The CMO Podcast

Who doesn’t remember the Chili’s jingle—“I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…”? Or maybe you’ve seen the viral TikToks about Chili’s Triple Dipper. Chili’s is back in culture in a big way, and much of that credit goes to their Chief Marketing Officer, George Felix.George is one of today’s most dynamic marketing leaders. He started his career at P&G—where, like me, he worked on the legendary Old Spice turnaround—before moving on to Yum! Brands with KFC and Pizza Hut. Three years ago, he took on Chili’s, and the results have been remarkable. Under George’s leadership, Chili’s has gone from not even being a national advertiser to becoming Ad Age’s Brand of the Year, with George himself named CMO of the Year.In this episode, George shares his playbook for turning brands around, the importance of listening to frontline team members, and how to make a heritage brand cool again. And yes—we even take a detour into Taylor Swift.This conversation was recorded in person at the Next Gen CMO Academy at Deloitte University.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fall is here, which means back to school, football season, crisp apples, and the world’s biggest blend of tech conference and music festival: Dreamforce. Now in its 22nd year, Dreamforce 2025 returns to San Francisco on October 14th to the 16th, featuring headline speakers like the CEOs of Google and Starbucks, plus musical guests Metallica and Benson Boone.In this week's episode, Jim welcomes Ariel Kelman, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Salesforce, to talk about the power of Dreamforce, what it’s like working under visionary founders like Marc Benioff and Jeff Bezos, and why rethinking organizational design with agentic AI at the core is critical for the future. With Salesforce leading the charge in cloud-based CRM and now AI innovation, Ariel shares his unique journey—from his early days at Salesforce, to Amazon Web Services, to Oracle, and back again—offering lessons in marketing leadership at scale.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 This week, The CMO Podcast is serving up a rich and flavorful conversation as Jim sits down with Jessica Padula, Vice President of Marketing and Sustainability for Nespresso USA. Nespresso, part of Swiss-based Nestlé, started in the 1980s with one bold idea: that anyone should be able to brew a café-quality coffee at home. Fast forward to today, and that idea has become an $8 billion global brand, with more than 13,000 employees across 81 countries, over 800 boutiques in 500+ cities, and a booming direct-to-consumer business.Jessica has been brewing her own journey at Nespresso for nearly a decade. For the past two and a half years, she’s been leading both marketing and sustainability—two roles that blend perfectly like coffee and crema. A Boston University grad, Jessica first cut her teeth on the agency side, working with powerhouse Procter & Gamble brands, before bringing her passion for brand building and purpose to Nespresso.In this lively conversation, Jim and Jessica dive into her career journey, the art of balancing growth with sustainability, and how Nespresso continues to innovate without losing sight of its values. Grab your favorite cup and tune in—it’s a coffee talk you won’t want to miss.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re wrapping up the summer with the final episode recorded in the south of France at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Captured at Chez Vayner, this roundtable brings together three powerhouse leaders to explore how trust, courage, and community are driving the next wave of brand growth—and why the return of creative simplicity may be the key to long-term success.Joining Jim is...Jackie Jantos, President & Chief Marketing Officer of Hinge. Leading the dating app “designed to be deleted,” Jackie is redefining intentional connections for Gen Z and beyond. With past leadership roles at Coca-Cola and Spotify, she shares her insights on elevating young voices and keeping a brand true to its purpose.Leslie Scofield, Founder of Be LOVE. At her newly launched electrolyte beverage brand, Leslie is building around values of joy, connection, and community. Inspired by her own journey of growth and resilience, she’s on a mission to spark meaningful real-world experiences.Gael De Talhouët, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at Essity. A two-time Cannes alum, Gael has led groundbreaking work in feminine care and hygiene, including being the first to show red blood on TV. His credits consumer empathy, agency partnerships, and trust in creative teams as the foundation for bold, industry-shaping campaigns.Together, Jim and these leaders share a candid discussion on building brands that matter, across dating, wellness, and hygiene, showing how courage and conviction can cut through complexity and deliver lasting impact.