But what makes Jonathan different isn't just his path. It's how he thinks about it. Because beyond the physicality, beyond the competition, Jonathan has developed a deep interest in philosophy, identity, and the mental frameworks that shape how we perform, adapt, and evolve. From the ring to business to life, this is a conversation about pressure, decision making, reinvention and the mind behind it all.

Before OutSystems, she spent more than 13 years at Salesforce, holding leadership roles across product marketing, community, and Trailhead, the learning platform that became a cornerstone of Salesforce's ecosystem. She helped build one of the most powerful communities in enterprise tech, turning education and engagement into a true engine for growth. Kris brings a perspective rooted in clarity, team building, and the belief that companies that win are the ones that connect great products to real human impact.

She's also the co-author of the book Brand Global, Adapt Local, written with Nataly Kelly, CMO of Zappi. It's a book that offers marketers a practical framework for balancing global brand consistency with local cultural relevance. Katherine is a much sought-after voice on marketing, culture and leadership, speaking at global stages like Cannes Lions and her insights have been featured in major media, including 60 Minutes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and CNN. 

When you sit down with someone who has operated at the highest levels of global marketing and understands culture the way Katherine does, you're going to walk away smarter than when you started.

Under his leadership, InnerView has helped companies drive meaningful improvements in revenue performance and customer satisfaction across millions of frontline interactions. Christopher is also an adjunct marketing professor at Villanova University, and his insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review and Forbes, to name a few. He's a frequent keynote speaker, panel moderator and podcast guest, appearing on more than 70 business shows.

He's lived inside global enterprises, high-growth tech and complex B2B ecosystems, and he knows what it takes to build brands that actually move revenue. He's also the cohost of Visa's "Money Travels" podcast, where he sits down with industry leaders to unpack the future of money movement and marketing innovation.

Before joining State Farm, he spent three years at General Motors as Chief Data and Analytics Officer, leading enterprise-wide data strategy and innovation. Prior to that, he served as Chief Digital and Analytics Officer at Starbucks, where he and his team built a centralized engine for analytics, machine learning, and research, powering everything from personalized marketing to AI-driven real estate decisions. If that's not enough, John's career has also spanned leadership roles at Nike, Amazon, Expedia, and T-Mobile, making him one of the few executives who's helped shape digital strategy across nearly every major industry. 

From entertainment and tech to sports, hospitality and consumer brands, his fingerprints are all over modern marketing at scale, and that is not hyperbole. Under Steve's leadership, Summit House has earned top industry honors including Clio's, Emmy's and Film Festival Awards while supporting brands like Spotify, DirecTV, Live Golf, Starbucks, Dick's Sporting Goods, the NBA, NFL, Meta, Nintendo and more!

He's also an active advisor and investor in early-stage companies and venture funds, extending his obsession with building and scaling far beyond a single platform. 

He walked away from the comfort of a high-profile marketing career to build something far more ambitious. Today, he's the CEO and co-founder of Kwieri, an applied AI collaboration platform designed to address some of AI's biggest blind spots by blending artificial intelligence with personalized human mentorship, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Jackie is also the author of Changemaker, a leadership playbook drawn from decades of scaling innovation, leading through complexity, and building organizations that actually drive impact. From advising global institutions like the UN and the Vatican on technology and sustainability to shaping how brands think about media, strategy, and transformation, she brings a rare systems-level perspective on leadership, business, and the future of marketing.

She brings a dynamic, sharp, data-driven, customer-first mindset, turning market trends, competitive dynamics and traveler insights into strategies that actually move the needle. Before Philly, she helped guide strategy and stakeholder engagement for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and before that, she built a really strong track record for leading go-to-market strategy and high-impact partnerships across multiple organizations. 

Simply put, Cassie is one of aviation's top strategic voices, and she's playing a major role in the future of how people arrive in and experience Philadelphia.

Today, Don is scaling patented AI solutions that turn data into decisions and campaigns into performance engines, real-time optimization, predictive analytics, smarter, creative, better outcomes, less noise, and more signal. Finally, he's a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, which tells you everything you need to know about his resilience and commitment to the long game!

He became one of the youngest Fortune 500 C-suite executives, led transformations that rewired global organizations and built campaigns that turned beloved brands into cultural heat engines. He's in the advertising hall of achievement. His name shows up on lists like Fortune's 40 under 40, Fast Company's most creative people in business, Ebony's Power 100. He's an author, a CNBC host and one of the most dynamic voices in the industry and just stepped into a brand new role of dad. We're gonna start there. How's it going, how much sleep he's getting, and from there, we're gonna get into the evolution of the CMO role, the rise of multicultural growth, the limits of reach, the power of resonance, and why content, culture, and AI are reshaping the playbook.

