After 30 years in marketing, Melissa Puls, CMO and SVP, Customer Success & Renewals at Ivanti, has seen it all: the highs, the lows, and the evolution of marketing itself. In this episode, she shares how she’s built her career around people-first leadership, purpose-driven strategy, and performance that actually moves the business forward. Melissa breaks down why B2B and B2C are outdated concepts, why it’s time to think “business-to-human,” and how aligning marketing, customer success, and renewals can transform growth. She also opens up about lessons learned from failure, how AI is reshaping efficiency and personalization, and why transparency and data-driven decisions are a CMO’s real superpowers. Whether you’re a rising marketing leader or a seasoned exec, this episode delivers practical insights on building teams, earning trust, and driving measurable impact across the entire customer lifecycle.

What if marketing didn’t just support company strategy, but shaped it from the start? 8x8 CMO Bruno Bertini breaks down how today’s marketing leaders can elevate their role through goal-driven alignment, end-to-end customer experience, and real-world applications of AI. Bruno shares his approach to building marketing-led OKRs, driving measurable outcomes like LTV and retention, and using AI to streamline enrichment, targeting, and creative production. It’s a must-listen for CMOs who want to operate as true business leaders and make marketing central to growth.

How do you thrive in private equity while maintaining local autonomy and driving growth? Meghann McNally, CMO of Wrench Group, shares her unique approach to leading marketing in a fast-growing, private equity-backed company. From scaling brand strategies across 28 locations to navigating the challenges of a male-dominated industry, Meghann emphasizes the importance of hands-on leadership and data-driven decision-making. She also reveals how fostering curiosity, maintaining local connections, and balancing efficiency with personal touch have been key to Wrench Group’s success.

What does it take to merge companies, scale globally, and lead with clarity in times of change? Benoit Skinazi, CMO of Equativ, shares lessons from his journey founding a company, navigating two major mergers, and growing to a 750-person global team. Benoit unpacks how transparency, trust, and storytelling helped align teams across cultures and time zones, why CMOs must balance short-term impact with long-term brand building, and how empowering high-performing teams drives sustainable growth.

What does it take to lead marketing across multiple industries—and stay ahead of the curve? Alice Palmer, CMO of InvoiceCloud, shares how she’s built a successful career across creative tech, cybersecurity, and digital payments by embracing change, trusting her gut, and staying laser-focused on impact. She dives into leading marketing in PE-backed environments, executing a six-month rebrand under a legal deadline, and using AI for synthetic persona testing and funnel optimization. Along the way, Alice reflects on how parenting lessons—like prioritization and adaptability—have sharpened her leadership style and strategic instincts.

What makes a campaign truly effective? In this episode of The Next CMO Podcast, host Scott Todaro speaks with Dimitri Vlachos, CMO of Spacelift, to explore what it really means to run strategic, measurable campaigns. With over 15 years of marketing experience, Dimitri shares his perspective on aligning with sales, empowering SDRs, and avoiding reactive, jargon-heavy approaches. They discuss the importance of building momentum beyond product launches, creating campaigns with clear goals, and developing post-acquisition strategies that stick. From lessons learned to advice for aspiring CMOs, this episode is packed with insights for marketing leaders at every stage.

What does it take to turn a complex product into a brand people trust—and even love? In this episode, Jasper Martens of PensionBee shares how he did it. From launching with little more than an idea to leading marketing through major growth milestones, Jasper unpacks the strategies behind emotional connection, customer advocacy, and bold brand plays. Whether you're in B2C or B2B, his perspective offers practical lessons on scaling with purpose, embracing feedback, and building a brand that truly resonates.

Stepping into a CMO role? Your first 90 days can make or break your success. In this episode of The Next CMO, host Scott Todaro talks with Nate Skinner, CMO of AffiniPay, about how to navigate this critical transition, align marketing with business goals, and drive measurable impact. Drawing from leadership roles at AWS, Oracle, and Salesforce, Nate shares insights on financial responsibility, understanding customers over competitors, and building a high-performing team. They also dive into AI’s role in marketing, key performance metrics, and the biggest pitfalls CMOs should avoid.

What happens when a marketing leader blends creativity with data to drive customer-first strategies? In this episode, Jill Thomas, CMO of PGA TOUR Superstore, dives into the evolution of retail marketing, the power of data-driven decision-making, and the role of storytelling in brand building. Jill shares insights from her experience at notable brands like Disney and Cinnabon, revealing how marketers can balance analytics with creativity to stay ahead. She also dives into the rapid changes in the golf industry, the challenges of scaling personalization, and why understanding your customer is more critical than ever. Whether you're a B2C or B2B marketer, this episode is packed with practical lessons to help you lead with impact.

