Renegade Marketers Unite

You can spend six figures on an event and still walk away with nothing but badge scans and a fuzzy sense of brand presence. But when you treat it as a full-funnel campaign, that’s when the impact starts early and lasts well beyond the event itself.   In this episode, Drew Neisser is joined by Ellina Shinnick (HUB International), Kevin Ruane (Precisely), and Isabelle Papoulias (EliteOps) to explore how teams show up with intention and turn B2B events into focused, cross-functional efforts that build brand, strengthen buyer confidence, and avoid the all-too-common post-event fade. In this episode: Ellina breaks down HUB’s three-part event framework: Sales alignment, rigorous ROI auditing, and one bold theme that ties it all together.  Kevin shares how a shift from demand gen to brand-first events, paired with sideline plays and airport branding, led to unexpected revenue wins.  Isabelle gives the play-by-play on how startups can show up strong with limited budgets and purposeful sequencing. Plus:  Why pre-event planning is where ROI starts  How to audit your event calendar for strategic fit (not just attendance numbers)  What actually works for post-event follow-up, and what to skip  Why one big creative idea can carry you through a whole year of events  Tune in to steal what works and rethink how events drive brand and pipeline!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

🎉 Episode 450 is here—and the Drews are doubling up to help CMOs meet the moment. With marketers everywhere facing a "do more with less" mandate, Drew interviews… penguin hat-Drew to unveil 10 innovative strategies to boost impact without burning out. From digital twins to synthetic research, from YouTube Shorts to GenAI-engine-optimization, this episode is packed with ideas that CMO Huddles members are already exploring—and you should be too. 🧠 Expect tactical inspiration. A little penguin talk. And a lot of alliteration. 🧰 Topics include:   How to build your “digital double”   Leveraging synthetic research and deep research tools   The new rules of trust-based buying   AI-powered content workflows and smarter chatbots   Why you should care about LLM visibility and video virality 💡 All ten ideas come with expert references—many of whom will be at Super Huddle 2025. 🎧 Tune in. Take notes. Then pick 2–3 ideas to test this quarter. You’ll thank yourself later.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Most companies launch a customer advisory board with good intentions. A few emails go out, a meeting gets booked, and then… not much happens. But when CABs are built with the right structure and support, they can drive some serious value for the business and the customer.  In this episode, Drew Neisser talks with Melanie Marcus (Surescripts), Marca Armstrong (Sensera Systems), and Marina Ilishaev (Boardstream AI) about what separates a one-off event from a CAB that earns ongoing attention, input, and trust. From executive alignment to post-meeting follow-through, this conversation is packed with real examples of CABs done right and lessons from the ones that nearly fell flat. In this episode: How Surescripts turned a CAB into a strategic driver over six years  How Sensera uses CAB insights to steer product and sales direction  Why structure, ownership, and trust matter more than slick agendas Plus:  How to get buy-in from execs, internal teams, and customers  Ways to keep CABs active between meetings  Metrics that help track engagement and impact  Tune in to learn what it takes to build a CAB your customers want to be part of, and your team can actually learn from!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Think CMOs don’t belong in the boardroom? Think again. Today’s top marketers are stepping beyond the C-suite, bringing strategic insight, customer obsession, and data-driven decision-making to board-level conversations. But how do you actually make that leap? In this episode of Renegade Marketers Unite, Drew Neisser sits down with three marketing leaders who’ve done just that: Denise Vu Broady (Collibra), Peter Finter (KX), and Katrina Klier (Sage Strategy Group). They share how they earned board seats—and how you can too. In this episode: How Denise mapped her board journey five years in advance  Why Peter leads with risk and strategy to earn trust at the top  What Katrina looks for in a board-ready résumé (hint: it’s not brand metrics) Plus:  Why nonprofit and advisory roles are the best launchpads  When to invest in certifications like NACD and PDA   How to talk board ambitions with your CEO (without raising red flags)  Why CMOs are more board-ready than they realize Whether you’re just curious or actively pursuing a seat, this episode is your inside track to the boardroom.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Inbound and outbound aren’t opposing forces—they’re two sides of the same motion.   When marketing owns both, it opens the door for tighter execution, faster learning, and better performance. But that kind of momentum doesn’t come from chasing tactics. It comes from reworking how the work actually gets done. In this episode, Drew Neisser talks with Christina Kyriazi of PhotoShelter about how she rebuilt the company’s go-to-market engine from the inside out. From bringing outbound under marketing, to embedding product marketing early, to using experiments to guide spend, Christina shares how structure and process—not just tactics—made all the difference. What You’ll Learn:  ✔ Why outbound now rolls up to marketing and how that changed execution  ✔ How product marketing helped define segments, use cases, and “wow” moments  ✔ What “speed to lead” actually looks like and why it’s working  ✔ How underperforming tactics became high-converting plays  ✔ Where AI is helping accelerate research, content, and workflows without replacing the human voice If you're reworking how your team goes to market—structure, process, and all—tune in!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Is your 'go play with AI' strategy actually sabotaging adoption across your marketing team?  In this Huddles Quick Take, AI consultant Tahnee Perry reveals the three critical mistakes CMOs make when trying to drive GenAI adoption and shares her proven 4-step formula for building a truly AI-savvy marketing organization. What You'll Learn: Why "go play with AI" is a recipe for failure and what to do instead How to avoid implementing AI tools without clear strategic goals The importance of addressing fear and uncertainty around AI A 4-step framework for successful AI adoption  For the full conversation covering Tahnee’s favorite GenAI tools, real-world examples, and how to attribute ROI to AI, visit our YouTube channel (CMO Huddles Hub) or click here: [https://youtu.be/HRRqFTAuHl4?si=sR36YNiniy86-B3u].  Plus, surprise guest Liza Adams joins the conversation to share the biggest GenAI unlocks for CMOs and their teams today. Coming Soon: Join Tahnee Perry and Lisa Adams for another Bonus Huddle in June where they'll share how a lean 25-person marketing team transformed into a 45-member human-AI powerhouse. Apply for membership at cmohuddles.com to participate. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

