An Exclusive Interview with M2 Partners’ CEO: Insights into Leadership, Vision, and the Future

At M2 Partners, we’re driven by a commitment to helping marketing teams achieve excellence. Recently, we sat down with our CEO, Jill M. Speirs, for an insightful conversation about the values, challenges, and vision that have shaped M2 into the company it is today.

Can you describe your leadership style in one sentence?

• “My leadership style is: Fostering open communication and cultivating a positive, respectful team environment in order to maintain our focus on driving the right client-focused solutions.”

In three words, how would you define M2’s culture?

• “Open, Trust, Friends.”

What is M2’s relationship to Adobe?

• “We are regarded as a very important Partner to Adobe. A premier implementation partner that they know they can trust to not only support them but drive excellence in all the implementations we do with our shared clients.”

• “It is going on 12 years – and we only focus on “Best of Breed”, Adobe solutions.”

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in building M2, and how did you overcome them?

• Finding the right fit: “Learning to identify individuals who align with M2’s business model.”

• Knowing when to pivot: “Adapting the business model to meet new demands.”

• Embracing challenges: “Taking bold steps to navigate uncharted territory and drive success.”

These challenges taught resilience and adaptability, enabling M2 to grow and innovate, she says.

What leadership principles or philosophies guide you in leading M2?

• “Trust, respect, empowerment and accountability.”

• These principles are the foundation of M2’s leadership culture. By empowering team members and fostering trust and respect, Jill believes that individuals “will rise to challenges and find joy in their work.”

What spurred you to start your own company?

• “I wanted a chance to pass on my knowledge.”

• Jill’s desire to share her expertise and remove inefficiencies in marketing processes led to the creation of M2. Inspired by her passion—now reflected in M2’s mission, “Helping clients improve how their people, processes, data, and technology work together”—Jill observed how many marketing professionals faced high attrition rates and were burdened with redundant, manual tasks that left little room for strategic thinking.

• “By the late ‘90s and early 2000s, I was driven to align corporate strategies with people and processes, consolidate customer data into a single source of truth, and implement technology to automate campaigns and customer insights.”

• Encouraged by a key vendor, she built M2 as a company focused on empowering marketing teams to focus on meaningful work while leveraging the right tools to drive results.

How did you arrive at M2’s approach, and how is it different from other firms?

M2’s approach stems from Jill’s own work on the client side. Her years of experience working in marketing teams allowed her to identify several key frustrations clients face with their implementation vendors. “It was how we were able to win business, as it was my background—at the time, 20+ years involved in the area of marketing automation—that was why companies would say yes to us,” Jill explains. “It was knowing that I had been in their role, and I’d done this many times before. It provided confidence to them.”

Speirs’ client-side perspective influenced M2’s approach to prioritize:

• Hands-on expertise: Every project is led by a Senior Solution Expert who understands the technology inside out.

• Transparency and accountability: Fixed-cost engagements and adherence to the scope of work.

• Strategic business leadership: Proactively managing timelines, risks, and client priorities.

How do you promote strong project governance?

• “At M2 Partners, all of our engagements are led by a Senior Solution Expert (SME) who ensures every aspect of the project is managed effectively. I personally stay involved by attending many of the status calls and offering one-on-one sessions with clients at no additional cost. The Client does not lose access to the me!”

What do you believe is M2’s unique selling proposition?

• “Our attention to the client — our high-touch approach and deep expertise.”

• M2’s focus on understanding client needs and delivering personalized, expert solutions sets us apart. At M2 Partners, we go beyond implementation to build lasting partnerships, ensuring our clients succeed at every stage, she explains.

What about starting M2 makes you most proud?

• “Helping young people grow in their careers.”

• Building M2, Jill says, has been a journey of creating opportunities for others. Her pride lies in fostering a culture where young professionals can develop their skills, find their passions, and thrive in meaningful roles.

What does M2 look like in five years?

• “In five years, M2 Partners aims to be one of the top players in our niche through thought leadership, a proven track record of success, or a high-profile portfolio of clients.”