How to Grow a CMO

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 everyone with respect.They also discuss Joe’s unconventional journey from auditor to CMO, why marketers must learn to speak the language of business, and the importance of connecting marketing directly to revenue. Joe shares his perspective on building high-performing teams, breaking down organisational silos, and how AI is changing the way marketing functions operate. Along the way, he explains why genuine human connection matters more than ever in a world increasingly shaped by technology, and why embracing change has become one of his guiding principles in both business and life.How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by tmp - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.tmpb2b.com

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 are really up against — and how to find your edge when the market keeps shifting.Host Alastair Hussain interviews:Sunil Frida, CMO at ZscalerGenefa Murphy, CMO JFrogPart of the How to Grow a CMO cyber mini-series, from tmp

How cybersecurity CMOs cut through the noiseThe 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 how CMOs are navigating that tension and what it takes to stand out right now. Part of the How to Grow a CMO cyber mini-series, from tmp

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 wobbled, and there’s a lingering question over how AI will reshape the category, whether by disrupting it or simply diverting budget elsewhere.Listen to the introduction for a clear-eyed view of where the market stands and where it’s heading next.

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 centre, AI, telco and enterprise, and a board member of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.Kelly Waldher - CMO at Palo Alto Networks, responsible for global brand, demand, field and comms, formerly CMO at Zendesk with prior leadership roles at Google, Microsoft and Qualtrics, and an HBS MBA.Negin Kamangar - a career CMO with 20+ years in high-growth SaaS, including leading Parchment through an $835m acquisition by Instructure, now also a limited partner at Stage 2 Capital and a Chicago Booth MBA.Jon Miller - co-founder of Marketo and Engagio, now building a new stealth AI-era marketing platform. He writes extensively on LinkedIn about buying groups vs MQLs, brand as a revenue driver, and hosts the Marketing on the Rocks video series.

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 like CoCounsel, and the importance of setting a high creative bar. How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.tmpb2b.com

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 agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

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 Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

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 can reclaim their voice in strategic conversations, and why she champions simplicity above all else. How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

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 B2B, and why advocacy is her secret weapon. How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

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 measuring ROI. Plus, don’t miss her surprising confession about running, and her golden rule for both life and marketing: always order the French fries! How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

Alastair Hussain⁠ welcomes back ⁠Chris Koehler⁠, CMO at Twilio, for the second half of their two-part conversation. In this episode, Chris and Ali discuss how to shift from talking about point solutions to telling a platform story, their shared passion for pricing, slaying the attribution dragon, and why CMOs need to feel uncomfortable. How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Aruna Ravichandran, CMO at Webex by Cisco. Aruna transitioned from a successful engineering career to marketing, driven by a passion for understanding customer needs and the creative aspects of the discipline. In their conversation, she explains how her team navigated the challenges posed by the pandemic – including a major Webex rebrand – and the importance of leveraging innovative marketing strategies and partnerships, referencing Webex’s recent collaboration with McLaren Formula One. How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global leader in B2B technology marketing. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com