This episode is a rebroadcast of host Auren Hoffman's appearance on the CMO Confidential Podcast.

Auren shares why he believes vendor management is the #1 skill for future executives—and why most companies should rent world-class capabilities rather than hire executives they can’t fully utilize. From “scaffolding” young talent to his provocative views on procurement’s negative value, Booz Allen, MBAs, and the transformation of private equity, this episode is packed with contrarian insights for CMOs, CEOs, and founders alike.

🧠 Don’t miss Auren’s candid takes on why many traditional business functions are stuck in the past—and what leaders should do instead.

🔔 Subscribe for more insider lessons on what it really takes to thrive in the C-suite.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: Auren Hoffman’s Background & Career Path

01:45 - The Most Important Executive Skill: Vendor Management

05:22 - Why Renting Talent Beats Hiring for Most Companies

08:40 - Scaffolding: A Framework for Developing Talent

12:10 - The Case Against Procurement: “A Negative Value Function”

16:03 - Why He Would Short Booz Allen

18:35 - Private Equity’s Shift from Builders to Financial Engineers

23:14 - The Problem with MBAs and Why ROI is Often Negative

26:40 - How Executives Should Rethink Internal Capabilities

29:08 - Final Thoughts & Rapid-Fire Takes

Auren Hoffman, SafeGraph, LiveRamp, CMO Confidential, Mike Linton, vendor management, procurement, scaffolding talent, executive hiring strategy, Booz Allen, private equity critique, MBA ROI, modern leadership skills, B2B marketing, executive leadership, future of work, marketing strategy, marketing podcast, business podcast, CEO advice, CMO podcast, talent development, rent vs hire, startup strategy, enterprise strategy, marketing leadership, SafeGraph CEO, Auren Hoffman interview

Disney+/Netflix, Qualtrics, and Moonshots