Renegade Marketers Unite

Putting the customer at the center has been preached for years, yet too often, B2B marketers are told to chase net new logos and leave expansion for someone else. That approach leaves growth on the table. Delighted customers are your advocates, your storytellers, your engine for long-term success. Every company says it listens to customers. In this conversation, Drew and guests Allyson Havener (HG Insights), JD Dillon (Tigo Energy), and Alan Gonsenhauser (Demand Revenue) show how listening turns into concrete action, how feedback becomes a system, and how customer voices drive lasting growth. In this episode: Allyson on how reviews, surveys, and customer spotlights at TrustRadius feed marketing and influence buying decisions early JD on how Tigo's Green Glove Program creates loyalty through installer support and a seal of quality Alan on why retention is a financial driver CMOs must track as closely as revenue Plus: Why framing churn as retention keeps teams motivated How to bring the customer voice into leadership discussions The metrics that capture customer impact, from adoption to earned growth How to operationalize cross-functional alignment around the customer Catch this episode to hear how customer voices shape strategy, culture, and growth. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Adopting AI isn't about tools. It's about trust, training, and transformation. And yes, about CMO's getting their hands on the keyboard. In this Huddles Quick Take, GenAI consultants Tahnee Perry and Liza Adams break down the most common mistakes CMOs make when rolling out GenAI—from skipping change management to misunderstanding what "hands-on" really means for leaders. They also share practical use cases (like reducing a six-week video workflow to two) and explain why a great AI strategy is rooted in empathy, context, and curiosity—not just efficiency. What You'll Learn: Why productivity gains mean nothing without training and team buy-in The difference between thought partnership and bad prompting What to measure when making the case for GenAI investment 🔗 Join us 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/

Most marketers still treat all customers like they're created equal. Spoiler: they're not. Some will buy once and vanish, others will stick with you for years and fuel your growth. The challenge and opportunity is learning to tell the difference, predicting their future value, and acting accordingly. That's where Wharton professor and The Customer Centricity Playbook co-author Peter Fader comes in. He shows why real growth starts with admitting that not every customer is equally valuable, then using lifetime value as the north star for smarter acquisition, retention, and development moves. Forget chasing volume or squeezing acquisition costs. Peter makes the case for putting your chips on the customers who matter most and letting their behaviors guide your strategy. In this episode: Why chasing "average" customer value hides real growth How lifetime value sharpens acquisition, retention, and upsell The blind spots of treating CPA as a north star Plus: What B2B and B2C leaders can borrow from each other's strengths How sticky offerings reveal your best customers Why performance metrics must connect to customer value How customer-based valuation is "reshaping how finance values companies If you want to see how lifetime value separates your best customers from the rest and why that changes everything, 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/

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/