From Coffee to a Movement: The Birth of Employfluence

sebastianaguilarve • March 7, 2025

Great ideas often start with a simple conversation. In our case, it was over countless cups of coffee, where an influencer marketing expert and a seasoned sales leader turned digital strategist debated the future of marketing. With over 20 years of combined experience working with global giants like Samsung, Netflix, Sony, HSBC, and Santander, one thing became clear: the next wave of marketing wasn’t just about flashy campaigns or external influencers it was about harnessing the authentic voices within a company.

The Aha Moment: Marketing’s Best-Kept Secret

As we reflected on our experiences, one question kept surfacing: why are businesses overlooking their most powerful brand ambassadors their own employees? Companies were pouring massive budgets into paid media, relying on influencers with no real connection to their brand, and missing out on a more sustainable and trusted approach: employee advocacy.

That realization sparked the foundation of Employfluence. We envisioned a future where employees weren’t just workers but thought leaders, where their insights and expertise became the most valuable marketing asset a company could have. The idea was simple but powerful: give employees the tools, confidence, and strategy to share their knowledge, and watch as brand credibility and engagement grow organically.

Turning Conversations into Action

Our experience gave us a unique perspective on how to build effective advocacy campaigns. We knew this wasn’t just about posting content—it was about:

  1. Empowering Employees – Helping them build confidence in sharing their expertise online.
  2. Authenticity Over Automation – Ensuring that content feels genuine, not forced or overly polished.
  3. Reducing Ad Costs – Leveraging employee advocacy to amplify reach without heavy reliance on paid advertising.
  4. Strengthening Company Culture – Fostering a workplace where employees feel valued and engaged through shared knowledge.

The Start of Something Bigger

What started as a casual conversation over coffee quickly transformed into a mission: to revolutionize how businesses think about marketing. Today, Employfluence stands as a testament to that vision, proving that real influence doesn’t come from outside—it starts within.

If you’re ready to tap into the power of your employees and reshape the way your business grows, we’d love to chat. After all, the best ideas start with a conversation.

Contact Us

By Aguilar September 22, 2025
When it comes to employer branding and recruitment marketing, few names resonate as strongly as Stuart (Stu) Hazell . With over 15 years of experience, Hazell has consistently proven himself as a forward-thinking leader who blends creativity with data-driven impact to redefine how organizations connect with talent. A Career Spanning Global Powerhouses Hazell’s professional journey is a testament to his ability to thrive in both digital and traditional marketing. Having held key roles at CA Technologies, IBM, and Workday , he has built and strengthened employer brands that not only attract but also resonate with talent across diverse global markets. Each chapter of his career has deepened his understanding of how to align corporate identity with the values, aspirations, and expectations of the modern workforce. Strategic Creativity Meets Measurable Impact What sets Hazell apart is his ability to blend strategic creativity with data-driven precision . Employer branding isn’t just about eye-catching campaigns, it’s about creating an authentic, sustainable narrative that reflects company culture while also measuring its impact on talent pipelines and recruitment outcomes. His work bridges that gap, making employer brands both inspiring and effective. Recognition and Influence As an award-winning leader , Hazell has been celebrated for his innovation in employer branding and recruitment marketing. His achievements demonstrate a rare ability to stay ahead of trends, adopt emerging technologies, and bring fresh thinking to a discipline that is increasingly critical in today’s competitive talent landscape. Why His Work Matters Now In an era where candidates view the employer brand as seriously as they view consumer brands, Hazell’s contributions have never been more vital. Organizations are under pressure to stand out, communicate authentically, and deliver meaningful employee experiences. Leaders like Hazell are showing the path forward, where creativity and analytics meet to build brands that engage, attract, and retain talent worldwide. Conclusion : Stuart Hazell’s story is more than just a career biography, it’s an example of how visionary leadership in employer branding can shape the way companies and candidates connect on a global scale. To listen to the podcast click here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5m4o6LinFkdnjA8sNfhmUn?si=JjY5V_MyTqW9jGw2qjlMvg
By sebastianaguilarve July 23, 2025
In the world of B2B sales and enterprise technology, creating genuine connections with decision-makers is challenging. But what if instead of trying to go viral or flood your channels with content, you zoomed in way in? That’s exactly what Panasonic Toughbook did. In our latest podcast episode, we sat down with Birgit Raes , a top sales enablement specialist at Panasonic, to uncover how she and her team built a hyper-targeted employee brand ambassador program, resulting in 22 meetings booked with their most valuable prospects. What Made This Program So Different? Most companies launching advocacy or ambassador programs go broad. They chase impressions, likes, and “reach.” But Birgit and her team flipped that approach on its head. Instead of asking all employees to become advocates, they started with just five experts, people who were already credible voices online and had a natural presence on platforms like LinkedIn. And instead of pushing content to a wide net of leads, they narrowed in on just 25 key accounts . That’s five ambassadors, each focusing on five high-priority clients . Why It Worked The magic of this initiative wasn’t scale, it was relevance . Each ambassador created or shared tailored content that resonated deeply with their target segment. Since they were already trusted and established in their field, their posts didn’t feel forced or corporate, they felt authentic. This razor-sharp alignment between: the ambassador’s voice , the client’s challenges , and the content’s value meant that decision-makers paid attention. The result? 22 booked meetings from just 25 targeted accounts . That’s not just ROI, that’s precision marketing at its finest. Key Takeaways from the Episode Start small, start smart : Not everyone in your company needs to be an ambassador. Focus on the ones already speaking the language of your clients. Depth over breadth : Likes are great, but conversations with the right people are better. Aim for business outcomes, not just brand awareness. Content that converts is personal : When your employees speak authentically and insightfully about client challenges, you build trust before you even make a call. Want to Learn the Full Strategy? Birgit breaks down exactly how they selected the right ambassadors, how they briefed them, and how they tracked success without relying on vanity metrics. If you're building (or rethinking) your ambassador program, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now : https://open.spotify.com/episode/00juuZ0InBkRgfLiJd48ez?si=VH6LFLZ5Sj2K3nnTwLDLLQ