Jon and Kory reflect on the very first Uncensored CMO: The Calling event. This episode recorded just days after it happened, with Kory joining as one of the keynote speakers.

The conversation explores the biggest lessons from the event, including why marketers need to embrace “pattern disruption,” the underrated power of curation, and what lobsters can teach us about growth and reinvention. Jon and Kory also discuss the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with live events, why polish is often overrated, and why genuine engagement matters far more than reach alone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months
03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event
05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling
06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster
12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption
17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation
20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter
22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish
22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people
25:40 - Reach vs engagement
29:03 - Jon’s big takeaway from the event

Today Jon and Kory break down why speed has become one of the biggest competitive advantages in modern marketing.

Using e.l.f.’s Super Bowl campaign, created and launched in just 11 days, they explore what allows some organisations to move incredibly quickly while others get trapped in endless approvals and bureaucracy. From legal teams and leadership trust to decision-making and culture, this episode is a practical look at how to build teams that execute with speed.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:12 - What Usain Bolt can teach us about speed
04:43 - Why e.l.f. made a Super Bowl ad in 11 days
09:33 - How you can work at e.l.f. speed
12:27 - How legal can help you work at speed
15:30 - What needs to be true in order for speed to happen
17:47 - Why speed is such a big competitive advantage

Since joining e.l.f., Kory has famously achieved consecutive quarters of growth, 28 at the time of recording. This is an extraordinary achievement for a CMO, so Kory breaks down exactly how they did it, and what insights you can take back to your company to achieve the same.