Uncensored CMO

Jon Evans
  • 4.3 (17)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Uncensored CMO was created to explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory & practice.

  1. 12 HRS AGO

    Canva CMO on the marketing strategies that built Australia’s largest private company - Zach Kitschke

    Zach Kitschke joined Canva as employee number five. Today, the company serves hundreds of millions of users worldwide. In this episode, Zach shares the inside story of Canva’s growth, from the scrappy early marketing that put the company on the map to scaling a brand and product used across the world. We discuss the power of Canva’s freemium model, their bold “Make the Logo Bigger” campaign, and how the company approaches both brand and B2B marketing. Zach also explains how Canva scaled from a team of five to thousands of employees, the leadership lessons he learned from the founders, and how AI is shaping the next chapter for the business. Sign up to our live event, The Calling, on April 21st here:https://event.uncensoredcmo.com/events/uncensoredcmo/2044861 Subscribe to our newsletter, The One Thing:https://newsletter.uncensoredcmo.com/ Listen to our new podcast, Uncensored Renegades:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncensored-renegades/id1868870960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qnkqq0XSpgif9A5ZNgSpX?si=f181c3a0e9af480c Timestamps 00:00 - Start00:53 - Being employee #5 at Canva01:46 - The marketing that got Canva noticed at the start03:50 - How big is Canva?04:45 - The challenges growing Canva into a unicorn07:26 - What makes good design according to Canva09:24 - The freemium business model11:46 - Why the Canva founders are giving away 30% of their wealth13:21 - Do Canva invest more in product or brand?14:41 - Canva’s make the logo bigger campaign16:33 - How Canva approaches B2B marketing18:59 - The AI tools that are driving Canva forward22:19 - The most innovative things Zach has done as Canva CMO24:58 - Zach’s tips for delivering a keynote26:59 - Being a CMO scaling from 5 to 5000 employees29:52 - How to run multiple business functions; HR, marketing, customer service31:49 - What Zach has learned from the Canva founders33:32 - How to define the cuture at Canva35:39 - What’s next for Canva?36:35 - What has made Canva so successul?

    41 min
  2. Lessons from sh*tty moments (and bosses) [Uncensored Renegades]

    2 DAYS AGO

    Lessons from sh*tty moments (and bosses) [Uncensored Renegades]

    Every week, Jon and Kory pull back the curtain on the messy, unfiltered reality of building a career on your own terms. Throughout their long and successful careers, they've had their fair share of sh*tty moments and even sh*ttier bosses. From Kory being literally barked orders at in her first job, to Jon being fired after just 3 months at his dream job. These are the moments that make you question everything. But they're also the moments that shape you. Tune in for the lessons, the laughs, and zero sugarcoating. Get Uncensored Renegades every week: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncensored-renegades/id1868870960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qnkqq0XSpgif9A5ZNgSpX?si=f181c3a0e9af480c Watch the Uncensored CMO episode with James Watt:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOp1CPZ0CNM Timestamps 00:00 - Start00:37 - Why sh*tty moments?01:24 - Kory moment #1 - the fire that fuels you04:20 - How to be a good boss05:43 - Jon moment #1 - when to have the hard conversations11:13 - Kory moment #2 - a lesson in de-escalation16:28 - Jon moment #2 - impossible and unreasonable expectations20:59 - Kory moment #3 - be careful of the bridges you burn25:51 - Jon moment #3 - the power of being vulnerable

    31 min

  3. 4 MAR

    LinkedIn CMO on how to grow your profile, what skills are most in demand and B2B marketing strategies - Jessica Jensen

