The CMO Podcast

What happens after your brand becomes a cultural phenomenon? How do you sustain extraordinary growth while staying true to the identity that made you successful in the first place?
This week on The CMO Podcast, Jim continues his special series from Advertising Week New York with Kate Ridley, Chief Brand Officer of Stanley 1913, part of PMI WW Brands, LLC. With more than 110 years of history, Stanley has transformed from a heritage outdoor brand into a global cultural sensation, fueled by its iconic Quencher tumbler, creative collaborations, and a passionate community of fans.
Kate brings more than 25 years of brand-building experience, including leadership roles at adidas and Allbirds. She initially joined Stanley as a consultant, but quickly recognized an extraordinary opportunity to help shape the brand's next chapter.
In this conversation, Jim and Kate explore what it takes to build a brand for lasting growth, from staying true to your brand's DNA to embracing new audiences and markets. Kate shares the thinking behind Stanley's partnerships with Lionel Messi and Post Malone, its commitment to elevating women's sports, and why authentic connections with consumers are more powerful than transactional collaborations.
They also discuss the importance of bringing product and marketing together, creating space for creativity, and why ruthless prioritization, thoughtful risk-taking, and strong leadership are essential to sustainable growth.
At the heart of Kate's philosophy is a simple but powerful lesson: Know thyself.

This conversation was recorded live at Advertising Week New York in the Salesforce Podcast Studio.
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Meet The CMO Podcast On the Road
The CMO Podcast will be on the road in 2027, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!
CES | January 5-7
SXSW | March 18-20
POSSIBLE Miami | April 5-7
CANNES Lions | June 20-27
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Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.
Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.
Email us at podcasts@vyve.co
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Produced by vYve
The CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences.
vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.
Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to build a brand that doesn't just participate in culture, but helps shape it?
This week on The CMO Podcast, Jim continues his special series from Advertising Week New York, recorded at the Salesforce Podcast Studio, with Patrick O'Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer at e.l.f. Brands.
With more than $1.6 billion in annual sales and 30 consecutive quarters of growth, e.l.f. has become one of the most remarkable success stories in beauty. But behind those numbers is a company doing things differently, from showing up at the Indy 500 and state fairs to building communities on Roblox and Twitch, championing women's sports, and even launching its own music.
Patrick takes Jim inside the culture driving e.l.f.'s success, where being a "bold disruptor with a kind heart" is more than a company mantra. They explore how e.l.f. identifies unexpected opportunities, builds authentic relationships with creators, and gives its teams the freedom to experiment, take risks, and move at what Patrick calls "e.l.f. speed."
Patrick also shares his unconventional career journey, from Disney and the United States Air Force to L'Oréal and e.l.f., and the leadership lessons he's learned along the way.
It's an energetic conversation about creativity, courage, community, and why the most powerful brands don't always follow a playbook. Sometimes, they create their own.
Recorded live at Advertising Week New York in the Salesforce Podcast Studio.
—
Meet The CMO Podcast On the Road
The CMO Podcast will be on the road in 2027, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!
CES | January 5-7
SXSW | March 18-20
POSSIBLE Miami | April 5-7
CANNES Lions | June 20-27
—
Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.
Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.
Email us at podcasts@vyve.co
—
Produced by vYve
The CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences.
vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.
Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to do something that's never been done before? For Roman Tsunder, it starts with dreaming bigger, embracing rejection, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in what's possible.
In this special bonus episode of The CMO Podcast, Jim sits down with Roman Tsunder, entrepreneur, community builder, and co-founder of PTTOW!, an exclusive community bringing together influential CEOs, CMOs, and cultural leaders to inspire collaboration and meaningful change.
Recorded in Cincinnati during BLINK, one of the world's largest light, art, and projection mapping festivals, the conversation explores Roman's unconventional journey from Wall Street to entrepreneurship, the creation of PTTOW!, and the lessons behind his new book, Plan to Take on the World.
Roman shares remarkable stories of resilience and ambition, from the Dalai Lama's role in helping bring PTTOW! to life to individuals who have pushed beyond seemingly impossible limits. He also explains why rejection is often redirection, why collaboration is the new competition, and how the best leaders turn bold ideas into action.
Jim and Roman also explore the evolving role of the CMO, and why today's brand leaders have an extraordinary opportunity to use their platforms not only to drive business growth, but to shape culture and create positive change.
This is an inspiring conversation about curiosity, purpose, taking risks, and finding the courage to do what's never been done before.
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Pick up your copy of Plan To Take On The World: https://www.romantsunder.com/book
And learn more about PTTOW! here: https://pttow.com/
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Meet The CMO Podcast On the Road
The CMO Podcast will be on the road in 2027, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!
CES | January 5-7
SXSW | March 18-20
POSSIBLE Miami | April 5-7
CANNES Lions | June 20-27
—
Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.
Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.
Email us at podcasts@vyve.co
—
Produced by vYve
The CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences.
vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.
Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What makes a brand truly unforgettable? Is it the product, the experience, or the emotional connection it creates?
On the opening night of BLINK, Cincinnati's extraordinary festival of light, art, and creativity, Jim Stengel brought The CMO Podcast home to Cincinnati for a special live conversation about the power of brands to bring people together.
Hosted in partnership with strategy and design agency Hyperquake at the beautiful Fidelity Hotel, the evening featured three leaders from three iconic Cincinnati organizations:
Melissa Washko, Chief Brand Officer of GE Aerospace;
Phil Duncan, Chief Design Officer of Procter & Gamble;
Karen Forgus, Chief Communications & Community Officer of the Cincinnati Reds.

