Marketing Vanguard

More than ever before, CMOs belong in the C-Suite. And, Sumit Virmani, CMO of Infosys, has a strong case to back this stance up. In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Sumit breaks down the necessary evolution of the CMO, what AI has to do with it, and the strategic imperative of aligning with C-suite priorities. What You'll Learn:Why CMOs need to operate within the full C-suite context, not just marketing bubblesHow to position yourself as a transformation partner, not a marketing operatorThe critical difference between using AI to do marketing better versus using AI to expand your business influenceWhy advocating for marketing's "seat at the strategy table" requires complementing creative genius with AI-powered analyticsHow to build an undeniable business case for attending high-level forums like Davos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI has long been thought of as a threat to creativity. But what if they’re not at odds at all? In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, live from the World Economic Forum in Davos, CMO of Adobe Enterprise, Rachel Thornton, reveals why putting human creativity at the center of marketing strategy is more critical than ever and how CMOs should be navigating this tectonic shift. What You'll Learn:How to position AI as "augmented intelligence" rather than artificial intelligenceWhy the core creative concept must remain human-driven while AI handles scalingHow to free your marketers from tactical asset-building so they focus on what they loveThe framework for proving marketing's revenue impact to your C-suiteWhy authenticity and brand definition are now competitive imperativesHow to treat customers as co-creators of your brand experience, particularly with Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s tech-driven world, tech marketers cannot afford to lose sight of client trust. And yet, they do. On this episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast, President and CMO of Salesforce, Ariel Kelman, reveals why customer success storytelling matters more than ever, how to ground AI in trusted first-party data, and the key strategies for balancing AI automation with human creativity. What You'll Learn:How to ground AI agents in customer data to drive measurable outcomes Why CMO leadership must pioneer AI adoption before mandating it across teams AI’s productivity paradox - why it enables both more output AND better work-life balance How to position your brand's trust as a competitive moat in the AI eraThe framework for balancing centralized brand strategy with decentralized field execution  Why "show, don't tell" beats feature-focused marketing when launching complex products  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creative scrappiness can take brands where no one else has ever gone before - that’s BodyArmor’s story and we’re diving deep into it on the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast. Tune in as the brand’s CMO, Tom Gargiulo, opens up the pages of his playbook on succeeding as a challenger brand. From how to build winning athlete partnerships and leverage unconventional media channels for outsized ROI to executing a brand rebirth that resonates with both consumers and retail partners, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on punching above your weight in the CPG space and coming out on top. What You'll Learn:How to build a disruptor/ challenger brand positioning in a saturated categoryWhy athlete-first partnerships outperform big-budget league deals if you’re a resource-constrained brandsThe power of the bottling community’s alignment in driving executionHow social media ROI dramatically outperforms traditional TVThe value of transparency and space-giving in high-performing marketing teamsWhy strategic media partnerships (Barstool, Dude Perfect, Savannah Bananas) create household brand status without massive budgets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast, we welcome Kirsten Spittel-Sloan, SVP, Marketing at iFit, for an eye-opening chat on what it takes to succeed in the fitness tech space today. Listen in for Kirsten’s playbook on how marketing leaders can navigate rapid technological change, build adaptive teams and balance analytical rigor with authentic brand narratives in an increasingly complex marketplace.What You'll Learn:How to invest across the entire marketing funnel equally during periods of rapid change, rather than concentrating resources on trending channelsThe "High Trust + Adaptability" leadership framework for building marketing teams that can flex resources without sacrificing cohesion or brand consistencyHow to balance ROAS obsession with brand-building investmentsWhy personalization powered by AI is non-negotiable for retentionThe imperative for new marketing professionals to become hybrid technical experts and artists simultaneouslyUnlocking the Creator Economy with AwinDid you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?Awin helps brands harness this potential with tailored influencer management solutions that drive measurable results. Whether you're looking to grow your creator roster, foster long-term relationships, or track full-funnel performance, Awin’s expertise and platform integrations make it easy to scale campaigns and optimize impact.With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approachUnlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Marketing Vanguard, we sit down with Jennie Weber, Chief Marketing Officer at Best Buy to talk about all things iconic. From the non-linear approach it takes to build a legacy brand to the critical importance of adaptability and resilience in marketing teams today, Jennie breaks down the strategies that have helped her and her team at Best Buy stay ahead of the curve (and stand the test of time). Tune in for actionable insights on weathering one of retail’s most dynamic periods. What You'll Learn:How to build a customer-first decision-making framework that becomes embedded in organizational cultureWhy adaptability and growth mindset trump traditional team expansion and contraction in volatile marketsHow learning from setbacks can become your true competitive advantageThe strategic value of retail media networks beyond adsHow to identify and activate "passion points" for authentic brand partnerships based on cultural momentumThe resurgence of physical retail as a differentiator in the AI eraWhy creator partnerships and influencer storefronts unlock authentic brand storytellingUnlocking the Creator Economy with AwinDid you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?Awin helps brands harness this potential with tailored influencer management solutions that drive measurable results. Whether you're looking to grow your creator roster, foster long-term relationships, or track full-funnel performance, Awin’s expertise and platform integrations make it easy to scale campaigns and optimize impact.With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approachUnlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristen Lauria, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Wheels Up, joins this episode of Marketing Vanguard to explore the evolution of luxury travel marketing and brand transformation. From her unique journey from aerospace engineering to marketing leadership, Kristen shares insights on pivoting brands toward growth, building trust with high-net-worth clients, and creating exceptional customer experiences. As it stands, Wheels Up is revolutionizing private aviation through innovative membership models, strategic partnerships, and its marketing team has everything to do with it. This conversation serves as a critical reminder of a good marketer’s core responsibility: translating complex business ideas into powerful customer value. What You'll Learn:How to leverage technical expertise to translate complex products into compelling market offeringsThe evolution of private aviation marketing from product-focused to solutions-based approachesWhy membership models require "customer centricity on steroids" in luxury travel servicesHow to build trust-based marketing strategies for high-net-worth audiencesHow to balance B2B, B2C and B2B2C marketing approaches in luxury servicesThe strategic importance of brand partnerships in elevating customer experiencesHow to lead marketing transformation through pace-setting and coaching leadership stylesUnlocking the Creator Economy with AwinDid you know influencer marketing drives twice as many sales as display advertising, with a 37% higher retention rate?Awin helps brands harness this potential with tailored influencer management solutions that drive measurable results. Whether you're looking to grow your creator roster, foster long-term relationships, or track full-funnel performance, Awin’s expertise and platform integrations make it easy to scale campaigns and optimize impact.With partnerships across CreatorIQ, LTK, ShopMy, and more, brands gain access to powerful discovery tools and seamless tracking capabilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency at every stage.Here’s how brands can maximize their influencer marketing:Find the right creators – Access a diverse network of influencers, even in niche markets.Track performance with full transparency – Measure impact from awareness to conversions in real time.Incentivize influencers effectively – Commission-based rewards through affiliate links and coupon codes keep creators engaged.Blend influencer & affiliate marketing seamlessly – Awin’s integrations create a streamlined, results-driven approachUnlock the full potential of influencer marketing. Visit awin.link/adweek to start building high-impact partnerships today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.