership and workplace excellence. She is known for bringing clarity, accountability, and predictability to growth by connecting marketing leadership, RevOps, and executive decision-making.

Subscribe
View full post