Hello hello 👋🏽,

Welcome to the 16th edition of Marketers Help Marketers newsletter.

First things first - I owe you an apology. It's been almost 1.5 months since my last edition.

To all the new subscribers who've joined during my absence - welcome! I'm genuinely excited to have you here.

Where have I been?

A ridiculously hectic work schedule plus hitting the 1-year mark of the MHM podcast, which prompted some deep reflection on what I want to do next with this and how to make it happen.

I am still figuring things out, but I'm doubling down on this newsletter. You'll definitely be seeing me more regularly.

In last edition, I promised I would dive into breakdowns of actual marketing portfolios with examples - and that's exactly what I'll be doing here today.

I do have a list of really solid marketing portfolios that I've collected over the years in my swipe file.

If you're interested in looking at marketing portfolios for inspiration, just reply back and I'll send you the links.

I don't want to mass send portfolio links because for some folks these might be private, so I'm being deliberate about only sharing with folks who actually want it.

Now, let’s dive in.

Early-career marketers

With early career folks, hiring managers aren't expecting you to have saved the company millions or transformed entire organizations.

That's not realistic, and they know it.

What they ARE wondering is:

"Can this person actually execute?”

“Will they figure things out when I give them a challenge?”

Portfolio Example #1: Shmiruthaa Narayanan (Portfolio link)

What Works:

✅ Strategic tool application:

• Goes beyond skill listing: Instead of just listing "Mailchimp," shows complete strategic approach: database segmentation, A/B testing methodology, automated sequences

• Process thinking: Documents optimal timing discovery and performance optimization approach

• Business impact connection: Links tool usage directly to measurable outcomes

✅ Clear value positioning:

• Strategic framing: "I understand customer journeys; not just about what people want, but why they want it"

• Quantified results: Course registration increases, engagement improvements, sales growth with specific metrics

• Marketing sophistication: Shows understanding of customer journey mapping, data-driven decision making, audience segmentation

✅ Learning agility :

• Initiative beyond assignments: LinkedIn content creation shows thinking beyond assigned tasks and building thought leadership

✅ Takeaway: Turn tool proficiency into strategic credibility by showing your complete thought process and methodology, not just final results - proves you understand cause-and-effect in marketing.

Portfolio Example #2: Sanskar Saxena (Portfolio link)

What Works:

✅ Initiative-Driven Project Showcase:

• Rapid growth metrics: YouTube channel from 0 to 8.5K subscribers in 50 days with millions of organic views

• Self-directed learning: Multiple certifications from Meta, Google, plus diverse project experience

✅ Strategic thinking despite early in career:

• Mock case studies: Detailed strategic frameworks for companies he's never worked with

• Process documentation: Shows systematic approach to problem-solving and hypothesis testing

 ✅ Takeaway: Side projects and mock case studies are a good addition to portfolios, esp. in early career, when they demonstrate your problem-solving process and learning agility. It’s a good way to demonstrate, as seen in this instance, that you can think like a strategist even without being given the strategy mandate.

Mid-career marketers

At mid-career, hiring managers shift their questions:

"Can this person see the bigger picture?

“Do they influence strategy or just execute it?”

“Can they drive results through others?"

You're moving beyond individual contribution to strategic leadership.

The portfolio needs to show business context, strategic rationale, and cross-functional influence.

Portfolio Example #1: Vaibhav Yadav (vaibv.com)

What Works:

✅ Strategic framework development:

• Market insight: "90% of Web3 agencies use web2 tactics, which will land you nowhere"

• Proprietary methodology: "Whisper, Tease, and Roar" formula that others can follow

• Specialization focus: 6+ years in emerging Web3 space when others stuck to outdated tactics

✅ Measurable Business Impact:

• Solid numbers across the board: Client portfolio, revenue generation, content systems, and community building all backed with specific metrics

• Shows systematic approach: Demonstrates measurable impact rather than vague claims

✅ Leadership progression:

• Role evolution: CMO at TONSCALE LABS while maintaining client portfolio

• Strategic positioning: Positions as thought leader who can influence market direction

✅ Takeaway: Names his framework and shows how it solves broader business problems across multiple clients - perfect mid-career positioning that demonstrates strategic thinking beyond individual campaigns.

