Best Steve Olenski Podcasts (2025)

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Branding After .com - Rachel Sterling 30:48

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3h ago30:48

30:48

My guest this week is Rachel Sterling, Chief Marketing Officer at Identity Digital. Rachel leads global marketing with a focus on driving awareness and adoption of Identity Digital’s portfolio of top-level domains. Before stepping into her current role, she held senior leadership positions at Instagram, Twitter, and Google, where she built and scal…

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Inside Adidas: Culture of Curiosity - Chris Murphy 32:37

8d ago32:37

32:37

My guest this week is Chris Murphy, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Adidas North America. For over 20 years, Chris has been shaping the voice of one of the world’s most iconic sports brands. From building Adidas’s first global newsroom and forging early partnerships with Facebook and Twitter to leading the U.S. loyalty program from 12 t…

1
Insight Meets Sustainability - Steve Phillips 30:00

15d ago30:00

30:00

My guest this week is Steve Phillips, CEO of Zappi and chair of the Mayor's Sustainability Council. He has been at the forefront of transforming the insights industry. Under his leadership, Zappi has pioneered AI-driven tools that help creators worldwide test, validate, and scale ideas—long before AI became mainstream. That doesn’t mean he’s old, b…

1
Marketing Is Not a Line Item - Bill Harper 35:03

22d ago35:03

35:03

My guest this week is Bill Harper, a guy who's been building brands longer than most people have been talking about branding. He's the Chief Creative Officer/CEO of BrandBossHQ , his fifth agency, where he helps businesses find the story that actually scales. Bill has worked with more than 300 brands, helped drive over $2.5 billion — that’s with a …

1
Marketing With a Soul - Alan Bethke & Matthew Bershadker 47:48

29d ago47:48

47:48

Last time, Alan Bethke, SVP of Marketing at Subaru of America, joined me on the show. We talked about the heart of Subaru’s “Love” campaign and why this brand has such a unique emotional connection with its customers. If you missed that episode, definitely go back and listen — though not yet, after this one. It’s truly one of the most memorable con…

1
From ROI to Relationships - Tifenn Dano Kwan 31:06

1M ago31:06

31:06

My guest this week is Tifenn Dano Kwan, Chief Marketing Officer at Amplitude. Tifenn’s mission as a data-driven leader is to shape the future of work through superior digital experiences, great teams, and technology that customers love. What a novel idea. At Amplitude, she drives global marketing strategy and leads a team focused on helping organiz…

1
Brand Bravery in EdTech - John Jorgenson 32:10

1M ago32:10

32:10

My guest this week is John Jorgenson, CMO at Cambium Learning Group. John spent his first seven years at Cambium leading marketing for two of its brands, where he helped grow Learning A-Z into its largest division. Now, as Enterprise CMO, he works alongside the Cambium executive team to shape strategy, creativity, and culture. What sets John apart …

1
Curiosity Fuels Leadership - Kimberley Gardiner 37:17

2M ago37:17

37:17

My guest this week is Kimberley Gardiner, the CMO of Tractor Supply Company. Since 2022, she's been leading the charge on all things marketing for the country's largest rural lifestyle retailer, from big national campaigns to loyalty programs that keep their 30 million-plus Neighbor’s Club members engaged. Kimberley’s career isn't just impressive, …

1
Customer Experience Unfiltered - Jay Baer 29:31

2M ago29:31

29:31

My guest this week is someone who doesn’t just talk the talk—he’s lived it, built it, and continues to help others do the same. Jay Baer is one of the most dynamic voices in business growth, customer experience, and marketing. He’s a New York Times bestselling author of seven business books, the founder of five multimillion-dollar companies, and a …

1
Radical Transparency in Business - Kevin Akeroyd 33:58

2M ago33:58

33:58

My guest this week is Kevin Akeroyd, a veteran tech CEO with a career spanning Fortune 500 giants, private equity powerhouses, and venture-backed disruptors. He’s currently leading Sovos, a PE-backed tax and compliance AI SaaS platform. Before that, Kevin was CEO of Magna Global, the world’s largest contingent workforce technology provider. And pri…

