Podcast
CMO Journeys
Hosted by Christian Banach · EN
CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin featuring conversations with the marketing leaders behind today’s most recognizable brands, including Princess Cruises, White Castle, and Ruby Tuesday.
Hosted by Christian Banach, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of NextBigWin, each episode explores the personal and professional journeys that brought today’s CMOs to the C-suite — from the pivotal career decisions and mentors that shaped them to the lessons learned along the way.
The conversation then turns to the realities of leading modern marketing organizations, including the mandates CMOs are driving inside their companies and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Through candid discussions, CMO Journeys gives agency leaders, marketers, and industry professionals a behind-the-scenes look at how modern CMOs build teams, shape brands, drive growth, and partner with the organizations helping bring their strategies to life.
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Eric Gillin, CBO of Trusted Media Brands: What It Takes to Build in a Shifting Media Market
Apr 1300:32:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Eric Gillin, Chief Brand Officer of Trusted Media Brands, about leading through one of the most complex moments in media. With a background spanning editorial, product, and sales, Eric shares how he is helping iconic brands reconnect with audiences by focusing less on scale for its own sake and more on brand clarity, community, and meaningful engagement.What the Conversation Covers• Eric’s career path across writing, editing, product leadership, and ad sales, and how those chapters shaped his approach to brand leadership• Why he believes media companies can no longer rely on old traffic and distribution models in a world shaped by platform shifts and AI• How Trusted Media Brands is refocusing around brand identity, audience connection, and community-led growth across titles like Reader’s Digest and Taste of Home• What changes when the goal shifts from chasing broad reach to building deeper audience relationships and fandom• How Eric thinks about leadership, AI, agency relationships, and making strategic decisions in a market with no fixed playbookGuest BioEric Gillin is Chief Brand Officer at Trusted Media Brands, where he helps lead brand strategy across a portfolio that includes Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home, Family Handyman, and other well-known media properties. His career has spanned editorial, product, and revenue leadership, giving him a broad perspective on content creation, audience development, business strategy, and what it takes to build durable brands in a changing media environment.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Sarah Cascone, CMO of Appriss Retail: How Events Become Enterprise Pipeline
Apr 1300:31:09Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Sarah Cascone, Chief Marketing Officer of Appriss Retail, about building a marketing engine that turns trust, executive engagement, and events into enterprise pipeline. As the company’s first CMO, Sarah shares how she is helping reframe the category, sharpen the story, and align marketing tightly with revenue in a complex retail technology environment.What the Conversation Covers• Sarah’s path from conference production into SaaS marketing leadership and how those early event experiences still shape her strategy today• What changed when she moved from managing individual functions to leading marketing as one integrated go-to-market engine• Why she believes events are a core enterprise growth lever when they create memorable, human connections with executive buyers• How Appriss Retail is using account-based marketing, executive communities, and thought leadership to drive qualified pipeline• How Sarah thinks about prioritization, team design, agency partnerships, and measuring marketing through real business impactGuest BioSarah Cascone is Chief Marketing Officer at Appriss Retail, where she leads product marketing and growth marketing for a company serving enterprise retailers focused on fraud, returns, and profit protection. Before joining Appriss Retail, she spent a decade at Bluecore, where she helped scale the business through multiple stages of growth and built a broad foundation across events, PR, content, design, demand generation, product marketing, and pipeline strategy.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Josh Churnick, CMO of Vertex Service Partners: Why Great Marketing Has to Prove Itself
Apr 1300:33:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Josh Churnick, Chief Marketing Officer of Vertex Service Partners, about building marketing systems that are accountable, measurable, and built to scale. Drawing on a career that spans entertainment, consumer brands, insurance, and home services, Josh shares why he was drawn to categories where marketing performance can be clearly proven through results.What the Conversation Covers• Josh’s path from early digital audience building in music and media into performance-driven leadership roles in home services• Why he believes great marketing should be judged by what works for the customer, not by internal opinions or creative preferences• What changes when marketing moves from supporting a single brand to helping scale a growing platform of regional brands• Why data quality, reporting infrastructure, and alignment with contact center operations are essential to marketing performance• How Josh evaluates agency partners, including the importance of transparency, attribution, and real operating knowledge of the home services category.Guest BioJosh Churnick is Chief Marketing Officer at Vertex Service Partners, where he leads marketing for a growing platform of residential exterior service brands. His background spans digital media, consumer products, insurance, and home services, giving him a practical perspective on brand building, performance marketing, and the operational systems required to drive measurable growth.|About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Chris Pilsner, CMO of Oakland University: Bringing Agency Thinking to Higher Education
