AI has long been thought of as a threat to creativity. But what if they’re not at odds at all? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the World Economic Forum in Davos, CMO of Adobe Enterprise, Rachel Thornton, reveals why putting human creativity at the center of marketing strategy is more critical than ever and how CMOs should be navigating this tectonic shift.

What You'll Learn:

• How to position AI as "augmented intelligence" rather than artificial intelligence
• Why the core creative concept must remain human-driven while AI handles scaling
• How to free your marketers from tactical asset-building so they focus on what they love
• The framework for proving marketing's revenue impact to your C-suite
• Why authenticity and brand definition are now competitive imperatives
• How to treat customers as co-creators of your brand experience, particularly with Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI has permeated every conversation since 2024, but CMOs have yet to use it to its full potential. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the World Economic Forum at Davos, Bonnie Pelosi, CEO EMEA at Microsoft, reveals the truth about AI in marketing - what’s going right, what’s going wrong, and everything in between.

What You'll Learn:

• How to embed governance into AI implementation from day one
• Why CMOs must act as connectors across the entire C-suite
• The "Customer Zero" mindset and why AI use cases must be geared, first, towards customers
• How to lead cultural transformation, not just technology rollout
• Why curiosity and empathy are non-negotiable CMO competencies
• The distinction between tactical and strategic leadership

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s tech-driven world, tech marketers cannot afford to lose sight of client trust. And yet, they do. On this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast, President and CMO of Salesforce, Ariel Kelman, reveals why customer success storytelling matters more than ever, how to ground AI in trusted first-party data, and the key strategies for balancing AI automation with human creativity.

What You'll Learn:

• How to ground AI agents in customer data to drive measurable outcomes
• Why CMO leadership must pioneer AI adoption before mandating it across teams
• AI’s productivity paradox - why it enables both more output AND better work-life balance
• How to position your brand's trust as a competitive moat in the AI era
• The framework for balancing centralized brand strategy with decentralized field execution
• Why "show, don't tell" beats feature-focused marketing when launching complex products

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does one keep a 100-year-old brand relevant in today’s turbulent times of marketing and consumption? The full picture reveals itself in this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast as Laura Knebusch, SVP of CPG Marketing and CX at Georgia-Pacific, breaks down what it takes to keep a heritage brand alive and thriving. From how century-old heritage brands like Brawny, Angel Soft, and Dixie evolve without alienating loyal consumers to how a classically trained marketer navigates AI, retail transformation, and cultural moments in real time, this conversation proves that adaptability and agility aren’t just possible; it’s crucial to the success and growth of your brand.

What You'll Learn:

• How to refresh iconic brand characters while preserving core equity
• Why "living your brands" is an organizational imperative, not just a marketing function
• The measurement system that connects marketing investment to business outcomes
• How to capitalize on viral moments and cultural momentum without losing authenticity
• Why sustainability messaging shouldn't drive your brand positioning (even when consumers care)
• How to architect a modern marketing organization that balances internal capabilities with external partnerships

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creative scrappiness can take brands where no one else has ever gone before - that’s BodyArmor’s story and we’re diving deep into it on the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Tune in as the brand’s CMO, Tom Gargiulo, opens up the pages of his playbook on succeeding as a challenger brand. From how to build winning athlete partnerships and leverage unconventional media channels for outsized ROI to executing a brand rebirth that resonates with both consumers and retail partners, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on punching above your weight in the CPG space and coming out on top.

What You'll Learn:

• How to build a disruptor/ challenger brand positioning in a saturated category
• Why athlete-first partnerships outperform big-budget league deals if you’re a resource-constrained brands
• The power of the bottling community’s alignment in driving execution
• How social media ROI dramatically outperforms traditional TV
• The value of transparency and space-giving in high-performing marketing teams
• Why strategic media partnerships (Barstool, Dude Perfect, Savannah Bananas) create household brand status without massive budgets

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brand marketing is getting its time to shine in the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast as we sit down with Caryn Wasser, Chief Brand Officer at Little Spoon. Tune in for an energizing conversation on how a brand drives growth and revenue and why its place in scaling a business should never be underestimated. Plus: exclusive insights on how she built a $150M+ brand from a windowless WeWork room to become the largest online baby and kids food company in the U.S.

What You'll Learn:

• How to design a Chief Brand Officer role from scratch by letting business needs dictate strategy, not industry conventions
• Why "brand-led growth" requires being obsessively rooted in consumer truth over chasing marketing trends
• The operational framework for treating marketing as a full-funnel, interconnected system where every team member owns business impact
• How to maintain authentic brand positioning when scaling into retail without compromising identity
• Why early-stage founders should pursue board seats and executive roles at startups over staying at legacy companies
• The counterintuitive approach to celebrity and influencer partnerships

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast, we welcome Kirsten Spittel-Sloan, SVP, Marketing at iFit, for an eye-opening chat on what it takes to succeed in the fitness tech space today. Listen in for Kirsten’s playbook on how marketing leaders can navigate rapid technological change, build adaptive teams and balance analytical rigor with authentic brand narratives in an increasingly complex marketplace.

What You'll Learn:

• How to invest across the entire marketing funnel equally during periods of rapid change, rather than concentrating resources on trending channels
• The "High Trust + Adaptability" leadership framework for building marketing teams that can flex resources without sacrificing cohesion or brand consistency
• How to balance ROAS obsession with brand-building investments
• Why personalization powered by AI is non-negotiable for retention
• The imperative for new marketing professionals to become hybrid technical experts and artists simultaneously

Unlocking the Creator Economy with Awin

Did you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?

Awin helps brands harness this potential with tailored influencer management solutions that drive measurable results. Whether you're looking to grow your creator roster, foster long-term relationships, or track full-funnel performance, Awin’s expertise and platform integrations make it easy to scale campaigns and optimize impact.

With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.

Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:

• Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.
• Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.
• Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.
• Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approach

Unlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast, we welcome John Solomon, CMO at Therabody, for a revealing conversation on transforming a single-product company into a diversified wellness ecosystem through marketing. Listen in for John’s tried-and-tested strategic frameworks that have enabled Therabody to expand while maintaining brand integrity and consumer trust. This conversation emphasizes the importance of investing in a differentiating asset that makes your brand a stand-out in its segment.

What You'll Learn:

• How to define and defend distinctive assets while protecting your brand's unique visual and functional properties
• Why the four-year CMO tenure marks a critical inflection point and how to pace your 4 years in the role
• The "science-first differentiation" strategy for crowded categories
• How to reframe messaging from adjectives like "speeds and feeds" to tangible consumer outcomes
• The partnership-as-distribution model to reach new audiences
• Why entertainment partnerships require risk framework conversations with stakeholders

Unlocking the Creator Economy with Awin

Did you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?

Awin helps brands harness this potential with tailored influencer management solutions that drive measurable results. Whether you're looking to grow your creator roster, foster long-term relationships, or track full-funnel performance, Awin’s expertise and platform integrations make it easy to scale campaigns and optimize impact.

With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.

Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:

• Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.
• Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.
• Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.
• Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approach

Unlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.