Beyond music, Kerry has become a leading advocate for artists’ rights, pioneering copyright termination strategies that have helped creators reclaim ownership and long-term value. I met Kerry years ago when we were both speaking at Harvard, and from that moment on we’ve been brothers. This conversation is a rare blend of history, hard-earned lessons, and real-world insight into how brands, artists, and legacies are actually built.

Before joining Vistar, Lucy led hedge fund and investment bank sales at Data Miner, giving her a front row seat to how information and timing move markets. Lucy holds a BS in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami and has been with Vistar since 2014 through the company's acquisition by T-Mobile earlier this year.

Perry is the visionary behind DNA Vibe, a purpose-driven, regenerative wearable company built around a powerful mission, helping people overcome the life-limiting effects of injury, surgery, and the everyday wear and tear of time, activity, and gravity. That mission is now expanding with Shine, a bold, large-scale program designed to redefine not just how people heal, but how communities show up for one another.

For more than 30 years, Perry has been at the forefront of transformational technology from optical networks and voiceover IP to interactive digital media and real-time distributed systems, the kind of foundational work that quietly powers modern communication, education, healthcare, and entertainment. If that weren't enough, he also serves as a fellow and chief advisor for phototherapy and bioharmonics.

Before that, she was CMO at Chromatic Technologies, and earlier in her career, she helped drive global brand powerhouses at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Kimberly-Clark, and Molson Coors. She's seen marketing at every altitude. From scrappy scale-ups to Fortune 500 giants, from early-stage chaos to enterprise precision. And she knows exactly what it takes to build brands that actually move people and generate revenue.

AI does the heavy lifting in the background, brand safety, workflow and precision, while real human creators stay in front and center. Before launching Props, Joe built and ran a digital agency serving brands like Nike, HP, Lowe's Hotels, Betterment, and even Michelle Obama. And earlier in his career, he served as New York City's first CMO under Mayor Bloomberg, helping to revitalize tourism and launching the city's first self-sustaining marketing agency. 

Finally, Joe sits at the intersection of brand, policy, tech, and creative. I'm so happy I spent a few minutes with him at advertising week not long ago, and we're gonna continue that great conversation.

He now partners with former NBA star, Jamal Mashburn, as a board member of Mashburn Enterprises and he serves as Chief MarComm and Brand Officer for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, where he rebranded to NEI and launched the NEI Pioneer podcast, which topped six million views last year.

A long-time builder of market-making data business, Chase brings deep experience across analytics, monetization, product strategy, and strategic partners. He is a co-founder of Nielsen Catalina Solutions and has held senior leadership roles at Nielsen, Indian Hill Group, and Claritas. Across his career, Chase has focused on turning data identity and measurement into scalable growth engines for brands, agencies and platforms. 

And finally, Claritas is graciously supporting this entire CES series, helping making these conversations possible so marketing leaders can learn and hear directly from operators who are deep into work, not just talking about it. 

Brands including Walgreens, Verizon and GM and partners across media and data like Amazon, Comcast and Adobe. Claritas is graciously supporting this entire CES series, helping make these conversations possible so CMOs can hear directly from peers and partners throughout the week. Welcome to the show! 

Lisa brings more than two decades of experience building and scaling global marketing engines at companies like Tenable, Nimble Storage, and Symantec. She’s known for designing high-impact programs that drive measurable growth, elevate brand awareness, and unite teams around clear business outcomes.

From navigating the evolving intersection of cybersecurity and marketing to leading through transformation, Lisa brings a rare blend of strategic clarity and creative energy, the kind that turns complexity into momentum.

My other guest is Amin Mrini, who is the Chief Digital Officer for Lions & WARC, where he connects the dots between strategy, media, and the fastest-moving part of modern marketing - the moment where brand, product, and purchase collapse into a single action. Together, they are building what they are calling, "marketing super intelligence" combining global benchmarks with real-time modeling to give the C-suite something marketing has been chasing for decades, a shared truth. 

It's the kind finance believes the boardroom uses and marketing can act on tomorrow morning, not in six months. We're going to dig into what Marketing Superintelligence unlocks and how it changes the relationship between marketing, finance, and decision making inside business.

His superpower? Solving brand problems end-to-end, rethinking everything from CRM and brand identity to channel mix and digital transformation. 

His work has been featured in Adweek, CNBC, TechCrunch, and the New York Times. And he's advised leaders at American Express, Geico, P&G, Expedia, and Nissan on how to turn marketing into momentum.