Apr 100:32:08Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Chris Pilsner, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Oakland University, about his path from agency life into higher education leadership. Chris shares how agency training shaped his approach to brand strategy, market research, digital experience, and enrollment-focused marketing at a pivotal moment for a growing public university.What the Conversation Covers• Chris’s career journey from agency roles at firms like J. Walter Thompson and Deutsch into senior higher education marketing leadership• What it means to bring agency-style strategic thinking, brand discipline, and consumer insight into a university setting• How Oakland University is working to unify brand, communications, and marketing under a more coordinated strategy• Why enrollment marketing, audience segmentation, and digital experience are becoming more critical in higher education• How Chris evaluates agency partners, including the value of strong points of view, peer recommendations, case studies, and specialized expertiseGuest BioChris Pilsner is Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Oakland University, where he leads the institution’s brand, marketing, and communications efforts. He previously held senior marketing leadership roles in higher education, including at UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, and brings a background in agency strategy, brand development, and digital transformation.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Nav Singh, CMO of Eightfold AI: Building a Marketing Team for an AI-Native Future
Apr 100:34:27Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Nav Singh, Chief Marketing Officer of Eightfold AI, about his path from product leadership into modern marketing. Nav brings a rare combination of technical depth and storytelling discipline, and he shares how that perspective is shaping Eightfold’s approach to AI, talent intelligence, and the future of marketing teams.|What the Conversation Covers• Nav’s career journey from consulting and product management into senior marketing leadership at enterprise technology companies• What he learned from listening first in a new CMO role and why direct customer and employee insight still matters in an AI-driven world• How Eightfold AI helps organizations hire, retain, and develop talent through AI-powered talent intelligence and skills-based decision-making• Why Nav believes the future of work will be built around humans and agents working together, and how that changes marketing and HR• How he is thinking about building an AI-native marketing team, including the kinds of talent, tools, and agency partners needed for the futureGuest BioNav Singh is Chief Marketing Officer at Eightfold AI, where he leads the company’s global marketing strategy and brand narrative around AI, talent intelligence, and the future of work. Before moving into marketing, he spent more than a decade in product leadership roles at companies including Oracle, Cisco, and Palo Alto Networks, building a strong foundation in technology, customer insight, and product storytelling.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Ethan Chernofsky, CMO of Placer.ai: From Agency Life to Marketing Leadership
Mar 2900:32:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Ethan Chernofsky, CMO of Placer.ai, about his path from agency work into senior in-house marketing leadership. Ethan shares a practical view of how storytelling, market narrative, and data can work together to shape brand strategy, support growth, and help marketing teams make better decisions.What the Conversation Covers • Ethan’s career path from PR and agency work into in-house marketing leadership at tech companies like Similarweb and Placer.ai • Why storytelling and brand building can create an operating advantage when they are tied to business outcomes • How Placer.ai uses data to help brands, retailers, and partners interpret consumer behavior and market shifts • How Ethan thinks about AI, automation, and building a more product-minded marketing organization • How he evaluates agencies and external partners, including what stands out in outreach, personalization, and long-term relationship buildingGuest BioEthan Chernofsky is Chief Marketing Officer at Placer.ai, a location analytics company that helps brands, retailers, real estate players, and investors understand real-world consumer behavior. His background spans agency work, public relations, and in-house marketing leadership, giving him a broad perspective on storytelling, brand strategy, and how marketing connects to business growth.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Adriana Gil Miner, CMO of Pindrop: Leading Marketing in the Age of Deepfakes
Mar 2900:34:13Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Adriana Gil Miner, Chief Marketing Officer of Pindrop, about leading marketing in a category shaped by AI, fraud, and digital trust. Drawing on a career that spans digital marketing, brand storytelling, and high-growth B2B leadership, Adriana shares how she is helping define a new market while scaling awareness around one of today’s most urgent security challenges.What the Conversation Covers• Adriana’s career journey across agency work, financial services, brand leadership, and high-growth B2B technology companies• How digital marketing, storytelling, and data have converged to shape her leadership approach as a modern CMO• Why deepfakes and AI-driven fraud are no longer abstract risks, but immediate threats affecting enterprises and consumers• How Pindrop is building awareness in a new category where the first job is helping the market understand the problem• How Adriana thinks about team design, agency partnerships, and the role of AI in reshaping marketing execution and strategyGuest BioAdriana Gil Miner is Chief Marketing Officer at Pindrop, where she leads marketing for a company focused on securing digital communications and helping enterprises detect deepfakes, prevent fraud, and restore trust. She brings more than two decades of experience building and scaling B2B technology brands, with leadership roles spanning companies including Tableau and Iterable, and a background that blends digital marketing, brand strategy, and high-growth leadership.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Kimberly Corbett, CMO of Underdog Fantasy: Building a Challenger Brand Into a First Choice
