Performance Delivered

In this episode of Performance Delivered, host Steffen Horst speaks with Natasha Nikolaeva, founder of StretchIt, a leading wellness app and workplace platform helping people improve flexibility, mobility, and mindfulness through movement.Natasha shares her journey from practicing corporate law to becoming a wellness entrepreneur — and how she turned a personal struggle with back pain into a purpose-driven business that empowers people and organizations to move, feel better, and thrive.She reveals how StretchIt grew from an Instagram community into a global digital brand, the strategies behind its early marketing success, and how it continues to innovate in both the consumer and corporate wellness space.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Natasha turned her personal wellness journey into a purpose-driven business.The early marketing strategies that helped StretchIt gain global traction.Why consistency and community were key to building long-term engagement.The shift from consumer fitness to workplace wellness — and what Natasha learned entering the B2B market.How StretchIt uses competitions, challenges, and personalization to boost retention.The metrics that truly matter when scaling an app-based wellness business.How purpose, storytelling, and product design drive user trust and brand growth.CONNECT WITH OUR HOST & GUEST🎙️ HOST: Steffen Horst  – Host, Performance Delivered Podcast 🔗 LinkedIn:Steffen Horst 👩‍💼 GUEST: Natasha Nikolaeva – Founder, StretchIt 🌐 Website: stretchitapp.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-nikolaeva-b108b92/ 📱 Instagram: @stretchitappTIMESTAMPS00:00 – Intro: From law to wellness entrepreneurship 01:20 – The spark behind StretchIt and Natasha’s personal story 03:30 – Building an app before launch and early marketing prep 05:00 – Instagram as the foundation for brand awareness 07:00 – Launching globally through community engagement 09:15 – Positioning StretchIt in a crowded wellness market 12:00 – Expanding from flexibility training to workplace wellness 13:50 – The shift to B2B and offline marketing strategies 15:00 – How StretchIt keeps users and employees engaged 17:50 – Retention strategies and the upcoming AI Coach feature 19:40 – The key business metrics that drive StretchIt’s growth 21:50 – How engagement differs between consumers and corporate users 24:40 – The power of small, consistent movement habits 25:30 – Where to connect and learn more about StretchItThe views and opinions expressed on the Performance Delivered podcast are solely those of the host and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Performance Delivered, and all rights of ownership and reproduction are retained. © 2025

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how audiences search, discover, and engage with information — and that means PR is evolving, too. In this episode, Jackson Wightman joins Steffen Horst to unpack how AI is reshaping media visibility, credibility, and the future of public relations.From Google’s shrinking search dominance to the rise of AI-driven “answer engines,” Jackson explains why earned media now plays a critical role in what AI surfaces and how brands can adapt before the landscape becomes fully commercialized.He also shares actionable steps for PR pros and brands to monitor their AI presence, tailor campaigns to different AI engines, and build true authority in the new era of intelligent search.

Trust is one of the most overlooked yet powerful drivers of business growth. In this episode of Performance Delivered: Insider Secrets for Digital Marketing Success, host Stefan Horst speaks with Kristin Oelke, founder of Bright Rock Services and author of Trust: Unlocking B2B Growth in Today’s AI World.Kristin shares why trust erosion is the hidden growth killer, how companies can uncover blind spots, and what leaders can do to embed trust into every part of their business strategy.If you’re in B2B marketing, sales, or leadership, this conversation shows why building a strong “trust profile” is no longer optional—it’s your competitive advantage.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy trust erosion is often the biggest unseen barrier to growthThe role of marketing, sales, and customer success in building a public trust profileBlind spots leaders face when assuming customers and employees trust themHow to measure trust in meaningful ways with real-time signalsCase studies: how Bright Rock Services helped companies like CIS Group and Feedback Now strengthen their trust profileHow AI is both accelerating outreach and unintentionally eroding trust—and how to navigate that paradoxConnect with UsVisit symphonicdigital.comFollow us on X: @SymphonicHQDisclaimerThe views and opinions expressed on the “Performance Delivered” podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Performance Delivered, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2025.

AI is transforming SEO, but the skills that make great marketers remain timeless. In this episode, Steffen Horst sits down with Lindsie Nelson (Symphonic Digital) and Andreas Voniatis (Arteos) to explore how empathy, validation, and adaptability can keep SEO strategies both smart and human-first.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why chasing algorithms is the wrong approachHow empathy sharpens SEO decisionsThe value of cross-channel collaboration in AI searchHow to validate AI insights with real customer dataThe evolving skills SEOs will need to thriveFeatured Guests:Lindsie Nelson – Head of SEO, Symphonic DigitalAndreas Voniatis – Founder, ArteosResources & Links:Connect with Andreas on LinkedIn or visit Arteos at rtos.iaLearn more about Symphonic Digital at symphonicdigital.comThe views and opinions expressed on the “Performance Delivered” podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Performance Delivered, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2025.

In this episode of Performance Delivered: Insider Secrets for Digital Marketing Success, host Steffen Horst explores the evolving challenges of the CMO role with Karl Van den Bergh, Chief Marketing Officer at Illumio.Karl shares insights from his 25+ year career leading marketing, product, and GM roles across startups and billion-dollar tech companies. Together, they unpack:Why the CMO role is uniquely difficult in today’s business environmentHow to build credibility and trust with boards and executive teamsThe “Plan on a Page” framework for aligning strategy, execution, and KPIsLeading with authenticity in campaigns and leadership cultureHow AI is transforming marketing workflows and the buyer’s journeyTimestamps:00:00 – Intro01:00 – Karl’s career journey04:09 – Why the CMO role is uniquely difficult06:16 – Building credibility and trust09:00 – The “Plan on a Page” framework13:30 – Building trust through transparency & authenticity14:55 – What authenticity looks like in leadership and campaigns19:30 – How AI is reshaping marketing23:58 – Driving efficiency and conversion with AI24:46 – Preparing for the rise of AI agents27:20 – Why SEO is no longer enough28:42 – Buyers already using ChatGPT to discover vendors29:22 – Closing thoughts + how to connect with Karl👉 Learn more about Illumio: https://www.illumio.com👉 Learn more about Symphonic Digital: https://symphonicdigital.com