On the road, Aimee Catalano, Google Cloud

Join Rick Currier and Aimee Catalano as they explore partner marketing at Google Cloud. Aimee shares her journey in building a successful global partner marketing organization and overcoming challenges as a woman in tech. Discover best practices for partner relationships, career development, and embracing AI in marketing. Tune in for insights on promoting diversity, overcoming unconscious bias, and leading with kindness.

Building a successful partner marketing organization: insights from Aimee Catalano of google cloud

In the latest episode of on the road, host Rick Currier sits down with Aimee Catalano, google cloud’s leader of global partner marketing, for a candid and insightful discussion about her journey, leadership approach, and the role of partner marketing in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The conversation is packed with lessons on scaling organizations, managing relationships, and embracing new technologies—all while navigating the complex world of marketing.

Stepping into google cloud: a unique opportunity

Aimee Catalano’s story at google cloud begins with a mission: to build a partner marketing function from the ground up. Recalling her early days at the company, Aimee describes how she arrived to find a fragmented system. “I walked into an overgrown startup,” she says, explaining that partner marketing existed only in “pockets” across various teams without a unified strategy. Recognizing the need for a cohesive approach, Aimee was tasked with developing a comprehensive partner marketing organization. “it was really fun for me,” she shares, blending her experience in both startup environments and large enterprises to tackle the challenge.

Aimee’s leadership philosophy is centered around understanding the needs of both customers and partners. She emphasizes the importance of creating scalable solutions that allow marketers to work effectively in local markets while aligning with global strategies. One of the key takeaways from this conversation is her focus on creating an operating model that allows for both flexibility and collaboration. “Everybody who does partner marketing feels a part of the partner marketing team,” she explains, showcasing how this model fosters a sense of unity across teams despite geographical or functional divisions.

Leading with relationships: a partnership approach to internal collaboration

For Aimee, building strong relationships is critical—both with external partners and internal stakeholders. One of her standout points during the conversation was the need to “bring peers along for the ride.” she stresses that it’s not enough to be an expert in partner marketing; it’s also vital to show colleagues how partners can add value to their own goals. “I believe in making every one of your peers collaborate with you,” Aimee advises, adding that it’s all about showing how partners can make other departments more successful.

Aimee applies her partner marketing philosophy within her own company, turning her colleagues into allies through clear communication and by offering value. “I think a lot of it is coming in with a more helpful mindset,” she says. Whether it’s co-funding campaigns or leveraging partners’ customer bases, she ensures her peers understand the tangible benefits partners bring to the table. This inside-out approach highlights her strategic thinking and the importance of cross-functional collaboration in achieving success.

Overcoming bias and embracing inclusivity

The conversation also delves into Aimee’s experiences as a woman in tech, where she candidly shares her personal challenges with unconscious bias. Early in her career, she struggled with being perceived as too young or lacking the executive presence expected in male-dominated rooms. A particularly striking moment came when a colleague questioned her ability to interact with senior male executives. “I didn’t get the job,” she admits, revealing that she even altered her appearance in an effort to conform to others’ expectations.

But Aimee quickly realized that success wasn’t about fitting into outdated molds.

“I’m going to be myself”

she declares, sharing how embracing her true self eventually led to her thriving in her role. Today, she’s committed to fostering an inclusive environment that ensures future generations—like her teenage daughter—don’t have to face the same obstacles. Reflecting on the progress made, Aimee acknowledges, “I don’t think she’s going to have that same level of bias that I did.”

Embracing ai in marketing: the next frontier

No conversation about google cloud would be complete without discussing AI, and Aimee is clearly excited about the possibilities. She believes AI, particularly generative AI, will transform marketing, driving greater efficiency and personalization. Aimee offers a glimpse into how google cloud is embedding AI into workflows, making it easier for marketers and partners to tailor campaigns to specific industries or regions. One standout example is how ai tools are being used to adapt entire campaigns for specific audiences, like public sector clients, all while maintaining the integrity of the original messaging.

“AI isn’t going to replace jobs”

Aimee asserts, “but it might replace people who don’t want to embrace it.” her words reflect the rapid changes in the tech landscape and the need for marketers to stay adaptable. She highlights the importance of creating a culture where experimentation with ai is encouraged and integrated seamlessly into everyday tasks.

Takeaways for marketers: kindness drives success

As the conversation wraps up, Rick Currier asks Aimee for her final words of advice to fellow marketers. Her response is simple yet profound: “lead with kindness.” for Aimee, creating an inclusive, supportive work environment is key to success. She believes that by being considerate and building genuine relationships, leaders can get the best out of their teams and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.

From building a partner marketing organization from scratch to embracing cutting-edge AI tools, Aimee Catalano’s journey is one of continuous learning, adaptation, and leadership. Her story serves as an inspiring blueprint for any marketer looking to make an impact, both within their organization and beyond.

Aimee Catalano is the Senior Director, Global Partner Marketing at Google

About Google Cloud:

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner. Learn more at https://cloud.google.com/.