CMO Journeys

Christian Banach
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Marketing

CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin featuring conversations with the marketing leaders behind today’s most recognizable brands, including Princess Cruises, White Castle, and Ruby Tuesday. Hosted by Christian Banach, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of NextBigWin, each episode explores the personal and professional journeys that brought today’s CMOs to the C-suite — from the pivotal career decisions and mentors that shaped them to the lessons learned along the way. The conversation then turns to the realities of leading modern marketing organizations, including the mandates CMOs are driving inside their companies and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners. Through candid discussions, CMO Journeys gives agency leaders, marketers, and industry professionals a behind-the-scenes look at how modern CMOs build teams, shape brands, drive growth, and partner with the organizations helping bring their strategies to life.

  1. 2d ago

    Monica Lopez Gonzalez, CMO of Feeding America: Why Authentic Narratives Matter More Than Ever

    In this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Monica Lopez Gonzalez, Chief Marketing Officer of Feeding America, about leading marketing and communications at a time when trust, dignity, and public narrative are central to the organization’s mission. Monica shares how her background in consumer insight and storytelling now helps her connect authentic human experiences to a broader movement around hunger relief in America. What the Conversation Covers • Monica’s path from market research in Mexico to senior marketing leadership, and how early field work shaped her belief in human connection and authentic storytelling • Why marketing in a nonprofit requires a different mindset, with success measured not by selling more products but by increasing impact, awareness, and support • How Feeding America is working to tell more authentic, respectful, and dignified stories about neighbors facing hunger • Why cultural moments, donor understanding, and smarter segmentation matter in building stronger long-term relationships with supporters • How Monica is thinking about scale, innovation, AI, and agency partnerships while keeping human truth at the center of the work Guest Bio Monica Lopez Gonzalez is Chief Marketing Officer at Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. She brings a background in market research, consumer insight, and marketing leadership, and now focuses on helping Feeding America strengthen its public narrative, deepen donor engagement, and connect authentic community stories to broader action and support. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    32 min

  2. 2d ago

    Natasha Phillips, CMO of GE Healthcare: Bringing Science and Strategy Together

    Natasha Phillips, who leads marketing for Pharmaceutical Diagnostics in the U.S. and Canada at GE Healthcare, joins CMO Journeys to discuss how science, strategy, and customer insight come together in healthcare marketing. Her perspective is shaped by experience across consulting, research, healthcare, consumer marketing, and global commercial leadership. What the Conversation Covers • Natasha’s early interest in math, science, and healthcare, and how that foundation shaped her path into marketing leadership. • Her transition from consulting and research into commercial healthcare roles, including the mentor who encouraged her to pursue an MBA. • What she learned from moving into consumer marketing at McDonald’s and how those lessons apply back to healthcare. • How GE Healthcare markets to a complex mix of stakeholders, including clinicians, procurement teams, health systems, and institutions. • Natasha’s approach to agency partnerships, including the balance between strategic brand support, specialized execution, and healthcare regulatory expertise. Guest Bio Natasha Phillips leads marketing for Pharmaceutical Diagnostics in the U.S. and Canada at GE Healthcare, a global healthcare company focused on medical technology, diagnostics, and AI-driven solutions. Her work sits at the intersection of science, innovation, commercialization, and customer experience in a highly regulated healthcare category. Her background includes healthcare consulting, research, commercial leadership at Abbott, consumer marketing at McDonald’s, and global brand experience. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    35 min