They also cover:
● How AI accelerates fraud through deepfakes and voice clones and how it can also be used to detect and prevent it
● The shift from physical to digital identity, and why both will continue to coexist
● Leadership lessons on listening, empowering teams, and creating space for risk-taking and experimentation

If you want to know more about the future of digital identity, AI’s role in trust and security, and how to communicate complex tech in human-centered ways, you definitely need to hear this episode.

He was also part of Gilt Groupe during the height of the flash-sale era, helping drive triple-digit growth and contributing to the development of one of the first scaled mobile e-commerce apps. And because that wasn’t enough, Jason recently launched True North Group, a venture that brings together brands, athletes, and communities through premium live experiences and purpose-driven partnerships.

Known for blending data, creativity, and cultural insight, Jason is passionate about harnessing AI, performance marketing, and purpose-driven storytelling to build movements—not just campaigns.

Rachel leads global marketing with a focus on driving awareness and adoption of Identity Digital’s portfolio of top-level domains.

Before stepping into her current role, she held senior leadership positions at Instagram, Twitter, and Google, where she built and scaled strategies across product marketing, integrated content, and events.

From shaping how some of the world’s most iconic platforms connect with audiences to now redefining digital identity, Rachel brings a unique perspective on marketing’s evolving role in culture and technology.

And here’s something I just discovered—Rachel is the only person to have served as Head of Product Marketing at both Instagram and Twitter.

Since stepping into his current role in 2022, he’s relaunched Impossible Is Nothing, produced the award-winning series Running While Black, launched the first NCAA student-athlete affiliate network, and brought the You Got This campaign to life with a high-profile debut on the Las Vegas Sphere during Super Bowl weekend.

A lifelong believer that sport has the power to change lives, Chris focuses on creating marketing that feels personal while scaling globally.

He has been at the forefront of transforming the insights industry. Under his leadership, Zappi has pioneered AI-driven tools that help creators worldwide test, validate, and scale ideas—long before AI became mainstream. That doesn’t mean he’s old, by the way. Today, he’s doubling down on new models that unlock deeper value from research data.

He’s also the coauthor of The Consumer Insights Revolution: Transforming Market Research for Competitive Advantage, written with Ryan Barry, former president of Zappi, and PepsiCo leaders Stefan Gans and Kate Sharp. The book provides organizations with a blueprint for becoming truly customer-centric by anticipating shifts in behavior before they happen.

Beyond innovation, Steve is passionate about building a sustainable future for the insights industry—ensuring it grows in ways that serve both businesses and the planet. What a novel idea.

His global perspective, shaped by working across four continents, combined with his award-winning work in behavioral economics, has earned him recognition from the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research, the Market Research Society, the Advertising Research Foundation, and many more.

Simply put, Steve is an innovator, author, and sustainability champion who is redefining what insights can—and should—be.

Bill has worked with more than 300 brands, helped drive over $2.5 billion — that’s with a B — in new revenue, and built a playbook that small and mid-sized companies can use to punch way above their weight, just like the Fortune 1000 do.

He's got the receipts, the results, and the reps. And today, he's dropping the kind of brand wisdom you don't Google — you earn.

Today, I’m thrilled to have Alan back — but this time, he’s not alone. Joining him is Matthew Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA. Not only that, we’re recording live at Subaru headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.

Subaru of America and the ASPCA have been partners for 17 years. Subaru is the ASPCA’s largest corporate sponsor, donating more than $41 million over the years.

That support has helped rescue, treat, transport, and rehome more than a quarter of a million animals across the U.S.

Every October, more than 600 Subaru retailers team up with local shelters to host adoption events — sometimes right inside their showrooms — as part of the Subaru Loves Pets program.

Through it, they cover adoption fees, provide supplies, and make sure people leave ready to be the best pet parents they can be.

This year alone, Subaru and its retailers will provide over $3 million in direct funding through ASPCA grants to prepare animals for adoption.

Together, they shine the spotlight on overlooked underdogs — senior dogs and those with special needs — even creating National Make a Dog’s Day on October 22nd, a day to celebrate and adopt those dogs who are often left behind.

With all that in mind, it’s going to be an amazing conversation.

Tifenn’s mission as a data-driven leader is to shape the future of work through superior digital experiences, great teams, and technology that customers love. What a novel idea.

At Amplitude, she drives global marketing strategy and leads a team focused on helping organizations thrive in the digital era.

Her career includes CMO roles at Collibra—hopefully I said that right—Dropbox, SAP Ariba, and SAP Fieldglass. A track record that speaks to her ability to scale brands, build impact, and lead with vision.

Beyond the C-suite, Tifenn is a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate, a passionate supporter of women in tech, and an avid motorcyclist who brings that same bold energy to everything she does.

Dare I say, my newfound friend.

From scaling brands to guiding enterprise vision, John’s blend of marketing expertise and people-first leadership makes him a compelling voice in edtech.

His humor and insight have captivated audiences around the world. Jay has advised more than 700 brands, including 40 of the Fortune 500, and his expertise has been featured everywhere from NPR and CNN to The Washington Post. And here’s the twist—Jay isn’t only a strategist and storyteller; he’s also a certified tequila sommelier.

He’s also one of the world’s top tequila influencers, blending spirited tastings and unforgettable stories into his talks. From creating iconic marketing frameworks to hosting podcasts like The Spirit Guides and the long-running Social Pros, Jay has cemented his place as a true thought leader.

Early in his career, he held president-level roles at both Oracle and Salesforce, and before that, he drove four successful exits at VC-backed startups. Outside the boardroom, he’s a father of five and a sports, music, wine, and travel enthusiast. Kevin also studied at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the University of Washington. 

Before I bring him on, I’ll add that he’s also a dear friend, a mentor, a fellow sports nut, and someone I had the pleasure of working with—and for—at Oracle. 

She’s also credited with helping supercharge E.L.F.’s reputation for quality, inclusivity, and viral cultural moments — from TikTok stardom to collaborations with brands like Chipotle, Dunkin’, and even Tinder. 

Before taking the reins at OAAA, she was the EVP of Industry Initiatives at the IAB, where she shaped the future of digital, mobile, video, and audio, spearheaded the Digital Content NewFronts, and was named one of the 30 most powerful women in mobile advertising by Business Insider as well as one of the top women in media by Folio and Synapse.

Anna brings both brains and bold vision to the table. I am honored to call her my friend, and this conversation is long overdue.

Under her leadership, Ally has earned spots on Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter,” and Brimmer herself has been recognized as one of Forbes’ Most Influential CMOs five times, earning a place in the 2024 Forbes CMO Hall of Fame. An absolute trailblazer in the industry, she has also been honored by Adweek, Fast Company, and She Runs It for her creativity, leadership, and cultural impact. 

She has also held major roles at Miller Brewing, Warner-Lambert, and Pfizer.What I love most about Vicky is that she’s not just a brand leader — she’s a creativity evangelist with a business brain. In our conversation, we’re diving into how to keep a legacy brand fresh, why creativity isn’t just for kids, and what it really takes to build something that truly matters.

Eric brings more than 20 years of experience across tech and consumer marketing, spanning both the agency and brand sides. At CallMiner, he leads all global marketing functions, working hand-in-hand with sales and channel teams to fuel growth and pipeline.

Before stepping into his role at CallMiner, Eric served as VP of Brand and Digital Marketing at Acquia, where he led everything from creative to demand generation for the open DXP platform.

His agency background includes senior leadership roles at MullenLowe and The Martin Agency, where he shaped digital strategy for powerhouse brands like Google, GEICO, Walmart, P&G, and Microsoft.

From Pizza Hut to Intel, Acura to Royal Caribbean, he's been in the trenches of marketing innovation his entire career.

He's helping drive Amtrak’s goal to double ridership by 2040 and make rail a preferred choice for American travelers. Before joining Amtrak, Eliot served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at AMC Theatres, where he led marketing, loyalty, and data strategy for the world’s largest movie exhibition company. Earlier, he held senior leadership roles at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, including EVP of Loyalty and Revenue Optimization, where he oversaw global sales and the Wyndham Rewards program.

And yes—he has the credentials to back it up: a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

A longtime thought leader in marketing and customer experience, Dave has amassed over 1 million followers on LinkedIn. Over the past 30 years, he’s led strategy and digital marketing practices at BCG, Digitas, and McKinsey, and also served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Aetna. 

Today, he’s an executive advisor and senior fellow at Harvard Business School, where he works closely with enterprise-scale companies and AI startups. 

His new book, Personalized Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, debuted at number four on USA Today’s Bestsellers list. 

And just for kicks—he was recently named an AI Trailblazer by Adweek. 

Throughout her career spanning enterprise technology, medical devices, building products, and CPG, Jen has reshaped organizations to outperform expectations, especially during periods of complexity, disruption, or scale-up. Beyond her executive acumen, Jen is a dynamic thought leader—most recently authoring a Medium series, From Brand Builder to Business Leader, on the CMO-to-CEO journey. 