Together, they explore what it takes to create meaningful brand experiences across three very different industries. From the emotional loyalty of generations of Reds fans and the human stories behind GE Aerospace's engineering innovations, to P&G's iconic Olympic campaigns and the evolving role of creators in brand building, the conversation is filled with personal stories, humor, and lessons on creativity, innovation, and connection.
They also reflect on what makes Cincinnati such a special place for creativity and brand building, and what marketers everywhere can learn from the magic of BLINK.
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A special thank you to our friends at Hyperquake for helping bring this memorable evening and incredible marketing community together.
—
Meet The CMO Podcast On the Road
The CMO Podcast will be on the road in 2027, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!
CES | January 5-7
SXSW | March 18-20
POSSIBLE Miami | April 5-7
CANNES Lions | June 20-27
—
Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.
Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.
Email us at podcasts@vyve.co
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does the future of marketing look like when AI is transforming how customers discover brands, make decisions, and connect with businesses? And how can marketers embrace this shift while keeping human connection at the heart of everything they do?
This week, Jim is joined by Erin Oles, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Salesforce, for a special conversation recorded at the Salesforce Podcast Studio during Advertising Week New York.
Fresh off Salesforce's annual Dreamforce event and stepping into her expanded leadership role, Erin shares her perspective on one of the most exciting transformations happening in marketing today. From deploying AI agents across Salesforce's own marketing organization to rethinking the traditional marketing funnel, Erin explains why the future isn't about replacing human creativity, but empowering marketers to do more meaningful work.
Erin also reflects on her unconventional journey to the CMO role, from studying hospitality and beginning her career in sales to leading some of the world's largest corporate experiences. She shares lessons on building high-performing teams, embracing failure, staying close to customers, and the leadership philosophy she's learned from Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
Jim and Erin explore why brand values, creativity, judgment, and human connection may become even more important as AI continues to reshape the industry.
A thoughtful conversation about embracing change, leading with curiosity, and remembering that great marketing has always been about people.
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Meet The CMO Podcast On the Road
The CMO Podcast will be on the road throughout early 2027, capturing conversations with the leaders shaping the future of marketing, leadership, and business. If you'll be attending one of these events, we'd love to connect. Let us know!

ANA Masters of Marketing | October 20–22
CES | January 5-7
—
Interested in partnering with The CMO Podcast?!
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and into 2027, we're partnering with brands to create executive content platforms that extend far beyond a single event. From pop-up podcast studios and live recordings to executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and bespoke thought leadership programs, we work with partners to build meaningful experiences that connect with senior marketing leaders.
Whether you'd like to partner with us at one of the industry's biggest marketing events or create a custom experience designed specifically for your brand, we'd love to explore what's possible. Reach out to learn how we can build something together.
Email us at podcasts@vyve.co
—
Produced by vYve
The CMO Podcast is proudly produced by vYve Production, a full-service production and content studio specializing in podcasts, executive storytelling, branded content, and live experiences.
vYve is a community of ambitious leaders dedicated to unlocking what's next in business and in life. Through executive coaching, transformative experiences, strategic content, and communities like The CMO Podcast, vYve helps entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and teams grow their businesses, strengthen their leadership, and build meaningful connections that last.
Learn more about vYve and The CMO Podcast community at www.vyve.co.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.