NexGen CMO Podcast

In this episode, Kelly Hopping sits down with Brian Gladstein, CMO of Tufin, to explore how marketing, data, and customer alignment can drive transformation in a rapidly shifting security landscape. Brian shares his journey from engineer to marketing leader, the lessons he’s learned guiding organizations through disruption, and the pivotal role of trust, transparency, and customer voice in reshapi...

In this episode, Kelly Hopping sits down with Bruno Bertini, Chief Marketing Officer at 8x8, to explore what it takes to build an impactful career in marketing and lead with authenticity in today’s tech-driven landscape. Bruno shares how his unconventional journey—spanning customer experience, sales, and marketing—shaped his deep understanding of buyer psychology and organizational transformation....

Ed Breault, CMO of Malbek, joins Kelly to share his journey from nuclear energy to MarTech to legal tech, and why seeking discomfort fuels his growth. Together they unpack boardroom communication strategies, AI-first mindsets, and the importance of building diagnostic pipelines. With stories of “buzzsaw” boardroom moments and lessons in pacing, Ed offers tactical advice for navigating executive vi...

What does it take to lead with purpose and drive business growth marketing? Zarina Stanford, CMO of Bazaarvoice, joins Kelly to share her journey, the power of being mission-driven, and how presence and engagement shape leadership. Together they dive into cross-functional alignment, the art and science of marketing, and offer practical advice for aspiring leaders on finding their voice and embraci...

What happens when you blend data, psychology, and storytelling in marketing leadership? In this episode, Bryan Law, CMO of SentinelOne, joins Kelly to share his thoughts on just that, while highlighting his journey to the C-suite. Together, they dive into the art and science of impactful marketing, from how testing, emotional resonance, and brand distinction drive results, to the power of storytel...

How can marketing leaders drive both growth and customer success?  Sydney Sloan, CMO at G2, shares the ins and outs of leading GTM teams, from alignment to execution. Sydney shares her career journey with Kelly, including lessons from her time as an Executive in Residence, and how aligning marketing with business goals creates impact.  Listen in as they discuss maturity models, sales ena...

Want your sales and marketing teams to be like peanut butter and jelly, instead of like oil and vinegar?  Wesleyne Whittaker, Founder & Chief Transformation Officer at Transformed Sales, and Kelly share advice to help make it happen.  In this episode, Wesleyne shares her journey from a chemist to a successful sales strategist and leadership expert. Listen in as they discuss the importanc...

What does being a softball coach and a sales coach have in common?  Taylor Hatfield, Executive Sales Coach at Lushin, says authenticity .  In this episode, Kelly and Taylor discuss Taylor's journey from being a collegiate softball coach to a sales coach, the importance of authenticity in selling, and how this all relates back to marketers.  Listen to learn more about the importance...

How can marketers build and leverage engaged audiences? Arun Lal, VP of Marketing at DocketAI, says communities play a critical role. Tune in for a conversation between Kelly Hopping and Arun on the importance of community building in startups and the challenges and opportunities in marketing AI products. In this episode, Arun emphasizes the need for a shift in how businesses approach workflows wi...

What will the CMO role look like in 3-5 years? Kelly Hopping and Alicia Hale, SVP of Growth Marketing at Demandbase and a two-time CMO, explore the future of the CMO role and how AI will make an impact. Tune in for an energetic conversation around how AI is transforming marketing strategies, enhancing personalization, and reshaping job roles. Together they explore how AI is empowering CMOs to beco...

How do great marketers grow great teams and themselves professionally? Join Kelly Hopping and Dave Gerhardt, founder of Exit Five, as they explore how great leaders manage their teams with poise, build strong teams that drive results, and prioritize personal development to fuel career success. Inspired by Jim Rohn’s advice to “work harder on yourself than you do on your job,” Dave reflects on how...

How much competitive disruption is too much? Join Kelly Hopping and Marcus Sheridan, co-founder of PriceGuide.ai, for a conversation about the significance of disruption and differentiation in a competitive market, the impact of AI on the marketing industry and the necessity for marketers to adapt to new challenges. In this episode they also discuss the need for innovation, effective communication...