And one last thing—Jen and I go way back to our days at Oracle, specifically Oracle Marketing Cloud. I’m proud to call her my friend, my mentor, and my confidant. 

A seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience, DeLu has led marketing transformation at some of the world’s most iconic brands, including McDonald’s, Audi, Kellogg’s, Nissan, Subaru, ConAgra, and now ADT.

He’s known for his data-driven, customer-first approach and for helping redefine what protection and connection mean in the smart home and small business security space. 

With an undergraduate degree in Politics from Princeton University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, he brings both intellectual rigor and real-world results to the table.

He’s also an independent board director and a recognized thought leader in marketing, growth, and digital innovation. 

Evan is also pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology with a focus on neuroscience—because apparently having a master’s in data science wasn’t enough. Overachiever. He’s diving deep into the fascinating intersection of brain science and marketing, figuring out what really makes people tick. 

When he’s not being a marketing wizard, Evan is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt and a former college soccer player—who, I think, sometimes forgets that his knees have aged a bit faster than his ambition. 

With over 30 years of experience leading marketing for some of the most iconic entertainment and tech brands—including HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and Nickelodeon—Jenny is known for creating bold, innovative campaigns that not only drive results but shape culture. 

She's also been recognized as one of Adweek's most influential women in advertising. 

With over 25 years in the game, Bruce Hershey isn’t just a marketer—he’s a builder, a breaker, and someone who’s redefining what it means to be a CMO. Bruce brings a rare mix of creative courage and operational discipline. But more than that, to me personally, he’s a friend and a mentor—someone I continue to learn from every time we talk, including right now. 

He’s back to share what’s working, what’s next, and how we lead with heart in an algorithmic world. And while he’s never one to brag, let’s just say any company looking to level up should be paying close attention—because Bruce is more than ready for whatever’s next. And it’s going to be big. 

Then came a pivot—from creating campaigns to teaching the science behind them. Jason traveled the world, training the next generation of marketers in what actually works when it comes to growing brands. 

Eventually, he jumped back into the deep end—this time client-side at Diageo. First in Amsterdam, working on global strategy for Johnnie Walker, and then in New York as Head of Planning for Diageo North America, where he shaped the future of brands like Smirnoff, Baileys, Guinness, and Captain Morgan. 

Now fully rooted in the U.S., Jason has worn many hats—from advising agencies to serving as Committee Chair of Agency Relations at the ANA and Co-Chair of the Marketing Society in New York. He brings the kind of perspective that only comes from being deep in the trenches: agency, client, strategy, research, and education. 

And while he's not one to chase titles, let's just say his next chapter is wide open—and any brand would be lucky to have him. 

I am proud to call him my friend, my confidant, my mentor: Jason Chebib. 

At Amica, he oversees five core areas within the marketing department: marketing, data science, media and platform, branding and communications, operations and project management, and digital experience. He joined the company in 2020 as Vice President of Marketing and has since led a brand renaissance. That includes bringing on a new advertising agency of record and refreshing Amica’s logo and brand platform. 

Tory has also pushed the brand to pursue larger and more impactful opportunities to build name recognition. A couple of standout examples include the now-infamous Boston Celtics jersey patch — recognizable to any sports fan — and the naming rights to Providence’s 13,000-seat arena, now known as the Amica Mutual Pavilion. 

He holds a BA in Journalism and an MA in Marketing Communications from the University of Connecticut. Outside of work, Tory enjoys time with his wife, Stacy, and their four children: Sophia, Christian, Jayden, and Rosie. You’ll often find him coaching his kids’ basketball games or serving the community through his work with Foster Forward, a nonprofit that empowers lives impacted by foster care. 

Doug is currently serving as Chief Brand Officer at NPC Brands, overseeing multiple companies. His achievements are detailed in his incredibly insightful book Moving Your Brand Out of the Friend Zone, available on Amazon and other major retailers. You can learn more about Doug and his work at dougzarkin.com. 

And one final career highlight, Doug, that I’m going to add to your bio: you're the very first guest on CMO Whisperer. 

His work has earned numerous awards and recognitions, including a Grammy nomination—we’ve got to get into that—a spot on Sports Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40, the Adweek Vanguard Award, and several Effies for advertising effectiveness. Daniel is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, a husband, and a proud father of two amazing daughters. 

In her previous role at IBM, she led developer marketing and brand advertising, where she was instrumental in launching IBM's brand platform "Let's Create." She has received the industry's top recognitions and awards from Cannes Lions, Drum Festival, Media Globe Awards, and many more. She is proud to have been part of the 2024 award-winning "Weather Kids" global campaign, created in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the World Meteorological Organization, and The Weather Channel. The campaign calls for urgent climate action for future generations. 

