From PE class to Private Equity: Marketing wisdom from Manoj Jasra
I recently listened to an episode of the podcast “People Behind the Pitch” featuring Manoj Jasra, a digital marketing guru affectionately dubbed “the prince of Private Equity quarter-zips.” I’ve included links to a few places where you can listen to the conversation between Manoj and memoryBlue’s Aaron “Big Country” McCann.
I loved how candid and down-to-earth Manoj was as he shared his 20-year journey across both B2C and B2B marketing, filled with plenty of big moments and interesting pivots.
One of my favorite parts of the conversation was hearing how Manoj initially planned on becoming a PE teacher—yes, a Physical Education teacher!—but his dad gently nudged him towards a career in tech instead. This shift led him to software development, but he soon discovered his real passion in digital marketing during his time at a digital agency. What really stuck with me was his point about every job being a stepping stone. He stressed how valuable it is to stay open to unexpected opportunities because they can dramatically shape your career path in ways you might never have imagined.
Manoj talked about transitioning from B2C to B2B marketing.
He described B2C as exciting, with instant feedback, fast-paced campaigns, and immediate results. On the other hand, B2B requires patience and careful planning, along with a deep understanding of complex products and relationships. Manoj pointed out that working in private equity adds another layer of complexity, as marketers need to balance brand visibility with meeting investor expectations—something he handled with thoughtful strategy.
His insights on mergers and acquisitions were particularly eye-opening.
Manoj shared stories from a tricky merger between Acolyte and Bounteous, highlighting how challenging it can be to blend different company cultures, technology stacks, and global teams. I appreciated his practical advice about using market research, clear communication, and transitional branding strategies (like their interim brand “Bounteous X Acolyte”) to smooth the process and build a cohesive new brand.
Manoj also talked openly about the benefits he’s seen from building his personal brand.
He credits consistently sharing content and speaking at events with helping him land advisory board positions and creating valuable professional relationships. He emphasized how important clear communication is, recalling how earlier in his career, overly technical presentations taught him to better align his messaging with audience interests.
The bottom line
Here are a few key takeaways that really resonated with me:
- Careers don’t always go in a straight line: Staying adaptable can lead to exciting and unexpected opportunities.
- Communication is crucial: Making your message relatable to your audience, whether they’re executives or customers, makes all the difference.
- Marketing is a balancing act: Short-term wins are important, but building a strong brand over time is what ensures lasting success.
- Personal branding opens doors: Putting yourself out there through consistent content can lead to advisory roles, valuable connections, and new opportunities.
Listening to Manoj was incredibly insightful, and his experiences reminded me just how valuable clarity, adaptability, and thoughtful strategy are in shaping a rewarding marketing career.
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Apple Podcast
- Watch on YouTube
