The Modern CMO Challenge with Karl Van den Bergh
Description
In this episode of Performance Delivered: Insider Secrets for Digital Marketing Success, host Steffen Horst explores the evolving challenges of the CMO role with Karl Van den Bergh, Chief Marketing Officer at Illumio.
Karl shares insights from his 25+ year career leading marketing, product, and GM roles across startups and billion-dollar tech companies. Together, they unpack:
- Why the CMO role is uniquely difficult in today’s business environment
- How to build credibility and trust with boards and executive teams
- The “Plan on a Page” framework for aligning strategy, execution, and KPIs
- Leading with authenticity in campaigns and leadership culture
- How AI is transforming marketing workflows and the buyer’s journey
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – Karl’s career journey
04:09 – Why the CMO role is uniquely difficult
06:16 – Building credibility and trust
09:00 – The “Plan on a Page” framework
13:30 – Building trust through transparency & authenticity
14:55 – What authenticity looks like in leadership and campaigns
19:30 – How AI is reshaping marketing
23:58 – Driving efficiency and conversion with AI
24:46 – Preparing for the rise of AI agents
27:20 – Why SEO is no longer enough
28:42 – Buyers already using ChatGPT to discover vendors
29:22 – Closing thoughts + how to connect with Karl
👉 Learn more about Illumio: https://www.illumio.com
👉 Learn more about Symphonic Digital: https://symphonicdigital.com
United States