As an advocate for positive industry and societal disruption, she sits on the boards of the Ad Council, BRIDGE, and the ANA Brand Council. She's also a mentor at the Marketing Academy. 

As CMO at Lyft, Brian leads all marketing, creative, and communications efforts for the brand. This includes developing strategy and executing product and brand marketing, overseeing the creative studio, managing social media, and handling external communications. 

Prior to joining Lyft, Brian was responsible for "branding the metaverse"—a phrase I love—while promoting a range of new product initiatives in the sector, including Oculus, Quest goggles, Ray-Ban smart glasses, and the Horizon VR world. At Meta, he led the Quest Pro launch, bringing the first-ever integrated sports partnership to the company with a multi-year content marketing and product deal in collaboration with the NBA. 

Previously, Brian was the CMO of Eventbrite, where he played a key role during the company’s IPO and launched its first-ever brand campaign, Made for Those Who Do. 

At Airbnb, he introduced a new marketing and product positioning strategy called Live There, which encouraged travelers to "travel like a local" rather than being a tourist. 

Brian’s path into marketing was nontraditional. He started as a financial analyst and business planning manager before transitioning into account management roles at Digitas and RAPP. Eventually, he moved in-house to lead brand marketing. Currently, Brian is based in San Francisco, where he lives with his son and his dog. 

Steve is deeply passionate about innovative marketing, AI, and branding. Prior to DeepL, Steve served as CMO of FourKites, where he spearheaded remarkable growth and revenue increases through targeted, account-based, and product-led growth (PLG) strategies, serving industry titans like Coca-Cola, Walmart, and Ford. His expertise also extends to CMO roles at OutSystems and Acrolinx, where he drove unicorn growth, established category leadership, and facilitated successful acquisitions. 

He has also held leading marketing positions at Adobe. 

Melton has a 20-plus-year track record of innovation, category creation, and growth acceleration at technology companies. Prior to joining 1Password, he was the CMO of Outreach—the leading sales execution platform—helping individual sales reps and entire revenue organizations create more pipelines and close more deals. 

At Outreach, Melton led global teams responsible for strategic communications, brand, demand generation, customer expansion, product marketing, community, and sales development. 

Together, they dive deep into the fascinating intersection of advertising, emotions, and decision-making, exploring how feelings drive actions and the role of familiarity and fear in marketing. From thought-provoking insights on the power of nostalgia to the balance between positivity and negativity in advertising, this conversation unpacks the science behind what makes campaigns truly resonate.

Tune in to discover why "the more you feel, the more you do" and how brands can tap into human psychology to build stronger connections with their audiences.

My guest today is Steven Fuld, the former Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Corporate Marketing at Sony Corporation of America. Steven led U.S. marketing efforts in collaboration with Sony's Tokyo headquarters and operating companies such as PlayStation, Sony Pictures, and Sony Electronics. His leadership spanned brand strategy and communications, enterprise marketing, technology, and loyalty program design. His team defined Sony's brand positioning, managed paid and organic channels, and created compelling content to strengthen market relevance.

He spearheaded the development of an enterprise-wide martech stack that unified customer data, enabling deeper insights, predictive modeling, and targeted audience activation. Additionally, he oversaw a cross-company loyalty program, including co-branded credit cards like the Sony Card and PlayStation Card, all designed to drive engagement and sales.

Before Sony, Steven was Managing Director at The Kessler Group, specializing in loyalty program design and co-branded credit cards. He also held roles in marketing and finance at Citigroup.

He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University. After leaving Sony, Steven took a few months off to recharge and reset. He is now actively pursuing roles that build on his experience leading marketing teams, enabling transitions, and rolling up his sleeves to get involved in the practice of marketing. 

My guest today is Tim McDermott. Tim is the President of the Philadelphia Union and Union Sports and Entertainment, overseeing all club business operations. Since joining the Union in 2016, his efforts have focused on increasing brand strength, expanding the fan base, and enhancing revenue opportunities, while maintaining a commitment to growing soccer and positively impacting the community.

Under his leadership, the Union have achieved significant milestones, including record partnership revenues, the largest season ticket base to date, and historical highs in television ratings, social media engagement, and media coverage. Previously, Tim served as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), and the Washington Capitals (NHL).