    Jessica Jensen, CMO of LinkedIn, joins us for a high-energy conversation on careers, personal branding, and the future of B2B marketing. We dive into the latest job market data (it might surprise you), the skills employers are actively looking for, and how to grow your personal profile on LinkedIn (which could include posting with flamingo glasses). We also unpack the LinkedIn algorithm, handling negative comments, new features creators and brands should be using, and why B2B marketing absolutely doesn’t have to be boring. Sign up to our live event, The Calling, on April 21st here:https://event.uncensoredcmo.com/events/uncensoredcmo/2044861 Subscribe to our newsletter, The One Thing:https://newsletter.uncensoredcmo.com/ Listen to our new podcast, Uncensored Renegades:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncensored-renegades/id1868870960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qnkqq0XSpgif9A5ZNgSpX?si=f181c3a0e9af480c Timestamps 00:00 - Intro01:04 - Jessica Jensen’s backstory02:02 - The benefits of being a marketer from a non-marketing background02:42 - The difference between B2B and B2C according to LinkedIn03:38 - How to build high-performing teams06:32 - The data on the job market according to LinkedIn10:02 - What skills are employers looking for?12:04 - How do you build a personal brand on LinkedIn (when working for another company)18:25 - 3 tips for building your personal brand on LinkedIn20:04 - What is going on with the LinkedIn algorithm?21:35 - How to make the most of an ever changing algorithm23:16 - Does LinkedIn suppress posts based on gender?26:14 - How to deal with negative comments on LinkedIn28:00 - What new LinkedIn features should people be using?30:48 - What features can brands use to make the most of LinkedIn32:19 - B2B does not have to be boring35:02 - LinkedIn’s billboards poking fun at AI36:21 - How are LinkedIn marketing LinkedIn?41:12 - How are LinkedIn helping younger people get into work43:28 - Addressing the Open to Work badge stigma44:17 - Advice to creators on LinkedIn

    47 min
  4. How innovation succeeds with Kory Marchisotto [Uncensored Renegades]

    2 MAR

    How innovation succeeds with Kory Marchisotto [Uncensored Renegades]

    How are great products created through innovation? Jon and Kory tackle this topic bringing entertaining examples from their careers, including the runaway success of e.l.f.'s Power Grip primer. So what's the key to innovation? Culture, constraints, and most importantly, being close to your customer. Get Uncensored Renegades every week: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncensored-renegades/id1868870960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qnkqq0XSpgif9A5ZNgSpX?si=f181c3a0e9af480c Timestamps 00:00 - Start01:04 - Why innovation is Jon’s favourite marketing topic01:35 - Creating the cultural conditions necessary for innovation04:25 - The measuring stick for innovation06:23 - Why innovation fails08:19 - The innovation of e.l.f.’s Power Grip Primer15:09 - How constraint breeds innovation20:07 - Innovation when you’re close to your customer

    26 min

  5. 25 FEB

    From idea to £25m exit - Jimmy's Iced Coffee Founder, Jim Cregan

    Jim Cregan built Jimmy’s Iced Coffee from scratch, spotting an untapped market, designing a product that stood out, and making its way onto the shelves of Selfridges in just 4 months. In this episode, Jim shares the founding story, the thinking behind Jimmy’s distinctive “BottleCan” packaging, and how personal touches and relentless energy helped build a brand people loved. We also dive into retail strategy, going direct-to-consumer, treating suppliers as humans, and how the £25m exit to Britvic finally came together. Sign up to our live event, The Calling, on April 21st here:https://event.uncensoredcmo.com/events/uncensoredcmo/2044861 00:00 - Start00:59 - The founding story of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee06:04 - The iced coffee market at the time09:44 - How Jimmy designed and packaged the product12:21 - Why Jimmy’s is in “Cottles” or “BottleCans”19:56 - How Jimmy’s got into Selfridges 4 months after launching20:50 - Hustling their way into Whole Foods and other stores26:58 - How Jimmy’s got a listing in Tesco28:05 - Treating suppliers like humans31:15 - Choosing to go Direct to Consumer in addition to retail32:53 - Adding the personal details that matter34:20 - How Jim marketed Jimmy’s Iced Coffee39:39 - Jim’s advice to aspiring founders41:57 - How the £25m exit to Britvic happened

    49 min
  6. What is Marketing? Part 2: Marketing is Poetry with Kory Marchisotto [Uncensored Renegades]

    23 FEB

    What is Marketing? Part 2: Marketing is Poetry with Kory Marchisotto [Uncensored Renegades]

