Renegade Marketers Unite

Every CMO wants alignment with their CEO. But all too frequently, things go sideways. It turns into chasing growth at any cost, drowning in acronyms, or scrambling to justify marketing’s seat at the revenue table. What if the real secret isn’t louder advocacy, but clearer translation, seeing the world the way your CEO does?  That’s the perspective Rohini Kasturi brings as CEO of HG Insights. Fresh off two bold acquisitions in just a few months, HG Insights is redefining revenue growth intelligence and giving CMOs a new way to frame growth, retention, and efficiency. Rohini’s advice: Stop playing defense on budget lines and start leading with business outcomes. In this episode:  How CMOs can connect their work to the three CEO obsessions: Growth, retention, and efficiency  Why spotting churn signals early matters as much as chasing pipeline  What it takes to balance efficiency with agility… without cutting corners Plus:  The role of revenue growth intelligence in shaping GTM strategy  How acquiring TrustRadius and MadKudu expands HG Insights’ platform  Why every marketing move should tie back to revenue, even on a longer timeline  What CMOs gain by learning to speak the language of the boardroom If you want to know how CEOs really think and how CMOs can match them step for step, this one’s for you! BONUS: HG Insights is THE Official GTM Partner of CMO Huddles and one of the Founding Sponsors of the 2025’s CMO Super Huddle in Palo Alto. Rohini will join for a panel on The Future of GTM. With sharp strategic insight and deep empathy for the CMO’s ever-evolving role, Rohini offers a rare CEO perspective on what it takes to drive smarter, more connected growth in 2025 and beyond.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

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/

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/

You can’t game the Gartner system. You can’t fast-track a Forrester mention. But you can show up prepared, relevant, and consistent. Analyst Relations is the slowest move on the board and the one that defines how your company is positioned on calls, in rooms, and across the category.   To trace the full arc of this relationship, Drew is joined by Dan Lowden (Blackbird.AI), Lorie Coulombe (Equity Shift), and Lynn Tornabene (Anteriad). These are marketing leaders who’ve built analyst trust from scratch, played the long game, and seen the ripple effects hit pipeline, brand, and board-level confidence. They’ve turned AR into an amplifier, and they’re here to show you how to do the same.   In this episode:  Dan on building analyst trust without budget through clear positioning and repeat engagement  Lorie on prepping spokespeople and leading briefings with relevance over polish  Lynn on aligning teams and delivering consistent, high-value analyst touchpoints  Plus:  What analysts want from a briefing  Why your first 20 minutes set the tone  The biggest mistake CMOs still make in prep  How to turn analyst feedback into team clarity  Tune in to learn how consistent, credible AR earns analyst trust and long-term traction in the market.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Joelle Kaufman has been both a CRO and a CMO—and she’s here to tell you: if sales and marketing aren’t on the same page, you’re leaving revenue on the table.  In this Huddles Quick Take, Joelle outlines the three most common mistakes CMOs make when trying to align with sales—and how to avoid them. From pipeline goals to budget tension to attribution battles, Joelle shares how CMOs can build better partnerships that actually drive revenue.  What You’ll Learn:  3 alignment mistakes that keep marketing and sales at odds  Why obsessing over MQLs sends the wrong signal  How shared pipeline goals help unify teams  The real problem with attribution finger-pointing    For the rest of the conversation with Joelle, visit our YouTube channel (CMO Huddles Hub) or click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64XHb_E7UT4.  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/

ABM falls apart fast when teams jump in before locking down who they’re chasing, why it matters, and how it’s all supposed to run. Sales pushes one list, marketing builds another, and no one agrees on who actually matters. No shared ICP? No clean data? Well, no chance. You need a strategy. Guest host Jon Russo (B2B Fusion) corrals Heidi Bullock (Tealium), Patti Newcomer (Centerbase), and Bindu Chellappan (Corpay) for a breakdown of how they’re keeping their ABM engines running clean. Think pods with purpose, seller-first workflows, and data that matters. In this episode:  Heidi on running pods that bring marketing, sales, and CS into one motion  Patti on aligning across the funnel and why ABM needs ownership  Bindu on activating firmographic and intent data with shared definitions  Plus:  Where alignment really starts  Why trust beats tech every time  How AI is speeding up the grunt work without losing the signal  The metrics that actually tell you it’s working Tune in to learn about what breaks ABM, what fixes it, and how to keep teams pulling in the same direction.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Let's face it, most marketing metrics don't travel well to the CFO's office. Pricing power is different. It's measurable, margin-backed, and proof that your brand is strong enough to charge more without losing volume. To help make sense of it all, Drew brings in Chris Burggraeve, Founder of Vicomte and author of books on marketing and business strategy. Together, they discuss what pricing power means, how to measure it, and why it's the most powerful way to communicate marketing value to your CFO and C-suite. In this episode: What pricing power means and how to measure it  Why brand strength drives profit, not just visibility  How CMOs can align with CFOs through finance fluency  The tools and mindset needed to link marketing to valuation  How pricing power bridges marketing metrics with financial outcomes   Tune in for a clearer way to connect brand, margin, and market strength.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

🎙️ In this Drew-on-Drew episode, Drew puts penguin hat-Drew in the hot seat as they riff on how B2B CMOs are getting smart and a little scrappy with Generative AI, finding what works and sparking fresh energy across their teams. It’s a fast-paced convo sparked by real stories from marketing leaders in the thick of GenAI, testing big ideas, fielding questions from curious CEOs, and rallying their teams behind the experimentation. Throughout, both Drews dish out the practical, the surprising, and the just plain fun ways marketers are experimenting with GenAI. Expect smart plays, one very silly penguin hat, and a few “why didn’t I think of that?” moments. Key Takeaways:   Build your own Executive GPT and walk into every boardroom meeting three steps ahead  Outsmart shallow C-suite prompts with better inputs and smarter thinking  Turn team learning into an AI challenge that brings the fun back to marketing  Tap into Customer GPTs and synthetic research to surface insights you didn’t know you had  Get ready for GEO because AI-first search is already reshaping the game  Tune in for a few GenAI moves you’ll wish you tried sooner!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

Be honest, when you think “CMO,” do you picture campaigns, brand work, or the de facto unifier of a siloed C-suite? In this episode, guest host Narine Galstian (SADA) leads a conversation with Katie McAdams (Basis Technologies) and Julia Goebel (Komodo Health) on how the CMOs role has grown into a key driver of org-wide alignment. It’s part diplomat, part coach, translating strategy across departments and turning zigzags at the top into coordinated momentum.  In this episode:  Katie shares how early signals from marketing and sales can shape product strategy before it hits the roadmap  Julia explains why cohesive brand messaging only happens when product, marketing, and sales move as one  Narine explores how marketing becomes the connective tissue that keeps cross-functional teams in sync   Plus:  Why fragile alignment breaks when you skip the relationship-building  How “agree and commit” clears the clutter when teams clash  The case for marketers to stop owning just campaigns and start owning outcomes Tune in for a blueprint on becoming the Chief Collaboration Officer your org needs!  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/