Mike Kichline was the CEO and Co-founder of Yesler, Inc., a global B2B marketing agency offering services such as content marketing, marketing automation, sales enablement, and analytics. Under his leadership, Yesler expanded to over 350 employees across 14 countries, serving prominent clients including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. In 2020, Accenture acquired Yesler, integrating its capabilities into Accenture's broader marketing services. Post-acquisition, Mike continues to contribute his expertise as a strategic advisor in the business services sector.

Building a business from the ground up is no small feat, but scaling it into a global industry leader is an entirely different challenge. What does it take to transform a company into a powerhouse in the B2B marketing space? And how can a strong company culture and strategic foresight fuel that growth?

According to Mike Kichline, a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing leader, success comes from a mix of strategic execution, culture-driven leadership, and anticipating industry trends before they take hold. He highlights how his company Yesler leveraged deep expertise in B2B marketing and a commitment to measurable results to differentiate itself in a competitive landscape. By prioritizing both talent development and innovation, the agency quickly became a trusted partner for some of the biggest global brands. The ability to scale effectively while maintaining a strong internal culture was key to Yesler’s rapid rise and eventual acquisition by Accenture.

In this episode of the Response Drivers podcast, host Rick Rappe sits down with Mike Kichline to discuss how he built Yesler into a global B2B marketing powerhouse. They explore the challenges of scaling a high-growth agency, the importance of aligning services with emerging market needs, and why company culture is a critical growth driver. Mike also shares insights on the future of B2B marketing and how AI is reshaping the industry.