I’m thrilled to sit down with Milena Traikovich, a powerhouse in the world of demand generation and AI-driven marketing automation. With her deep expertise in analytics, performance optimization, and lead nurturing, Milena has helped countless businesses transform their marketing strategies into high-impact campaigns. Today, we’re diving into her insights on building innovative solutions, the evolution of AI in marketing, and the entrepreneurial journey behind a game-changing startup like Conversion. Our conversation explores the challenges of identifying market gaps, the power of customer feedback, and how emerging technologies are reshaping the way businesses connect with their audiences.
Can you share a memorable moment from your early days that sparked your passion for entrepreneurship and technology?
I remember being completely hooked on tech and innovation from a young age. One standout moment was sneaking peeks at startup events online during high school—yes, even during class! I got caught once and ended up in the principal’s office, which was mortifying at the time. But honestly, it just fueled my drive. I was so inspired by the stories of founders taking risks and solving real problems that I knew I wanted to be part of that world, no matter the setbacks.
How did a personal connection play a role in turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality?
Early on, I confided in a close family friend about my aspirations after a particularly tough day. I didn’t expect much, just a sympathetic ear, but their encouragement was a game-changer. Over the next few years, we stayed in touch, and I’d share updates on my ideas and progress. When I finally had a solid concept for a startup, they believed in me enough to become my first investor. That trust was everything—it gave me the confidence and resources to take the leap.
What qualities do you think are essential when choosing a co-founder for a tech venture?
Finding the right co-founder is like finding a partner in crime—you need complementary skills and a shared vision. For me, it was about connecting with someone who not only had technical expertise but also matched my hunger to build something meaningful. We clicked over late-night brainstorming sessions in college, challenging each other’s ideas and pushing boundaries. That dynamic of trust and mutual respect is what helps you weather the inevitable storms of startup life.
Many startups pivot before finding their sweet spot. Can you walk us through an early idea that didn’t pan out and what you learned from it?
Absolutely. Before we landed on our core product, we experimented with a tool for product placement ads. It seemed promising at first—helping brands seamlessly integrate into content—but we quickly realized the market wasn’t ready, and the tech was too niche for broad adoption. The biggest lesson was about timing and fit. You can have a great idea, but if the demand isn’t there or the execution isn’t scalable, it’s a dead end. That failure taught us to listen harder to potential users and pivot fast.
How did you identify a gap in the marketing automation space that inspired your current venture?
We stumbled on the idea almost by accident while using existing tools for our own marketing needs. We noticed how much manual work was still required despite having robust platforms. There was a clear opportunity to layer on automation to save time and boost efficiency. That realization pushed us to dig deeper, ask questions, and ultimately build something that could fill those gaps for others facing the same frustrations.
Customer feedback seems critical to your process. How did you approach gathering insights from busy marketing professionals?
Getting in front of marketing VPs was no small feat! We leaned on personal networks, cold outreach, and even attended industry events to make connections. Over a couple of months, we conducted over 100 interviews, asking pointed questions about their daily challenges. The effort paid off with raw, honest feedback. One surprising takeaway was how much they craved simplicity—tools were often too clunky or fragmented, and they just wanted seamless integration. That shaped our direction big time.
What specific pain points did you uncover that influenced the features of your product?
Marketing teams were vocal about the repetitive tasks they couldn’t automate—like segmenting leads or crafting follow-up emails that felt personal. They were stuck doing these manually, which ate up hours. We also heard about struggles with data enrichment; they wanted insights without jumping between platforms. Those pain points became our blueprint. We focused on building features that tackled these exact issues, making workflows smoother and more intuitive.
Making the decision to go all-in on a startup is huge. What gave you the courage to take that risk at such a young age?
It was terrifying, no doubt, but I felt a deep certainty that this was the right path. I was 19, and the idea of leaving college felt like jumping off a cliff. What gave me courage was the validation from early customer feedback and the support of my co-founder. My family was initially shocked and worried, but once they saw my commitment—and the small wins piling up—they came around. Their eventual belief in me meant the world.
Can you describe the gritty reality of startup life in those early, resource-tight days?
Oh, it was chaos! Picture this: a tiny apartment, five roommates, and not enough space to breathe. I’m talking people on couches, in closets—it was a circus. We’d work late into the night, fueled by cheap coffee and sheer determination. It was tough, but that grind bonded us. Every late-night coding session or heated debate over product features felt like a step forward, even if we were exhausted. It taught me resilience and how to focus on what truly matters.
How has the rise of AI technologies influenced the way you’ve developed marketing solutions?
The explosion of AI, especially with tools like generative models, was a turning point. It opened up possibilities we hadn’t fully considered before. We started integrating AI to handle things like lead scoring and personalized messaging at scale, which wasn’t feasible with traditional methods. It shifted our mindset from just automating tasks to anticipating needs—using AI to predict what a marketing team might want next. It’s been exciting to ride that wave and push the boundaries.
Could you share a real-world example of how AI in your platform has made a difference for a marketing team?
Sure! One of our clients, a mid-sized tech firm, was drowning in unorganized leads. Their team spent hours manually sorting through data to figure out who to prioritize. With our AI-driven platform, we helped them automatically enrich contact info and score leads based on engagement patterns. On top of that, the system drafted tailored follow-up emails and scheduled them without human input. They cut their lead management time in half and saw a 30% uptick in conversions within a few months. That kind of impact keeps us motivated.
What’s your forecast for the future of AI in marketing automation over the next few years?
I’m incredibly optimistic about where this is headed. I think we’ll see AI become even more predictive, not just reactive—tools will anticipate campaign outcomes or customer behavior with uncanny accuracy. Personalization will hit new levels, with hyper-targeted messaging that feels almost human. But the challenge will be balance; businesses will need to ensure they don’t lose the human touch or overwhelm users with tech. I believe the winners in this space will be those who blend AI’s power with genuine empathy for the end user.