Mar 2500:31:33Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Kimberly Corbett, Chief Marketing Officer at Underdog Fantasy. Kimberly shares how her path from accounting and auditing into digital marketing, gaming, and now sports gaming has shaped her approach to building brands, leading high-performing teams, and turning a fast-growing challenger into a first-choice brand.What the Conversation Covers • Kimberly’s career journey from accounting and auditing into search marketing, mobile gaming, and eventually the CMO role at Underdog Fantasy • How she is thinking about Underdog’s next phase of growth, including the shift from a challenger brand to a household-name • Why she sees brand building in sports gaming as deeper than promotions, with more focus on long-term customer relationships and fandom • How she approaches team building and investment decisions, starting with measurement, funnel performance, and where marketing can drive the biggest business impact • What she looks for in agency and vendor partners, including proven expertise, clear business relevance, strong case studies, and solutions that improve speed, quality, or cost structureGuest BioKimberly Corbett is Chief Marketing Officer at Underdog Fantasy, where she leads marketing for the fast-growing sports gaming company across brand, growth, and customer engagement. Before joining Underdog, she held leadership roles across gaming and digital marketing, including at companies such as Kabam, Zynga, and Warner Bros. Games, building experience across performance marketing, brand development, and audience growth.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
Transcribe →Matthew Lieberman, CMO of Cooley: Leading Brand, Business Development, and Change
Mar 2500:32:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Matthew Lieberman, Chief Marketing Officer and Business Development Officer at Cooley. Matthew shares how a nontraditional path through entertainment, consulting, and professional services shaped his approach to marketing transformation, and why this moment represents a major opportunity for firms rethinking how marketing drives growth, client experience, and competitive advantage.What the Conversation Covers • Matthew’s career journey from film and entertainment into consulting, then into senior marketing leadership roles in professional services • What he learned leading a large-scale marketing transformation at PwC and how that experience informs his work at Cooley • How he is approaching his first phase at Cooley, including setting a clear vision, defining marketing’s role, and building stronger measurement and accountability • Why thought leadership should sit at the center of a professional services marketing strategy, from brand building to pipeline support • How he evaluates agency partners, including the importance of specialization, personalization, and showing a real understanding of the client’s businessGuest BioMatthew Lieberman is Chief Marketing Officer and Business Development Officer at Cooley, where he leads the firm’s marketing and business development strategy. Before joining Cooley, he spent more than two decades at PwC, including seven years as CMO for the US and Mexico, where he helped lead a broad transformation of the marketing function across team structure, process, technology, and client experience.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
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Justin Steinman, CMO of ModMed: Why Great Marketing Starts With Human Stories
Mar 2500:33:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Justin Steinman, Chief Marketing Officer at ModMed. Justin shares how a career built across healthcare, healthcare IT, and enterprise software has shaped a marketing approach grounded in storytelling, operational clarity, and a strong understanding of customer needs.What the Conversation Covers • Justin’s path from studying English and history to leading marketing teams in healthcare and healthcare technology • Why storytelling still matters in a data-driven, AI-heavy marketing environment, and how human connection shapes stronger messaging • How ModMed is preparing for its next phase of growth following private equity investment and a mandate to scale • How Justin structures marketing teams to support product lines, customer segments, and integrated go-to-market strategy under one clear story • What he looks for in agency and partner relationships, including deep expertise, cultural fit, strong work samples, and support for specialized or high-stakes initiatives|Guest BioJustin Steinman is Chief Marketing Officer at ModMed, a specialty-focused healthcare SaaS company serving more than 40,000 providers with solutions across EHR, practice management, revenue cycle, patient engagement, and AI-driven tools. He has spent much of his career in healthcare and healthcare IT, with senior marketing leadership experience across companies including ModMed, Definitive Healthcare, Insora Health, GE Healthcare, and Aetna.About the PodcastCMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.
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