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Transform expertise into stories that connect

Hi. I’m Michael.

I build narrative and content systems that create demand and accelerate pipeline for high-growth companies. I partner with executive, marketing, and sales teams to turn strategy into focused execution.

Selected Work

WordPress VIP — Head of Content Marketing
Built a new narrative framework to align marketing, sales, and leadership around a shared language. Led content strategy across product launches and C-suite thought leadership to support GTM and growth.
→ Visit: Launched 25.1 Site
→ Read: What is WordPress VIP

Salesforce — Global Content & Events Lead
Led the online events portfolio and created Blazing Trails, Salesforce’s flagship podcast and YouTube thought leadership program, reaching millions and supporting executive storytelling at scale.
→ Visit: Salesforce+
→ View: Blazing Trails on YouTube

Co-founder of a strategy and design firm grown 5× and acquired by Google.
Led strategy, editorial, and business development; partnered with Microsoft, Salesforce, Yahoo!, Nike, and a variety of VC-backed startups on major launches and platforms.

Selected Companies

Organizations I’ve worked with across strategy, content, and growth.

What It’s Like to Work Together

  • Heike Young, Head of content & integrated marketing, Microsoft

    Michael has an instinctive sense for what resonates.

    I’ve collaborated with Michael and his team on content projects at Salesforce — from podcasts and B2B YouTube to live broadcasts and binge-worthy series. Whether producing a CEO keynote or supporting sales teams, he maintains a sharp media focus and makes the process enjoyable for everyone involved.

  • Scott Larson VP Head of Brand @ WRITER

    Michael doesn’t add to the noise — he orchestrates the signal.

    In a world drowning in content, Michael empowers teams to become the storyteller the market didn’t know it was waiting for. By creating space for authentic stories to emerge, the work connected us with exactly the right audience.

  • Hayley Nelson, Marketing & Technology Executive | Founder, The AI Initiative | Adjunct Faculty, Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism

    Michael is a builder and a multiplier.

    When we invested in a brand-level podcast at Salesforce, Michael connected the right talent, shaped the approach, and nailed distribution. It was thrilling to see the program take off — and even more important to see Michael emerge as a leader who scales impact through others.

  • Jamie Zenker, Salesforce Marketing Senior Manager

    Michael balances creative vision with practical results.

    I partnered with Michael on Salesforce’s YouTube content, and it was one of my favorite collaborations. From mapping strategy to diving into analytics and bringing ideas to life, we made a great team. What stood out was Michael’s ability to stay relentlessly focused on what the audience wanted — not just what we thought they should.

  • Cathy Campbell Senior Vice President, Creative Director | Brand Strategistem

    Michael ensures great content actually drives action.

    Working with Michael on environmental nonprofit initiatives was incredibly rewarding. What I value most is that he doesn’t just focus on creating strong content — he ensures it reaches the right audiences, through the right channels, to drive meaningful action. That strategic approach helped our nonprofit partners amplify their message far beyond what they thought possible.

1. Curiosity

I surface the most compelling stories already inside your company — rooted in real expertise, real questions, and real customer needs. Authenticity starts with curiosity, not messaging.

How I Work

2. Enablement

I lead and empower teams with clear frameworks, shared language, and operating rhythms that make great storytelling repeatable across marketing, sales, and leadership.

3. Amplification

I use AI to extend human storytelling, not replace it. Taste, judgment, and connection remain the differentiators — AI simply helps scale what already resonates.

4. Systems

I build durable content systems — beyond campaigns — designed to support GTM, demand, and growth with speed, flexibility, and consistency over time.

Founder → Exit: Co-founded and scaled a strategy & design firm 5×, with full P&L ownership → acquired by Google.

Salesforce: Built executive storytelling and digital event programs that reached millions and supported $500M+ in direct and influenced enterprise pipeline.

WordPress VIP: Created narrative frameworks adopted across marketing, sales, and executive leadership to support enterprise GTM and long-cycle pipeline execution.

Selected Impact

How I Think About Content Strategy

These frameworks reflect how I help teams clarify their story, align internally,
and turn narrative into execution that drives growth.

A strong and aligned narrative North Star aligns teams, accelerates content execution, and creates consistent, differentiated presence in the market.

A framework for telling the story in the customer’s voice — anchored in outcomes and real-world impact.

A framework for expressing a single, clear story across the funnel—creating repeatable messaging that builds recall, affinity, and category leadership.

Best viewed on desktop.
See full deck here.

The Right Environment

I do my best work with high-growth, fast-moving teams that want to lead with ideas and execute with urgency. I thrive in environments where collaboration is real, decisions are made, and teams are trusted to move.

I lead by setting clear direction, building trust, and giving people the frameworks and support they need to do great work—then getting out of the way. I bring a strong bias for action and believe momentum is a competitive advantage.

Let’s Build What Matters.

Michael Rivo
michaelrivo@gmail.com