Strap in, marketers. This week, Ben van Rooy (Human Digital) and Stephanie Quantrill (Cue Marketing) take you behind the closed doors of the C-suite to unpack the most misunderstood, and arguably most exciting, role in business: the Chief Marketing Officer. From career pathways to power plays, bold calls to boardroom politics, this episode is your masterclass in what it takes to thrive as a CMO. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The CMO’s Seat at the Table: Why being in the exec team (not just near it) is non-negotiable. Career Moves That Count: Why sideways steps into sales, ops, or finance can turbocharge your marketing career. Customer at the Core: How top CMOs embody the voice of the customer – and bring it right into the boardroom. Bold Calls & Risky Business: Why great CMOs aren’t afraid to pivot, back themselves, and sometimes crash spectacularly. Power Dynamics: The real truth about managing your CEO, befriending your CFO, and building a leadership team that trusts you. Tenure & Turnover: Why some CMOs thrive for decades while others bounce every 3 years. Pro Tips for Aspiring CMOs: From reading a P&L to balancing brand vs. performance, Ben and Steph drop the wisdom you need to step up. Bonus Nuggets HubSpot Connect highlights – and why cutting the clutter matters. The rise of AI in marketing (and why it’s harder than YouTube makes it look). Ads on your fridge? Samsung thinks so. SXSW Sydney preview + Mo Gawdat’s vision of AI dystopia vs. utopia. Cannes Lions 2026 early hype. Why Listen? Because if you want to move from “colouring in” to being the growth engine of the business, this is the roadmap. No fluff. No fencesitting. Just the raw truth about what it takes to be a kick-ass CMO. Chapters   00:00 Weekend Highlights: World of Wearable Arts 02:56 Insights from HubSpot Connect 06:08 Innovative Business Models and Leadership 08:49 The Future of Advertising: Smart Fridges 11:57 Excitement for South by Southwest 14:48 The Role of the Chief Marketing Officer 17:50 Defining the CMO's Responsibilities and Challenges 23:20 The Role of a CMO: Balancing Business Acumen and Customer Focus 27:42 Leadership Challenges: Risk, Trust, and Decision-Making 30:09 Transitioning to CMO: From Execution to Influence 33:49 Navigating Relationships: The Importance of Cross-Functional Trust 36:47 The Tension of Marketing Goals vs. Business Objectives 39:45 CMO Tenure: Fresh Perspectives vs. Long-Term Impact   Got feedback? Email us:   Ben Van Rooy - ben@cannedmarketing.com Steph Quantrill steph@cannedmarketing.com  Website: www.cannedmarketing.com  Instagram: @cannedmarketing