CMO Chapters Podcast with Lucy Bolan

For the final episode of Season 3, Lucy chats with Jo Rao, newly appointed Chief Marketing Officer at Wink, about a career that started in a very different place – as an 18-year-old receptionist at the West Coast Eagles. Jo never set out with a perfectly mapped career plan. In fact, she didn’t initially even know that the things she was doing at the Eagles were marketing. She simply kept putting h...

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Michael McConville, Founder of Free Studio, for a refreshingly honest conversation about careers, leadership, confidence and what it really means to find your own way. Michael's career hasn't followed a neat, five-year-plan kind of path. From tourism and travelling the world to newspapers, advertising and senior leadership roles across som...

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Amy Maiden, Executive Manager (Visitor Economy) Ballarat City Council, Executive Manager (Visitor Economy ) at Tourism Midwest Victoria and former Chief Executive of Anthem , for a candid conversation about leadership, resilience, confidence, and the future of live entertainment. With more than two decades spent working across some of the...

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Swati Jain, International Commercial Leader, for a candid conversation about an unconventional career path that spans psychology, HR, marketing, and senior leadership roles across multiple countries. Swati shares how she accidentally landed in marketing, the lessons learned from working at global organisations like GSK, and what it really...

In this episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Alicia Rieniets, a seasoned marketing and digital leader with over 20 years’ experience across brands including Ford, Australia Post, UniSuper and Bupa. This is a conversation that cuts through the noise. Alicia shares what reinvention actually looks like in practice, why it’s not a one-off moment but a career-long discipline, and how the...

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Penny Elmslie, CMO of Affinda and former Global GM Brand at Xero, for a refreshingly honest conversation about what marketing really looks like behind the scenes. From starting her career in media sales to helping scale Xero from a little-known challenger brand to a global powerhouse, Penny shares the realities of building marketing functi...

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Libby Hodgson, Chief Marketing Officer at UNICEF Australia, for a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about what modern marketing leadership really looks like. Libby shares her non-linear career journey across financial services, the UK, and purpose-led organisations, and reflects on the moments that shaped her leadership style...

In this episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Mohit (Mo) Bhargava, a seasoned marketing leader with over 20 years’ experience across media, entertainment and global markets. From an unexpected start behind a university bar to leading marketing across Southeast Asia, Mo shares a career shaped by curiosity, relationships and a willingness to step into the unknown. This is a refreshingl...

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Jarrod Purchase, a seasoned marketing leader with over 17 years’ experience spanning startups, scale-ups and global brands. Jarrod shares his journey from hands-on email marketer to CMO, and why working closely with founders shaped the way he thinks about marketing, leadership and impact. He also opens up about building Club CMO Australia,...

In the Season 3 opener of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with storytelling expert Gabrielle “Ral” Dolan for a refreshingly honest conversation about why storytelling isn’t just a “nice to have” - it’s a core leadership skill. From leaving corporate to build a business around storytelling (long before it was fashionable), to unpacking how stories drive emotion, trust and decision-making, Ral s...

In the Series 2 finale of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Ryan Gracie, Chief Customer & Revenue Officer at BIG W (Woolworths Group), for a candid conversation about bold brand building, customer-led growth, and leading through change.  From agency beginnings to senior retail leadership, Ryan shares the wins, the missteps, and the mindset that’s powered his career—plus why backing...

In this energising episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Dan Ferguson , ex-Chief Marketing Officer at Adore Beauty, to explore the intersection of purpose, play, and performance in marketing. With a career spanning retail, eCommerce, and digital transformation, Dan shares his candid views on leadership, building teams, and why the best marketing balances commercial outcomes with crea...

In this episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Stacey Maher , a Melbourne-based marketing and business leader whose career has been anything but traditional.  From discovering marketing while living overseas to stepping into senior leadership and general management roles, Stacey has built a career defined by curiosity, resilience, and authenticity. She shares candid reflections o...

In this inspiring episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Louise Cummins —Co-Founder of the Australian Centre for AI Marketing and former CMO of World Vision. With over 30 years’ experience across tech, telco, entertainment and not-for-profit, Louise shares her remarkable journey of reinvention, leadership, and driving transformation in fast-changing industries. From starting out in ma...

In this insightful and energising episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan chats with Penelope Barr , portfolio career strategist, executive coach, writer and interim leader across innovation, tech and product.  With a career spanning decades in digital transformation and executive leadership, Penelope now empowers others to design fulfilling portfolio lives that align with their values, energy,...

In this powerhouse episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Liana Dubois , former Chief Marketing Officer at Nine and an industry leader with over 25 years in media, marketing and advertising.  From her early days reading stolen copies of B&T and AdNews to leading one of Australia’s biggest media portfolios, Liana shares candid insights on leadership, reinvention, the future of...

In this special episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan welcomes Edan Haddock , Head of Talent at Movember, for a powerful and practical discussion about what it really takes to get hired in today’s competitive job market. While not a CMO, Edan brings a wealth of knowledge from years in talent acquisition and leadership, offering fresh, real-world advice for marketers at all levels. This conversation...

In this refreshingly honest episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Liam Loan-Lack , Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer at Match and Wood. From his beginnings as an intellectual property lawyer in the UK to leading major marketing teams in Australia, Liam shares his non-linear journey into marketing and what it really takes to grow as a leader. Liam discusses emotional intelligenc...

In this forward-thinking episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan chats with Tony Gruebner, former CMO of Pepperstone and author of AI for CEOs. With a background in data analytics and senior marketing leadership, Tony brings a fresh perspective to the future of marketing, the rise of AI, and the evolving skill sets marketers need to succeed. Tony explores what AI really means, how it’s impacting marke...

In this deeply inspiring episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Anna Samkova , founder of Albany Advisory and former GM of Digital & Loyalty at Brand Collective.  Anna shares her remarkable journey—from migrating to Australia and learning English as an adult to overcoming a life-changing accident and building a successful career in marketing and digital transformation. This e...

In this episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan chats with the insightful and straight-talking Martin Kelly, Director of Field Marketing - APAC, at Brandwatch (appearing in a personal capacity). With over 20 years of marketing experience across multiple industries and regions, Martin shares his views on leadership, career growth, taking risks, and building a meaningful legacy. From navigating the Aus...

In this episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Shannon Barnes, an experienced marketing leader who is Head of Marketing & Communications at Aware Super, to discuss the ever-changing role of the Chief Marketing Officer. Shannon shares insights on the biggest challenges CMOs face today, the importance of adaptability, and how marketing leaders can drive impact in an increasingly com...

In this episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with brand strategist and fractional CMO Gabrielle Sheehan . With a career spanning media, global brands, and entrepreneurship, Gabrielle shares insights on brand positioning, leadership, and the shift towards fractional CMO roles. Whether you're an aspiring CMO, a brand leader, or exploring the world of consulting, this episode is packed with...

Welcome to Series 2 of CMO Chapters Podcast ! In this episode, host Lucy Bolan sits down with the dynamic and accomplished Jac Phillips to uncover the secrets of career progression, leadership, and personal branding in marketing. With a wealth of experience spanning media, marketing, and executive coaching, Jac shares candid insights from her 35-year journey, offering invaluable advice to aspiring...

In this inspiring episode of CMO Chapters , Lucy Bolan sits down with Teresa Sperti , founder of Arktic Fox and former CMO of World Vision, to explore her career journey, leadership insights, and her passion for transforming the marketing industry. With over 20 years of experience spanning digital, data, and e-commerce, Teresa shares how she moved from corporate leadership to founding her consulta...