  3. Jun 8

    Kristin Agnelli, CMO of ESO: Building a Career Between Sales and Story

    Kristin Agnelli, Chief Marketing Officer and SVP of Communications at ESO, joins CMO Journeys to discuss her path from sales development and demand generation into broader marketing leadership. Her perspective is especially valuable for marketers and agency leaders because she has built her career at the intersection of revenue, brand, product marketing, and customer storytelling. What the Conversation Covers • Kristin’s early path from pre-law ambitions to marketing leadership, including the internship experience that changed her direction. • How her background in sales development, demand generation, field marketing, and revenue alignment shaped the way she leads marketing today. • Why product marketing, brand, and customer storytelling need to work together to create a strong foundation for growth. • How ESO is building a clearer company-level story around emergency response, healthcare technology, data, and better outcomes. • Kristin’s approach to agency partnerships, including where outside expertise helps most and how agencies can show they truly understand a complex business. Guest Bio Kristin Agnelli is Chief Marketing Officer and SVP of Communications at ESO, a healthcare and emergency response technology company serving EMS, fire departments, hospitals, and government agencies. She leads marketing and communications for the company, with a focus on brand clarity, category education, customer storytelling, and go-to-market alignment. Her career includes leadership across sales development, demand generation, field marketing, product marketing, and broader revenue-focused marketing roles. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    34 min

  4. May 31

    Colette Dill-Lerner, CMO of Growth Channel: Leading Marketing in the Era of the CFO

    Colette Dill-Lerner, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Growth Channel, joins CMO Journeys to discuss how marketing leaders are navigating pressure, complexity, and financial accountability. Her perspective is shaped by a career across direct response marketing, consulting, private equity-backed companies, and ad tech. What the Conversation Covers • Colette’s unconventional path into marketing, from political science and early startup exposure to senior marketing leadership. • How her direct response background shaped her focus on customer acquisition, revenue, LTV, CAC, and business fundamentals. • Why today’s marketing environment is increasingly shaped by CFO scrutiny, tighter budgets, and the need to prove financial impact. • How Growth Channel is approaching go-to-market through relationships, in-person events, useful content, and strategic client support. • Colette’s perspective on agencies, including why they may become more valuable as companies face smaller teams, more pressure, and growing complexity. Guest Bio Colette Dill-Lerner is Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Growth Channel, a platform helping agencies and in-house teams simplify programmatic advertising across channels including CTV, audio, display, and retail media. In her role, she leads marketing, strategy, client success, and client advisory work, helping brands and agencies connect campaign execution to broader business goals. Her background includes direct response marketing, consulting, healthcare, private equity-backed companies, and ad tech. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    35 min

  5. May 25

    Linda Bethea, Former CMO of Danone North America: Balancing Brand Building and Business Pressure

    In this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Linda Bethea, former Chief Marketing Officer of Danone North America, about what it takes to balance long-term brand building with the short-term business pressures facing modern CMOs. Drawing on leadership roles at PepsiCo, Diageo, and Danone, Linda shares a practical perspective on portfolio strategy, creative risk, consumer insight, and why marketing needs a real seat at the business table. What the Conversation Covers • Linda’s path from studying psychology into a marketing career shaped by curiosity about consumer behavior and brand growth • The leadership lessons she learned across PepsiCo, Diageo, and Danone, including how to move from being a doer to leading through teams • How to manage a large and complex portfolio by clarifying the role of each brand and aligning resources to long-term strategy • Why strong brand building can come under pressure in short-term, financially driven environments and how CMOs can defend marketing investment • How Linda thinks about agency partnerships, bold creative ideas, media fragmentation, AI, and measuring marketing’s impact more effectively Guest Bio Linda Bethea is a former Chief Marketing Officer of Danone North America and has held senior marketing leadership roles at companies including PepsiCo and Diageo. Her career has focused on brand building, portfolio strategy, media and marketing effectiveness, and leading teams across some of the world’s most complex consumer organizations. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    33 min

  6. May 18

    Mike Bell, CMO of Everspring: Why Great Marketing Starts With Strategy, Not Tactics

    In this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Mike Bell, Chief Marketing Officer of Everspring, about building marketing around strategy, systems, and measurable outcomes rather than disconnected tactics. Drawing on a career that spans the Air Force, consulting, consumer brands, SaaS, and higher education, Mike shares how that broad experience shapes the way he leads full-funnel marketing in a rapidly changing environment. What the Conversation Covers • Mike’s unconventional path from the Air Force and consulting into marketing leadership, and how each chapter built a different part of his leadership style • Why he believes strong marketing starts with strategy, clear priorities, and the discipline to stay focused on outcomes • How AI is changing the way prospective students discover, compare, and choose educational programs before they ever visit a website • What Everspring is doing to improve visibility, strengthen full-funnel performance, and adapt to a world where influence happens earlier in the journey • How Mike thinks about team structure, agency partnerships, and using AI as a force multiplier rather than a substitute for strategic thinking Guest Bio Mike Bell is Chief Marketing Officer at Everspring, where he leads full-funnel marketing across more than 45 higher education partners. His career spans the Air Force, consulting, consumer brands, SaaS, and education, giving him a systems-driven perspective on leadership, strategy, demand generation, and marketing transformation. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    32 min

  7. May 11

    Jamie Richardson, CMO of White Castle: How to Keep a 100-Year-Old Brand Culturally Relevant

    In this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Jamie Richardson, Chief Marketing Officer of White Castle, about how a century-old brand stays relevant in a fast-changing culture. With nearly three decades at the company across marketing, corporate relations, and government affairs, Jamie brings a uniquely broad perspective on brand stewardship, innovation, and what it takes to grow without losing what makes a brand iconic. What the Conversation Covers • Jamie’s path from agency life into White Castle and how his experience across multiple functions shaped his approach to brand leadership • What he learned from working beyond traditional marketing, including how corporate relations and government affairs deepened his understanding of brand reputation • How White Castle is balancing heritage with innovation through menu development, loyalty, automation, and new guest experiences like the Castle of Tomorrow • Why staying culturally relevant means focusing on the right audiences, especially Gen Z, while continuing to serve loyal longtime fans • How Jamie thinks about agency partnerships, prioritization, AI, and building a marketing organization that can move quickly without losing brand clarity Guest Bio Jamie Richardson is Chief Marketing Officer at White Castle, where he helps lead marketing for one of the most iconic brands in quick service. Over nearly three decades with the company, he has held roles across marketing, corporate relations, and government affairs, giving him a broad view of how brand, reputation, culture, and business strategy connect. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners

    31 min

  8. May 4

    Sunil Frida, CMO of Zscaler: What It Takes to Market Through Constant Change

    In this episode of CMO Journeys, Christian Banach speaks with Sunil Frida, Chief Marketing Officer at Zscaler, about helping shape the next phase of growth for one of enterprise security’s most important brands. Drawing on leadership experience across cloud, AI, and cybersecurity, Sunil shares how he is aligning marketing, product, and sales to support Zscaler’s evolution in a rapidly changing market. What the Conversation Covers • Sunil’s path from Singapore and engineering into business leadership, product marketing, cloud, and cybersecurity • How his experience at AWS and CrowdStrike shaped the way he thinks about messaging, customer obsession, and leadership under pressure • Why Zscaler’s next phase of growth depends on tighter alignment between product, sales, and marketing as one go-to-market system • How he is thinking about prioritization, pipeline, team structure, and speed in a global marketing organization • Where AI is changing marketing workflows, agency relationships, and the way enterprise brands build and scale their stories Guest Bio Sunil Frida is Chief Marketing Officer at Zscaler, where he leads marketing for a company helping redefine enterprise security through a cloud-delivered zero trust model. Before joining Zscaler, he held leadership roles across cloud, AI, and cybersecurity, including at AWS and CrowdStrike, building a strong foundation in product, go-to-market strategy, and enterprise technology growth. About the Podcast CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin hosted by Christian Banach. The series features conversations with marketing leaders about the path to the C-suite, the challenges they are tackling inside their organizations, and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners.

    33 min
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About

CMO Journeys is a podcast from NextBigWin featuring conversations with the marketing leaders behind today’s most recognizable brands, including Princess Cruises, White Castle, and Ruby Tuesday. Hosted by Christian Banach, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of NextBigWin, each episode explores the personal and professional journeys that brought today’s CMOs to the C-suite — from the pivotal career decisions and mentors that shaped them to the lessons learned along the way. The conversation then turns to the realities of leading modern marketing organizations, including the mandates CMOs are driving inside their companies and how they evaluate agencies and strategic partners. Through candid discussions, CMO Journeys gives agency leaders, marketers, and industry professionals a behind-the-scenes look at how modern CMOs build teams, shape brands, drive growth, and partner with the organizations helping bring their strategies to life.

Information

  • Creator
    Christian Banach
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Christian Banach
  • Show Website
    CMO Journeys