When budgets shrink and executive scrutiny increases, CMOs must rethink how they allocate resources to maximize impact. Scott speaks with 2X’s CMO Lisa Cole and CEO Domenic Colasante about how leaders can prioritize high-value initiatives and shift from tactical execution to strategic leadership. They discuss why budget constraints can actually be a superpower, how to align marketing with business goals, and why financial acumen is key to CMO success. Plus, they share practical tips on leveraging AI, improving cross-functional collaboration, and making marketing a true business driver. If you're looking to optimize your 2025 marketing strategy, this episode is packed with insights to help you scale smarter.

Tom Klein, CMO of Matterport, believes that investing in product marketing is critical in driving innovation. Plus, he shares the importance of building emotional connections in your marketing, drawing on lessons from his time at notable companies like Chanel and Mailchimp to explain how brands can resonate on a deeper level while delivering clear functional value. Discover practical applications of AI and user-generated content, along with insights on the power of testing, learning, and bringing passion to every campaign.

Greg Brooks, CMO of SearchTides, joins host Scott Todaro to explore how AI is transforming search strategies, why human connection remains critical in the digital age, and what the future holds for CMOs navigating these changes. From his unique background as a professional poker player to leading eight-figure marketing budgets, Greg shares insights on how he reads audiences, leverages data, and adapts to emerging technologies such as AI. This can’t-miss episode is packed with advice for marketing leaders looking to balance technology, creativity, and customer understanding.

On this episode of The Next CMO podcast, host Scott Todaro is joined by 16-year marketing veteran Zosya Popick, CMO of ProPharma. Zosya shares insights into how AI can enhance efficiency within marketing teams—focusing on how it helps streamline tasks like copywriting, creative brainstorming, and data analysis. She also dives into the role of branding, emphasizing the importance of aligning mission and vision with design to create a cohesive brand identity. Don’t miss Zosya’s valuable tips on building high-performing marketing teams, the importance of simplicity, authenticity, and human connection in a world saturated with content, and her perspective on AI and the future of marketing.

On this episode of The Next CMO Podcast, Scott sits down with Jason Lyman, a three-time head of marketing with experience leading large marketing teams at companies like Customer.io, Ethos, BetterCloud, and Dropbox. Together, they dive into the complexities of scaling marketing teams, navigating the talent gap, and overcoming challenges CMOs face during high-growth phases. Jason shares his approach to prioritizing hires, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and maintaining messaging consistency. Tune in for actionable insights on balancing strategic alignment with operational efficiency and the importance of driving value for the business in a holistic, data-driven way.

On this episode of The Next CMO podcast, host Scott Todaro sits down with Rowan Tonkin, CMO of Planful. Rowan shares his unconventional journey to marketing leadership, starting with a degree in Internet Science and Technology in Australia, and his early experience in customer-facing roles that laid the foundation for his career. Rowan dives into critical topics for today's marketing leaders, including the importance of understanding the customer, effective positioning and messaging, as well as the role of cross-functional experience in shaping successful CMOs. Rowan also provides an inside look into the rebranding of Host Analytics to Planful and how he led his team through a period of intense change, ultimately winning Marketing Team of the Year. Tune in to hear Rowan’s approach to building strong, collaborative teams, the importance of being a "ballast" in times of change, and how marketing leaders can balance strategic vision with execution.

On this special episode of The Next CMO Podcast, we’re pleased to introduce our new host, Scott Todaro. Scott puts former host and Chief Commercial Officer (formerly CMO) of GoTo, Peter Mahoney, in the hot seat as Peter reflects on his extensive career, starting from his unexpected entry into sales at IBM, moving through various executive marketing roles at companies like Nuance and ATG, and eventually founding Plannuh. Peter highlights his experiences with company repositioning, handling multiple acquisitions, and the importance of understanding the business impact of marketing decisions. As Peter transitions back to a leadership role at GoTo, he emphasizes the need for CMOs to align their strategies with broader business goals.

In this episode of The Next CMO Podcast, host Peter Mahoney, an experienced CMO and executive advisor, interviews Kevin Ford, the Head of Marketing for Myriad360. Myriad360 is a leading provider of IT services, specializing in cloud transformation, AI implementation, and security systems. The discussion touches on how Myriad360 targets customers using a hospitality and event based strategy, integrating the experience of their services early in the sales cycle to help clients extract value. They also dive into Ford's approach to content creation, targeted marketing, and packaging 'technical expertise' as a product in itself. Additionally, they examine the power of referrals and networks in their marketing approach and how to strike a balance between sharing enough detail to excite potential clients and maintaining the sensitivity of projects.

In this episode, we speak to Guatam Mahandru, the CMO of Illumio, a cybersecurity company based in Seattle. They discuss the evolution of marketing in the B2B tech sphere, the creation of new categories of solutions, and the importance of targeting the right customer for their business model. Guatam explains the changing landscape of the market, the role of a modern CMO, and the importance of a strategic and data-driven approach in managing marketing operations. He also discusses the growth and expansion strategy for Illumio.

In this episode of The Next CMO podcast, I speak to Don Jeter, CMO of Torq. Torq delivers the security industry’s first enterprise-grade hyperautomation platform capable of automating the most complex security infrastructures at dramatic scale.

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