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The CMO Whisperer

The CMO Whisperer

Written by: Steve Olenski
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About this listen

The CMO Whisperer, hosted by former Forbes writer Steve Olenski, is a curated executive platform and marketing leadership podcast where CMOs, brand leaders, and senior operators share candid insights on leadership, brand strategy, and growth. Spanning business, sports, and media, it goes beyond marketing to reveal how top leaders make decisions and perform at the highest levels.© 2024 The CMO Whisperer Careers Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales Personal Success
Episodes
  • What Brands Still Don’t Understand About Attention - Jimmy, Sequel, Jarrel Smith & Patrick Johnson Jr
    May 15 2026

    On today's episode, I welcome not one, not two, not even three, but four guests and not just any four. Four builders, four creators, four operators who are shaping culture, storytelling and business in very real ways. Jimmy Smith is the founder of Mind Matters and Amusement Park Entertainment, and one of those rare creatives who has operated at the intersection of culture, technology, and storytelling for decades. From Cannes Lions to the Smithsonian, from Guinness World Records to reviving iconic brands and platforms, Jimmy's work doesn't just show up; it leaves a mark. And through it all, there's a through line of purpose, creativity, and belief that's impossible to miss.

    Next up, Sequel. Sequel Smith, co-founder and president of Klassy, a creative director who understands something a lot of brands still don't. People don't want to be interrupted. They want to be engaged. His work lives where culture actually happens across film, social, experiential and digital, collaborating with names like Will Smith, Donald Glover, Snoop Dogg and the NBA's Damien Lillard, creating ideas people choose to spend time with, not scroll past.

    Then there's Jarrel. Jarrel Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Klassy. Sometimes, the most powerful statements are the simplest ones. He operates from a place of faith and conviction, bringing to life what's been placed on his heart. When you listen to him, you'll quickly understand that this is not just a business. There's something deeper driving it.

    And last, but certainly not least, is Patrick. Patrick Johnson, Jr., co-founder and vice president of Klassy and an executive producer who knows how to bring ideas to life at scale, from 51 millimeter to Novus Content, to producing a Top 3 box office opening weekend film with Till Death Do Us Part. Patrick understands both the creative and execution side of the game, which is a rare combination.

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    36 mins
  • Helping Entrepreneurs Start Confidently - Sameer Gulati
    May 11 2026

    My guest today is Sameer Gulati, Chief Product Officer and President of Zen Business and someone who spent more than two decades at the intersection of technology, financial services and real-world business building. Sameer isn't just thinking about products. He's thinking about outcomes. At Zen Business, he's helping re-imagine what it actually means to start and run a business today by bringing together AI embedded finance and automation into a platform designed to give small business owners a real shot at success. He's built his career across B2B, FinTech and business development, consistently focused on one thing: how to create, scale and transform, not in theory, but in practice. And what stands out about Sameer is that he doesn't chase trends. He builds systems that make those trends actually work for people.

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    30 mins
  • Attribution Beyond Vanity Metrics - Heather Roestamadji
    May 8 2026

    Today's episode comes live to you from POSSIBLE, where the ideas move fast, the conversations matter, and the coffee has no chance of surviving. I'm joined by Heather Roestamadji - Director of Growth Strategy at Claritas. Heather sits at the intersection of audience intelligence, AI-driven optimization, and multi-channel measurement, helping brands turn complexity into clarity and data into real business growth.

    Now with nearly two decades of experience, she knows how to cut through the noise, connect strategy to performance, and answer the question every marketer eventually faces: What's actually working?

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    19 mins
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