The CMO Whisperer

My guest today is Don Sklenka, SVP of AI Optimization at Claritas and one of the rare operators who's lived at the intersection of creative media and machine intelligence long before AI became a buzzword on every deck. With nearly 25 years in digital marketing, Don built his foundation inside global agency powerhouses like Publicis and Dentsu, leading omni-channel strategies for Fortune 500 brands across retail, CPG, automotive and healthcare. Today, Don is scaling patented AI solutions that turn data into decisions and campaigns into performance engines, real-time optimization, predictive analytics, smarter, creative, better outcomes, less noise, and more signal. Finally, he's a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, which tells you everything you need to know about his resilience and commitment to the long game!

My guest today is Bonin Bough, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Portrait Media Group. He's one of the most awarded marketing leaders on the planet, a rare blend of operator, builder, and boundary pusher who has reshaped how billion-dollar brands grow. Bonin's career reads like a highlight reel of modern marketingHe became one of the youngest Fortune 500 C-suite executives, led transformations that rewired global organizations and built campaigns that turned beloved brands into cultural heat engines. He's in the advertising hall of achievement. His name shows up on lists like Fortune's 40 under 40, Fast Company's most creative people in business, Ebony's Power 100. He's an author, a CNBC host and one of the most dynamic voices in the industry and just stepped into a brand new role of dad. We're gonna start there. How's it going, how much sleep he's getting, and from there, we're gonna get into the evolution of the CMO role, the rise of multicultural growth, the limits of reach, the power of resonance, and why content, culture, and AI are reshaping the playbook.

My guest today is Kerry Gordy, a name woven into the fabric of modern music and a force in his own right at the intersection of brand, culture, and intellectual property. Yes, he’s the son of Berry Gordy, but Kerry’s career stands on its own merit. He grew up inside the Motown ecosystem, managed Rick James through his comeback years, played a pivotal executive role at Prince’s Paisley Park Records, and helped architect one of the most important independent moments in music history with The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. Beyond music, Kerry has become a leading advocate for artists’ rights, pioneering copyright termination strategies that have helped creators reclaim ownership and long-term value. I met Kerry years ago when we were both speaking at Harvard, and from that moment on we’ve been brothers. This conversation is a rare blend of history, hard-earned lessons, and real-world insight into how brands, artists, and legacies are actually built.

My guest today is Lucy Markowitz, SVP and General Manager of the US Marketplace at Vistar Media. Lucy oversees it all: Sales, client services, analytics, DSP, and supply partnerships. She leads teams that power the connective tissue between agencies, brands, publishers and DSPs. Her leadership is the reason Vistar's marketplace hums, ensuring every relationship and every impression delivers value.Before joining Vistar, Lucy led hedge fund and investment bank sales at Data Miner, giving her a front row seat to how information and timing move markets. Lucy holds a BS in International Finance and Marketing from the University of Miami and has been with Vistar since 2014 through the company's acquisition by T-Mobile earlier this year.

My guest today is Perry Kamel, founder and CEO of DNA Vibe and I'm going to tell you exactly how this conversation started and where it started at CES. I walked in expecting to see a lot of shiny new tech and walked out genuinely awestruck after encountering one of the fastest-growing brands in wearable technology. That's where I first experienced DNA Vibe. That's where I was introduced to the Shine movement. And that's where I met Perry, his leadership team and an incredible community of athletes, trainers and health and wellness leaders who were deeply committed to what this brand stands for. Perry is the visionary behind DNA Vibe, a purpose-driven, regenerative wearable company built around a powerful mission, helping people overcome the life-limiting effects of injury, surgery, and the everyday wear and tear of time, activity, and gravity. That mission is now expanding with Shine, a bold, large-scale program designed to redefine not just how people heal, but how communities show up for one another.For more than 30 years, Perry has been at the forefront of transformational technology from optical networks and voiceover IP to interactive digital media and real-time distributed systems, the kind of foundational work that quietly powers modern communication, education, healthcare, and entertainment. If that weren't enough, he also serves as a fellow and chief advisor for phototherapy and bioharmonics.

My guest today is Maria Del Rio, Chief Marketing Officer at DNA Vibe. She is a builder, a scaler, and a leader who's been in the arena for over 25 years, shaping brands, launching growth engines, and helping companies move from interesting idea to real market impact. At DNA Vibe, Maria is steering brand creative and growth as the company expands across wellness, performance, and health tech. Before that, she was CMO at Chromatic Technologies, and earlier in her career, she helped drive global brand powerhouses at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Kimberly-Clark, and Molson Coors. She's seen marketing at every altitude. From scrappy scale-ups to Fortune 500 giants, from early-stage chaos to enterprise precision. And she knows exactly what it takes to build brands that actually move people and generate revenue.

