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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

Brand marketing is getting its time to shine in the latest episode of the Marketing Vanguard podcast as we sit down with Caryn Wasser, Chief Brand Officer at Little Spoon. Tune in for an energizing conversation on how a brand drives growth and revenue and why its place in scaling a business should never be underestimated. Plus: exclusive insights on how she built a $150M+ brand from a windowless WeWork room to become the largest online baby and kids food company in the U.S. What You'll Learn:How to design a Chief Brand Officer role from scratch by letting business needs dictate strategy, not industry conventionsWhy "brand-led growth" requires being obsessively rooted in consumer truth over chasing marketing trendsThe operational framework for treating marketing as a full-funnel, interconnected system where every team member owns business impactHow to maintain authentic brand positioning when scaling into retail without compromising identityWhy early-stage founders should pursue board seats and executive roles at startups over staying at legacy companiesThe counterintuitive approach to celebrity and influencer partnerships

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!