James Gilbert is the Senior Director of Partnership Marketing at HubSpot, a leading customer relationship management platform that provides software and support to help companies grow better. 

He runs partnership marketing at HubSpot including the HubSpot for Startups program which is designed to help millions of startups scale in a cost-effective manner.

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I lead HubSpot’s global partnership marketing teams. We have 4 main pillars, education partners, startup partners, platform partners, and strategic partners. 

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

Something surprising about my job is that it allows me to combine my passion for marketing and collaboration with my love for problem-solving and innovation. 

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

AI. Primarily because it presents a similar opportunity for startups and SMBs as inbound marketing did in leveling the playing field. 

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? 

One thing I can keep talking about for hours is the power of storytelling. 

Whether it's in marketing, entertainment, or everyday conversations, storytelling has an incredible ability to captivate, inspire, and connect people on a deep level. 

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show? 

I'm a huge fan of the TV series Breaking Bad. 

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Stracciatella.

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We’ve edited this interview for length and clarity.