When marketing and comms teams aren’t aligned, it shows. In this episode, Drew Neisser is joined by CMOs Cary Bainbridge (ABM Industries), Laura MacGregor (Center for Internet Security), and Grant Johnson (Chief Outsiders) for a candid look at what it really takes to get marketing and comms moving in sync. From co-owning messaging to embedding AI tools and crisis plans into the mix, these leaders share how to stay coordinated without stepping on each other’s toes. Here’s what you’ll hear: How Cary and her comms partner rolled out a brand relaunch to 100,000 employees Why Laura brought marketing and comms under one roof, and what that made possible How Grant built cross-functional accountability with the right metrics Plus: What to do when misinformation hits, and the playbooks you’ll want ready How AI is speeding up localization, automation, and cross-team coordination How to activate internal brand champions and cross-functional councils What stakeholder engagement looks like when it’s done right Why comms needs a direct line to the C-Suite, and what happens when it doesn’t If you’re done playing telephone across departments, this episode offers a practical path to alignment so marketing and comms stay in sync. Tune in! For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

GenAI has moved past the “what if” stage. Now it’s more like, “what else can we use this for?” And that change in mindset is reshaping the day-to-day—from big-picture strategy to the smallest tasks. In this episode, Drew Neisser talks with Karen Feldman (Iron Mountain), Adriana Gil Miner (Iterable), and Jeff Morgan (Elements), three marketing leaders who’ve made GenAI part of their daily toolkit. They’re applying GenAI to content engines, campaign strategy, customer journeys—and they’re seeing results that are hard to ignore.  Here’s what you’ll hear: How IBM used Adobe Firefly to produce 10x more content and beat campaign benchmarks by 26x. The Iterable ad challenge that doubled demo requests and surfaced unexpected creative talent. Why GenAI is showing up in customer journeys, sales enablement, and day-to-day ops. How small teams are using tools like Descript, RAG, and custom GPTs to scale smartly. What it looks like when AI becomes a creative partner, not just a shortcut.  Plus: How to steer clear of the GenAI “sea of sameness” Why personalization at scale is finally within reach The shift from doing more to doing better If you’re trying to move from GenAI curiosity to confident action, this one’s worth a listen. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

CMO job searches come with baggage—pressure to be perfect, high expectations from CEOs and investors, and a market where one misstep can cost you. Add in emotional residue from your last gig, and it’s no wonder the process feels heavy. In this episode, executive recruiter Erica Seidel joins Drew Neisser for a grounded pep talk on how marketing leaders can take control of the job search. It’s about being intentional—knowing what you want, how to show up, and how to manage the emotional rollercoaster along the way. What You’ll Learn: How an Ideal Company Profile (ICP) can focus your search—and your energy.  The paradox-filled CMO role: changemaker, peacemaker, and how to keep it together.  Smart ways to stand out—think prep docs, dashboards, and well-placed hypotheses.  Why “ready to start tomorrow” might be your strongest asset.  What CEOs and investors really want from you in the first 100 days. Whether you’re actively interviewing or just thinking ahead, this episode offers the mindset and tools to help you lead your search—with intention and impact. Tune in!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

The career mistake that haunts CMOs most? Waiting until they're laid off to build their personal brand. Career transition expert Catherine Altman Morgan reveals the three career management mistakes even seasoned CMOs make—and they might be sabotaging your future opportunities. In this quick-hitting conversation, Catherine delivers straight talk on building your personal brand, maintaining critical relationships, and positioning yourself for success whether you're job hunting or not.  From market disruptions to political shifts, CMOs are feeling the pressure. CFOs are tightening budgets, customers are hesitating, and entire industries are being forced to adapt. So, what’s a savvy marketing leader to do?  For the full conversation covering 'nose to the grindstone syndrome,' navigating toxic work environments, and how to product-ize yourself, visit our YouTube channel (CMO Huddles Hub) or click here: [https://youtu.be/f9_qZKSYDbM].  Get more insights like these by joining our free Starter program at cmohuddles.com.  Until then, keep those renegade thinking caps on and strong.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/