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CMO Confidential

CMO Confidential

By: Mike Linton // I Hear Everything Podcast Network
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Wonder what it's like to control millions of dollars of marketing budget? Manage hundreds of people? Make the decisions on which ideas get to market?

The CMO Confidential podcast shares how it feels to be in that chair of the shortest-tenured position on the C-suite.

We detail the long, hard road most ideas take to get to market & how challenging it is to get the best ones through.

Hosted by Mike Linton -- the former P&G Brand Manager who went on to be the Chief Marketing Officer of Best Buy, eBay, and Farmers Insurance, as well as the Chief Revenue Officer of Ancestry.com and the head marketer at Remington -- this show serves as an ongoing lesson plan for how to get, do, keep, and handle the pressures of the CMO job.



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Episodes
  • Rob Ward | A Top Venture Capitalist Analyzes the AI Landscape | Co-founder GP | Meritech Capital

    Rob Ward | A Top Venture Capitalist Analyzes the AI Landscape | Co-founder GP | Meritech Capital
    Jan 27 2026
    A CMO Confidential Interview with Rob Ward, co-founder and General Partner of Meritech Capital, a top Silicon Valley venture firm. Rob shares his take on what he calls a "super terrifying and exciting time" and provides perspective on AI receiving the most capital of any technology in history, the "durability of revenue" and how quickly start-ups are now reaching $100 million in revenue. Key topics include: why VC's focus on growth vs. profitability; the risks associated with massive long-term capital investment; why marketers should pick a "trusted advisor" as their AI partner; and why your data strategy needs "context. Tune in to hear how Astronomer handled the "Coldplay Concert Incident" which immediately became a PR classic and the "VC Foie Gras Effect."What happens when a top venture capitalist pulls back the curtain on AI, valuations, hype cycles, and what’s actually working?In this episode of CMO Confidential, host Mike Linton sits down with Rob Ward, Co-Founder and General Partner at Metech Capital, to unpack the realities behind the AI boom. Rob has spent more than 26 years investing in category-defining companies like Facebook (Meta), Snowflake, NetSuite, Zipcar, and Cloudera — and he brings a rare, grounded perspective to today’s AI frenzy.Together, they explore: • Why AI adoption is still early — despite explosive growth • The real risks behind inflated valuations and “AI-washing” • How VC decision-making changes during platform shifts • What marketers and executives should actually look for when choosing AI partners • Why data strategy, change management, and trust matter more than tools • What layoffs, productivity, and the future of work really look like beneath the headlines • A masterclass in crisis communications, featuring Ryan Reynolds, Gwyneth Paltrow, and ColdplayIf you’re a CMO, CEO, board member, founder, or agency leader trying to make sense of AI without getting swept up in the hype — this is a must-listen conversation.New episodes of CMO Confidential drop every Tuesday.Subscribe for insider perspectives on the most misunderstood role in the C-suite.⸻Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome to CMO Confidential00:19 – Introducing Rob Ward and today’s AI conversation01:13 – Where we really are in AI adoption02:26 – Explosive AI growth: what’s real vs hype03:35 – Why enterprise AI adoption is still a slog04:37 – Vendor spend, hyperscalers, and the trillion-dollar buildout06:12 – Is this an AI bubble? Public vs private market realities07:20 – Accelerating investment rounds and lack of diligence08:12 – AI-washing and durability of AI businesses09:46 – Proof-of-concepts, switching costs, and fragile loyalty10:55 – Big Tech vs startups: why this cycle is different11:40 – Why VCs chase platform shifts despite the risks13:05 – How AI is changing profitability and headcount math16:11 – “FOGRA” investing and capital distortion17:00 – Circular investing and data-center risk18:23 – Data centers, GPUs, and betting on the wrong future19:38 – Credit default swaps and financial warning signs21:45 – How executives should choose AI vendors22:58 – Change management and why culture matters most24:09 – Why data strategy is the real AI strategy26:36 – “Frequently wrong, never in doubt” and AI hallucinations27:01 – Practical AI use cases for marketers30:00 – Layoffs, productivity, and what’s really happening to jobs33:05 – The best questions to spot real AI fluency35:00 – AI safety, geopolitics, and long-term risks36:38 – Crisis management masterclass: Astronomer, Coldplay & Ryan Reynolds39:58 – Final advice and closing thoughts⸻Comma-Separated TagsCMO Confidential, AI strategy, artificial intelligence, venture capital, Rob Ward, Metech Capital, AI adoption, AI hype, AI bubble, enterprise AI, generative AI, AI in marketing, CMO leadership, marketing leadership, venture investing, AI vendors, data strategy, change management, AI readiness, tech valuations, AI infrastructure, data centers, future of work, AI layoffs, crisis communications, brand crisis management, Ryan Reynolds marketing, Gwyneth Paltrow Astronomer, Coldplay controversy, Silicon Valley, marketing podcast, C-suite leadershipSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    41 mins
  • Dissecting Compensation - A Primer on Understanding, Negotiating and Managing Pay

