Renegade Marketers Unite

Every product launch is a countdown to liftoff. High stakes. High visibility. High chance of failure if systems aren’t in sync. Misaligned messaging, unready sellers, vaporware promises. There are endless ways to completely blow it. In this episode, Melanie Marcus (Surescripts), Kevin Brooks (Surescripts), and John Hale (Consilio) join Drew to dig into what it takes to pull off a successful launch. They explain why alignment cannot be assumed, how preparation has to be disciplined and ongoing, and why CMOs need to surface tough truths before the market does. Marketing may set the pace, but lasting success only happens when the entire company rallies behind the story and delivers it together. In this episode:  Melanie shares how to stretch a brand into new markets without losing credibility  Kevin explains the launch-tiering framework that keeps efforts focused and sales-ready  John reveals why the secret weapon is “ours, not mine” and how humble listening drives alignment  Plus:  How to avoid the vaporware trap that kills trust fast  Why one sharp value prop beats a laundry list of features  What leading indicators to track before revenue shows up  Where the real magic happens once a launch hits the market floor   If you want to hear how CMOs line up a launch and deliver when it matters most, this one’s for you.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Think your tech stack is working for you? Think again.  After analyzing 100 stacks from the CMO Huddles community, Ryan Koonce of Growth Bench exposes what’s broken, what’s bloated, and what to do instead. From misfiring attribution models to misused tools like Google Analytics and Salesforce, this episode offers a fast, practical reset for any CMO serious about smarter growth.  What You’ll Learn:  Why Salesforce isn’t always the answer  The fatal flaw in Google Analytics you can’t ignore  The real reason attribution is still a mess  What “great” data access looks like for marketing teams  For the rest of the conversation, visit our YouTube channel (CMO Huddles Hub) or click here: [https://youtu.be/wRWHIrzsD68]. Get more insights like these by joining our free Starter program at cmohuddles.com.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

There is no pause button on AI. Every day brings a fresh flood of tools, demos, predictions, and pressure to keep up. But what’s actually changing inside B2B marketing departments? What’s working, what’s still hype, and where should CMOs focus?  In this episode, Kevin Ruane (Precisely), Gary Sevounts (Simpplr), and Jeff Morgan (Elements) join Drew to wrestle with how AI is being tested, contained, and scaled inside their teams. They push on when an experiment becomes a mandate, how to keep stacks from turning into a pile of disconnected tools, and why clean data is the deciding factor. The message is clear: AI will not rescue weak strategy. But in the hands of disciplined marketers who are willing to rethink the rules, it changes how marketing runs.  In this episode:  Kevin shares how an AI council and internal champions drive adoption across teams  Gary explains AI as the pipeline’s central nervous system that tracks stage flow and triggers timely action  Jeff breaks down SPARK, a Claude prompt framework that defines role, workflow, brand voice, rules, and KPIs  Plus:  How to set AI goals and metrics your CEO will back  Why data readiness is the first step to any AI win  What skills and roles a marketing team needs to run AI safely  When to graduate a pilot into a standard workflow  If you want to hear how CMOs are experimenting with AI and resetting the rules of engagement, this one’s for you!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Most B2B CEOs never spent time in marketing. Fewer than one in five ever held the title. Which explains a lot. From undervalued budgets to misaligned expectations, marketing often gets boxed in as a support function instead of the growth driver it is. If marketing is going to lead, CEOs need to understand what it can really do and what to look for in a CMO who’s built to deliver.  To set the record straight, Drew taps three marketing leaders, Rebecca Stone (Cisco), Grant Johnson (Chief Outsiders), and Jan Deahl (Drake Star), to reframe how CEOs see marketing. It is a strategic engine built to shape markets, guide buyers, and drive growth. Together, they make the case for what’s possible when CMOs are empowered to lead. In this episode:  Rebecca on why CMOs need to think and act like a CEO  Grant on how mismatched expectations set CMOs up to fail  Jan on aligning marketing’s role to company stage and goals  Plus:  The key questions every CEO should ask their CMO  What to fix when marketing is stuck in order-taking mode  How smart onboarding sets CMOs up to lead  Why growth depends on more than just demand gen  Tune in for signals that shift how your CEO sees marketing.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

  The CMO role is not for the faint of heart. Growth targets loom large. Every dollar and decision gets second-guessed. MarTech keeps stacking up until it threatens to topple over. Drew calls it the coldest seat in the C-suite. It is also the most dynamic, the one that rewards clear thinking, fearless collaboration, and a readiness to shake up the playbook. In this episode, Drew sits down with hosts Alec Cheung and Barb VanSomeren of The Marketing Share podcast to share wisdom from his own career and from hundreds of CMOs inside CMO Huddles. Together, they talk about the collision of growth pressure, evolving executive dynamics, and constant change. The conversation gets to the heart of how CMOs can simplify their strategies, earn influence across the leadership team, and lead marketing with focus and courage when the demands never let up. In this episode:  Drew shares how CMOs can stay focused when everything feels urgent  Drew explains why a peer network is essential for clarity and solutions  Drew reveals the mindset shift that turns growth pressure into momentum  Plus:  Building alignment with your CEO and CFO on marketing’s impact  Finding the confidence to defend your strategy  Lessons from leaders who kept brands moving in tough markets  Why bold marketing still wins when others play it safe  Tune in for a look at the CMO role today and the mindset, moves, and alliances it takes to succeed under constant pressure.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

