Renegade Marketers Unite

Buyers trust other buyers more than they trust you—that’s just reality. A great video testimonial is proof, reassurance, and persuasion all rolled into one, but that only happens if people actually see it and act on it. So how do you keep testimonials from collecting digital dust and turn them into a true sales and marketing asset? That’s exactly what Drew Neisser and Alexander Ferguson, Founder & CMO of TeraLeap, tackle in this episode. From getting customers to say “yes” to crafting stories that resonate, Alex shares the strategies that make testimonials impossible to ignore. What You’ll Learn: The biggest mistakes that keep video testimonials from delivering real results. Ways to integrate testimonials across sales, marketing, and branding. How to measure impact, track conversions, and prove value to leadership. The right timing and approach to get more customers on camera. Don’t let your best customer stories go to waste. Catch the full conversation now! For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

If you haven’t read The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins, what are you waiting for?  This bestselling guide to leadership transitions is a must-read for any executive stepping into a new role, and it’s a staple in the CMO Huddles community. A CMO’s first 90 days will set the course—either laying the groundwork for success or paving the way for an uphill battle. Drawing on more than two decades of research, Michael Watkins joins host Drew Neisser to share essential transition strategies and reveal the critical mistakes executives make in their early days—and exactly how to avoid them. What You’ll Learn: The biggest mistakes executives make in their first 90 days—and how to sidestep them.  How to address the real problems within an organization—not just the ones you're familiar with. The importance of early wins and strategies to resist the "action imperative" The critical role of shifting perspectives for achieving long-term success. The power of process leadership and how to use it to accelerate your impact. Michael also shares insights from his new book, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking, and why strategy has never been more critical (stay tuned for that episode). Tune in ASAP! For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

"These are not the droids you’re looking for." Just like Obi-Wan Kenobi used a simple phrase to shift the stormtroopers’ perception, marketers need to pull off their own Jedi mind trick to capture mindshare for their brands. We call it "positioning."  In this episode, Drew Neisser is joined by Joe Cohen (AXIS), Sara Larsen (Wolters Kluwer), and Carlos Carvajal (Q2) to discuss the art and science of positioning—how to define, refine, and defend it in a crowded marketplace.  Key Discussion Points:  Joe Cohen explains how AXIS built credibility in energy transition by backing its positioning with real data.  Sara Larsen shares how Wolters Kluwer got internal teams on board with a major brand shift.  Carlos Carvajal reveals how Q2 overcame skepticism to expand beyond its core market.  What you’ll learn:  ✔ How to use research to reinforce your brand’s authority. ✔ Why positioning is an internal challenge before it’s an external one. ✔ The role of analysts, customer feedback, and storytelling in shaping brand perception.  From using market research to create authority to ensuring internal teams embrace new positioning, this conversation is all about the strategies that make brands stand out—and stick!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Gen AI isn’t just a playground for creativity—it’s a tool for real business impact. But while some marketers are embracing the possibilities, others are stuck in experimentation mode without a clear strategy. So how do you go from dabbling to driving real business impact with AI?  In this episode, Lisa Gately, Principal Analyst at Forrester, joins Drew Neisser to break down how CMOs can lead the charge in AI adoption, avoid common missteps, and harness Gen AI to create real business value. Lisa also shares a sneak peek into her session at Forrester’s 2025 B2B Summit, exploring how AI is reshaping marketing, sales, and customer experiences. What you’ll learn:  The top mistakes marketers make when adopting Gen AI—and how to avoid them.  Why Gen AI success requires change management, not just technology.  How CMOs can go beyond efficiency to drive real competitive advantage with AI.  Want to take your AI strategy to the next level? Tune in!  CMO Huddles members also get a 10% discount to Forrester’s 2025 B2B Summit—use code CMOHUDDLES25 to save! Register here: https://www.forrester.com/event/b2b-summit-north-america/  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Clicking is easy, converting is hard—let’s fix that. In this episode, Drew Neisser teams up with Sahil Patel, CEO of Spiralyze, to take a deep dive into what makes landing pages and home pages truly effective. But this isn't just theory-Sahil gets hands-on by breaking down the CMO Huddles home page and landing page, highlighting common pitfalls and sharing actionable fixes. What you'll learn:  The biggest conversion killers on landing pages-and how to fix them fast.  Why home pages need both storytelling and structure to keep visitors engaged.  How small design tweaks-like better CTAs, cleaner forms, and smarter layouts-can drive big results. Want to see the pages Sahil critiqued? Check the show notes on renegademarketing.com for links to the visual resources.   For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Would you rather get a root canal or run payroll? Most small business owners would have picked the root canal—until Gusto came along. When Jason Ing joined Gusto in 2022, the company's reputation for making payroll easy rang loud and clear. The next logical step was to transform that reputation into brand gold. In this episode, we explore the campaign that reinforced customer love while driving demand. In this episode, Jason breaks down:  ✔ How Gusto turned a simple insight into a high-impact brand campaign.  ✔ How brand and performance marketing work together to maximize awareness and conversions.  ✔ How to drive alignment in the C-Suite to position brand as a revenue driver, not just a creative exercise.  ✔ The metrics and testing strategies used to prove the business impact of brand investment.  ✔ Dos and don’ts when allocating your media mix It's a must-listen for any CMO looking to turn customer love into measurable growth. Don't miss it!   For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

