From self-proclaimed “software engineer introvert” to confident industry connector, Julia Draghici, Co-Founder & CEO of CPV Lab and CPV ONE, has mastered the art of turning authentic relationships into business growth.
In this candid conversation with host Lee-Ann Johnstone, Julia reveals how she transformed from someone who believed “building good software and having good customer support would be enough” into a partnership-driven entrepreneur whose business thrives on genuine connections. Through her journey from nervously walking conference floors to building lasting friendships that generate multiple client referrals, Julia demonstrates that the most powerful marketing tool isn’t technology—it’s the human ability to help first, ask later, and treat partnerships like marriages rather than transactions.
Talking points include:
- How Julia overcame her introverted nature at industry conferences using simple conversation starters like “what do you do?” to build meaningful business relationships.
- The philosophy of “give first, ask later” and why small gestures like LinkedIn shares, mentions, and introductions create more lasting impact than big sponsorships.
- Why treating partnerships like marriages—with long-term commitment and mutual investment—generates sustainable competitive advantages in performance marketing.
Breaking Through the Introvert Barrier: First Conference Success Strategies
Julia’s honest account of her first affiliate marketing conference reveals the universal challenge facing industry newcomers. Without a booth and feeling overwhelmed by the networking environment, she had to overcome her natural introversion and software engineering background to connect with a predominantly male industry. Her breakthrough came when she realised that everyone at conferences wants to network, and simple conversation starters like “what do you do?” can open doors to valuable relationships.
Despite experiencing the frustrating dynamic where her technical questions received vague responses until her male partner asked the same questions, Julia learned to navigate industry dynamics while building genuine connections that lasted years beyond the initial meeting.
The Power of Small Gestures: Building Trust Through Micro-Interactions
The conversation explores Julia’s discovery that small actions create disproportionate impact in relationship building. LinkedIn shares, post mentions, podcast invitations, and simple introductions generate more memorable impressions than expensive sponsorships or grand gestures. Julia emphasises the Maya Angelou principle that “people remember how you make them feel,” sharing how making Lee-Ann comfortable at an event through a simple conversation starter led directly to this podcast opportunity. This philosophy extends throughout CPV Lab’s business approach, where Julia focuses on solving problems for partners and clients rather than immediately seeking returns, creating the trust foundation that generates long-term business value.
From Transactions to Transformations: The Marriage Model of Partnerships
Julia’s unique approach to business partnerships involves treating them like marriages—long-term relationships requiring mutual investment, clear communication, and shared growth objectives. This philosophy has generated remarkable results, including the Joey Babineau partnership that provided early tutorials and continues as a friendship years later, plus the custom development project that sparked six client referrals in two months. The conversation reveals how Julia’s “we’re all in this together” mindset creates collaborative relationships where competitors become friends, clients become advocates, and business connections evolve into genuine partnerships that withstand industry changes and generate compound returns over time.
Listen to find out more about:
- The specific red flags Julia watches for in potential partnerships and why asking “what do I get out of it?” in early conversations signals poor partnership potential.
- How CPV Lab’s customer support reveals why humans still matter in an AI-driven world, with “I want to talk with an agent” being their most frequent chatbot query.
- The emerging partnership opportunities between content creators and affiliate managers that represent new collaboration models in performance marketing.
Key segments of this podcast and where you can tune in to go direct:
[08:44] Julia’s first conference networking experience and overcoming introvert challenges
[15:45] The Joey Babineau partnership case study and building lasting business friendships
[26:52] Rapid-fire relationship advice including partnership red flags and trust-building strategies
Our thanks go to Mate Affiliates as this season’s sponsor. Would you like to talk about sponsoring our podcast, or gaining a brand mention? Take a look here.
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