It started with a 90-day challenge: make a GenAI-powered video promoting the 2025 CMO Super Huddle using only off-the-shelf tools. What followed was equal parts ambition, frustration, learning, and editing. Along the way, Drew got a crash course in prompt writing, script timing, voice cloning, and the realities of working inside tools that promise automation but still require a certain level of finesse.   With GenAI coach Samantha Stark of Phyusion guiding the early stages and Steve Mudd of Talentless AI stepping in for post, the project quickly became a real test of creative endurance. Each step surfaced a new set of tradeoffs. The tools were powerful, but stitching them together was anything but seamless. What came out the other side is something Drew’s proud to share, along with lessons from two expert AI collaborators and a few fun reveals they brought to the table that show just how weird, clever, and unexpected GenAI production can get.  In this episode:  Samantha shares how GenAI tools spark ideas but still need human direction to shape tone and story  Steve explains how editing brings structure and emotion to GenAI content for a more watchable result  Both guests highlight the importance of adding context to make GenAI output resonate with viewers Plus:  What GenAI tools need from you upfront to deliver useful output  How multi-tool workflows impact timing, syncing, and storytelling  Where to focus your time during GenAI production for the biggest payoff  When expert editors can step in to shape flow, tone, and polish  Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at GenAI video and audio creation, guided by the experts who know how to make it all come together.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Every customer reaches a turning point. Something's not working the way it used to. And now they're ready for change. That's when your product appears as a possibility. But if you lead with features or force-fit personas, you'll miss the real energy behind their decision. That's why Bob Moesta starts with struggle. In this episode, he joins Drew to discuss how demand forms through struggling moments, not random needs, and why nobody buys any product randomly, ever. As the author of Demand-Side Sales 101 and a longtime builder and educator, Bob shares how to identify that momentum, map the forces behind a decision, and reframe sales and marketing as tools for understanding what buyers are really trying to solve. What You’ll Learn:   Why buying decisions start with struggling moments  How to ask questions that surface energy, not just answers  The four forces shaping decisions: push, pull, anxiety, habit  How to spot what customers switch from and why  Why the buyer vs. user distinction matters in B2B Tune in to hear how demand really forms and how to spot it when it does.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

AI tools. CDPs. DAMs. Shiny objects everywhere. It’s easy to fall for the promise of more tech. But without a plan, that stack starts stacking you. Martech only performs when every platform has a purpose, every user is accountable, and every dollar spent ties back to a strategic outcome. Drew is joined by Kathie Johnson (formerly Sitecore) and Kris Salazar (Appcast) to talk MarTech headaches, from stack bloat to AI overload to the brutal cost of tools no one’s using. Because building a smarter stack means cutting dead weight, keeping what helps, and making sure every platform has a champion who’s accountable for its impact.  In this episode:  Kathie on using MarTech maps and AI to get a 30% efficiency boost  Kris on quarterly audits, tool ownership, and measurable outcomes  Why both agree that stack success starts with strategy and ownership Plus:  What to look for in a tech audit  Why data clarity is the key to real personalization  How to avoid tech for tech’s sake  The spending rule that keeps budgets balanced  Tune in for a reality check on what it takes to make your MarTech stack deliver without adding more to the pile.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Synthetic research is rewriting the rules—and Jon Lombardo is here to explain how. In this Huddles Quick Take, the Evidenza co-founder breaks down the three biggest misconceptions marketers have about AI-generated research, from assumptions about accuracy to the myth of average insights.  You’ll hear how synthetic research can help you test messaging, uncover clear audience insights, and even rewrite jargon so sales and buyers actually understand it—all without waiting months or spending a fortune.  What You’ll Learn:  3 misconceptions marketers have about synthetic research  Why AI can surface insights that are better than traditional methods  How synthetic research unlocks deeper audience understanding at scale  When to use synthetic over human research (and how they work together)  For the rest of the conversation with Jon—including B2B use cases, segmentation examples, and a deeper dive into category entry points—visit our YouTube channel (CMO Huddles Hub) or click here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4S_Ib-SmZY]. Get more insights like these by joining our free Starter program at cmohuddles.com.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Penguins spend 75% of their lives in the water, actively positioning themselves exactly where they need to be to hunt and survive. It’s intentional placement. Strong brands do the same. They know where they belong and commit. Too many don’t. They drift, hoping the market finds them. You’ve got to stake your spot and give your marketing something to stand on. In this episode, Drew brings in Marni Puente (SAIC) and Sara Larsen (Wolters Kluwer Health), two marketers who’ve learned that positioning only works when it’s clear, repeated often, and owned beyond marketing. They get into how to break the cycle of repositioning, earn internal trust, and lay the groundwork for durable growth.  In this episode:  Marni shares how a tight positioning strategy anchored SAIC’s rebrand and became a decision filter across the org  Sara explains how to drive clarity in a matrixed enterprise, aligning stakeholders without watering down the message  Both guests reflect on the power of internal alignment as the real test of a strong position  Plus:  How to test positioning with internal and external audiences  Why simplicity is your signal when it comes to clarity  What positioning unlocks across marketing, sales, and culture  How to build buy-in that lasts beyond launch   Tune in to learn how focused positioning gives every team a north star and puts your brand strategy to work across the business.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/