The CMO Podcast

Melody Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, brings a wealth of experience, shifting from PR to leading marketing at a luxury brand. She discusses the challenges of modernizing legacy brands as Mercedes-Benz approaches its 100th anniversary. Insights from the Cannes Festival highlight the balance of innovation and heritage in automotive marketing. Melody also shares her early career lessons in crisis communications and emphasizes the importance of empathy and leadership during turbulent times, showcasing how effective marketing aligns with organizational purpose.

Join marketing trailblazers Melissa Hobley, CMO of Tinder, known for enhancing human connections; Carole Diarra, CMO of UGG, who focuses on emotional bonds; Matt Spiegel, EVP at TransUnion, dedicated to creating relevant connections; and Nicole Parlapiano, CMO of Tubi, driving culturally relevant content. They dive into the essence of brand love, the significance of empathy and authenticity, and how kindness transforms leadership. With insights drawn from personal stories, they inspire marketers to prioritize real connections and community engagement.

Jim's guest this week on The CMO Podcast is Brian Irving, the Chief Marketing Officer at Lyft,  the 13-year-old, San Francisco-based  company whose purpose is to improve people’s lives with the world's best transportation. Lyft does business in the US and Canada, and has about $6 billion in revenueBrian has been at Lyft for about 15 months. Before that, he has worked at three of the world’s most valuable companies: Google, Meta and Apple. He has also worked at Levi Straus, Eventbrite, and AirBnB. Brian had no idea growing up in Flint, Michigan that his life would unfold this way. Recorded in person at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, tune in for a heart-to-heart conversation with Jim and Brian!---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.

Elizabeth Rutledge, the Chief Marketing Officer of American Express, shares her journey of 35 years with the brand. She discusses innovative marketing approaches that reshape customer engagement and the strong legacy of AmEx. The conversation also highlights how nostalgia influences brand loyalty and the role of collaborations at major festivals like Cannes in fostering creativity. Elizabeth emphasizes the balance of data and storytelling in marketing, alongside the importance of mentoring emerging talent to navigate the evolving landscape.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.