In this special live edition of How to Grow a CMO, host Ali Hussain (Chief Strategy Officer at tmp) sits down with four standout marketing leaders for a wide-ranging conversation on career growth, the evolving role of marketing, and the power of humanity in an era of AI. 

Joining the panel:

Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo

Tricia Stinton, CMO for Cloud Infrastructure Services at Capgemini

Rachel Lockwood, Global Marketing Director at AWS

Leah Silverlock, Head of Global Brand Communications at American Express Global Business Travel

Together, they explore their personal journeys, what’s keeping marketers excited (and up at night), and - because it’s the season - how to survive annual planning with sanity intact.

This episode was recorded live at the Century Club in Soho, London on November 20th 2025. 

In the first ever live edition of How to Grow a CMO, we bring together four heavyweight marketing leaders to unpack career journeys, the realities of modern B2B marketing, and how to survive (and improve) annual planning season. Host Alastair Hussain interviews:
Carolyn Henry - most recently Regional CMO of the Americas at Intel, leading 60+ marketers across consumer, commercial, gaming, data centre, AI, telco and enterprise, and a board member of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.
Kelly Waldher - CMO at Palo Alto Networks, responsible for global brand, demand, field and comms, formerly CMO at Zendesk with prior leadership roles at Google, Microsoft and Qualtrics, and an HBS MBA.
Negin Kamangar - a career CMO with 20+ years in high-growth SaaS, including leading Parchment through an $835m acquisition by Instructure, now also a limited partner at Stage 2 Capital and a Chicago Booth MBA.
Jon Miller - co-founder of Marketo and Engagio, now building a new stealth AI-era marketing platform. He writes extensively on LinkedIn about buying groups vs MQLs, brand as a revenue driver, and hosts the Marketing on the Rocks video series.

In part two of our conversation with Jean Lawrence, CMO at Nokia Cloud & