524: The First 90 Days Just Got Faster

524: The First 90 Days Just Got Faster

The first 90 days have always mattered. Now AI is making them faster, sharper, and a lot less forgiving. In this episode, Drew talks with Paige O'Neill [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigeoneill/] (Culture Amp [https://www.cultureamp.com/]), Scott Gordon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scogor1/] (HG Insights [https://hginsights.com/]), and Ali McCarthy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimccarthyamplifyyourvoice/] (Asset-Map [https://www.asset-map.com/]) about what it takes to start strong in a new CMO role. They explore how to pressure-test what you heard in the interview process, align quickly with the executive team, assess the team you inherited, and decide where marketing can create the most meaningful impact. The conversation also digs into how AI is changing the first-90-days playbook, from accelerating onboarding and research to raising expectations around team productivity, experimentation, and org design. Paige, Scott, and Ali share how they're using AI, where they're still relying on old-fashioned listening, and why the best early wins are the ones that build momentum with both the team and the business. In this episode: * Paige shares how she tested the interview story against reality, unlocked stalled team ideas, and used AI to speed up onboarding * Scott breaks down how he pressure-tested pipeline goals, budgets, team sentiment, and sales alignment before resetting expectations * Ali explains how she brought focus to Asset-Map's many possible stories, used research to sharpen the message, and chose the first market problem to solve Plus: * How AI is accelerating onboarding, research, testing, and early execution * Why early wins should build credibility without disrupting what works * How to gauge AI readiness across your inherited team * Why the first 90 days are your best window to challenge assumptions If you're stepping into a new CMO role, or preparing for one, this episode offers a practical look at how to use your early window wisely, build trust quickly, and avoid squandering the power that comes with fresh eyes. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ [https://renegademarketing.com/podcast/] To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/ [https://cmohuddles.com/]

523: The CMO Job Search Is a Two-Way Street

Some CMO opportunities look promising right up until you stop asking, "Can I land this?" and start asking, "Can I actually win at this company?" In a market that is warmer than it was a year ago but still unforgiving, Hugh Marshall [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-marshall-67a62647/] of Heidrick & Struggles [https://www.heidrick.com/en] argues that CMOs need to approach the search with two-way diligence. The offer matters, but so does knowing whether the company, CEO, board, investors, and growth expectations are aligned enough to support real success. With that recruiter 's-eye view, Hugh joins Drew to get inside today's CMO search, from PE-backed pressure and growth-stage churn to comp conversations, equity tradeoffs, and the big career bets hiding inside the fine print. Call it a reality check for CMOs who want the next role to be the right one. What You'll Learn: * How to spot risky CMO roles before you're in too deep * Why two-way diligence is now non-negotiable * How AI fluency is reshaping CMO candidacy * What makes candidates stand out in the interview process Know what you're walking into before you say yes. Tune in for Hugh's candid take on today's CMO market, the hidden dynamics behind the offer, and the signs of a truly winnable role. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ [https://renegademarketing.com/podcast/] To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/ [https://cmohuddles.com/]

522: AI, SDRs, and the New GTM Engine

The go-to-market model most teams are optimizing may be the very thing AI is making obsolete. Too often, the buyer experience feels like a relay race nobody asked to run. AI is already proving there's a faster, straighter path to answers, value, and outcomes, making the old model a lot harder to defend. In this episode, Drew talks with Amanda Kahlow [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakahlow/], founder of 1mind [https://www.1mind.com/], about why many of today's go-to-market assumptions deserve a fresh look. Using the rise of AI SDRs as a starting point, they explore human handoffs, pipeline thinking, speed to lead, and why buyer momentum matters more than the internal roles built to manage it. Best of all, you get to see it play out when Amanda brings in Mindy, 1mind's AI superhuman, for a live demonstration of what an AI-first buying experience can look like in practice. What You'll Learn: * Why first-principles thinking matters in an AI-first world * When AI should replace parts of the motion, not just support them * Why revenue may be a better measure of success than lead volume or pipeline * How smaller pilots can prove the model before broader rollout If you're a CMO questioning how much of your current go-to-market motion still makes sense, this one is worth your time. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ [https://renegademarketing.com/podcast/] To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/ [https://cmohuddles.com/]

521: Chiefs of Marketing

The title is Chief Marketing Officer. The CMOs who earn the most influence put Chief first. They're not in the room just to deliver a marketing update. They're there to help the executive team make sense of what matters most, navigate tough decisions, and shape where the company goes next. In this episode, Drew talks with Kathie Johnson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathiecjohnson] (Nintex [https://www.nintex.com/]), Lorie Coulombe [https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriecoulombe] (Equity Shift [https://equityshift.com/]), and Allyson Havener [https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-havener] about peer leadership inside the executive team. They explore how CMOs build trust, surface business issues, and strengthen credibility across the C-suite. In this episode: * Kathie shares why peer leadership starts when a CMO owns more than the marketing plan and helps surface gaps across the business * Lorie gets into the trust, EQ, and one-on-one relationship building that make healthy disagreement possible at the executive level * Allyson breaks down how finance fluency, customer insight, and a clear read on the sales cycle build stronger executive credibility Plus: * How peer leadership starts with the issues a CMO is willing to surface * Why connecting dots across functions comes with the job * How strong CMOs bring customer context into business decisions For CMOs ready to lead as true executive peers, this episode shows how to earn trust, surface what matters, and lead first as a business leader. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ [https://renegademarketing.com/podcast/] To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/ [https://cmohuddles.com/]

520: AI Beyond the Sandbox

AI experimentation created momentum. But for CMOs, it's time to move out of the sandbox and into repeatable systems. In this Drew-on-Drew episode, the conversation shifts from AI experimentation to operational discipline. Drawing on recent conversations inside CMO Huddles and insights from the Imaginarium Summit, Drew explores what it takes to turn scattered AI experiments into a scalable operating model. Along the way, Drew tackles some of the biggest questions facing marketing leaders right now: * When should you buy versus build? * How do you manage agent risk and governance? * What should CMOs actually measure? * Why might sales enablement become AI's most practical win? * What does "team readiness" really look like? You'll also hear why Drew believes AI is "a mirror, not a crystal ball," exposing weak processes, disconnected data, and organizational gaps faster than ever before. If you're a B2B CMO trying to turn experimentation into a scalable operating model, this episode is a smart place to start. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ [https://renegademarketing.com/podcast/] To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/ [https://cmohuddles.com/]