    Dissecting Compensation - A Primer on Understanding, Negotiating and Managing Pay
    Jan 20 2026
    "Dissecting Compensation - A Primer on Understanding, Negotiating and Managing Pay"A CMO Confidential Interview with Richard Sanderson, the Marketing, Sales, and Communications Practice Leader at Spencer Stuart. Richard starts with the basics of salary, bonus and equity and branches out to compensation mix, the various types of equity, negotiating best practices, and the "other" elements of an offer. Key topics include: why the devil is in the details; when and how to discuss compensation; the difference between dumb luck and bad luck; and why everyone should do a "multi-year cash flow analysis." Tune in to hear why you should always read the proxy statement and the importance of being prepared to explain how you are using AI.*Dissecting CMO Compensation with Richard Sanderson (Spencer Stuart) — Salary, Bonus, Equity & Negotiation Playbook*What’s “market” for a modern CMO, and how do you actually negotiate it? Richard Sanderson, who leads Spencer Stuart’s Marketing, Communications & Sales Practice, breaks down the three pillars of pay (salary, bonus, equity), compensation mix by ownership model, and the real rules of negotiating offers, severance, and forfeitures. We also tackle vesting, RSUs vs. options vs. PSUs, what to ask recruiters (legally) about pay ranges, how to manage your team when equity is underwater, and why every CMO needs crisp AI impact stories in interviews. Actionable, candid, and built for executives who make or take offers. *Chapters*00:00 Intro — Welcome to CMO Confidential & Richard’s background01:50 Why comp is hard to decode (and why it matters)02:12 The building blocks: salary, bonus, equity03:21 The data gap: only ~4% of F1000 list marketing leaders as NEOs04:26 Salary basics, bands, and industry norms05:35 Bonus mechanics & the one question to ask (3-year payout history)06:38 Equity 101 — long-term incentives and where value really accrues07:25 Compensation mix: public, PE, private, nonprofit08:25 Geography effect — US vs. Europe on equity weighting09:23 RSUs explained (and why they always have some value)10:19 Options & strike prices — upside vs. “underwater” risk10:57 PSUs — performance gates, accelerators, and board metrics12:17 Vesting types: time, performance, and event-based triggers13:15 Forfeitures if you leave early (and what’s negotiable)15:09 Negotiating framework — timing, laws, posture16:34 When to talk comp without signaling “it’s just the money”17:58 Pay transparency laws — expectations vs. history; what recruiters can ask20:23 Forfeitures checklist: bonus timing, unvested equity, make-wholes21:36 Know your company’s rules (eligibility dates, presence requirements)22:36 Smart pushback: asking for the range and reducing info asymmetry23:47 Your moment of max leverage: the verbal offer27:58 Beyond pay: severance, sign-on, relocation, start date, perks29:00 CMO tenure math and why severance matters32:31 “Am I underpaid?” How to build a real case34:34 Managing your team through pay angst & proxy transparency36:29 Underwater equity — empathy, vision, and refresh cycles38:22 Timing luck: annual grants & market swings (“Liberation Day” example)40:00 Do the 5-year cash-flow comparison (and bridge Year 1–2)42:04 The new relocation math (mortgages & cost deltas)43:06 Titles, reporting lines, non-competes, and day-one docs43:50 Should you ever turn down a written offer?45:23 The reputational risk of reneging47:05 Be ready: the AI question in every CMO interview48:32 Wrap*Tags*CMO Confidential, Richard Sanderson, Spencer Stuart, CMO compensation, executive pay, salary bands, bonus plans, equity RSUs, stock options, PSUs, vesting, severance, negotiation, forfeitures, compensation mix, private equity, public companies, proxy statements, pay transparency laws, marketing leadership, executive recruiting, board compensation, make-whole bonus, cash flow analysis, AI in marketingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    49 mins
  • Alex Schultz | CMO at Meta | Marketing at Meta - The View From the Eye of the Storm"

