Trapped by Tech? Data as an Asset, and Smarter CDP Investments

In this episode of Office Hours, Jacqueline Freedman and Juan Mendoza unpack the overwhelming success of their podcast launch, share details about the upcoming Martech World Forum London 2025, and dive into AI adoption, vendor dependency, and the evolving world of customer data platforms (CDPs).

Highlights

Podcast launch success & what's next: global reach, sponsorship buzz, and better audio quality coming January 2025

Martech World Forum London 2025: key speakers, VIP dinner, and how to network with enterprise leaders

• Vendor partnerships: the dark side of over-reliance
• Generative AI's harsh reality check (only 5% of deployments succeed)
• The future of CDP pricing models
• Hot takes: Pepsi's $57M AI ad vs Wendy's viral comeback
• Lessons from the field: failed CDPs, misfired campaigns, and confessions

Key Takeaways

• AI hype vs reality: start with small, measurable pilots.
• Vendor partnerships should empower, not entrap.
• Treat customer data like a valuable asset: maintain, enrich, and activate.
• CDP pricing is shifting toward enriched profiles and behaviour triggers.
• Fast, authentic engagement often outperforms big-budget AI campaigns

Timestamps & Highlights

00:00 - Podcast Launch Success

02:11 - MarTech World Forum London 2025

03:32 - Vendor partnerships: necessary evil or obstacle?

14:46 - Generative AI reality check

24:29 - CDP pricing evolution

32:03 - Hot take: Pepsi's $57M AI campaign vs Wendy's $9 clapback

35:17 - Pawan Verma on customer decisioning

38:03 - Question of the Week

40:51 - Confession Corner

Why You Should Listen

• If you're an enterprise marketing leader or Martech practitioner, this episode will give you:
• Insider knowledge on 2025 Martech strategies
• Real-world AI lessons with measurable ROI
• Advice on avoiding vendor lock-in
• A sneak peek at the Martech World Forum 2025

Ways to Connect

• Subscribe to the podcast: Making Sense of Martech
• Join the conversation: LinkedIn – Juan Mendoza | LinkedIn – Jacqueline Freedman
• Register for Martech World Forum 2025: Event Info & Tickets

Submit your confession or question for the next episode: Submit Here