What does it really take to build a brand that breaks through?

 In this episode of Adventurous CMO, Nate and Greg sit down with Jacques Spitzer, CEO and CCO of Raindrop, to unpack what it means to take creative risks that drive real results.

They dig into how creative culture is built inside agencies and client organizations, the overlooked power of humor in brand storytelling and the importance of emotional connection in a world driven by data.

Jacques also unpacks his "brandformance" philosophy: a blueprint for balancing breakthrough creative with real business results.

For CMOs, brand builders and creative leaders navigating rapid growth and shifting attention, this conversation is a guide to making bold ideas work harder and smarter.

If you’ve ever asked yourself whether the creative risk is worth the business reward, this conversation is for you.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

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What happens when punk rock roots meet product innovation at scale?

Nate and Greg sit down with their longtime friend and creative leader, Dave Brown, Head of Creative at Square. Dave’s journey is anything but typical, from booking indie bands and running a record label, to leading creative at some of the world’s biggest tech companies.

They explore what it means to build a meaningful creative career in a world that’s constantly changing and how staying curious, entrepreneurial and grounded in people can lead to breakthrough work.

Dave shares lessons learned from agency life, the power of building trust with business partners, and why bringing your full self (from punk shows to product meetings) is a creative advantage, not a liability.

Whether you’re leading a team, growing a brand, or simply trying to navigate the intersection of creativity and business, this conversation is packed with insight, honesty and a lot of heart.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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This week, our hosts Nate and Greg get real about what authenticity means in a world where AI is shaking up how we create and connect.

They dive into the chaos and opportunity of AI-powered marketing but remind us all that behind every tool, there’s a human beating heart driving courage, creativity, and connection.

Nate and Greg break down why agencies aren’t just about problem-solving anymore, they’re the champions of bravery and transformation. They talk speed vs. craft, the thrill (and the risk) of making fast content and why true creative magic comes from human grit and empathy, not just algorithms.

If you’re wondering how to embrace AI without losing the soul of your work or how to keep pushing boundaries when the rules keep changing, this episode is your roadmap.

Tune in for real talk on staying adventurous, authentic and unapologetically human in the face of change.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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In this episode, Greg Gibson and Nate Spees sit down with longtime collaborator and marketing leader Gleb Brichko, CMO of Harness, who shares his journey from a teenage HTML tinkerer to a demand-driven CMO at some of the fastest-growing tech companies.

Gleb’s path has been shaped by a bias toward action, deep collaboration, and an unwavering belief that creativity should always be accountable to performance.

You’ll hear what it’s really like to build brands inside high-growth startups, how to align with sales and engineering, and why internal consensus (not just clever creative) is the key to lasting impact.

He unpacks what he’s building at Harness, the cultural principles he’s instilling, and how prioritizing team trust and clarity fuels both growth and morale.

If you're a modern marketing leader balancing vision with velocity, this conversation is a candid, energizing look at scaling without losing your soul.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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Jessica Lovell has led global brand transformations, built creative teams from the ground up, and worked across both agency and client-side environments to bring bold ideas to life.
In this episode, Greg Gibson and Nate Spees sit down with Jessica to explore what it really takes to lead a high-stakes rebrand. 
From aligning strategy across global markets to guiding creative teams through pressure and complexity, they unpack the realities of brand leadership today.
Together, they share lessons learned from real-world experience and discuss how to build teams that do more than execute. 
These are the kinds of teams that shape culture!

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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ACMO EP05 - Reaching the Summit – On Building Brands, Finding Purpose, and Living Adventurously

This week on Adventurous CMO, we sit down with Kevin Dahlstrom a four-time CMO, founder, and brand builder who’s made a career out of challenging the norm and leading with purpose.

From building bold B2B brands to navigating personal identity, Kevin opens up about what it truly takes to build brands that break through and a life that feels meaningful.

We cover:
➡️ The boldest brands Kevin has built—and the ones that inspire him most
➡️ How to break through in B2B and the lessons learned along the way
➡️ The internal battles and courage it takes to lead with conviction
➡️ What being a 4x CMO taught him about the true power of brand
➡️ How identity work can unlock career clarity and impact
➡️ Why staying adventurous is essential—in work and in life

🎙 Real stories. Real risks. Real rewards.

Watch the full episode to hear Kevin’s journey to the summit—and the mindset that keeps him climbing.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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Adventurous CMO EP04: Strategic Marketing and Team Empowerment – how to build high-impact marketing through collaboration and vision.

What happens when creative leadership meets strategic firepower?
In this episode of Adventurous CMO, Ryan Fitzgerald shares how finding joy in leadership, empowering teams, and crafting bold marketing strategies can unlock next-level brand growth and unforgettable experiences.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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In a time when brands are producing more content than ever, the ones breaking through are doing something radically simple, they’re being real. 

In this episode, Greg Gibson and Nate Spees are joined by Casey Bevington to explore how authenticity has become the new creative edge. 

From the rise of in-house creative teams to how content is made, led, and scaled, this conversation unpacks why trust, speed, and creative problem solving are defining the future of brand building. 

If you’re leading a brand or building one, this one’s for you.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn & YouTube

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter!

This week on Adventurous CMO, Nate Spees and Greg Gibson dove into a topic that’s been dominating conversations everywhere, from client meetings to team discussions and LinkedIn feeds: AI. They unpacked its presence in creative work and collaboration, exploring what it truly meant for building brands in this moment of change.

Spoiler: it wasn’t the death of creativity, but it marked a significant shift! 

How brands chose to navigate this new landscape mattered. This wasn’t a conversation driven by hype or fear; it was about staying curious, staying human, and cutting through the noise.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

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Welcome to the Adventurous CMO Show, hosted by Greg Gibson (Chief Creative Officer) and Nate Spees (CEO) of Grizzly. 

In this first episode, they dive into the core philosophy of adventure that fuels bold brand leadership.

Learn how belief, bravery, and belonging power creativity and innovation in marketing, and hear stories behind the scenes of brand transformations across industries—from startups to Fortune 10s.

This show offers real insights, actionable strategies, and a fresh perspective on leading in today’s fast-moving marketing world.

Sponsored by Grizzly, Adventurous CMO is hosted by Nate Spees and Greg Gibson.

Grizzly is an independent creative agency. We guide brands onward™ to challenge convention and impact culture.

📅 Join us LIVE every Thursday 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn & YouTube

Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter!