Uncensored CMO

Jon Evans

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

  1. 21 hr ago

    The power of incredible customer experience - Jamie Domenici, Klaviyo

    Jamie Domenici, CMO of Klaviyo, joins us to discuss why customer experience has become one of the most powerful drivers of growth. Drawing on lessons from nearly a decade at Salesforce and her experience joining Klaviyo just months before its IPO, Jamie shares how great brands create loyalty by obsessing over the customer. We explore what marketers can learn from customer success teams, why events like Dreamforce are so memorable, and how Klaviyo has repositioned itself while building a competitive moat in an increasingly crowded market. Jamie also shares her views on AI, the future workforce, the skills tomorrow's CMOs will need, and the difference between good marketing leaders and truly great ones. Timestamps 00:00 - Start01:05 - Jamie’s strange first job02:26 - Best and worst customer experiences05:56 - The power of a good customer experience08:45 - Marketing lessons from customer success11:48 - Marketing lessons from 10 years at Salesforce13:05 - Why Dreamforce was a great example of good customer experience14:46 - The key to a great keynote21:56 - Joining Klaviyo just months before an IPO24:28 - Repositioning a company25:45 - How does B2C differ to B2B when it comes to CRM?28:41 - How Klaviyo are building their moat30:51 - Where is AI going to have the biggest impact?32:19 - How are Klaviyo using AI in their product?34:14 - How AI is going to change the workforce35:42 - What skills will future CMOs be hiring for?37:31 - The difference between a good CMO and a great CMO39:17 - Why Klaviyo invest a lot in events40:52 - The best advice Jamie has ever received

    45 min
  2. 5 days ago

    Why brave creativity means business results according to GUT co-founder Anselmo Ramos

    Anselmo Ramos is one of the most respected creatives in advertising and the co-founder of GUT, the agency behind some of the world's most talked-about campaigns. Built on the belief that brave creativity drives business growth, GUT has quickly become one of the industry's most successful modern agencies. In this episode, Anselmo shares the story behind founding GUT, the principles that guide the business, and why marketers need to trust their instincts more. We discuss the power of relationships, how to build a great co-founder partnership, and why the biggest challenge often comes after success. We also explore GUT's approach to pitching, the bravery gap facing modern brands, the role of AI, and the campaigns that have helped define the agency's remarkable rise. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Start00:02:44 - Why is the industry obsessed with making rational advertising?00:04:19 - Why GUT have 68 principles00:06:27 - Why you need to pay more attention to your GUT00:09:10 - The GUT agency founding story00:12:41 - The secret to a successful co-founder relationship00:14:42 - Lessons from creating a successful agency00:17:58 - The surprising challenges of growing a successful agency00:20:14 - The compounding power of relationships00:22:55 - GUT’s approach to pitching00:29:26 - How to be productive and find inspiration00:31:50 - The power of working without approval00:36:26 - The bravery scale and the bravery gap00:40:17 - How to become a brave brand00:43:26 - Why brave creativity drives business results00:45:52 - Why black t shirts?00:49:09 - How GUT’s acquisition changed the business00:56:21 - How to plan your exit strategy00:59:29 - The Artois Probability: a Grand Prix winning campaign01:03:55 - Wimbledon All White Stella Artois Can01:05:59 - Stella Artois partnership with David Beckham01:11:06 - Where Anselmo uses AI01:13:53 - The best advice Anselmo has ever been given

    1hr 21min
  3. 10 Jun

    Greg Hahn on why the biggest risk you can take is to be ignorable

    Greg Hahn returns to the podcast to discuss the philosophy that has made Mischief one of the most talked-about agencies in the world. From Tubi's famous Super Bowl interruption campaign to turning around legacy brands like JCPenney, Greg explains why the biggest risk brands face today isn't failure, it's being ignored. We discuss how to create safe spaces for dangerous ideas, why AI risks making marketers more cautious, and the hidden cost of playing it safe. Greg also shares the traits of great CMOs, the future of agencies and pitching, the campaigns he's most proud of, and the advice he'd give to the next generation of creatives. Thanks for System1 for supporting the podcast: https://system1group.com Timestamps 00:00 - Start01:43 - Who are Mischief and what do they stand for?04:26 - What would Greg Hahn’s walk on track be?05:05 - How to make a safe space for dangerous ideas07:46 - Is AI making us play it safe?10:37 - What is the real cost of playing it safe?14:31 - The Mischief strategy behind Tubi16:20 - Tubi’s famous Super Bowl interruption campaign17:20 - The reward prediction error theory22:16 - Turning around a large legacy business like JCPenney25:55 - The traits of a successful CMO28:06 - The JCPenney movie trailer30:16 - Goldfish Chilean Sea Bass campaign35:51 - Why Greg likes George Felix as a CMO37:09 - The work that Greg is most proud of38:03 - What does the future of pitching look like?40:50 - How much of Mischief’s work comes from pitching42:13 - The future of social media43:17 - What other agency work is Greg envious of?45:03 - What would Greg do if he wasn’t afraid?48:01 - What does the future creative agency look like?49:14 - What does the future CMO role look like?51:12 - What does Greg want to achieve next?53:29 - Greg’s advice for young creatives54:25 - What’s the best advice Greg Hahn has ever been given?56:59 - What content does Greg consume? - Post chat

