In part two of our conversation with Jean Lawrence, CMO at Nokia Cloud & Network Services, we focus on her career journey and marketing philosophy—from learning the ropes at startups to leading global teams at Motorola, Oracle, and now Nokia. Jean shares how an MBA at Kellogg shaped her analytical approach, why product marketing is still underrated, and what it really takes to align with a CFO.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.tmpb2b.com
In Part 1 of our conversation with Jean Lawrence, CMO of Cloud & Network Services at Nokia, we explore the early forces that shaped her - growing up in a tight-knit Chicago family, inventing games before screens took over, and following in the footsteps of her MBA-trained father… who also happened to be a former priest. Jean shares how pattern recognition shaped her childhood, why ambition should never be suppressed, and what historical fiction and The Sound of Music have in common.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.tmpb2b.com
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dave Carrel, Global CMO at Thomson Reuters, we explore what it takes to lead in a company at an inflection point. Dave shares how his early days teaching himself HTML mirror today’s challenge of mastering AI, and why staying close to the work still matters—even at the top. He also talks through building effective marketing orgs, launching transformative products like CoCounsel, and the importance of setting a high creative bar.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.tmpb2b.com
In Part 1 of our conversation with Dave Carrel, Global CMO at Thomson Reuters, we rewind to the early influences that shaped his leadership style—from growing up in a competitive, creative household in Buffalo to tournament pickleball in Seattle. Dave shares how becoming a parent made him more reflective, why his personal mantra is “go big or go home,” and how taking risks has transformed his career. We talk about momentum, culture, and why psychological safety is key to speed.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.tmpb2b.com
In Part 2 of our conversation with John Watton, senior B2B marketing leader, we explore the evolving demands of the modern CMO. John shares why breaking down silos between brand and demand is critical, how to speak the language of business (not just marketing), and why KPIs must be both practical and precise.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 1 of our conversation with John Watton, senior B2B marketing leader and seasoned CMO, we trace his unconventional path from soldering circuit boards in Cardiff to leading marketing teams at global tech companies. John shares how a love of science fiction, prog rock and analogue synths shaped his worldview—and how a lifelong blend of creativity and curiosity has powered his career. He reflects on key early mentors, what it means to simplify complexity, and the value of doing what you're good at—even if it’s not your ‘passion’.
In Part 2 of our conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo, we shift focus to the practical side of leadership—team dynamics, market positioning, and navigating industry hype cycles.
Brendan explains why coherence across communications and marketing is non-negotiable, how trust is the hidden currency of every brand, and why the best marketing teams behave more like tight-knit crews.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 1 of our conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo, we explore the early influences that shaped his career—from a pivotal internship and a gifted copy of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, to a teenage love of punk rock and noir fiction.
Brendan reflects on the power of mentorship, why his five-year career plan never changed, and how music helps him manage energy and mindset. He opens up about discipline, adaptability, and why his dream alternative career might just involve a fast-paced kitchen.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 2 of our conversation with Anna Griffin, Chief Market Officer at Commvault, we dig into her fearless approach to B2B marketing—from launching a head-turning “Cisco Energy Tax” campaign during Hurricane Katrina, to redefining what it means to lead marketing with strategy, not just execution. Anna shares why she believes in collapsing silos between sales, product and marketing, how marketers can reclaim their voice in strategic conversations, and why she champions simplicity above all else.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 1 of our conversation with Anna Griffin, CMO at Commvault, we trace her journey from a family-run garden centre in rural North Carolina to marketing roles at global brands like Apple and Royal Caribbean. Anna shares how early lessons in small-town marketing shaped her creative instincts, why every great campaign needs a single powerful idea, and what she learned about community from 55,000 Saturn drivers.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 2 of our chat with Sally Croft, CMO Europe & LATAM at Ericsson, we explore her strategic mindset and bold approach to B2B marketing. Sally shares how curiosity and constraint have shaped her campaigns—from using Teslas to unconference an engineering event, to rethinking ROI for relationship-driven initiatives. She talks about moving beyond “random acts of marketing,” the power of FOMO in B2B, and why advocacy is her secret weapon.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 1 of our conversation with Sally Croft, CMO Europe & LATAM at Ericsson, we dive into her extraordinary personal journey—from growing up in a working-class family outside London, to becoming a teenage mum at university, and ultimately rising to the top of the marketing world. Sally shares how early challenges shaped her resilience, why she believes B2B marketing should never be boring, and how purpose-driven thinking guides her leadership.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In Part 2 of our conversation with Caroline Burger, CMO at GlobalLogic, we explore her approach to marketing in a complex digital ecosystem. Caroline shares insights on sales-marketing alignment, talent-driven strategies, and how GlobalLogic navigates the Hitachi brand network. She offers practical tips for aspiring CMOs, talks about balancing data with insights, and champions the power of measuring ROI. Plus, don’t miss her surprising confession about running, and her golden rule for both life and marketing: always order the French fries!
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
In this episode, we dive into the vibrant story of Caroline Burger, CMO at GlobalLogic.
Caroline shares her unique path in marketing, shaped by family roots in direct mail and small business ownership. She reflects on early lessons from her grandfather—author of the seminal Direct Marketing—and the enduring impact of growing up around entrepreneurs.
Caroline discusses work-life integration, rolling up her sleeves, and the mindset that shaped her rise to CMO. Plus, she reveals the one surprising career she’d switch to if not for marketing!
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands.
To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
Alastair Hussain welcomes back Chris Koehler, CMO at Twilio, for the second half of their two-part conversation.
In this episode, Chris and Ali discuss how to shift from talking about point solutions to telling a platform story, their shared passion for pricing, slaying the attribution dragon, and why CMOs need to feel uncomfortable.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
This week on How to Grow a CMO, Alastair Hussain sits down with Chris Koehler, CMO at Twilio, for part one of a two-part conversation.
Chris reflects on his early aspirations, from childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut, to excelling in soccer. He shares how influential mentors have been key to his success, as well as his wife, a psychologist, whose perspective helps keep him grounded. Chris also opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome and the power of preparation when it comes to public speaking.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com.
On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Aruna Ravichandran, CMO at Webex by Cisco.
Aruna transitioned from a successful engineering career to marketing, driven by a passion for understanding customer needs and the creative aspects of the discipline. In their conversation, she explains how her team navigated the challenges posed by the pandemic – including a major Webex rebrand – and the importance of leveraging innovative marketing strategies and partnerships, referencing Webex’s recent collaboration with McLaren Formula One.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global leader in B2B technology marketing. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com
On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Unnikrishnan KP, CMO at Palo Alto Networks.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Unni and Ali discuss how to make sectors like cybersecurity more relatable and engaging (with some help from Keanu Reeves). Unni also emphasizes the need for marketers to be adaptable, curious, and collaborative, and the importance of engaging with both external and internal sources for fresh ideas.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global leader in B2B technology marketing. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com
On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Claire Hockin, CMO at Splunk.
In a fascinating discussion, Claire reflects on a career spent working across the globe, and the lessons learned from exposure to different cultural perspectives and business environments. Claire and Ali also discuss the importance of explaining the strategic ‘why’ behind marketing activities, and why fostering a sense of community within a brand is critical.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global leader in B2B technology marketing. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com
On this episode of How to Grow a CMO, host Alastair Hussain is joined by Kelly Hopping, CMO at Demandbase.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Kelly and Ali talk about why brand identity is like a goalkeeper, what Kelly says is the fastest way to increase marketing efficiency, and how getting the ways of working right between clients and agencies is crucial in creating the best work.
How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global leader in B2B technology marketing. To find out more, visit https://www.themarketingpractice.com