
The CMO Podcast
Jim Stengel, former CMO of the largest marketer in the world (Procter & Gamble), and now small company entrepreneur sits down for intimate conversations with the most dynamic CMOs from all over the industry. This is not your typical marketing podcast, this is a unique look at the thought process and motivation of the CMO. Jim, who put purpose on the map gets in depth with each guest to reveal more about this pivotal role every brand seeks to fill. Through personal and revealing discussions Jim and his guests paint a picture of this demanding position that very few understand, yet affects the entire consumer experience.The CMO Podcast is sponsored by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.
Latest episodes

Jul 2, 2025 • 48min
Elizabeth Rutledge (American Express) | The Customer at the Center of Everything
Jim's guest this week on The CMO Podcast is Elizabeth Rutledge, the Chief Marketing Officer of American Express. Elizabeth is a unique CMO–she has been at AmEx for her entire career of 35 years, and she has been CMO for seven of those years. AmEx’s stock was about $4 when Elizabeth joined, and it is about $300 currently. More trivia–American Express was founded in 1850–one of the oldest brands in the world. Elizabeth graduated from Princeton, and earned her MBA from the Stern school at NYU. Recorded in person at the Deloitte Apartment at the Cannes Festival of Creativity, join the two for Jim's conversation with the CMO of a 175-year-old brand that is certainly not behaving that way.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 25, 2025 • 41min
The Creator Economy Roundtable with Brandon B, Kim Larson (YouTube) and Kenny Gold (Deloitte Digital)
We had a whirlwind five days in Cannes last week, bringing you our first of many live, in-person episodes recorded as part of the Cannes Lions Festival. And to kick it off, Jim is diving into a topic that was a part of many conversations in the south of France…the Creator Economy. Creators and the space they’ve forged have become one of most transformative forces in marketing. It’s reshaping how brands connect with people, how content is made and consumed, and how influence is earned. Joining Jim are three guests who know this world very well: Brandon B, Creator and Founder of StudioBKim Larson, the Global Head of YouTube CreatorsKenny Gold, the Managing Director, Head of Social, Content and Influencer for Deloitte DigitalWe’re going to talk strategy, authenticity, audience building, and where this entire ecosystem is headed. With a little advice sprinkled in! So, tune in as we come to you live from the Deloitte Apartment at Cannes Lions!---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 snips
Jun 18, 2025 • 1h 3min
The Day the Universe Changed with Mike Moynihan (Lego) and George Carey (Human-ology)
Mike Moynihan, a 30-year veteran at Lego, discusses how the brand pivots following recent societal shifts, particularly post-pandemic. George Carey, CEO of Human-ology, explores how consumer values and emotional connections have changed, especially among young adults. They delve into the impact of nostalgia on marketing strategies and the importance of adapting to evolving consumer priorities. The conversation highlights the need for brands to foster human connections while driving innovation and creating community around shared experiences.