1
Behind E.L.F. Beauty’s Viral Success with Laurie Lam 30:11

2M ago30:11

30:11

My guest this week is Laurie Lam, the Chief Brand Officer at E.L.F. Beauty, the powerhouse behind E.L.F. Cosmetics, E.L.F. Skin, and Well People. With nearly two decades of experience shaping global brands, Laurie is a dynamic marketer and strategic innovator who’s redefining what an authentic, accessible beauty company looks like. Before joining E…

1
Turning Public Spaces Into Brand Stages with Anna Bager 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

My guest this week is a force in the media world, Anna Bager, President and CEO of the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of America — quite a mouthful, so we’ll just say OAAA going forward. She is leading the charge in transforming out-of-home advertising into one of the most innovative, tech-driven, and brand-friendly platforms out there. Before…

1
Andrea Brimmer on Disrupting Finance and Championing Women’s Sports 30:44

3M ago30:44

30:44

My guest is Andrea Brimmer, the Chief Marketing and PR Officer at Ally Financial, where she leads the company’s integrated marketing strategy and brand transformation. Since joining Ally in 2006 and relaunching the brand in 2009, she has redefined what a financial services company can be—putting consumers first and driving bold, disruptive growth. …

1
Brian Kotlyar Explains What’s Hype vs Reality in AI Marketing 28:56

3M ago28:56

28:56

My guest this week is Brian Kotlyar, Head of Marketing & Growth at Hightouch, the leading composable CDP that helps companies activate their data warehouses to drive personalized marketing and business operations. With 20-plus years of experience at Intercom, Sprinklr, and New Relic, Brian knows how to cut through the martech noise and build teams …

1
Leadership Without Assholes Allowed — Shelley Zalis 32:37

3M ago32:37

32:37

My guest this week is Shelley Zalis, CEO and co-founder of The Female Quotient, a true trailblazer known as the “Chief Troublemaker.” She has always made her mark as an entrepreneur, a global advocate for women in the workplace, and a three-time movement maker. She pioneered online research, co-founded the #SeeHer initiative, and built The Female Q…

1
Creativity as a Life Skill: Crayola CMO Vicky Lozano Breaks the Myth 32:10

4M ago32:10

32:10

My guest today is Vicky Lozano, the CMO of Crayola — yes, the company that basically defined many of our childhoods. In her role, Vicky leads Crayola’s consumer communications, partnership marketing, digital and omnichannel marketing, interactive app portfolio, education, and location-based entertainment. Before joining Crayola, she managed a $1.2 …

1
Eric Williamson on Fixing the B2B Branding Blind Spot 29:07

4M ago29:07

29:07

My guest this week is Eric Williamson, Chief Marketing Officer at CallMiner. Eric brings more than 20 years of experience across tech and consumer marketing, spanning both the agency and brand sides. At CallMiner, he leads all global marketing functions, working hand-in-hand with sales and channel teams to fuel growth and pipeline. Before stepping …

1
Eliot Hamlisch Is Turning Train Passengers into Guests — Here’s How 31:31

4M ago31:31

31:31

My guest this week is Eliot Hamlisch, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Amtrak, a role he took on in September 2023. He's been leading initiatives across pricing, revenue management, marketing, product development, and the entire customer experience for Amtrak’s national network. Whether you're riding the Northeast Corridor o…

1
Cracking the Code of Customer Experience with Dave Edelman 34:02

5M ago34:02

34:02

My guest this week is back for another episode adventure. He was one of my very first guests on The CMO Whisperer—Dave Edelman. A longtime thought leader in marketing and customer experience, Dave has amassed over 1 million followers on LinkedIn. Over the past 30 years, he’s led strategy and digital marketing practices at BCG, Digitas, and McKinsey…

1
Redefining the CMO Pipeline with Jennifer Renaud 32:55

6M ago32:55

32:55

My guest this week is Jennifer Renaud, CEO and board director at Coolhouse Botanics, where she leads corporate and portfolio strategy, operational expansion, and investor alignment for the Kradle pet wellness brand. With over 30 years of experience—including global marketing leadership at Oracle Marketing Cloud and Masonite—she excels in building e…

