CMO Therapy

In this episode of CMO Therapy, we dive into the art of fluid marketing with Helen Owen, a marketing guru in the world of payments and an expert in navigating the ever-changing world of marketing strategy. Together, we explore the delicate balance between long-term planning and the need for agility in today’s fast-paced market.

From knowing when to pivot to managing resources and motivating teams amidst shifting priorities, Helen shares insights and real-world examples of how flexibility isn’t just a necessity—it might also be what makes marketing so exciting.

We tackle questions like:

Whether you see constant change as a challenge or an opportunity, this episode will leave you with actionable ideas and plenty to think about.

Tune in to learn how to embrace the ebb and flow of marketing and turn uncertainty into your biggest advantage.

Music clip by Filo Starquez, Divergence

When it comes to thinking like a challenger brand, I couldn’t think of anyone better to ask advice, other than the amazing Eric Fulwiler. With oodles of experience, Eric was previously CMO at 11:FS where he built a media machine and is now Founder of his own agency Rival.

Listen in as we chat about:

- Doing more with less – what does that look like for marketing?

- Challenger brands seem to thrive under pressure, so what are they doing right that bigger players could learn from?

- So many marketing leaders often feel like they’re juggling a hundred things at once with no time for a breather.

- How can we manage it all, especially when we’re trying to do more with less?

- Myth busting the biggest misconception about challenger brands

Music clip by Filo Starquez, Divergence

In this episode I speak to Andrea Linehan, Fractional CMO, Advisory Board member for the CMO Council, and previously CMO for CurrencyFair.

Andrea and I have a fantastic discussion about the challenges marketing leaders often face with building a relationship and communicating with the CFO… or communicating ROI from marketing in general!

We chat about:

- When you're in those budget meetings and the CFO is all about numbers, how can we manage the pressure to justify marketing spend, especially when a lot of what we do is more long-term or harder to measure?

- Do you ever get the sense that CFOs see marketing as just a big cost centre?

- How can we flip that narrative and help them understand the long-term value of brand building and customer engagement?

- The best go-to strategy for proving ROI in areas like content creation or brand awareness, where results are more intangible, and how we can show it's worth the investment.

Music clip by Filo Starquez, Divergence

Welcome to my new podcast, CMO Therapy!

Wait, what’s that, another podcast? OK OK. Give me a minute to tell my story.

One of my favourite and (so I’m told) top skills is relationship building, and I’ve built up quite a network of fintech marketers over the years. Not just any marketers. In my humble opinion, I’m super grateful to be surrounded by lots of awesome marketers.

In more recent years as I’ve become more senior (*cough* and older), I’ve realised that I need these awesome people in my life more than ever. The life of a CMO can be tough at times, right?

On a regular basis my WhatsApp pings with a “fancy a chat?” or “can I pick your brain?” message. I fondly call these ‘therapy sessions’ where my fellow CMOs and I bounce ideas off each other, discuss challenges and unpack sticky situations. Just to confirm – I am not suggesting I have all the answers, 100% not! But there is so much power in having a buddy, an ear, a trusted friend to talk things through.

Two heads are better than one. It takes a village… take your pick of any of those quotes. It’s this approach that’s helped me grow so much quicker into a better marketer and kept me sane over the years.

During one of our therapy sessions, one person said “Lucy, we should record this. So many other would definitely benefit from listening, learning, and offering another perspective.” So this is my gift to you.

If you’ve made it this far, I hoped I’ve tempted you enough to have a listen.

So, welcome to CMO Therapy everyone! A podcast that’s hopefully going to help you navigate your way through your marketing journey because let me tell you, I get it – being a marketing leader is no walk in the park.

In each episode we dive headfirst into the world of B2B marketing, where uncertainty, tight budgets, and fierce competition are just the beginning of the rollercoaster ride. But guess what? You're not alone in this. Why go solo when you can tap into the powerhouse of insights from some of the most awesome marketing leaders in the game?

And look, the title might include the word therapy, but we're not just talking about challenges here – we're tackling them head-on. Join us as we deep dive into the nitty-gritty, share war stories, and unlock secret strategies. Get ready for no-holds-barred conversations because sometimes I have no filter.

So, if you're a chief marketing officer, a marketing lead, or just someone looking to up their marketing game – then CMO Therapy is for you!

You’ll get one new episode every 2 weeks on a Tuesday – my new favourite day of the week - with chats about about so many marketing topics from AI, to thinking like a challenger, to how CMOs can love your CFO.

I’m so excited for you to listen and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. So stay tuned for episode 1!

Music clip by Filo Starquez, Divergence