How to Grow a CMO

On this episode of  How to Grow a CMO , host Alastair Hussain is joined by Michelle Cooper, CMO at NiCE.   Michelle reflects on growing up in a military family, moving between cities, schools and countries, and how that early exposure to change shaped her adaptability and confidence as a leader. She discusses the values instilled by her parents, the importance of trusting yourself earlier, and the...

Mark’s outlook on leadership was shaped by an international upbringing and a career that placed him at the centre of some of the biggest shifts in enterprise technology, from the rise of cloud computing at Salesforce to the AI revolution at ServiceNow. In their conversation, he reflects on how travelling the world as a child fostered a curiosity about people and cultures, why relationships matter...

On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Joe Taiano, Chief Marketing Officer at RSM US LLP. In their conversation, he reflects on the lessons he learned from his parents, how growing up gay encouraged him to become deeply introspective, and why his father's experience with illness instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for education, hard work and treating eve...

On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Erin Gabrielson, CMO of Americas at IBM. Erin’s path to marketing leadership was shaped as much by team sports and family values as it was by her corporate career. In their conversation, she reflects on the lessons she learned growing up on sports teams, the importance of leading with kindness and how an early job in an ice c...

Standing out in a market that won’t sit still. Part 2 picks up the pace. Recorded live at RSAC, this half of the conversation gets into the work itself. Topics range from what makes cybersecurity marketing hard, what makes it exciting, and why so much of the job now sits in the tension between clarity and change. Listen to Part 2 for a smart, candid conversation about what cybersecurity marketers...

Curiosity, grit, and the mindset to build. Recorded live at RSAC, this conversation starts in a familiar place for the podcast, not with strategy, but with the instincts that shape how people lead. Listen to Part 1 for a grounded look at the traits that shape modern marketing leaders and why they still matter in a changing industry. Host Alastair Hussain interviews: Sunil Frida, CMO at Zscaler Gen...

Tom Giles, Senior Executive Editor, Global Technology, Bloomberg News kicks off the How to Grow a CMO cyber mini-series, from tmp. Recorded live at RSAC, this opening conversation sets the tone for everything that follows. The headline? Cybersecurity is growing but not without friction. As Bloomberg’s Tom Giles points out, the market is sending mixed signals. Stocks have taken a hit, sentiment has...

The making of a modern CMO There’s something different about hearing four CMOs in one room, live, talking less about marketing and more about how they got there. This first session from RSAC leans into the human side of leadership. Before the frameworks and strategy, it’s about what shapes how people lead when the stakes are high and the pace doesn’t let up. Host Alastair Hussain interviews: Jenni...

How cybersecurity CMOs cut through the noise The second half of the panel shifts gears. Less about background, more about the reality of the job right now. And it’s not straightforward. Host Alastair Hussain interviews: Jennifer Johnson (CMO at CrowdStrike)  Sara Varni (CMO at Datadog) Brett Theiss (CMO at Check Point Software)  Shannon Duffy (CMO at Okta)  Listen to Part 2 for a candid take on ho...

In this special live edition of How to Grow a CMO, host Ali Hussain (Chief Strategy Officer at tmp) sits down with four standout marketing leaders for a wide-ranging conversation on career growth, the evolving role of marketing, and the power of humanity in an era of AI.  Joining the panel: Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo Tricia Stinton, CMO for Cloud Infrastructure Services at Capgemini Rachel Lo...

In the first ever live edition of How to Grow a CMO, we bring together four heavyweight marketing leaders to unpack career journeys, the realities of modern B2B marketing, and how to survive (and improve) annual planning season. Host Alastair Hussain interviews: Carolyn Henry - most recently Regional CMO of the Americas at Intel, leading 60+ marketers across consumer, commercial, gaming, data cent...