During his tenure with the Eagles, the team was recognized by Forbes as the fastest-growing brand in sports. In 2011, Tim was named to the '40 Under 40' by the Philadelphia Business Journal, and in 2014, he received the CMO Club Programmatic Marketing Award. His brother, Sean McDermott, is the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. 

My guest this week is Jenn Ogden-Reese, Chief Marketing Officer at On Location, a leading premium experiences company providing access to ticket packages with enhanced hospitality and premier end-to-end travel for bucket-list events. She has more than 25 years of experience building businesses and leading multi-platform marketing and strategy.

Before joining On Location, she served as CMO at several high-growth companies, including 2U, an ed-tech company serving over 44 million registered learners, and SeatGeek, a leading mobile-first live event ticketing platform. Jenn launched her career at Time Inc., marketing brands from Sports Illustrated Kids to InStyle to People, holding various leadership positions, including SVP of Consumer Marketing.

Jenn also serves as the Board Chair of Global Glimpse, a nonprofit organization providing international travel and leadership experiences to high school students. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Jenn lives in Westchester County, New York. In her spare time, she enjoys attending live events, skiing, and being a dedicated sports mom to her three sons. 

My guest today is Suzanne Darmory, the former Chief Marketing Officer at Refundo, the only minority-owned fintech platform in the tax industry, committed to fostering inclusivity in the communities they serve. In addition to founding her own boutique agency, The AGNCY That Sold Agnesi, she has spent her career on both the client side—working with companies like IBM, L'Oréal, and Jackson Hewitt—and the agency side in New York (Arnold Deutsch, Gray, JWT) and London (Bates UK, Euro KG, Ogilvy Mather).

Suzanne brings over 25 years of international experience championing Fortune 500 brands and articulating their visions through innovative marketing and advertising initiatives. Her track record of driving transformative change, paired with a relentless focus on results, has solidified her reputation as a renowned industry leader.

She has been recognized by Marsum as one of the Top 100 Influencers in Marketing and Advertising, by Business Leaders Magazine as one of the Top 100 Business Leaders, and by Refinery29 as one of the 29 Most Powerful Women in Digital. She has also been featured on the Where Are the Boss Ladies list. 

She oversees global marketing, brand, communications, demand generation, e-commerce, and education business teams.

As a veteran CMO, Dara has held key leadership roles, including Global Head of Marketing, Communications, and Membership at Peloton, CMO of Carbon, and CMO of GE Business Innovations and GE Ventures.

Earlier in her career, she led marketing growth efforts at Apple and Goldman Sachs.

She has been recognized by Forbes as the world’s most influential CMO—let me say that again—recognized by Forbes as the world’s most influential CMO. She was also the first Black person to be inducted into the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dara is a champion of public health, women’s issues, and diversity and belonging.

If that wasn’t enough, she also serves on the boards of the Public Health Institute and Robin Hood.

Finally, Dara graduated from Harvard with highest honors and holds an MBA from Stanford University. 

My guest this week is Thomas Prather, the Chief Marketing Officer at Smashburger.

Thomas brings over 30 years of marketing expertise, beginning in automotive advertising, where he managed Cadillac's resurgence in 1995. He transitioned to the food and beverage industry in 2003, joining Starbucks and eventually becoming VP of U.S. Retail Marketing.

At Starbucks, he drove growth across more than 17,000 U.S. locations, notably overseeing the brand's third-party delivery partnerships with UberEats and DoorDash, while leading the brand's most successful fall season with the 20th anniversary of the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

As Smashburger's CMO, Thomas now applies his extensive experience to drive the brand's growth through innovative global strategies focused on elevating Smashburger’s brand presence. He aims to attract a broader audience by aligning the company's offerings with emerging trends and consumer expectations, all while ensuring the brand remains relevant and committed to delivering an exceptional guest experience. 

At the helm of the iconic priceless platform, he and his team are on the cutting edge of experiential multi sensory marketing for consumers and customers alike. He has extended the reach and impact of the brand by embracing AI and Web3 technologies, while also pioneering new standards in inclusive design. 

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Before joining Six Flags, Edith Ann was CMO at On the Border, a Mexican casual dining chain where she developed the brand's global marketing strategy, elevating its presence through innovative menu promotions and guest-focused experiences.

She also served as Senior Director of Brand Extensions at Topgolf, where she launched and marketed new brand properties including Top Tracer and Swing Suites, achieving double-digit growth for the company. Early in her career, Edith Ann held various roles at Chili's, including VP of Marketing, where she oversaw advertising, promotions, media planning, and PR across the U.S. She has also worked with Brinker International's Maggiano's Little Italy and held marketing positions at Nokia, Yum! Brands, and Cadbury Schweppes, contributing to brand and product innovation efforts.