How do marketers bridge the gap between bold creative ambition and the hard-nosed expectations of the C-suite? In this episode, Drew Neisser chats with Kay Moffett of Amplify, Katrina Klier of Sage Strategy Group, and Lakshmi Randall to uncover how CMOs can align marketing initiatives with business priorities while proving their value to their CEOs and CFOs.  In this episode:  Kay Moffett reveals how Amplify’s podcast, Science of Reading, became a catalyst for a movement in education, driving product adoption and underscoring the power of long-term brand investments.  Katrina Klier shares her ART framework—Awareness, Recognition, Traction—a practical model for demonstrating marketing’s impact through both leading and lagging indicators.  Lakshmi Randall dives into strategies for aligning with CFO and CEO priorities, including focusing on shared goals, running strategic experiments, and balancing short-term wins with long-term initiatives.  You’ll also learn:  Why anecdotal insights—or “anecdata”—can be as persuasive as hard metrics when proving marketing’s value.  How consistent reporting can help CMOs build trust with the C-suite.  The balancing act between short-term demand gen and long-term brand-building strategies.  Tune in and discover how to turn the C-suite into marketing’s biggest advocates!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

B2B buying has never been more complicated—or more critical for marketers to master. In this episode, Drew Neisser is joined by Dave Frankland, Forrester’s VP Research Director, for a sneak peek at Forrester’s 2025 B2B Summit and the theme of “Master Buying Mayhem.” Together, they explore the ever-evolving dynamics of buyer groups, self-service trends, and the growing influence of generative AI in the B2B landscape. In this episode: Navigating Buyer Complexity: Learn how to effectively engage the 20+ people who influence B2B buying decisions, including internal and external stakeholders.  Elevating customer success: Discover how aligning promise-makers (sales) with promise-keepers (customer success) can drive loyalty and advocacy, even for unhappy customers.  Transforming revenue processes: Discover how companies like Siemens and Reltio streamlined buying journeys and aligned teams for a customer-first approach.  Self-serve buying journeys: Explore how the rise of self-service is reshaping traditional sales and marketing strategies—and what you can do to stay ahead.  Tune in for actionable insights and frameworks that can help B2B marketers thrive amidst the chaos—and walk away ready to tame the buyer mayhem in your own organization.  And if you like what you hear, make sure you register for Forrester's 2025 B2B Summit in Phoenix (March 31-April 3, 2025)! If you're a Huddler, reach out to us for a special discount code. Why you should go:    Best-in-class case studies: Showcasing Return on Integration and Program of the Year award winners on the main stage  Increased interactivity: Expect more roundtables and workshops than presentations, designed to foster collaboration, peer discussion, and actionable takeaways.  Hands-on planning: Leave with a Plan on a Page or an assessment to identify your strengths and where to focus for improvement.  Cross-functional focus: A unique opportunity to collaborate not just with marketing peers but also with sales, product, and customer success teams to align GTM strategies.  One-on-one analyst sessions: Personalized insights from Forrester experts, tailored to your organization’s challenges and opportunities.  Exclusive leadership exchange: Invite-only sessions for C-level executives, with opportunities to tackle strategic challenges in a private, focused environment.  Vision meets practicality: Gain forward-looking insights about where B2B is headed, paired with tangible next steps to implement immediately.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Playing it safe might feel smart, but it’s the riskiest move of all. In this episode, Drew Neisser sits down with Steve Dennis, author of Leaders Leap, to explore the critical moments when leaders must embrace risk, drive innovation, and challenge the status quo. In this episode: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: Why past successes might not guarantee future results, and how to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.  A Slightly Better Version of Mediocre Won’t Cut It: Why incremental improvements are no longer enough and how to aim for true remarkability.  Customer-Centric or Just Lip Service? The gap between saying that you’re customer-focused and actually delivering on it. You’ll also learn: How CMOs can position themselves as strategic leaders within their organizations.  Why being “special, not big” can be a winning strategy in a competitive market.  Practical steps for balancing long-term transformation with short-term results. Whether you’re navigating strategic pivots, championing customer-centric initiatives, or striving to build a remarkable brand, this conversation is packed with insights to help you leap with confidence into 2025 and beyond.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

As we step into 2025, Drew Neisser takes the mic solo for a special Drew-on-Drew episode, sharing his eight resolutions for the year ahead. From personal growth to professional goals, our penguin-in-chief dives into the habits, mindset shifts, and priorities that will guide him—and hopefully inspire fellow marketers—through the year.  In this episode: Resolution #1: Keep on learning – Embracing curiosity and connecting with experts to grow smarter every day.  Resolution #2: Think bigger and do better – Aiming higher, taking risks, and saying yes to bold opportunities.  Resolution #3: Manage time better – Prioritizing deep focus, smarter habits, and blocking time for what truly matters.  Resolution #4: Invest more in partnerships – Doubling down on meaningful collaborations that drive impact.  Resolution #5: Lighten up – Injecting humor and levity into everyday work and writing.  Resolution #6: Stay positive – Balancing realism with optimism, even in challenging times.  Resolution #7: Give back – Dedicating more time and energy to meaningful nonprofit causes.  Resolution #8: Express gratitude – Recognizing and celebrating the people who make a difference. Tune in for an episode filled with thoughtful reflections, actionable takeaways, and a healthy dose of Drew’s signature wit. Here’s to a purposeful and impactful 2025!   For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/