1
From McDonald’s to ADT: DeLu Jackson on Brand Transformation and Trust 29:05

6M ago29:05

29:05

My guest this week is DeLu Jackson, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at ADT. A seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience, DeLu has led marketing transformation at some of the world’s most iconic brands, including McDonald’s, Audi, Kellogg’s, Nissan, Subaru, ConAgra, and now ADT. He’s known for his da…

1
Evan Day Breaks Down the Neuroscience Behind Fear-Based Marketing 28:36

6M ago28:36

28:36

My guest this week is Evan Day. Evan is the VP of Digital Marketing at BriteCap Financial, where he’s been mastering the art and science of making complex things simple for over 15 years. He’s worked with giants like Comcast and global heavyweights in publishing, bringing data-driven strategy to the forefront at every stop. But that’s not all. Evan…

1
Create the Demand to Collect the Demand: Jenny Wall on Marketing That Moves People 33:46

6M ago33:46

33:46

My guest this week is Jenny Wall, Chief Marketing Officer at VideoAmp, a company that's transforming the world of media measurement and advertising performance. With over 30 years of experience leading marketing for some of the most iconic entertainment and tech brands—including HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and Nickelodeon—Jenny is known for creating bold, …

1
Lead with Heart, Scale with AI: Bruce Hershey on Modern Marketing 28:42

7M ago28:42

28:42

My guest this week is making his second appearance on the CMO Whisperer podcast, and for good reason. He’s a CMO who’s helped Fortune 500 companies, startups, and even a scratch-made pizza shop break through the noise. He’s driven $350 million in revenue from one campaign. He’s sparked 45% growth in online grocery and built brands that lead with me…

1
Marketing Only Matters When It Works 30:43

7M ago30:43

30:43

My guest this week is someone whose career path may not be linear, but it's been anything but boring. Jason Chebib started out in some of London’s top ad agencies, including Ogilvy, Publicis, J. Walter Thompson, and BBDO, where he worked alongside CMOs and future CMOs at brands like Shell, Unilever, Dyson, Mars, and Ford. Then came a pivot—from cre…

1
From Data to Trust: Tory Pachis on Mastering CRM 29:21

7M ago29:21

29:21

My guest this week is Tory Pachis, CMO of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Tory is a seasoned insurance executive with nearly 25 years of industry experience. At Amica, he oversees five core areas within the marketing department: marketing, data science, media and platform, branding and communications, operations and …

1
Think Human in the Age of AI with Doug Zarkin 27:14

7M ago27:14

27:14

My guest this week is Doug Zarkin, a transformative leader in branding and marketing, known for his quick-thinking, human approach. His career highlights are many, including co-founding breakthrough advertising, youth entertainment, and lifestyle marketing campaigns; leading the successful launch of Avon’s mark. brand; and elevating Victoria’s Secr…

1
From Cultural Roots to Creative Futures: Lessons with Daniel Cherry 30:40

7M ago30:40

30:40

My guest this week is an award-winning marketer, business executive, strategist, and brand innovator. Daniel Cherry III has extensive experience across sports, CPG, lifestyle, music and entertainment, and luxury consumer categories. He’s had a storied career working with some of the world’s most iconic brands, including DC Comics, Activision Blizza…

1
Where Data Meets the Forecast: Randi Stipes on Storytelling at The Weather Company 33:33

8M ago33:33

33:33

My guest this week is Randi Stipes, the Chief Marketing Officer at The Weather Company, one of the world's most trusted brands and most accurate forecasters. No stranger to marketing transformation, Randi challenges marketers to think differently about the weather and its business implications across every industry. With nearly three decades in med…

1
Inside a Brand Strategist’s Mind with Brian Irving 25:38

8M ago25:38

25:38

My guest this week is Brian Irving, the Chief Marketing Officer of Lyft. Brian has over two decades of experience building and marketing iconic global brands, including Meta, Eventbrite, Apple, Google, Levi's, and Airbnb. As CMO at Lyft, Brian leads all marketing, creative, and communications efforts for the brand. This includes developing strategy…