    59 min
  4. 3 Jun

    How Chili’s used creativity, culture and customer experience to create one of the greatest turnaround success stories - George Felix

    George Felix, CMO of Chili’s, joins us to tell the story behind one of the most impressive brand turnarounds of recent years. From iconic menu items like chips and salsa and the famous margarita to viral social media moments and creative partnerships, George explains how Chili’s became culturally relevant again and reignited growth. Before Chili’s, George played a key role in the legendary Old Spice turnaround, and in this episode he shares the lessons he's learned from transforming legacy brands. We discuss the power of nostalgia, making the most of your agency relationships, influencing product and pricing decisions, and why the customer experience often drives more value than advertising alone. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Start00:02:07 - The famous Chili’s chips and salsa00:03:39 - The famous Chili’s margharita00:06:32 - Why Chili’s has signature items00:08:01 - How Chili’s became one of the biggest brand turnarounds in history00:10:51 - The importance of working with people you trust00:12:26 - George’s role in the Old Spice turnaround00:18:10 - How to build the case for increased brand investment00:21:16 - The power of nostalgia for a legacy brand00:25:57 - How George pitched an idea to his creative agency and they bought it00:29:03 - The System1 data for the Chili’s ad00:30:45 - Fostering a great client / agency relationship00:38:19 - How experience drives better ROI than marketing00:42:43 - The viral cheese pull trend00:45:45 - How can a brand create cultural relevance?00:48:45 - Chili’s brand collaboration with Tecovas Boots00:51:19 - How George has influence over the Product “P” in marketing00:54:51 - How to leverage the Pricing “P”00:57:43 - The concept of “barbell pricing”01:00:27 - What is the most important attribute for a successful CMO?

    1hr 4min
  5. 13 May

    How to manage a crisis with ex United Airlines Chief of Comms, Jim Olson

    Jim Olson has spent his career helping businesses navigate moments of intense pressure from corporate crises to deeply personal challenges, running comms at United Airlines and Starbucks. In this episode, the author of Tailwind shares the lessons he’s learned from leadership, resilience, and facing adversity head-on. Drawing inspiration from Captain Sully’s Hudson River landing, Jim explains why the best crisis leaders follow the same process: aviate, navigate, communicate. We discuss where crisis management often goes wrong, what leaders can learn from failures like United Airlines, and why “black box thinking” matters in both business and marketing. Jim also opens up about his own cancer diagnosis and the mindset that helped him through it. Get Jim's new book, Tailwind here:https://www.amazon.com/Tailwind-Compass-Turning-Setback-Comeback/dp/B0GXCM3VYT/ 00:00 - Start01:11 - Lessons from Captain Sully’s Hudson River landing06:11 - The black box thinking approach to marketing07:30 - Other crises Jim has had to deal with in his career09:18 - When crisis management goes wrong - United Airlines13:11 - Managing merging two cultures15:27 - The situation when Jim’s CEO had a heart attack18:00 - Jim’s cancer diagnosis23:30 - The power of positive mentality28:30 - Don’t ask yourself what if, ask yourself why not31:34 - The power of a fourth space34:05 - Crisis doesn’t build character, it reveals it37:02 - Leadership lessons from Howard Schultz38:58 - Jim’s advice for those people facing a crisis

    45 min
  6. 6 May

    Marketing lessons from 20 years at Google - Dan Taylor

    Dan Taylor has spent over two decades at Google, helping shape how brands grow through search, media, and technology. Today, he leads global advertising at one of the world’s most influential companies, giving him a front-row seat to the biggest shifts in marketing. In this episode, Dan shares what he’s learned from 20 years at Google, from the importance of simplicity to navigating organisational complexity and the evolving relationship between product and commercial teams. We also dive into the future of search, including AI, new tools like “Circle to Search,” and what it all means for marketers. Timestamps 00:00 – Start00:40 – Lessons from being a pilot05:34 – Lessons from 20 years at Google06:43 – How Google has changed over two decades07:46 – The power of simplicity09:02 – Google’s breakthrough moments12:11 – The relationship between commercial and product13:47 – Navigating organisational politics17:08 – The biggest search trends in marketing18:24 – What is “Circle to Search”?20:37 – Opportunities for marketers in new search behaviours24:52 – How AI is changing search25:59 – Does Google see AI as competition?28:09 – Will ads exist in AI search?32:00 – How brands can improve search performance33:42 – Making the most of Google and YouTube35:34 – Measuring the value of brand search39:56 – AI’s impact on creativity45:52 – The one lesson from 20 years at Google

    48 min

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

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