In part two of our conversation with Jean Lawrence, CMO at Nokia Cloud & Network Services, we focus on her career journey and marketing philosophy—from learning the ropes at startups to leading global teams at Motorola, Oracle, and now Nokia. Jean shares how an MBA at Kellogg shaped her analytical approach, why product marketing is still underrated, and what it really takes to align with a CFO...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Jean Lawrence, CMO of Cloud & Network Services at Nokia, we explore the early forces that shaped her - growing up in a tight-knit Chicago family, inventing games before screens took over, and following in the footsteps of her MBA-trained father… who also happened to be a former priest. Jean shares how pattern recognition shaped her childhood, why ambition sho...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dave Carrel, Global CMO at Thomson Reuters, we explore what it takes to lead in a company at an inflection point. Dave shares how his early days teaching himself HTML mirror today’s challenge of mastering AI, and why staying close to the work still matters—even at the top. He also talks through building effective marketing orgs, launching transformative products...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Dave Carrel, Global CMO at Thomson Reuters, we rewind to the early influences that shaped his leadership style—from growing up in a competitive, creative household in Buffalo to tournament pickleball in Seattle. Dave shares how becoming a parent made him more reflective, why his personal mantra is “go big or go home,” and how taking risks has transformed his care...

In Part 2 of our conversation with John Watton, senior B2B marketing leader, we explore the evolving demands of the modern CMO. John shares why breaking down silos between brand and demand is critical, how to speak the language of business (not just marketing), and why KPIs must be both practical and precise. How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agen...

In Part 1 of our conversation with John Watton, senior B2B marketing leader and seasoned CMO, we trace his unconventional path from soldering circuit boards in Cardiff to leading marketing teams at global tech companies. John shares how a love of science fiction, prog rock and analogue synths shaped his worldview—and how a lifelong blend of creativity and curiosity has powered his career. He refle...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo, we shift focus to the practical side of leadership—team dynamics, market positioning, and navigating industry hype cycles. Brendan explains why coherence across communications and marketing is non-negotiable, how trust is the hidden currency of every brand, and why the best marketing teams behave more like tight-knit crews. How to...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo, we explore the early influences that shaped his career—from a pivotal internship and a gifted copy of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership , to a teenage love of punk rock and noir fiction.   Brendan reflects on the power of mentorship, why his five-year career plan never changed, and how music helps him manage energy and mindset...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Anna Griffin, Chief Market Officer at Commvault, we dig into her fearless approach to B2B marketing—from launching a head-turning “Cisco Energy Tax” campaign during Hurricane Katrina, to redefining what it means to lead marketing with strategy, not just execution. Anna shares why she believes in collapsing silos between sales, product and marketing, how marketers...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Anna Griffin, CMO at Commvault, we trace her journey from a family-run garden centre in rural North Carolina to marketing roles at global brands like Apple and Royal Caribbean. Anna shares how early lessons in small-town marketing shaped her creative instincts, why every great campaign needs a single powerful idea, and what she learned about community from 55,000...

In Part 2 of our chat with Sally Croft, CMO Europe & LATAM at Ericsson, we explore her strategic mindset and bold approach to B2B marketing. Sally shares how curiosity and constraint have shaped her campaigns—from using Teslas to unconference an engineering event, to rethinking ROI for relationship-driven initiatives. She talks about moving beyond “random acts of marketing,” the power of FOMO...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Sally Croft, CMO Europe & LATAM at Ericsson, we dive into her extraordinary personal journey—from growing up in a working-class family outside London, to becoming a teenage mum at university, and ultimately rising to the top of the marketing world. Sally shares how early challenges shaped her resilience, why she believes B2B marketing should never be boring,...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Caroline Burger, CMO at GlobalLogic, we explore her approach to marketing in a complex digital ecosystem. Caroline shares insights on sales-marketing alignment, talent-driven strategies, and how GlobalLogic navigates the Hitachi brand network. She offers practical tips for aspiring CMOs, talks about balancing data with insights, and champions the power of measuri...

In this episode, we dive into the vibrant story of Caroline Burger, CMO at GlobalLogic. Caroline shares her unique path in marketing, shaped by family roots in direct mail and small business ownership. She reflects on early lessons from her grandfather—author of the seminal Direct Marketing —and the enduring impact of growing up around entrepreneurs. Caroline discusses work-life integration, rolli...