    How do you distil something as complex as marketing into something simple? In this special episode of Uncensored Renegades, Kory delivers a powerful seven-minute poem (originally written as a pattern-disrupting acceptance speech) that captures the emotional weight, pressure, and responsibility of modern marketing leadership. Born from a flash of inspiration at an AC/DC concert, the poem explores the trials of being a CMO, the burden of accountability, and the mental fortitude required to lead. After the performance, Jon reacts candidly, unpacking the themes of ownership, bravery, and the uncomfortable truth that in leadership, pretty much everything is down to you. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncensored-renegades/id1868870960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qnkqq0XSpgif9A5ZNgSpX?si=f181c3a0e9af480c Timestamps 00:00 - Start00:28 - Why marketing is poetry to Kory02:25 - Where did Kory’s love for poetry start?03:58 - How poetry makes complex things simple04:56 - Why Kory wrote a poem and not an acceptance speech12:29 - Kory Marchisotto’s marketing poem19:43 - Jon reacts to Kory’s poem21:04 - The power of mental fortitude24:34 - Pretty much everything is down to you, and you alone26:45 - You don’t have to have all the answers28:05 - Seek out what you don’t know

    32 min

  7. 18 FEB

    Why Marketers Don’t Make the Boardroom - Thomas Barta

    Thomas Barta is one of the world’s leading experts on marketing leadership. A former McKinsey partner, CEO of the Marketing Leadership Institute, and co-author of The 12 Powers of a Marketing Leader, Thomas has studied what makes CMOs successful through the largest global research project of its kind, over 68,000 leadership assessments. In this episode, we explore what CEOs really expect from CMOs, why so few marketers make it to the boardroom, and what needs to change if marketing is to lead growth again. Thomas shares practical tactics for building stronger CFO relationships, acting with more bravery, and avoiding the “safe” behaviours that quietly kill careers. A must-listen for any marketer serious about leadership. Sign up to our live event, The Calling, on April 21st here:https://event.uncensoredcmo.com/events/uncensoredcmo/2044861 Timestamps 00:00 - Intro00:43 - How Thomas Barta got into marketing02:24 - The surprising thing about marketing at the board level03:52 - What is the CEO looking for a CMO to deliver04:41 - Why are there so few marketers in the boardroom08:38 - What tactics should marketers use to make sure they are delivering growth11:20 - How can CMOs build the relationship with their CFO12:53 - CMO Tenure - is it going up or down?18:59 - What do CMOs need to change?21:13 - Fitting in is the safest way to fail28:11 - The bravery formula29:48 - Why you need to act quickly31:07 - Confessions of a CMO

    38 min
  8. How to win a Cannes Lion with Kory Marchisotto [Uncensored Renegades]

    16 FEB

    How to win a Cannes Lion with Kory Marchisotto [Uncensored Renegades]

    With Cannes Lions deadlines looming, Jon and Kory dive into what it really takes to pitch, and win, at Cannes. We recorded this episode on the final day of Cannes 2025, with Kory in the thick of e.l.f’s "So Many D*cks" campaign submission for both a Glass and Titanium Lion. With the experience fresh in her mind, she breaks down the realities of the process. Jon brings a different perspective, reflecting on his own Bronze and Silver Lion wins from years past, and the hard-earned lessons that came with them. This is an episode of the Uncensored Renegades podcast. We'll only be posting a few more episodes of Renegades on this feed. To hear episodes of this new show, subscribe in your podcast app of choice: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncensored-renegades/id1868870960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7qnkqq0XSpgif9A5ZNgSpX?si=f181c3a0e9af480c Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - The pitching process for a Cannes Lion 03:14 - The pitch process for a Glass Lion 06:51 - The power of the Pratfall Effect 08:39 - Pitching for a Titanium Lion 10:41 - Jon’s tips from winning his Silver and Bronze Lions 12:17 - Audience before content 14:14 - How to make your campaign interesting (and not dull) 16:25 - How e.l.f. makes their campaigns interesting 18:58 - How to hack your campaign; babies or animals

    21 min
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4.3
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Uncensored CMO was created to explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory & practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Jon Evans
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    249
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Uncensored CMO
  • Show Website
    Uncensored CMO

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