My guest this week is Joseph Perello, founder and CEO of Props. Props is a performance-based creator marketing platform built around a simple belief. The best marketing still comes from people, not metrics. Instead of chasing follower accounts, Props uses AI to match brands with creators based on storytelling strength, trust, and audience authenticity. So campaigns are both data-driven and deeply human.AI does the heavy lifting in the background, brand safety, workflow and precision, while real human creators stay in front and center. Before launching Props, Joe built and ran a digital agency serving brands like Nike, HP, Lowe's Hotels, Betterment, and even Michelle Obama. And earlier in his career, he served as New York City's first CMO under Mayor Bloomberg, helping to revitalize tourism and launching the city's first self-sustaining marketing agency. Finally, Joe sits at the intersection of brand, policy, tech, and creative. I'm so happy I spent a few minutes with him at advertising week not long ago, and we're gonna continue that great conversation.

My guest this week is Jonathan Sackett, a former D1 track athlete turned music industry insider who recorded at Paisley Park and Flight Time before moving into advertising where he built award-winning work for giants - Geico, Coca-Cola, Walmart, McDonald's, IBM, Harley-Davidson, Budweiser, and Mars. He did it at agencies like FCB, the Martin Agency, DDB, and Ogilvy.He now partners with former NBA star, Jamal Mashburn, as a board member of Mashburn Enterprises and he serves as Chief MarComm and Brand Officer for the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, where he rebranded to NEI and launched the NEI Pioneer podcast, which topped six million views last year.

My guest this week is Catherine Salazzo, Chief Marketing Officer at Appfire, a leading global provider of enterprise apps that connect the world's top platforms. Catherine oversees Appfire's global marketing and communication strategy, driving brand expansion, go-to-market acceleration, and deeper engagement across developer and partner communities. With more than two decades of experience at companies like Syntax, TechData, and IBM, she's led marketing transformations, built demand across multiple routes to market, and championed cloud and AI adoption worldwide. And finally, a fellow of the Marketing Academy, Catherine is also a passionate advocate for purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, and building cultures that last.

Welcome to a very special CMO Whisper at CES episode. This is part of an ongoing series of conversations we're recording before, during, and after CES to give CMOs and growth leaders real perspective on what actually matters right now and what's coming next. Today, I'm joined by Chase Miller, Chief Growth Officer at Claritas, where he leads go-to-market strategy and revenue growth, aligning sales, marketing, and product around an integrated growth vision. A long-time builder of market-making data business, Chase brings deep experience across analytics, monetization, product strategy, and strategic partners. He is a co-founder of Nielsen Catalina Solutions and has held senior leadership roles at Nielsen, Indian Hill Group, and Claritas. Across his career, Chase has focused on turning data identity and measurement into scalable growth engines for brands, agencies and platforms. And finally, Claritas is graciously supporting this entire CES series, helping making these conversations possible so marketing leaders can learn and hear directly from operators who are deep into work, not just talking about it. 

Welcome to a very special CMO Whisperer at CES episode. This is the first in a series of conversations we're recording before, during, and after CES to give CMOs practical perspective on what matters most right now and what's coming next. Today, I'm joined by Cort Irish, Head of Marketing at Claritas. Claritas works with agencies like Publicis, Horizon, and Dentsu. Brands including Walgreens, Verizon and GM and partners across media and data like Amazon, Comcast and Adobe. Claritas is graciously supporting this entire CES series, helping make these conversations possible so CMOs can hear directly from peers and partners throughout the week. Welcome to the show! 

My guest today is Lisa Harrup Mieuli. She’s the CMO of Gigamon, the company leading the way in deep observability and network visibility for today’s hybrid cloud world.Lisa brings more than two decades of experience building and scaling global marketing engines at companies like Tenable, Nimble Storage, and Symantec. She’s known for designing high-impact programs that drive measurable growth, elevate brand awareness, and unite teams around clear business outcomes.From navigating the evolving intersection of cybersecurity and marketing to leading through transformation, Lisa brings a rare blend of strategic clarity and creative energy, the kind that turns complexity into momentum.

My guests today are two leaders who are reshaping how marketing makes decisions in the age of AI. Henry, or his close friends and pretty much everybody calls him, Hen, is the co-founder and CEO of Mutinex, the company behind Theseus AI. It's built on a simple belief that measurement should be continuous, transparent, and tied to real business decisions, not quarterly reporting cycles and guest work decks. My other guest is Amin Mrini, who is the Chief Digital Officer for Lions & WARC, where he connects the dots between strategy, media, and the fastest-moving part of modern marketing - the moment where brand, product, and purchase collapse into a single action. Together, they are building what they are calling, "marketing super intelligence" combining global benchmarks with real-time modeling to give the C-suite something marketing has been chasing for decades, a shared truth. It's the kind finance believes the boardroom uses and marketing can act on tomorrow morning, not in six months. We're going to dig into what Marketing Superintelligence unlocks and how it changes the relationship between marketing, finance, and decision making inside business.

