CMORoom Spotlight

In a world where brands are built in real time and momentum is everything, the CMORoom Spotlight brings you inside the minds of the leaders shaping what’s next.

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CMORoom Spotlight: Razorfish’s Will Ferguson

For years, search was the gateway to discovery. Consumers typed a question into Google, compared options, and made decisions on their own terms. Today, that journey is changing faster than most brands realize.
As AI-powered search becomes a primary source of information, marketers are being challenged to rethink visibility, customer journeys, and what growth looks like in an increasingly connected world. Success is no longer about optimizing individual channels, it's about building an ecosystem where creativity, media, data, CRM, and technology work together seamlessly.
In this edition of CMORoom Spotlight, Kate Pietrini, Chief Marketing Officer at CMORoom, speaks with Will, Chief Growth Officer at Razorfish, about navigating today's marketing landscape, the evolution of AI search, why the middle of the sales funnel is changing, and what brands must do to stay ahead.

CMORoom Spotlight: Carter’s, Brandi Stone-Watkins

Marketing is changing faster than ever, and the brands that succeed are the ones that evolve with their customers.

In this episode of CMORoom Spotlight, Katy Pietrini, CMO of CMORoom, sits down with Brandi Stone-Watkins, Senior Director, Media at Carter's, to explore how one of the world's most trusted children's brands is connecting with today's Gen Z parents while balancing brand building, performance marketing, and measurable business growth.

From understanding the modern parenting journey to creating full-funnel marketing strategies and building high-performing teams, Brandi shares practical insights for today's marketing leaders.

💡 Key Takeaways:
• How Gen Z parents are reshaping the future of retail marketing
• Why customer understanding should drive every marketing decision
• The importance of unifying brand and performance marketing
• Measuring success with incrementality, MMM, and brand health
• The rise of social commerce and the creator economy
• Leadership lessons on influence, relationships, and career growth

If you're a CMO, brand leader, marketer, or growth executive looking to stay ahead in an evolving consumer landscape, this conversation is filled with actionable insights you won't want to miss.

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CMORoom Spotlight: Apco Worldwide's Mike Woods

The media landscape is changing faster than ever. As consumer attention shifts across platforms, marketers face increasing pressure to prove business impact—not just campaign performance.

In this episode of CMORoom Spotlight, Mike from APCO Worldwide shares why media should be involved from the very beginning of business strategy, not just campaign execution.

We discuss:

Why media deserves a seat at the strategy table
The shift from channel-first to audience-first marketing
How APCO integrates paid, earned, creative, and communications strategies
Why Connected TV (CTV) and Digital Out-of-Home are reshaping advertising
The biggest challenges facing today's media leaders
Why empathy is one of the most important leadership qualities in marketing. Whether you're a CMO, marketing leader, media strategist, or brand builder, this conversation offers valuable insights into where the industry is heading and how integrated thinking creates stronger business outcomes.

CMORoom Spotlight: Kimberly-Clark’s Shermika Dunner

What separates a good marketing leader from a truly great one? In this exclusive CMO Spotlight interview, we sit down with Shermika Dunner—Innovation Leader, Brand and Insights at Kimberly-Clark—ahead of CMORoom's Atlanta gathering.

Shermika shares her powerful perspective on why simplicity is becoming the ultimate marketing tool, how to navigate the intersection of data and creative strategy without falling into "analysis paralysis," and what it takes to drive long-term business impact.

Whether you’re trying to build influence in the C-suite, align cross-functional teams, or forecast where your market will be 3 to 5 years from now, this conversation offers invaluable, real-world advice for modern marketing leaders.

CMORoom Spotlight: David Lorango

What does growth really look like in today’s retail landscape?
It’s no longer just about scale, it’s about precision. As digital channels become more crowded and consumer expectations continue to shift, brands are being forced to rethink how they drive performance, build awareness, and stay relevant.

In this episode, David Lorango shares an honest perspective on the realities of modern retail marketing, from lower-funnel saturation and shifting consumer behavior to the growing role of agentic AI in shaping the future of commerce.

Drawing from his experience advising global retail brands and high-growth startups, David breaks down:

• Why performance marketing alone is no longer enough
• How fashion and retail brands should rethink awareness strategies
• Where AI is creating real operational and marketing advantages
• The biggest mistakes brands are still making in today’s digital ecosystem
• What leaders need to prioritize to stay competitive in the next era of retail

A sharp conversation on the future of retail, marketing, and growth strategy.

CMORoom Spotlight: Blaze Pizza's Casey Terrell

In this CMORoom Spotlight interview, Andrea Orth, Executive Director of CMORoom, sits down with Casey Terrel, ahead of the Atlanta dinner. The conversation unpacks the evolving realities of brand leadership in today’s restaurant industry, starting with how “value” is no longer defined by price alone, but by a brand’s ability to deliver a differentiated guest experience.

Casey shares the responsibility CMOs carry as stewards of both the brand and franchisee investments, emphasizing the importance of transparency through the “red-face test”—ensuring every decision is clear, defensible, and aligned with long-term brand integrity. He also explores the constant tension between driving immediate traffic and building lasting emotional connection, highlighting why short-term wins should never come at the expense of brand equity or guest experience.

Andrea and Casey close by addressing the operational trade-offs at the core of restaurant marketing—balancing quality, speed, and affordability—and why strong leadership requires making intentional choices that protect both business performance and the long-term health of the brand.

CMORoom Spotlight: The Mixx's Robyn Streisand

Strong partnerships rarely begin with a polished pitch, they begin with authenticity. What started as a simple introduction through a mutual connection quickly evolved into a meaningful friendship and powerful professional partnership between Robyn Streisand, Founder and CEO of The Mixx, and Melissa Anderson, President of Search.com, a division of Public Good. Rooted in honesty, shared ambition, and a deep belief in human connection, their relationship has grown alongside their work, spanning transformative opportunities, bold ideas around AI, and a shared commitment to building communities that truly matter.

In this conversation, Melissa sits down with Robyn to reflect on where it all began, what they’ve built together, and why human connection remains the most important currency in a tech-driven world.