What’s the secret to maximizing the impact of your content through smart distribution? In this episode, Kelly Hopping sits down with Ross Simmonds, founder and CEO at Foundation Marketing, to explore the transformative opportunities in today’s creator economy. From mastering content distribution to leveraging AI for content creation, Ross shares actionable insights on becoming a content guru in a...

Can empathy and curiosity transform sales success? Kelly Hopping and Aleasha Bahr, a sales strategist, sales coach and keynote speaker would both say yes!  Join their conversation as they discuss the power of empathy, curiosity, and passion in sales. Together they explore how treating sales as market research can drive alignment between sales and marketing teams, the importance of creating a...

Can traits define exceptional leaders and do you possess those traits? Tune in as Ryan Hawk, keynote speaker, best-selling author, and host of The Learning Leader Show chats with host Kelly Hopping about leadership traits, the power of curiosity and intentionality, and why adaptability is critical. Their conversation dives into the importance of building strong, collaborative relationships between...

Join host Kelly Hopping for a deep dive into career growth, leadership, and trust-building with Steve Armenti, a marketing veteran with 15+ years of experience at top companies such as Google and DigitalOcean. In this episode, Steve opens up about his transition from sales to marketing, the game-changing role of psychological safety in the workplace, and his powerful "trust bank" strategy for forg...

In this episode, Kelly Hopping and Nick Cegelski, founder of 30 Minutes to Presidents Club, discuss the importance of events in driving sales success. Nick shares effective strategies for pre-event prospecting, crafting outreach messages, and leveraging recognition at events to enhance networking opportunities. Together they discuss the importance of personal connections and tailored approaches in...

Listen in as Kelly Hopping and Gareth Noonan, GM of Advertising at Demandbase, take a deep dive into the 2024 State of B2B Advertising Report. In this conversation, they explore the report findings, including the evolving role of account-based marketing to the game-changing impact of AI, automation and privacy-first strategies. Their conversation focuses on the go-to-market tactics that matter the...

Tune in as Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase and Mary Gilbert, fractional CMO at Folloze, discuss the differences between working in scale-ups and large organizations, the value of lateral moves in one's career, and creating safe spaces. In this conversation, Kelly and Mary explain the importance of systems thinking and understanding how decisions are interconnected to each other and their impact o...

In this episode, Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase, interviews Sara Whitwer, CMO of DryvIQ, on her journey from a senior director to CMO, and the pivotal moments that accelerated her career. Together they discuss the need for marketers to be problem solvers, the importance of agility in marketing, and the critical role of company culture in driving success. Don’t miss this episode filled with advic...

Tune in as Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase, chats with Kyle Lacy, CMO of Jellyfish, on the importance of pushing through challenges of self-doubt and owning a number, like pipeline. In this conversation, Kelly and Kyle share advice on being less reactive and more mindful, and how to properly ask for promotions. Together they also discuss the role of having “good taste” and how that helps B2B bran...

Join Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase and Ellina Shinnick, CMO of HUB International, for a discussion on fearless leadership. In this episode, Kelly and Ellina share insights on creating a positive company culture, the importance of knowing the business as well as oneself and examples of bringing creativity and energy into marketing efforts. Dive into this engaging discussion on defining fearless...

Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase, sits down with Anne Baker, CMO of Adaptiva, as they discuss the importance of partner marketing and how it can help niche companies gain credibility and reach. Together, Kelly and Anne emphasize the need for clear differentiation and value proposition when approaching partnerships and highlight the importance of making it easy for partners to promote your brand.

In this episode, Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase, and John Common, CEO of Intelligent Demand, discuss the shift from the old marketing playbook to the new. Together they highlight the differences and the need for adaptability in order to drive growth in the B2B space. They discuss the importance of having a business growth mindset and share advice for aligning marketing efforts with overall busin...

Tune is as Kelly Hopping, CMO of Demandbase, chats with Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer, about his journey as a sales trainer and consultant. Together they discuss the importance of eliminating silos and building relationships with individuals in both sales and marketing. In this conversation, Wes emphasizes the need for alignment between teams and the role of leadership plays. Kelly and Wes al...