Case Study: Identifying Pipeline Risk Early with Monthly Scorecard Reporting

Pipeline issues rarely appear overnight, they build quietly upstream.

This case study shows how I introduced monthly marketing scorecard reporting to uncover early warning signs, identify the true root cause of a pipeline decline, and drive corrective action before the impact became irreversible. By bringing visibility to lead volume and conversion trends, the team was able to course-correct and restore pipeline health with confidence.

"Michelle is an exceptional marketing leader with technical acumen and an ability to get down to the "why" behind marketing metrics and performance. "
Megan Leader

Task:

Built a monthly marketing scorecard

  • Designed a recurring scorecard tracking key indicators including lead volume, MQLs, and funnel conversion rates. Established consistent reporting to complement pipeline reviews and created a baseline view of performance to enable trend analysis over time.

 

Identified early pipeline risk signals

  • Spotted a decline in MQL volume nearly three months before pipeline impact became visible. Conversion rates remained stable, indicating the issue was volume-related, not lead quality or sales handoff.

 

Diagnosed the root cause

  • Traced the volume decline to a softening of branded demand. Partnered with the team to uncover that brand campaigns had been paused due to higher CPL. Connected that decision to a gradual drop in organic and paid branded search, a key driver of MQL volume.

 

Drove corrective action

  • Recommended reactivating the brand campaign and set clear expectations that recovery would take time. Continued monitoring via the scorecard to track progress and prevent future blind spots.
"I had the pleasure of working with Michelle Welborn at Virtru, where she was an exceptional Director of Demand Generation and one of the most diligent, data-forward marketers I’ve worked with. Beyond her expertise, Michelle is thoughtful, strategic, and brings a level of rigor and accountability that elevates everyone around her. "
Shani Becker

Results:

  • Enabled early identification of a pipeline risk that would have otherwise gone undetected.

  • Restored MQL volume by reintroducing brand investment, with full recovery occurring over the following three months.

  • Established scorecard reporting as a critical input to pipeline planning and marketing decision-making.

  • Improved cross-team confidence in marketing’s ability to diagnose and mitigate pipeline risk proactively.

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