My guest this week is Matt Sutton, SVP and head of marketing at Columbia Sportswear, a leader who thrives on tough challenges and new terrain. With 15 years across agency, brand and platform side marketing, Matt's led global teams, own P &Ls north of 700 million and driven growth across apparel, jewelry and home goods. His superpower? Solving brand problems end-to-end, rethinking everything from CRM and brand identity to channel mix and digital transformation. His work has been featured in Adweek, CNBC, TechCrunch, and the New York Times. And he's advised leaders at American Express, Geico, P&G, Expedia, and Nissan on how to turn marketing into momentum.

On this episode of CMO Whisperer, Steve talks to Karen Kaukol, CMO of Entrust, about how AI is transforming both cybersecurity threats and defenses, how digital identity has evolved beyond physical credentials, and why marketers must balance frictionless experiences with rigorous security. Karen also breaks down the importance of simplifying complex technology for diverse global audiences and building trust through transparency and responsible data use.They also cover:● How AI accelerates fraud through deepfakes and voice clones and how it can also be used to detect and prevent it● The shift from physical to digital identity, and why both will continue to coexist● Leadership lessons on listening, empowering teams, and creating space for risk-taking and experimentationIf you want to know more about the future of digital identity, AI’s role in trust and security, and how to communicate complex tech in human-centered ways, you definitely need to hear this episode.

My guest this week is Jason John, a seasoned marketing leader and entrepreneur who has spent his career at the crossroads of culture and digital innovation. Jason has served as CMO at 1-800-Flowers.com and Publishers Clearing House, and he has held senior marketing roles at several iconic retail and lifestyle brands, including J.Crew and Martha Stewart, where he led large-scale digital transformation and customer growth.He was also part of Gilt Groupe during the height of the flash-sale era, helping drive triple-digit growth and contributing to the development of one of the first scaled mobile e-commerce apps. And because that wasn’t enough, Jason recently launched True North Group, a venture that brings together brands, athletes, and communities through premium live experiences and purpose-driven partnerships.Known for blending data, creativity, and cultural insight, Jason is passionate about harnessing AI, performance marketing, and purpose-driven storytelling to build movements—not just campaigns.

My guest this week is Rachel Sterling,  Chief Marketing Officer at Identity Digital.Rachel leads global marketing with a focus on driving awareness and adoption of Identity Digital’s portfolio of top-level domains.Before stepping into her current role, she held senior leadership positions at Instagram, Twitter, and Google, where she built and scaled strategies across product marketing, integrated content, and events.From shaping how some of the world’s most iconic platforms connect with audiences to now redefining digital identity, Rachel brings a unique perspective on marketing’s evolving role in culture and technology.And here’s something I just discovered—Rachel is the only person to have served as Head of Product Marketing at both Instagram and Twitter.

My guest this week is Chris Murphy, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Adidas North America. For over 20 years, Chris has been shaping the voice of one of the world’s most iconic sports brands. From building Adidas’s first global newsroom and forging early partnerships with Facebook and Twitter to leading the U.S. loyalty program from 12 to nearly 50 million members, Chris has been at the forefront of digital transformation in sport.Since stepping into his current role in 2022, he’s relaunched Impossible Is Nothing, produced the award-winning series Running While Black, launched the first NCAA student-athlete affiliate network, and brought the You Got This campaign to life with a high-profile debut on the Las Vegas Sphere during Super Bowl weekend.A lifelong believer that sport has the power to change lives, Chris focuses on creating marketing that feels personal while scaling globally.

My guest this week is Steve Phillips, CEO of Zappi and chair of the Mayor's Sustainability Council.He has been at the forefront of transforming the insights industry. Under his leadership, Zappi has pioneered AI-driven tools that help creators worldwide test, validate, and scale ideas—long before AI became mainstream. That doesn’t mean he’s old, by the way. Today, he’s doubling down on new models that unlock deeper value from research data.He’s also the coauthor of The Consumer Insights Revolution: Transforming Market Research for Competitive Advantage, written with Ryan Barry, former president of Zappi, and PepsiCo leaders Stefan Gans and Kate Sharp. The book provides organizations with a blueprint for becoming truly customer-centric by anticipating shifts in behavior before they happen.Beyond innovation, Steve is passionate about building a sustainable future for the insights industry—ensuring it grows in ways that serve both businesses and the planet. What a novel idea.His global perspective, shaped by working across four continents, combined with his award-winning work in behavioral economics, has earned him recognition from the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research, the Market Research Society, the Advertising Research Foundation, and many more.Simply put, Steve is an innovator, author, and sustainability champion who is redefining what insights can—and should—be.

My guest this week is Bill Harper, a guy who's been building brands longer than most people have been talking about branding. He's the Chief Creative Officer/CEO of BrandBossHQ , his fifth agency, where he helps businesses find the story that actually scales.Bill has worked with more than 300 brands, helped drive over $2.5 billion — that’s with a B — in new revenue, and built a playbook that small and mid-sized companies can use to punch way above their weight, just like the Fortune 1000 do.He's got the receipts, the results, and the reps. And today, he's dropping the kind of brand wisdom you don't Google — you earn.