Don't copy. Innovate — or at least go first

Why Proofpoint’s VP of Marketing is allergic to corporate theatre.

Joining Fiona in this episode: Archana Dhankar, VP of Marketing at Proofpoint

What happens when a computer engineer leads growth marketing? You get a systems-led, action-oriented strategy that’s completely allergic to corporate theatre.

In this episode of Signals & Stories, we sit down with Archana Dhankar, VP of Marketing at Proofpoint. Archana breaks down how her engineering roots shape her approach to building powerhouse teams, breaking out of the marketing echo chamber, and driving relentless innovation.

We dive into:

1. Don't copy, innovate: Why borrowing a competitor’s playbook instantly puts you six months behind.

2. The 10% rule: How to bake a parallel experimentation budget directly into your team's KPIs.

3. Hire for the will, not the skill: Her ultimate "billboard" philosophy for building high-performing, values-aligned teams.

Listen now

Run time 28 minutes

Click here to listen on Spotify