As we wrap up 2025, marketing leaders are already deep in planning for 2026. But with more tools, more channels, and more “shiny objects” than ever, prioritization has never been harder. In this episode of CMOs Offscript, we talk candidly about the challenge of staying focused in a world that constantly pulls marketing teams in a dozen directions at once. We reflect on where experimentation helped, where it distracted, and why many teams are realizing they did not fully solve the problems they set out to tackle. We cover: Why prioritization has become harder for marketing leaders The impact of shiny objects on focus and execution What it really means to slow down and finish work end to end Why old school marketing fundamentals still matter How leaders can set better examples for focus and alignment in 2026 This conversation is about stepping back, tightening the process, and committing to fewer priorities that actually move the business forward. If you are heading into 2026 feeling overwhelmed by options and underwhelmed by results, this episode is for you.

It’s 2025, and we’re heading into budget season with a lot changing at once. In this episode of CMOs Offscript, we kick off with a big career move: Nisha steps into a Chief Growth Officer role, owning both product and marketing to close the gap between what a brand promises and what the product actually delivers. From there, we get into what 2026 planning really looks like for modern marketing teams, including headcount, rising costs, tech stack decisions, and why “utility players” (strong generalists who can flex) are becoming more valuable than ever. We cover: Why brand and product are becoming synonymous The shift toward marketing owning more revenue outcomes Budgeting for 2026 with rising costs and market uncertainty Hiring for speed, AI fluency, and adaptable “utility players” Building AI workflows across tools like GPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more Why simplifying your tech stack matters (and why HubSpot is becoming the center of gravity) The return of in-person connection: conferences, owned events, and field marketing What real sales and marketing alignment looks like before and after events If you’re planning for 2026 and trying to balance speed, strategy, and execution, this conversation will help you think clearer about where to invest and what to cut.

Over the past few weeks, something has felt off with AI tools we rely on every day. They forget context. They miss obvious details. They agree instead of challenge. And they confidently return answers that are just wrong. In this conversation, we unpack what is really happening with large language models, why faster output is not the same as better thinking, and what this means for marketing, sales, and content teams moving forward. We talk about: Why AI can feel less reliable even as it becomes more powerful The danger of speed without measurement or strategy Where authenticity and human judgment still matter most Why marketing teams may need to start operating more like product teams What we believe the next phase of AI adoption looks like heading into 2026 AI is not the problem. How we use it might be. This is a candid, unfiltered discussion about where AI helps, where it fails, and how teams can cut through the noise instead of adding to it.