Category: Show Notes

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. 

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. 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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.