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a world of constant disruption and global uncertainty, how can marketing leaders keep their teams focused, inspired, and moving forward? In this week’s episode, recorded live at the Deloitte Digital Apartment during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, Jim welcomes four senior marketing leaders who share how they lead with resilience, creativity, and conviction across industries and borders.Mélanie Brinbaum, Chief Marketing Officer of Nestlé Zone Europe // With a career spanning some of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Mélanie has led marketing at Nespresso and KitKat and held senior roles at Coty, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oréal. Today, she is steering Nestlé’s European portfolio through a period of rapid consumer change—balancing tradition with innovation.Daniele Calderoni, Global Head of Brand Marketing at Zurich Insurance // At Zurich, Daniele is reshaping perceptions of what insurance means to customers, emphasizing trust, purpose, and relevance. Her decade at Mars equipped her with a deep understanding of how brands create enduring emotional connections—a skill she now brings to an industry not always known for its human touch.Scott Mager, U.S. Chief Marketing Officer of Deloitte // As the U.S. marketing leader for one of the world’s largest professional services firms, Scott is infusing humanity into a 180-year-old brand. His approach emphasizes empathy, storytelling, and connection—demonstrating how even legacy institutions can stay fresh and relatable in a crowded marketplace.Joy Allen-Altimare, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Saucony // Joy is driving Saucony into the future, connecting the beloved running brand with a new generation of athletes and lifestyle consumers. With past leadership roles in luxury, tech, and media, she brings a cross-industry perspective on building relevance and community in rapidly evolving markets.This episode is a masterclass in leadership during times of uncertainty—showcasing how bold brand leaders navigate complexity, inspire their people, and turn challenges into opportunities.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode The CMO Podcast, Jim sits down with Calum Laming, the Chief Customer Officer of British Airways. He and his team are responsible for a creative replatforming of British Airways, celebrating the airline as a British Original. For their remarkable creative work, Calum and team won the highest honor last year at the Cannes Lions Festival, the coveted Grand Prix. With a lifelong passion for aviation, Calum has built a career spanning five airlines, including Virgin and Etihad, before taking the helm at one of the world’s most iconic carriers. And like Jim, Calum’s journey began at Procter & Gamble, giving him a unique blend of brand-building expertise and airline industry know-how.  So, buckle up, switch your devices to airplane mode, and get ready for a candid conversation on leadership, creativity, and what it takes to keep an airline soaring.---Recorded live at the Brand Innovators LVMH Villa, presented by Shutterstock, during the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode of The CMO Podcast, Jim is joined by three remarkable leaders who are at very different stages of their careers and lives, but all share a bold vision for leadership and creativity. Aimee Egan, Chief Enterprise Officer of Shutterstock, brings the perspective of driving growth and transformation in one of the world’s most influential content companies. Sophie Bambuck, Chief Marketing Officer of Audemars Piguet, offers a fresh take on building a luxury brand with deep heritage while shaping its future. And Durana Elmi, Founder and COO of Cymbiotika, shares her entrepreneurial journey of building a wellness brand from the ground up, fueled by grit and innovation.Recorded live at the Brand Innovators LVMH Villa, presented by Shutterstock, listen in a Jim explores how life stages influence leadership style, and what it takes to keep pushing boundaries no matter where you are in your journey.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim’s guest this week on The CMO Podcast is Jonnie Cahill, the newly appointed SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of International Foods at PepsiCo. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Jonnie stepped into this role in April 2025 after more than 12 years at Heineken, where he most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for the U.S.PepsiCo is a global food and beverage powerhouse with nearly $95 billion in sales and an iconic portfolio of brands — including Pepsi, Gatorade, Quaker, Lay’s, Cheetos, Mountain Dew, and Tostitos, to name just a few.This marks Jonnie’s third CMO role. Prior to PepsiCo and Heineken, he served as CMO of Telefónica in Dublin, and earlier spent six years at Diageo, where he had the opportunity to work on one of Ireland’s most beloved brands: Guinness.Jonnie and Jim sat down over coffee at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity to talk about his journey, leadership lessons, and the challenges of building global brands. ---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Jim welcomes Melody Lee, the Chief Marketing Officer of Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s most enduring luxury brands and will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.Melody’s career in marketing had an inauspicious start. She graduated from Georgia Tech with both a BS and an MS in international affairs, took a $12/hour internship at a PR firm, and never looked back. After six years in PR, Melody made the jump to the client side with a six-year stint at Cadillac. She then held senior roles at Shiseido and MillerKnoll before joining Mercedes-Benz in the summer of 2023.Recorded during the Cannes Festival of Creativity, this episode features a conversation about modernizing legacy brands and building your creative chops.---This week’s episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog. Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special roundtable episode of The CMO Podcast, recorded live at the Brand Innovators LVMH Villa, presented by Shutterstock. Jim Stengel sits down with four powerhouse marketing leaders to explore the timeless—and timely—question: What does it take to build a brand people truly love?Joining Jim are...Matt Spiegel, EVP of TruAudience Growth Strategy at TransUnionNicole Parlapiano, Chief Marketing Officer of TubiMelissa Hobley, Chief Marketing Officer of TinderCarole Diarra, Global Vice President of Marketing for UGGTogether, they reflect on the power of going back to brand-building fundamentals, why “the fruit is in the roots,” and how kindness and care can be transformative forces in leadership. This is a conversation full of wisdom, laughter, and straight talk on how to lead brands, and teams, with heart. Whether you're a marketer, creative, or purpose-driven leader, you’ll walk away inspired to double down on what really matters.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte, StrawberryFrog and Transunion.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim's guest this week on The CMO Podcast is Brian Irving, the Chief Marketing Officer at Lyft,  the 13-year-old, San Francisco-based  company whose purpose is to improve people’s lives with the world's best transportation. Lyft does business in the US and Canada, and has about $6 billion in revenueBrian has been at Lyft for about 15 months. Before that, he has worked at three of the world’s most valuable companies: Google, Meta and Apple. He has also worked at Levi Straus, Eventbrite, and AirBnB. Brian had no idea growing up in Flint, Michigan that his life would unfold this way. Recorded in person at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, tune in for a heart-to-heart conversation with Jim and Brian!---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim's guest this week on The CMO Podcast is Elizabeth Rutledge, the Chief Marketing Officer of American Express. Elizabeth is a unique CMO–she has been at AmEx for her entire career of 35 years, and she has been CMO for seven of those years. AmEx’s stock was about $4 when Elizabeth joined, and it is about $300 currently. More trivia–American Express was founded in 1850–one of the oldest brands in the world.  Elizabeth graduated from Princeton, and earned her MBA from the Stern school at NYU. Recorded in person at the Deloitte Apartment at the Cannes Festival of Creativity, join the two for Jim's conversation with the CMO of a 175-year-old brand that is certainly not behaving that way.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We had a whirlwind five days in Cannes last week, bringing you our first of many live, in-person episodes recorded as part of the Cannes Lions Festival. And to kick it off, Jim is diving into a topic that was a part of many conversations in the south of France…the Creator Economy. Creators and the space they’ve forged have become one of most transformative forces in marketing. It’s reshaping how brands connect with people, how content is made and consumed, and how influence is earned. Joining Jim are three guests who know this world very well: Brandon B, Creator and Founder of StudioBKim Larson, the Global Head of YouTube CreatorsKenny Gold, the Managing Director, Head of Social, Content and Influencer for Deloitte DigitalWe’re going to talk strategy, authenticity, audience building, and where this entire ecosystem is headed. With a little advice sprinkled in! So, tune in as we come to you live from the Deloitte Apartment at Cannes Lions!---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You have probably noticed we are getting more provocative with our episodes and their titles. A few weeks ago we released an episode titled “Is Brand Purpose Dead.” Well this week’s episode takes it up a notch: “The Day the Universe Changed: How the last five years have changed us as humans and consumers.”  Jim's guests are Mike Moynihan, the SVP of Brand, Marketing, Insights and Partnerships at the Lego Group, and George Carey, the founder and CEO of Human-ology, a research company that tracks shifts in values and emotions that shape human attitudes and behaviors.mTheir clients include Google, Nike, McDonalds, and of course Lego. Mike has been at Lego for an amazing 30 years, and George founded his company about 15 years ago.  George will share how the human inside the consumer has fundamentally changed over the past five years, beginning with the pandemic and then intensifying with the 2024 US elections. And Mike from Lego will talk to how this has changed how they think about their brand, and the initiatives that emanated from that.---Learn about the Human-Ology study here: https://tinyurl.com/3thz8knj---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Jim's guest on The CMO Podcast is Carrie Palin, the SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Cisco, the $55 billion by revenue tech leader, whose purpose is to leverage technology, people, and broader networks to solve society’s greatest challenges. Cisco is on quite a roll–its stock is up about 40% in the last year.  Carrie never took a marketing class in school, and never even imagined she would be a top tech B2B marketer, let alone the CMO of one of the world’s great companies. But serendipity happened, and Carrie said yes to IBM coming out of TCU, and began a tech marketing career that took her to Dell, Box, Splunk, and now Cisco. Carrie has had a remarkable run in her four years as Cisco’s CMO, which we will talk about. Tune in for a conversation with a CMO, who believes some things in life are simply non-negotiable.