Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Patterson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Life is full of choices, and every choice comes with a degree of risk. I’ve always viewed risk-taking not as reckless, but as standing at a fork in the road—each path offering its own unknowns, and each decision shaping the journey ahead.

One of my earliest defining risks came when I chose to leave the private school I’d attended for years and enroll in public school in the sixth grade. It might seem small now, but at the time, it meant stepping away from a familiar environment, leaving behind close friends, and starting over in a completely new setting. That decision set a tone for how I would approach opportunities throughout my life—with a willingness to stretch beyond the comfortable.

Another unexpected fork came when I accepted a scholarship to a university I hadn’t originally planned to attend. It wasn’t the obvious or easy choice, but it opened doors I hadn’t anticipated. That leap eventually led me to graduate school, even when I had a job offer in hand. Again, I chose the less certain path, betting on long-term growth over short-term security.

Years later, after earning my graduate degree, I took another risk—leaving behind Florida, where I had roots, and moving to Texas. It was a leap of faith that would later prove pivotal.

But perhaps the most significant risk came in 1999, when I made the decision to launch VisionEdge Marketing. Starting a business from scratch, especially in the world of marketing performance management, was a bold move at the time. The landscape was evolving rapidly, and the concept of marketing accountability was still gaining traction. There were no guarantees—just conviction, a vision, and a lot of hard work.

And yet, each of those decisions, each risk taken, has led me to exactly where I am today. I’m proud to say we’ve built a company that serves amazing customers, delivers real value, and helps organizations grow through data-driven, customer-centric strategies. The risks? They were real. But the rewards—both professional and personal—have been even greater.

Laura, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

You could say my journey into this field began when I was nine years old. I was selling chocolates door-to-door for a school fundraiser and quickly realized that people weren’t just buying candy—they needed a reason to say yes. That’s when I discovered the power of customer-centricity. I didn’t have the words for it back then, but I knew this: to create business value, I was going to need to deliver customer value.

That spark led me down a path that’s defined my entire professional life. I’ve held roles in marketing, operations, and customer engagement at companies like Motorola, where I led customer marketing and brand strategy. Over the years, I’ve helped over 300 companies—from ambitious startups to global enterprises—take a customer-centric approach to drive measurable growth.

In 1999, I took another big leap of faith and founded VisionEdge Marketing. Our mission is simple but powerful: to help companies accelerate growth by embedding customer-centricity into the fabric of their strategy, operations, and measurement. We’re known for turning big ideas into practical, scalable actions—and for helping business leaders shift from reacting to leading with intention.

One of the things I see far too often is what I call random acts—random acts of marketing, sales, hiring, and innovation. Did you know business leaders spend 30–50% of their time every day on these? And it’s expensive—costing companies $300,000 to $500,000 each year in lost strategic capacity. That’s why one of our biggest contributions is helping our customers eliminate those random acts and replace them with deliberate, customer-centered actions that align with their growth goals.

What sets us apart is our proven frameworks, like the Circle of Traction™ and our 4 Game Changers for Every Stage of Growth, which help organizations operationalize customer value. We also prioritize measurement—because you can’t improve what you don’t measure—and we ensure the work we do actually moves the needle.

Whether through executive advisory, keynotes, workshops, or our software platform, Accelance®, everything we offer is designed to drive smarter, more sustainable growth.

On a personal note, when I’m not diving into strategy or metrics, I’m often in motion—whether it’s running, tending my butterfly garden, or enjoying yoga with my husband. And always close by? Riley, our spirited toy Aussie.

At the heart of it all, I’m driven by a belief: when businesses prioritize customer value and operate with purpose, everybody wins.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

We’ve always believed that the most effective growth strategy is simple: deliver on your promises. For us, that means consistently providing measurable value, whether we’re advising a boardroom, leading a strategy workshop, or publishing thought leadership content.

From the very beginning, we made a commitment to results. That’s helped us build deep trust with our customers, many of whom become long-term partners and passionate advocates for our work. In fact, much of our growth has come from referrals and word-of-mouth, which we consider the highest form of praise.

Another powerful driver has been content that educates and empowers. Whether it’s a keynote, article, podcast, or research brief, we aim to give leaders actionable insights—not just theory. That commitment to delivering value—before someone even becomes a customer—has helped us build a strong reputation as a trusted authority in customer-centric growth.

We’re also intentional about cultivating communities of influence. From participating in leadership councils and advisory boards to collaborating with other experts, we prioritize relationships that create shared value and open new doors.

At the end of the day, our best strategy is the one we also teach: be deliberate, be customer-focused, and never lose sight of the impact you’re here to make.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reputation is earned through consistency, credibility, and contribution—and I’ve spent my entire career building all three.

My reputation in the market has been shaped by a proven track record of helping over 300 companies—from startups to global enterprises—accelerate growth through customer-centric strategies, operational excellence, and performance management. I’ve worked across industries like semiconductors, software, cybersecurity, financial services, manufacturing, and biosciences, which has given me deep cross-industry insight and perspective.

I began championing customer-centricity and marketing accountability back in my Motorola days, long before they became mainstream. There, I led customer loyalty and marketing initiatives, launched what became industry-standard microcontroller families, and expanded business units into new markets. That early experience shaped the foundation for what would become VisionEdge Marketing in 1999.

Since then, I’ve stayed committed to delivering on our promises and providing real, measurable value—whether through customer engagements, speaking, research, or thought leadership.

Recognition also plays a role. I’m grateful to have received 12 thought leadership awards, including Most Powerful Thought Leaders to Follow, and to have been named one of ISBM’s inaugural Practice Fellows for contributions to B2B marketing. I’ve written four books—most recently, Fast-Track Your Business—and earned a patent for a planning and performance management software solution.

But above all, I believe what truly sets me apart is this: I care deeply about helping leaders eliminate random acts and replace them with intentional, customer-focused strategies. That’s the work I’m proudest of—and the reputation I continue to uphold every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://visionedgemarketing.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketingtransformation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapattersonvem/
• Twitter: @VisionEdgeMktg
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VisionEdgeMarketing/videos