Andor: B2B Marketing Lessons on When to Rewrite the Story with Rachel Sterling, CMO of Identity Digital

Everybody loves a good origin story, but not every story is worth retelling. The real skill is knowing when to evolve, not repeat.

That’s the lesson of Andor, the Star Wars series that turned subtle storytelling into a strategy for lasting relevance. In this episode, we explore its B2B marketing takeaways with the help of our special guest Rachel Sterling, CMO of Identity Digital. 

Together, we break down what B2B marketers can learn from spotting product fatigue early, tailoring stories for evolving audiences, and creating content that sparks conversation, not just clicks.

About our guest, Rachel Sterling

Rachel Sterling serves as Chief Marketing Officer where she is focused on expanding Identity Digital’s impact on driving awareness and adoption of our top level domain portfolio. Prior to joining Identity Digital, Rachel held senior leadership positions at Proximie, Instagram, Twitter, and Google where she developed impactful strategies around product, integrated, content, and event marketing.

Rachel also possesses a creative background, spending the first eight years of her career working in TV production and post-production. Rachel lives in Belmont, CA with her husband and two children.

What B2B Companies Can Learn From Andor:

• Recognize when the story has run its course. Just like Disney realized Luke Skywalker’s arc had reached its limits, Rachel ties that lesson to brand fatigue. Audiences, like customers, eventually want something new. As she puts it: “Their main characters had been exhausted… you have to consistently monitor for user sentiment.” Andor worked because it didn’t cling to nostalgia; it built from a blank slate. In B2B, that means knowing when your message or product line has hit its ceiling and having the courage to reinvent before your audience tunes out.
• Segment for meaning, not just demographics. Disney didn’t make Andor for everyone. It made it for the fans who grew up with A New Hope. Rachel explains: “By exploring more mature themes, you're building content specifically for the core audience that had been there since the very beginning.” The same rule applies in B2B. As your audience evolves, so should your tone, themes, and depth. Mature buyers crave nuance; new ones need accessibility. Build the right story for the right segment, and you’ll meet each generation where they are, not where they were.
• Make content that talks back. Rachel points out that Andor isn’t a passive show. It demands engagement long after the credits roll. As she says: “Content no longer exists in a passive experience… The sign of a good show is when you can engage in conversation beyond just a simple, ‘that was good.’” In B2B, the same holds true. The best content doesn’t just get attention; it gets people talking, sharing, and connecting around a shared idea. Don’t settle for applause, aim for conversation that keeps your brand in motion.

Quote

“Just because you feel affinity for the product does not mean that people will continue to share that affinity. I definitely think that marketers, from seeing the decision that Disney made to Greenlight Andor, can take away the message [to] understand when you have product fatigue.”

Time Stamps

[00:55] Meet Rachel Sterling, Chief Marketing Officer at Identity Digital

[01:51] Why Andor?

[03:36] The Role of CMO at Identity Digital

[04:45] What is Andor?

[22:32] B2B Marketing Lessons from Andor

[42:14] Identity Digital's Brand and Content Strategy

[45:52] Advice for First-Time CMOs

[48:27] Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Links

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn

Learn more about Identity Digital

About Remarkable!

Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. 

In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. 

Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.