In this episode of TechTalk by Ciente, host Suruchi Bhargava catches up with Rafal Kaczkowski, Senior Marketing Project Manager at The Channel Company, for a no-fluff convo on what it really takes to thrive in today’s fast-changing marketing world. From AI and automation to creative chops and data smarts, Rafal breaks down how brands can stay sharp and stand out.

They get into the nitty-gritty of using AI as a boost — not a crutch — and how to keep campaigns both human and high-impact. He breaks down how great project management keeps the wheels turning, clears the clutter, and brings big ideas to life — without losing sight of the bottom line.

If you’re trying to cut through the noise, work smarter, and keep your marketing game strong — this one’s got your name on it. Hit play and let’s get into it.

About the Guest:

Rafal Kaczkowski
Senior Marketing Project Manager at The Channel Company

Rafal Kaczkowski is a results-driven marketing strategist with a strong background in tech, digital services, and cloud computing. With experience spanning international corporations and multi-regional campaigns across EMEAI, he combines data-driven insight with creative thinking to deliver impactful marketing solutions. Rafal has successfully led initiatives for major players like AWS and Veritas, driving measurable growth and innovation. Passionate about the intersection of AI and marketing, he brings a consultative, hands-on approach to helping brands leverage emerging technologies for smarter, more effective engagement.

The future of marketing belongs to brands that act like gardeners, not Pac-Man—nurturing trust, not just gobbling leads.

In this episode of TechTalk by Ciente, host Suruchi Bhargava (CMO, Ciente) leads a compelling conversation with Mihaela Gogota, Director of Global Demand Generation at UiPath -exploring how marketers can humanize automation, use AI with intention, and measure what truly matters—trust, lifetime value, and customer journeys that feel personal.

They dive into topics like marketing automation that feels human, using AI as a tool rather than a compass, and designing campaigns that serve business KPIs without losing the human connection. 

Expect honest reflections, practical frameworks, and a shared vision for marketing that builds trust, not just clicks. Stream now!

About the Guest:

Mihaela Gogota
Director of Global Demand Generation at UiPath

Mihaela Gogota is an experienced B2B marketer with a strong track record of building and scaling marketing programs in global tech companies.

With over 10 years of experience—most recently at UiPath—she’s led strategic initiatives that have driven measurable growth, improved operational efficiency, and strengthened marketing impact across regions. She’s known for her ability to bridge the gap between data and creativity. From implementing complex marketing automation workflows to developing integrated campaigns and managing global localization efforts, Mihaela brings technical know-how and a practical, collaborative mindset to every challenge.

Originally from Romania and now based in Spain, she brings a global perspective to her work and communicates fluently in English, Spanish, and Romanian. Colleagues describe her as thoughtful, reliable, and always willing to share knowledge—qualities that have made her not only a team player but also a mentor to others.

Mihaela is continuously investing in her growth, with recent learning focused on leadership, communication, and the evolving role of AI in marketing. She thrives in environments where curiosity is encouraged, people are empowered, and marketing is used as a real driver of business success.”

Even the best business strategies fall flat without the right story- and the right storytellers. In this episode of TechTalk, Ciente’s CMO and host Suruchi unearths why communication gaps occur and how strategy becomes meaningful only when it’s clearly understood.

Joined by Lyn Kwek, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs at ACI, they discuss how comms teams can unify internal voices, navigate APAC’s regional complexities, and focus on what truly matters—impact, not just impressions.

From debunking PR myths to humanizing messaging, this episode explores what modern comms need most: connection, clarity, and purpose. As Lyn puts it, ‘Communications isn’t just about announcements—it’s about ongoing engagement, trust, and telling stories that matter.’

Tune in for bold thinking, no spin, and leadership you’ll actually learn from.

About the Guest:

Lyn Kwek
Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs at ACI

The story of my career is about moving from tactical execution to strategic engagement.