    Alex Schultz | CMO at Meta | Marketing at Meta - The View From the Eye of the Storm"
    Jan 13 2026

    "Marketing at Meta - The View From the Eye of the Storm"

    A CMO Confidential Interview with Alex Schultz, the Meta CMO and VP of Analytics, and author of Click Here: The Art & Science of Digital Marketing and Advertising. Alex details why he believes in decentralized analytics and the importance of focusing on core results vs vanity metrics, why AI is a "threshold technology", and why and how the company transitioned to Meta. Key topics include: the barbell distribution of AI competency (native users and very senior experienced leaders); why he believes so strongly in "incrementality measurements"; how he and his team handle the emotional impact of being in the center of political discussions and; why marketers should be thinking about 2027. Tune in to hear a story about affiliate marketing incentives gone wrong and the eBay/Google "Tea Party" incident.



    What’s it really like to be CMO at one of the most scrutinized companies in the world?


    In this episode of **CMO Confidential**, host Mike Linton sits down with **Alex Schultz**, CMO and VP of Analytics at Meta, for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation on marketing leadership inside the eye of the storm. Alex breaks down how Meta structures marketing and analytics at global scale, why marketing must be centralized while analytics should not, and what most companies get wrong about “one source of truth.”


    The conversation goes deep on navigating nonstop political and cultural pressure, shortening negative news cycles, and keeping teams emotionally grounded when the brand is under fire. Alex also shares some of the clearest executive thinking we’ve heard on AI as a *threshold technology* — where it truly creates leverage, where humans must stay in the loop, and how CMOs should assess AI talent today.


    The episode closes with inside stories from the Facebook-to-Meta rebrand, hard-earned lessons from eBay on incrementality measurement, and practical advice for preparing your organization for 2027 and beyond.


    If you’re a CMO, CEO, founder, or senior operator responsible for growth, measurement, and brand under pressure — this is required listening.


    New episodes of **CMO Confidential** drop every Tuesday.


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    ## Chapters & Timestamps


    00:00 – Welcome to CMO Confidential

    00:01 – Alex Schultz’s role: CMO & VP of Analytics at Meta

    00:03 – Why marketing is centralized but analytics are decentralized

    00:06 – “One source of truth” and killing vanity metrics

    00:09 – Marketing while constantly in the global spotlight

    00:11 – Managing crisis cycles, truth, and comms alignment

    00:12 – AI’s real impact on marketing productivity

    00:15 – AI as a threshold technology (precision vs. recall)

    00:17 – How AI is reshaping analytics, creative, and teams

    00:18 – Hiring for AI: the barbell talent distribution

    00:22 – Preparing for 2027: information flow and AI philosophy

    00:25 – How B2B marketing is (and isn’t) changing

    00:28 – Inside the Facebook → Meta rebrand

    00:32 – Lessons from eBay: incrementality over last-click

    00:36 – What downturns reveal about leadership talent

    00:37 – Why Alex wrote his book on digital marketing

    00:40 – Affiliate marketing, incentives, and unintended consequences

    00:43 – Final advice for CMOs and marketers


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    CMO Confidential, Alex Schultz, Meta marketing, Facebook Meta rebrand, marketing leadership, CMO podcast, executive marketing, analytics strategy, marketing analytics, AI in marketing, artificial intelligence marketing, incrementality measurement, digital marketing strategy, B2B marketing, growth marketing, brand under pressure, crisis communications, marketing measurement, performance marketing, last click attribution, marketing org design, marketing podcast


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    45 mins
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