Rising ICON #43: Grayson Cobb Denzer
What name do you prefer to be called?
Grayson
What are your pronouns?
She/her
Where did you grow up?
I was born + raised in Washington, D.C./M.D. suburbs. I finished high school in OKC.
What city are you currently based in?
Minneapolis + New York City
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
(Firm handshake, eye contact + genuine smile)
Hi! Nice to meet you. I’m Grayson Denzer. What do you love to do on the weekends?
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I’m a big believer in the power of being a generalist. I’ve worked across half a dozen industries (and lived in as many different places), and it has fueled a unique approach to problem-solving + a passion for building community.
Who do you help?
Br8kthru helps marketing leaders in mid-market B2B companies solve complex problems to unlock growth through digital marketing + technology solutions.
Personally, I aim to add value to every conversation by connecting people and sharing knowledge.
What are you building now?
Our BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is to be the best digital marketing agency in the United States. As part of this, I am building a presence in the NYC market.
What were you building ten years ago today?
Red Hotz — my start-up electric vehicle rental company in N.C.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I plan to be working with creative, innovative, and forward-thinking people with a drive to move the world forward.
Also, living part-time on a hobby farm in Idaho, with a llama and a prop plane.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
On average, B2B decision-makers engage with your brand digitally between 8–12 times, across 10+ channels, before they are ready to connect with a person from your organization.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
My job is to help marketing leaders succeed in their roles and drive company growth. Through long-term relationships of trust with our Clients, we can improve customer experience and realize their vision.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
Shawn Smith’s super power is creating the space and asking the right questions to help me come to my own solutions (and teaching me how to do it for others).
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
Twin Cities Business, Best of Business Awards 2023 — BR8kthru was voted the best digital marketing agency. We’re also proud of our team’s work around our Digital Marketing Maturity Model content series.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Rising Icons! After that, I’m not sure. The world needs more content that lifts people up; maybe I’ll start my own efforts to showcase amazing humans.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Will Guidara, author of “Unreasonable Hospitality” + former visionary behind the success of Eleven Madison Park restaurant.
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
"Transformative Ties: How Authentic Relationships Redefine What's Possible"
What award would mean the most to win?
Recognition in a 40 under 40 feature.
What makes zero sense to you?
Scarcity mindset. Also, U.S. taxes.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Sales + networking.
When done well, these shouldn't be self-serving activities. The purpose is to build professional relationships with an intent to give, share + learn.
What game are you changing?
The perception that marketing is just pretty pictures and fluffy words. It is an investment for your success. We believe all marketing efforts should be driven by strategy and informed by. data.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
I invite you to set a goal for every face-to-face encounter to do one thing to help someone. Be a go-giver.
Where can we follow you online?
www.linkedin.com/in/grayson-denzer/
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Starting with your ‘why’.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Grayson, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. Through a publication, education platform and PR representation, we help leaders build effective strategies for scale and growth specializing in digital executive presence and go-to-market strategy for emerging brands. To follow along with the Rising ICONS series, nominate a leader or subscribe to our weekly emails below. To accelerate your own rise, get our free guide to visibility Force to ICON: the TLDR.
“I’m a big believer in the power of being a generalist. I’ve worked across half a dozen industries (and lived in as many different places), and it has fueled a unique approach to problem-solving + a passion for building community.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting rising leaders. The future is bold.
