In this episode, Dave sits down with Megan Lueders (CMO at Sonatype), Ido Mart (CMO at ManyChat), and Kimberly Storin (CMO at Zayo) for a live CMO panel discussion at Exit Five’s Austin marketing meetup. These marketing leaders share what’s working what’s not in B2B marketing today and how the role of the CMO is evolving.

Dave, Megan, Ido, and Kimberly cover:

What every new CMO needs to know about leading a marketing org
How to align with CEOs, CFOs, and key stakeholders to drive business impact
The biggest marketing shifts happening right now (and what’s no longer working)
How to prove marketing’s impact in the era of efficiency

Timestamps

(00:00) - – Introduction to the CMO panel
(03:31) - – The evolving role of the CMO in 2025
(06:57) - – The biggest challenges marketing leaders face today
(10:04) - – How to align marketing with CEOs, CFOs, and key stakeholders
(13:39) - – What every new CMO needs to know when stepping into the role
(17:14) - – The marketing strategies that are working right now (and what’s not)
(21:01) - – Why B2B marketing is more emotional than most people realize
(25:45) - – How to prove marketing’s impact in a data-driven, efficiency-focused era
(29:27) - – The shift from demand gen to brand-led growth
(32:52) - – The role of storytelling and positioning in B2B marketing success
(37:07) - – Building a high-performing marketing team and the skills CMOs need today
(40:47) - – Key takeaways and final advice for marketing leaders

Send guest pitches and ideas to hi@exitfive.com
Join the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletter
Check out the Exit Five job board: https://jobs.exitfive.com/
Become an Exit Five member: https://community.exitfive.com/checkout/exit-five-membership

***

Today's episode is brought to you by Customer.io.

You know that feeling when you open your inbox, and it’s just… noise? Bad marketing. Spam. Most companies are out here just talking at customers, not talking to them.

Marketing messages should do more than just land in an inbox – they should create impact and drive real engagement.

Customer.io helps companies send smarter, more personalized messages using first-party data. Their platform enables brands to reach customers at the right time, in the right place, on the right channel—whether that’s email, SMS, push notifications, or beyond.

And the best part is that it’s all automated, so you’re not just blasting campaigns and hoping for the best. You’re running a machine that delivers real, human engagement at scale.

7,000+ brands already trust Customer.io to make their marketing feel less like noise and more like connection.

Join them by visiting Customer.io to get started.

***

Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production.

They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast.
Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest.
Visit hatch.fm to learn more

Inside the Minds of Top CMOs: What’s Working, What’s Not, and How the CMO Role is Evolving in B2B Marketing

The Exit Five CMO Podcast (Hosted by Dave Gerhardt)