---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s officially summertime here in the U.S., and Jim welcomes a guest whose company truly embodies the spirit of the season. Kelley Puckett is the Chief Marketing Officer of goodr, a high-growth sunglasses brand founded nine years ago in Southern California.Like many great startups, goodr began by identifying a problem and solving it. The founders—runners themselves—noticed that running sunglasses were expensive and overly engineered. So they created fun, stylish, and functional sunglasses specifically for runners, all priced at just $25. Today, goodr offers sunglasses for a wide range of sports and outdoor activities.Kelley seems tailor-made for goodr. A UCLA graduate, she went on to work at both Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures. She’s also a runner—though not just any runner. Kelley is an ultramarathoner who has completed the Badwater 135, often called the toughest ultramarathon in the world. Tune in to this episode to hear from a CMO who brings unmatched energy to her brand and community!---This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Jim welcomes Rah Mahtani, the Head of Commercial Strategy US for Alibaba.com, the Chinese multinational technology company founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and 18 colleagues. Alibaba Group operates as a holding company for a wide array of businesses, including online retail, wholesale through Alibaba.com, logistics (Cainiao), cloud computing (Alibaba Cloud), and financial services (Ant Group). Alibaba.com is the world’s largest B2B (business-to-business) platform.Rah has been at Alibaba for about 2.5 years, and was promoted to head of commercial strategy about two months ago. Before Alibaba, Rah had a career deeply grounded in social media and digital communications, with time at Volvo, Jack in the Box, and BMW’s Mini brand. A graduate of Syracuse University, where he studied Industrial Design, Rah is a self-described lover of dogs, kids and candy.  Tune in for a conversation with a marketer in the middle of the changing global trade landscape!---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you think brand purpose is a tired idea that never truly had relevance in the world of branding and business? Or do you believe that having a brand purpose—and activating it in everything you do—is the most effective way to run a successful company?On this show, we've heard compelling arguments on both sides of the debate. So today, we're bringing together four thought leaders to discuss and explore one big question: Is brand purpose dead, or more alive than ever?Jim is joined by:Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer of e.l.f. Beauty and President of Keys Soulcare. Kory previously held roles at LVMH, Puig, and Shiseido before joining e.l.f. in 2019.Mark Ritson, former marketing professor, Marketing Week columnist, creator of the Mini MBA in Marketing, and advisor to a range of global brands. Lisa Materazzo, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Ford Motor Company since 2023, following a 20-year marketing career at Toyota.Sara Carter, Global Planning Partner at adam&eveDDB and co-author (with Les Binet) of How Not to Plan: 66 Ways to Screw It Up.Let us know where you stand in the Purpose debate—right here or on social media!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re on the verge of summer, so you’re probably dreaming of that ice-cold beer—whether at the beach, the ballpark, or on your back porch. This week, Jim welcomes Sofia Colucci to the podcast. She’s the Chief Marketing Officer for North America at Molson Coors, the fourth-largest brewer in the world, with about $12 billion in revenue.Molson Coors traces its roots back to 1786, when John Molson founded Canada’s oldest brewery on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. Today, the company’s portfolio includes Molson, of course, along with the Miller and Coors families of brands, and a wide range of other beverages, including Peroni, Madri, Pilsner Urquell, ZOA Energy, and Arnold Palmer Spiked.Sofia has been with Molson Coors for eight years and has served as CMO for about two and a half years. Prior to that, she spent six years at Maple Leaf Foods in Canada—where she met her husband—and nearly eight years at PepsiCo, working in both Canada and the U.S.Tune in for a conversation with a CMO who brings serious muscle to her marketing strategy!---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's episode is something a little different. Jim returns to the beautiful Miraval Berkshires — a place known for reflection, intention, and growth. And that spirit is exactly what this conversation is all about: Jim's own Reflections on the Journey to Chief Marketing Officer. We each have our own journey, but today, Jim will take you through his — including an internal viral campaign within P&G that ultimately led to him being offered the role. Then, he walks us through my version of the CMO To-Do List: ten key characteristics to help you ascend the ladder. So whether you're aspiring to the CMO seat, just starting your marketing journey, or simply curious about how leaders grow — this one’s for you. Let’s jump in!Head over to our LinkedIn to complete your own Marketer’s Self-Evaluation.---This week's episode is brought to you byDeloitte and StrawberryFrog.Learn more: https://strawberryfrog.com/jimSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.