Portfolio Example #2: Shubhangi Srivastava (Portfolio link)

What Works:

✅ Cross-functional orchestration:

• Complex project management: Coordinated speakers, hosts, design teams, and operations for 40+ podcast episodes

• Resource coordination: Managed promotional calendars across multiple channels

• Process development: Created segmentation strategies for post-event follow-ups

✅ Quantified business impact:

• Solid metrics across initiatives: Organic traffic growth, email performance, lead generation with clear conversion tracking

• Scale demonstration: Multi-episode podcast series with measurable download and engagement metrics

✅ Systems thinking:

• End-to-end ownership: Shows complete project lifecycle management for complex initiatives

• Emphasis on scalable processes: Focuses on "creating marketing systems that deliver measurable results"

✅ Takeaway: Documents the invisible work of coordination and influence - shows how she made things happen beyond her direct control, proving ability to drive results through complex stakeholder management.

Senior marketers

With senior marketing leaders, hiring managers ask different questions entirely:

"Do they have vision for where the industry is heading?”

“Can they build and scale teams and culture?"

Your portfolio needs to demonstrate organizational impact, strategic vision, and market influence.

Portfolio Example #1: Colin Gillingham (colin.gillingh.am)

What Works:

✅ Exceptional Strategic Positioning:

• Transformation narrative: "Nearly 15 years leading B2B & B2C teams for hypergrowth tech companies like Tesla, Mapbox"

• Quantified impact: "75 [units] Revenue Generated, 2 Startup 'Decacorns', 25 Hired & Trained"

• Vision clarity: "Exceptionally versatile professional, propelling organizations forward with rare fusion of technical skill and marketing savvy"

✅ Perfect Senior Framework Execution:

• Market context: Works with hypergrowth tech companies

• Strategic framework: Technical + marketing fusion, automation + optimization focus

• Transformation journey: Led teams at 2 "decacorn" startups

• Cultural impact: Built and trained 25+ person teams

• Future vision: "Leveraging advanced AI tools to supercharge marketing efficiency"

✅ Takeaway: Clean, executive summary format with clear value props

Portfolio Example #2: Rita Cidre (https://www.ritacidre.com/)

What Works:

✅ Clear Transformation Story:

• Vision: "I demystify marketing to help you land a cool job, do better at your current one, or launch the creative venture of your dreams"

• Market context: 15 years at intersection of media and tech

• Personal transformation: From marketer to educator/entrepreneur

• Cultural impact: Teaching and demystifying marketing for broader audience

✅ Takeaway: Build external credibility and thought leadership - prove you can influence market direction, not just company strategy

Here's something I noticed across all portfolios, not limited to ones discussed in this newsletter:

Nobody is talking or sharing examples of AI proficiency in portfolios.

This is a massive missed opportunity.

While everyone talks about using AI," portfolios still showcase pre-AI workflows.

Portfolios should ideally showcase:

• Custom AI tools and automations built

• Before/after AI-enhanced workflow maps

• Quantified efficiency gains (e.g., "Reduced content creation time by 60% using GPT-powered systems")

• AI strategy frameworks developed for teams

Marketers who master AI portfolio storytelling will gain a significant competitive edge.

The best portfolios don't just showcase what you've done - they prove you can solve their problems.

Upon reviewing portfolios, it becomes clear that there are some patterns that distinguish a good portfolio from a great one.

If you've been struggling to get started on your portfolio, I hope this edition inspires you to restart work on it.

As always, I'd love to hear what resonated with you from this edition. And if you want my swipefile of portfolios, reply back to this email or dm me on LinkedIn and I will send the link in 24 hours.

Have an amazing week ahead! ✨

Your marketer friend,
Mita ✌🏽