1
The Power of Brand Reinvention with Christy Hoskins from La-Z-Boy 34:04

8M ago34:04

34:04

My guest this week is Christy Haskins, the VP and CMO of La-Z-Boy, leading the brand reinvigoration efforts of the nearly 100-year-old—yes, 100!—beloved brand across consumer marketing, digital commerce, consumer insights, and creative. Previously, Christy worked across brands and portfolios at Whirlpool Corporation and Nestlé Purina PetCare. Her e…

1
Marketing Mayhem & AI Magic with Steve Rotter 28:21

8M ago28:21

28:21

My guest today is Steve Rotter, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at DeepL, a Language AI platform that enables over 100,000 businesses to transform communications, reach new markets, and improve productivity. Steve is an entrepreneur, evangelist, and author, bringing over two decades of tech marketing leadership experience to his role as CMO. A two-ti…

1
From Invisible Problem to Must-Have Solution : Melton Littlepage, CMO, 1Password 34:20

9M ago34:20

34:20

My guest today is Melton Littlepage, CMO of 1Password—trusted by more than 100,000 businesses to protect their data. 1Password gives you complete control over passwords and other sensitive business information. Melton has a 20-plus-year track record of innovation, category creation, and growth acceleration at technology companies. Prior to joining …

1
Why Emotion Beats Logic in Advertising – John Kearon & Joel Weinberger 39:15

9M ago39:15

39:15

In this special two-for-one episode of The CMO Whisperer Podcast, host Steve Olenski welcomes two distinguished guests – John Kearon, Founder, System1 Group, and Joel Weinberger, Professor of Psychology, Derner School of Psychology. Together, they dive deep into the fascinating intersection of advertising, emotions, and decision-making, exploring h…

1
Sony’s Marketing Transformation: Steven Fuld on Strategy & Storytelling 33:43

9M ago33:43

33:43

My guest today is Steven Fuld, the former Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Corporate Marketing at Sony Corporation of America. Steven led U.S. marketing efforts in collaboration with Sony's Tokyo headquarters and operating companies such as PlayStation, Sony Pictures, and Sony Electronics. His leadership spanned brand strategy and commun…

1
The Business of Soccer: How Tim McDermott is Growing the Philadelphia Union 26:46

9M ago26:46

26:46

My guest today is Tim McDermott. Tim is the President of the Philadelphia Union and Union Sports and Entertainment, overseeing all club business operations. Since joining the Union in 2016, his efforts have focused on increasing brand strength, expanding the fan base, and enhancing revenue opportunities, while maintaining a commitment to growing so…

1
Marketing the Super Bowl & Olympics: Jenn Ogden-Reese’s Playbook 29:26

10M ago29:26

29:26

My guest this week is Jenn Ogden-Reese, Chief Marketing Officer at On Location, a leading premium experiences company providing access to ticket packages with enhanced hospitality and premier end-to-end travel for bucket-list events. She has more than 25 years of experience building businesses and leading multi-platform marketing and strategy. Befo…

1
From Fine Art to Fintech: Suzanne Darmory's Journey to Refundo 34:02

10M ago34:02

34:02

My guest today is Suzanne Darmory, the former Chief Marketing Officer at Refundo, the only minority-owned fintech platform in the tax industry, committed to fostering inclusivity in the communities they serve. In addition to founding her own boutique agency, The AGNCY That Sold Agnesi, she has spent her career on both the client side—working with c…

1
Listening to Win: How Dara Treseder Builds Customer-First Brands 33:50

10M ago33:50

33:50

My guest this week is Dara Treseder, the Chief Marketing Officer at Autodesk, a leading technology and software company that is transforming how the world is designed and made. She oversees global marketing, brand, communications, demand generation, e-commerce, and education business teams. As a veteran CMO, Dara has held key leadership roles, incl…

1
From Fast Casual to Fan Favorite with Thomas Prather 31:55

10M ago31:55

31:55

My guest this week is Thomas Prather, the Chief Marketing Officer at Smashburger. Thomas brings over 30 years of marketing expertise, beginning in automotive advertising, where he managed Cadillac's resurgence in 1995. He transitioned to the food and beverage industry in 2003, joining Starbucks and eventually becoming VP of U.S. Retail Marketing. A…