Edith Ann holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and an MSC in Corporate Communications from Boston University. Originally from Puerto Rico and raised in Mexico City, she now lives in Coppell, Texas with her husband Jason, their teenage twins, and two dogs, Nacho and Lulu. 

He sits on the boards of Scotts Miracle-Gro and 1-800 Flowers, and works with dozens of entrepreneurial founders to tell their essential stories across all channels.

From a jolly and nimbleness to stripping away layers of bureaucracy to putting action and accountability together, there are shared learnings that can make big and small stronger.

Under her leadership, Thrive Market reached over 1 million members in 2020, became the largest grocer ever to receive B Corp certification, and provided more than $16 million in healthy groceries to those affected by food inequality. Now, in its 10th year, Thrive Market has more than 1.5 million paying members.

Pasha was listed in Forbes' third annual CMO Next 2021 list as one of the country's top marketing chiefs, recognizing her success in leading Thrive Market’s transformative, mission-driven marketing. She has also been honored as 'One to Watch' by Brand Innovators and recognized by Adweek for her notable career achievements. In 2022, she spoke at the Forbes CMO Summit on the importance of sustainable marketing at Thrive Market.

Pasha has revitalized the brand by refocusing on its core mission of promoting healthy, accessible, and affordable living. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she began her career at PNC and later joined The Honest Company. Outside of Thrive, she mentors female leaders and has lived in over 13 countries. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her family and embraces an active, health-conscious lifestyle.

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Channing also started his own private wine label called Chosen Family Wines. Here's my highly entertaining conversation with Channing Frye.

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He's the global CEO of next gen advertising group called Meet the People. We talked about all sorts of things, including the role of AI in and omni channel marketing. Here's my conversation with Tim Ringel. 

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With more than 15 years in the field, she's led marketing for both high growth startups, plus well known global brands such as Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Jenna Kutcher, Strava, and Deloitte to name just a few. Jess' philosophy is rooted in customer first marketing, which she believes makes marketing and sales effortless and cultivates fiercely loyal brand advocates.

Following his role as AOL is European Head of Media and Marketing. He then ascended to the role of digital profit at AOL and Verizon media. And in 2019, he embarked on a new journey with his consultancy, where he works with the world's top 100 brands, shaping the future of digital engagement. 

Rose is an award winning marketing and product leader who currently heads up lifecycle and launch marketing for Amazon's Prime Video. She and her team drive profitable growth across the customer life cycle through original and licensed content. She's also the creator of the Renaissance Marketer Mindset, a new way for marketers to guarantee growth and innovation. And her recent book is called The Renaissance Marketers Shortcut to Get Finance to Say "Yes, and".

Hatal is a seasoned professional with over a decade at iHeartMedia. She's a trailblazer in leveraging diverse data sources to drive insightful connections between products, consumers, and advertising. With a background in clinical and cognitive psychology, she employs a blend of qualitative, quantitative, and advanced analytics methods to craft impactful narratives for iHeartMedia's marketing position. 

At the helm of the iconic priceless platform, he and his team are on the cutting edge of experiential multi sensory marketing for consumers and customers alike. He has extended the reach and impact of the brand by embracing AI and Web3 technologies, while also pioneering new standards in inclusive design.

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Richard is currently the chairman and CEO of Inuvo, a market leader in artificial intelligence, aligning and delivering consumer oriented product and brand messaging strategies online based on powerful, anonymous, and proprietary consumer intent data, for agencies, advertisers, and partners.

Channing also started his own private wine label called Chosen Family Wines. Here's my highly entertaining conversation with Channing Frye.

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Links

• Jon's LinkedIn
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We had a really, really fascinating conversation about that and a whole host of other topics, including the fact that Bart sits on the board of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. And it is a highly personal story.

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• Bart's LinkedIn
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• I'm Still Branding parody video
• Terry's LinkedIn
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One of David's recent HBR articles was "Customer Experience in the Age of AI" which are two topics that are very near and dear, at least they should be, for every marketer of the world. I hope you enjoy my conversation.

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• David's LinkedIn
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• Evan's LinkedIn
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• Doug's LinkedIn
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What I am at my core is a conversationalist, I love to engage in real conversations. In a world where AI blurs the lines between what is authentic and what is not, The CMO Whisperer Show is all about reality, the reality of what it's like to be a CMO.

But it's not just CMOs, this show's about, and for everyone who keeps it real from others in the C-Suite to agency leaders, to editors of publications, athletes, entertainers, and on and on.

This show is for them and about them.