Marketing Vanguard Podcast: Successfully Using AI in Business

Guest: Karin Timpone, CEO & Founder of ClearPrompt
Host: Jenny Rooney, Adweek
Date: February 20, 2026
Location: World Economic Forum, Davos

Episode Overview

This special episode, recorded at the World Economic Forum in Davos, features a deep-dive conversation between host Jenny Rooney and Karin Timpone, a veteran CMO and now CEO of ClearPrompt. The discussion centers on the expanding role of the CMO in business leadership, the tangible application of AI in marketing and business strategy, and practical career and leadership advice for marketers navigating today’s technology-driven landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Evolving Role of CMOs

Timestamps: 01:05–05:51

• CMOs at the Center
  Jenny highlights that having CMOs attend the World Economic Forum at Davos is symbolic of their growing influence—reflecting the new expectation for CMOs to drive not only brand, but overall business growth.
• Versatility as a Superpower
  Karin asserts that CMOs are uniquely versatile, having to “think about every part of the experience—not just the customer, but their teams and how they're going to execute” (01:58).
• Strategic Alignment
  “At the very top of the organization, there needs to be alignment around the goal and the strategy of what the business is driving for and how the teams that are executing on that are aligned,” Karin explains (03:53).

Quote:
“CMOs are really among the most versatile executives that exist and really have to think about every part of the experience...”
—Karin Timpone, 01:58

2. The CMO in the C-Suite: Collaboration & Influence

Timestamps: 03:18–06:34

• There’s a growing need for CMOs to better align with fellow C-suite leaders—CEOs, CFOs, CTOs—around shared business goals.
• Karin notes that fast-changing technology means CMOs now often bring unique insight into both customer and business realities, making them “the right ones in the senior leadership room to talk about what's real, what we can actually use, [and] what we should try” (05:19).

3. AI as a Major Unlock for Marketing Influence

Timestamps: 06:34–09:36

• CMOs at the Forefront of AI
  Karin observes that while CMOs have always been “at the forefront trying to introduce new things,” AI is now “the fastest track” for explaining and integrating the many facets of marketing.
• ClearPrompt: AI for Strategy, Not Just Marketing
  Karin introduces her company, ClearPrompt. Its flagship tool is an AI-powered platform that turns business strategy intake into a collaborative, actionable plan for the entire C-suite, not just marketing:

  “The tool that I've created…has basically taken a whole business strategy intake process and correlated [it] to be instant so that what the client or brand wants to be able to do can be articulated in a strategy that the whole C suite can get around. And that is the unlock for me.”
  —Karin Timpone, 08:21

• The Human–AI Venn Diagram
  Karin emphasizes the value in “the Venn diagram of the human wisdom and pattern recogn[ition] meets technology acceleration” (07:28).

4. Practical AI Adoption: Breaking It Down & Focus

Timestamps: 09:36–14:21

• Implementing AI in Steps
  Karin underscores the importance of breaking innovation into small pieces. She gives examples from her roles at MLB, Disney, and Marriott:

  • Start with a clear strategy.
  • Pilot with a few groups.
  • Scale up based on proof of concept.

• Focus Beats Boiling the Ocean
  Her core advice:

  “Start small.” —Jenny Rooney, 13:08
  “Focused is the word I would say. Be focused and be strategic. If it does not connect to a strategy and a business outcome…then it’s just fun and creative.”
  —Karin Timpone, 13:09–13:12, 13:22

• Agile Teamwork, Not Old-School Assembly Lines
  Karin recommends an agile, iterative approach—testing and adapting, not big, risky, one-shot efforts.

5. Advice for CMOs & Aspiring Innovators

Timestamps: 15:17–17:02

• For CMOs Without Time to “Pause & Learn”
  Karin cautions against “trying to boil the ocean.”
  • Pick one theme or area that aligns with both your interest and your brand’s strategic priorities—storytelling, data, customer insight, or speed to market.
  • Find “a twinkle in their eye” teammate to champion the initiative, and build energy and fun around the project.

Quote:
“You don't need to be an expert in something that's literally being invented continually. …Pick a lane of something that's going to be important for you, that you're actually going to want to drive.”
—Karin Timpone, 16:00

6. The Human Side of Davos & Career Perspective

Timestamps: 17:02–18:13

• Karin highlights the “serendipity conversation” culture at Davos and encourages CMOs to embrace these moments for personal connection and inspiration.

Quote:
“There's a different kind of personal experience here where there's a plethora of topics. I've had a wide array of topics come up in spontaneous conversations that are really enriching and I'm definitely going to be in contact with some new friends and that feels like a whole new realm for me.”
—Karin Timpone, 17:38

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI Hype vs. Reality:
  “There's a lot of belief at the most senior levels and then there's a gap between what are we actually doing and can we actually do it. …My message not just to CMOs, it's to other board directors, other C suite: give the air cover. But also [hold] a task on specifics on focused activities...”
  —Karin Timpone, 14:41

• On Career Progression & the Power of Technology:
  “My journey has been really around finding whatever tool is available today to connect with people and in communication. It has to be true, it has to be authentic… You never really wanted to sound like it was a put on. Nobody wants to talk like that.”
  —Karin Timpone, 10:00

• On Strategic Use of AI (and Career Fun):
  “Pick something you love and go deep.”
  —Karin Timpone, 16:57

Key Segment Timestamps

• 01:05 – The importance of CMOs at Davos and their industry influence.
• 03:53 – The need for strategic alignment among the C-suite.
• 06:34 – AI’s impact on the CMO role and business influence.
• 08:21 – Introduction of ClearPrompt and its strategic AI platform.
• 09:36 – Karin’s technology journey and use of AI across industries.
• 13:09 – The value of focus and strategic piloting for AI projects.
• 16:00 – Practical advice: don’t boil the ocean with AI; pick focus areas.
• 17:38 – The personal value of Davos and peer-to-peer professional growth.

Takeaways for Listeners

• CMOs are uniquely positioned for business leadership thanks to their versatility and central role in customer experience.
• The explosion of AI offers both challenge and opportunity—adoption is best when approached with focus, intentionality, and iteration.
• Strategic “quick wins” and scalable pilot projects are more valuable than grand one-off AI initiatives.
• For CMOs (and marketing leaders), the best path to AI fluency is to pick your passion area and go deep, engaging your teams with authenticity and enthusiasm.
• Human connection—whether at Davos or elsewhere—remains invaluable for idea exchange, collaboration, and personal growth.

Host closing note:
"Thank you so much. And by the way, you have kicking boots, so you nailed that one."
—Jenny Rooney, 18:13

Final tip:
“Wear good footwear.”
—Karin Timpone, 18:15