I started in technology sales, where I orchestrated multi-million dollar software and services deals across strategic accounts. My sales experience equips me with profound business acumen, honing my ability to foster strategic relationships and navigate complex decision-making processes.

After my MBA, I transitioned into marketing, focusing on demand generation through impactful and measurable campaigns. In pursuit of deeper strategic engagement through storytelling and a communication-centric approach, I pivoted to Communications and Corporate Affairs, focusing on bolstering brand awareness and the company’s reputation among key stakeholders, including media, industry analysts, policymakers, and partners.

From commercial sales to demand generation and content to strategic communications, my career journey underscores the intentional synergy from execution to strategy, contributing to a well-rounded perspective to fuel success.

The key to success? Truly understanding your audience—what they struggle with, what they need—and crafting content that feels interactive, personalized, and relevant. This podcast episode with Suruchi (CMO, Ciente) and Justin Meredith (Digital Marketing Manager, Birdeye) is your crash course on AI-driven marketing innovation.

“You need to understand your product and exactly how it can solve those pain points. And then you need to understand those pain points. You need a lot of empathy to be a really good marketer.”

Catch the episode here!

About the Guest:

Justin Meredith
Digital Marketing Manager, Birdeye

Justin is a digital marketer based in Austin, Texas, specializing in artificial intelligence, local SEO, and reputation management for multi-location brands. At Birdeye, he leads content marketing and hosts the Local Search Expert Series, AI Success Series, and the Local Business Growth Podcast. A self-described forever student, Justin interviews industry leaders to learn how AI and digital strategy are reshaping the way businesses grow. His work spans webinars, podcasts, sales enablement, and full-funnel content—always with a focus on helping businesses adapt, scale, and thrive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

In this 50th episode of TechTalk, Suruchi Bhargava (CMO, Ciente) sits down with Lidia Lal, a global marketing powerhouse with experience at SAP, Oracle, and Hewlett-Packard. Together, they break down the true power of intent data- how to separate casual engagement from high-intent buying behaviors, optimize ABM strategies, and ensure MQLs don’t just sit in a pipeline but convert into revenue.

 Key insights include:

•  Why a white paper download doesn’t mean sales-readiness
• How to integrate first- and third-party intent signals for a 360° buyer view
• The role of AI-driven lead scoring in refining marketing and sales alignment
• A proven framework for cost-effective, high-performing ABM

Technology is a major enabler here—manually tracking this at a molecular level is simply not feasible. Tune in now!

About the Guest:

“Doing what you’ve always done won’t move the needle forward.”

In today’s data-driven world, precision matters. Success isn’t just about generating leads—it’s about refining account selection, integrating intent signals, and ensuring sales-marketing alignment. A unified Martech stack, clean data, and predictive analytics aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the foundation of scalable revenue growth.

In this episode of Tech Talk by Ciente- Madelyne Oliver (Senior Marketing Operations Manager, ABM – Cloudflare) and Suruchi Bhargava (CMO, Ciente) unpack the frameworks that drive smarter targeting, seamless handoffs, and sustainable growth.

If you’re in marketing ops, ABM, or revenue leadership, this one’s for you!

About the Guest:

Madelyne Oliver
Senior Operations Manager, ABM – Cloudflare
LinkedIn |

Madelyne Oliver is a dynamic Senior Operations Manager specializing in Account-Based Marketing (ABM) strategy and implementation. With a tenure of 11 months at Cloudflare and 8+ years working in marketing technology, she is instrumental in scaling operations by developing a Marketing Operations (MOPs) roadmap aligned with company and team goals. Her expertise includes automation, managing, and implementing the Demandbase ABX platform, collaborating with Global ABM teams to establish a Center of Excellence (COE) for ABM, and driving Sales & Marketing enablement to enhance Demandbase adoption. She is also passionate about leading teams, mentoring others in MarTech, ABM, Sales, and public speaking.

Beyond her professional achievements, Madelyne is a toddler girl mom, an exhibiting gallery artist, and a two-time published children’s book illustrator. She is based in central Texas, close to Austin.