Marketing Vanguard

Marketing leaders are often told to be more strategic, but how does that really play out in the day-to-day? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, Michael Lacorazza, Executive Vice President and CMO of U.S. Bank, unpacks the biggest leadership lessons behind his career across Lexus, Toyota, and Wells Fargo, to name a few. He shares why customer-centricity is still the foundation of great marketing, how CMOs can build stronger alignment with business partners, and why understanding the P&L is no longer optional for marketing leaders who want a bigger seat at the table.Michael Lacorazza is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at U.S. Bank, one of the nation’s largest banks. With more than two decades of experience across automotive, hospitality, financial services, agency leadership and private equity-backed business transformation, Michael brings a deeply commercial view of brand, customer experience and enterprise growth. At U.S. Bank, Michael leads marketing, customer experience, and enterprise analytics, helping the organization strengthen its brand, serve a wide range of customer segments and build more integrated financial experiences.What You'll Learn:Why commercial fluency is essential for CMOs who want to influence business strategyHow to translate marketing metrics into growth, customer accounts, margin expansion, and business outcomesHow U.S. Bank is using AI across key business imperativesWhy financial app fragmentation creates an opportunity for banks to deliver more integrated customer valueHow Michael’s experience across automotive, hospitality, agency, financial services and private equity shaped his leadership styleWhy authentic cultural integration beats transactional brand sponsorships Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From $0 confidence to CEO of one of the most well-known brands in the world, Sharon Price John’s story is nothing short of inspiring and we’re unpacking it on the latest episode of Marketing Vanguard. In this conversation, straight from the Brandweek 2025 stage in Atlanta, Sharon, CEO of Build-A-Bear, reveals her unconventional career journey and how that evolution directly shaped the turnaround and reimagining of an iconic experiential brand.What You'll Learn:How to transition from functional expertise to CEO-level thinkingWhy CMOs must adopt a "business-first" mindset to advanceThe confidence gap that holds high-potential women back from applying for stretch rolesHow to unlock brand equity by understanding feeling over functionThe critical role of authentic leadership in driving organizational transformationHow to pivot a single-location retail concept into an IP-driven, multi-vertical businessIn an era where the marketing playbook is being rewritten daily, how can brands stay ahead? Joshua Spanier, Google’s VP of AI and Marketing Strategy, pulls back the curtain in “Frontier CMO,” his new podcast and weekly insights letter featuring the marketers, thought leaders, and industry pioneers who are reinventing marketing.Josh previews the tough questions and unfiltered conversations featured on Frontier CMO, including:AI as a leadership test: exploring the "human" side of the AI revolution. As technology and tools advance the challenge becomes equipping marketing teams to leverage these technologiesBrand relevance and connection: writing the next playbook for brand relevance by showing up as a main character in the places and spaces that connect with your audienceAgentic Commerce: understanding the transition from "speed vs. certainty" to a world where shopping is fast and smartThe new marketing organization: knowing where AI makes work faster and smarter and restructuring teams to keep up. Redefining agency partnerships to elevate insights and creativity in real timeEach episode of Frontier CMO features tactical, practical steps all leaders can take to navigate the future of marketing. Find it wherever you get your podcasts: YouTube | Apple | Spotify Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CMOs can drive business revenue - this is an established fact. But how can they do it better, bigger, and stronger in the age of AI? We’re unpacking this in the latest episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. Tune in as Emma Chalwin, CMO at Workday, breaks down the evolving strategic role of CMOs at major enterprises, the intersection of AI and human-centered marketing, and how chief marketing officers can become essential drivers of business growth. What You'll Learn:How to position CMOs as strategic business leaders in the age of AIThe "Art and Science" Framework for modern CMOs to thrive Why AI adoption requires a human-centered brand narrativeHow to reframe customer relationships from acquisition to retentionThe "B2B to B2H" (Business to Human) messaging approach and why it’s critical How to embed brand values as competitive differentiation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI has permeated every conversation since 2024, but CMOs have yet to use it to its full potential. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the World Economic Forum at Davos, Bonnie Pelosi, CEO EMEA at Microsoft, reveals the truth about AI in marketing - what’s going right, what’s going wrong, and everything in between. What You'll Learn:How to embed governance into AI implementation from day oneWhy CMOs must act as connectors across the entire C-suiteThe "Customer Zero" mindset and why AI use cases must be geared, first, towards customers How to lead cultural transformation, not just technology rolloutWhy curiosity and empathy are non-negotiable CMO competenciesThe distinction between tactical and strategic leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does one keep a 100-year-old brand relevant in today’s turbulent times of marketing and consumption? The full picture reveals itself in this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast as Laura Knebusch, SVP of CPG Marketing and CX at Georgia-Pacific, breaks down what it takes to keep a heritage brand alive and thriving. From how century-old heritage brands like Brawny, Angel Soft, and Dixie evolve without alienating loyal consumers to how a classically trained marketer navigates AI, retail transformation, and cultural moments in real time, this conversation proves that adaptability and agility aren’t just possible; it’s crucial to the success and growth of your brand. What You'll Learn:How to refresh iconic brand characters while preserving core equityWhy "living your brands" is an organizational imperative, not just a marketing functionThe measurement system that connects marketing investment to business outcomesHow to capitalize on viral moments and cultural momentum without losing authenticityWhy sustainability messaging shouldn't drive your brand positioning (even when consumers care)How to architect a modern marketing organization that balances internal capabilities with external partnerships Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.