Jun 11, 2025 • 57min
Carrie Palin (Cisco) | Powering An Inclusive Future For All
This week Jim's guest on The CMO Podcast is Carrie Palin, the SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Cisco, the $55 billion by revenue tech leader, whose purpose is to leverage technology, people, and broader networks to solve society’s greatest challenges. Cisco is on quite a roll–its stock is up about 40% in the last year. Carrie never took a marketing class in school, and never even imagined she would be a top tech B2B marketer, let alone the CMO of one of the world’s great companies. But serendipity happened, and Carrie said yes to IBM coming out of TCU, and began a tech marketing career that took her to Dell, Box, Splunk, and now Cisco. Carrie has had a remarkable run in her four years as Cisco’s CMO, which we will talk about. Tune in for a conversation with a CMO, who believes some things in life are simply non-negotiable.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 4, 2025 • 48min
Kelley Puckett (goodr) | Sunglasses with the Permission to Be Unabashedly Yourself
It’s officially summertime here in the U.S., and Jim welcomes a guest whose company truly embodies the spirit of the season. Kelley Puckett is the Chief Marketing Officer of goodr, a high-growth sunglasses brand founded nine years ago in Southern California.Like many great startups, goodr began by identifying a problem and solving it. The founders—runners themselves—noticed that running sunglasses were expensive and overly engineered. So they created fun, stylish, and functional sunglasses specifically for runners, all priced at just $25. Today, goodr offers sunglasses for a wide range of sports and outdoor activities.Kelley seems tailor-made for goodr. A UCLA graduate, she went on to work at both Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures. She’s also a runner—though not just any runner. Kelley is an ultramarathoner who has completed the Badwater 135, often called the toughest ultramarathon in the world. Tune in to this episode to hear from a CMO who brings unmatched energy to her brand and community!---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 28, 2025 • 47min
Rah Mahtani (Alibaba.com) | Making It Easy to Do Business Anywhere
This week Jim welcomes Rah Mahtani, the Head of Commercial Strategy US for Alibaba.com, the Chinese multinational technology company founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and 18 colleagues. Alibaba Group operates as a holding company for a wide array of businesses, including online retail, wholesale through Alibaba.com, logistics (Cainiao), cloud computing (Alibaba Cloud), and financial services (Ant Group). Alibaba.com is the world’s largest B2B (business-to-business) platform.Rah has been at Alibaba for about 2.5 years, and was promoted to head of commercial strategy about two months ago. Before Alibaba, Rah had a career deeply grounded in social media and digital communications, with time at Volvo, Jack in the Box, and BMW’s Mini brand. A graduate of Syracuse University, where he studied Industrial Design, Rah is a self-described lover of dogs, kids and candy. Tune in for a conversation with a marketer in the middle of the changing global trade landscape!---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 21, 2025 • 1h 3min
Is Brand Purpose Dead—or More Alive Than Ever? | Conversation with Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f.Beauty), Mark Ritson (Mini MBA), Lisa Materazzo (The Ford Motor Company) and Sara Carter (adam&eveDDB)
Do you think brand purpose is a tired idea that never truly had relevance in the world of branding and business? Or do you believe that having a brand purpose—and activating it in everything you do—is the most effective way to run a successful company?On this show, we've heard compelling arguments on both sides of the debate. So today, we're bringing together four thought leaders to discuss and explore one big question: Is brand purpose dead, or more alive than ever?Jim is joined by:Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer of e.l.f. Beauty and President of Keys Soulcare. Kory previously held roles at LVMH, Puig, and Shiseido before joining e.l.f. in 2019.Mark Ritson, former marketing professor, Marketing Week columnist, creator of the Mini MBA in Marketing, and advisor to a range of global brands. Lisa Materazzo, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Ford Motor Company since 2023, following a 20-year marketing career at Toyota.Sara Carter, Global Planning Partner at adam&eveDDB and co-author (with Les Binet) of How Not to Plan: 66 Ways to Screw It Up.Let us know where you stand in the Purpose debate—right here or on social media!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 14, 2025 • 51min
Sofia Colucci (Molson Coors) | Uniting People Through Delicious Beverages
We’re on the verge of summer, so you’re probably dreaming of that ice-cold beer—whether at the beach, the ballpark, or on your back porch. This week, Jim welcomes Sofia Colucci to the podcast. She’s the Chief Marketing Officer for North America at Molson Coors, the fourth-largest brewer in the world, with about $12 billion in revenue.Molson Coors traces its roots back to 1786, when John Molson founded Canada’s oldest brewery on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. Today, the company’s portfolio includes Molson, of course, along with the Miller and Coors families of brands, and a wide range of other beverages, including Peroni, Madri, Pilsner Urquell, ZOA Energy, and Arnold Palmer Spiked.Sofia has been with Molson Coors for eight years and has served as CMO for about two and a half years. Prior to that, she spent six years at Maple Leaf Foods in Canada—where she met her husband—and nearly eight years at PepsiCo, working in both Canada and the U.S.Tune in for a conversation with a CMO who brings serious muscle to her marketing strategy!---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 7, 2025 • 45min
Reflections on the Journey to Chief Marketing Officer with Jim Stengel
In this enlightening discussion, Natalia Ball, Chief Growth Officer for Mars Petcare, shares her inspiring journey to marketing leadership after being motivated by Jim Stengel early in her career. The conversation dives into the significance of self-reflection and understanding one's purpose in branding. They highlight key traits for effective marketing leadership, like empathy and innovation. Listeners learn about balancing creativity with analysis, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the challenges of transitioning into a CMO role, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and relationship-building.

Apr 30, 2025 • 49min
Linda Boff, David Lubars and Rishad Tobaccowala | The Advertising Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Inductees
This week, we are celebrating the Class of 2025 inductees into the Advertising Hall of Fame, as Jim welcomes three of this year's honorees for a roundtable discussion. Recorded live the morning after "The Biggest Night in Advertising"—the American Advertising Federation’s annual Hall of Fame induction and celebration—the conversation highlights a few individuals each year who have made an indelible impact on the advertising and marketing industry, as well as exceptional philanthropic contributions. Since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 1948, only 296 people have been inducted.Joining Jim are:David Lubars, the recently retired Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of BBDO. David has won an astonishing 600 Cannes Lions and is the only creative head ever to win Network of the Year at Cannes for seven consecutive years.Linda Boff, the former long-standing Chief Marketing Officer of GE, who, among many other achievements, helped guide the company through its split into three separate public entities.Rishad Tobaccowala, who served in a variety of roles at Publicis Groupe over a 40-year career. Rishad is impossible to put in a box—he is an innovator, a pioneer, a mentor, a teacher, and an advisor. His weekly thought letter, The Future Does Not Fit into the Containers of the Past, is read by 30,000 people.Tune in for a funny, warm, reflective, and poignant conversation with three people who have just experienced one of the most special evenings of their lives.---Learn more about the entire class of inductees:https://www.aaf.org/Public/Public/Events/Advertising-Hall-of-Fame/AHOF_Home.aspxPlus catch up of videos from the past celebrations: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7609857---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog. Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.