1
The Culinary Landscape of Tomorrow with Andy Rebhun 26:57

11M ago26:57

26:57

My guest this week is Andy Rebhun. Andy joined Cava as Chief Experience Officer in 2023. From 2019 to 2023, he held several senior leadership positions at El Pollo Loco, including Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Digital. Prior to that, he served in various marketing and digital leadership roles at McDonald's Corporation in Boston, Chi…

1
Breaking Barriers in Marketing Innovation with David Edelman 44:44

11M ago44:44

44:44

My guest today is David Edelman. David's the former CMO of Aetna, and he's currently a senior lecturer in marketing at Harvard Business School. I've known David well over 10 years and we had an absolutely fascinating conversation focussing initially on AI and and the customer experience. One of David's recent HBR articles was "Customer Experience i…

1
From Data to Dreams with Jeanniey Walden 33:09

11M ago33:09

33:09

My guest today is Jeanniey Walden. Jeanniey is the senior vice president and CMO of Rite Aid and Thrifty Ice Cream. Her decades of experience span Fortune 500 companies and startups across a whole host of industries, including retail, health and wellness, consulting, ad agencies, fintech. Everything. If that weren't enough, she's also the host of h…

1
From Clicks to Connections with Raja Rajamannar 37:13

11M ago37:13

37:13

My guest this week is a good friend who also happens to be one of the most influential marketers in the world, Raja Rajamannar, the CMO of Mastercard. Over his 10 years with the brand, he has transformed Mastercard into one of the top 10 most valuable brands in the world. At the helm of the iconic priceless platform, he and his team are on the cutt…

1
Rewriting the Rules of Branding with Dr. Marcus Collins 39:06

12M ago39:06

39:06

My guest this week is Dr. Marcus Collins, an award winning marketer, best selling author and former chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, and currently a marketing professor at the university of Michigan. Part marketing professor, part chief strategy officer, Dr. Marcus prescribes lots of advice for brand health.…

1
Redefining the Brand Experience With Geoff Cottrill 39:43

12M ago39:43

39:43

My guest this week has been everywhere, man—or seemingly everywhere—from Converse to Starbucks to Procter & Gamble, to Coca-Cola, to his current role as Chief Brand Officer at Topgolf. I met Jeff Cottrill many moons ago during my days at Forbes. What an amazing conversation we had! We touched on so many different topics. You're really going to enjo…

1
Building Brands That Last a Lifetime with Edithann Ramey 35:02

12M ago35:02

35:02

My guest this week is Edithann Ramey, the Chief Marketing Officer at Six Flags Entertainment, where she oversees marketing strategy, consumer experience, CRM, group sales, and revenue management for North America's largest regional theme and water park company. Before joining Six Flags, Edith Ann was CMO at On the Border, a Mexican casual dining ch…

1
Lessons for Big Brands and Startups with Adam Hanft 28:26

1y ago28:26

28:26

My guest today is Adam Hanft, one of the few strategic and creative brands who has achieved success with Fortune 500 companies and startups. He sits on the boards of Scotts Miracle-Gro and 1-800 Flowers, and works with dozens of entrepreneurial founders to tell their essential stories across all channels. From a jolly and nimbleness to stripping aw…

1
Secrets of Sustainable Marketing with Amina Pasha 41:24

1y ago41:24

41:24

My guest this week is Amina Pasha, CMO of Thrive Market. With more than a decade of experience in CPG marketing at P&G, followed by a pivotal role at The Honest Company, Pasha serves as the guardian of Thrive Market’s mission-driven, e-commerce powerhouse. Thrive Market is now celebrating its 10th anniversary this November 10th by humanizing the on…

1
The CMO's Secret Sauce with Nic Chidiac 33:46

1y ago33:46

33:46

My guest this week is Nic Chidiac, Chief Strategy Officer for Razorfish, where he oversees brand and experience strategy. He's worked with CMOs from the biggest brands in the world across a wider range of categories, including QSR, travel, tech, automotive and government. Formerly with Leo Burnett, Nic brings a global lens to his CMO perspective as…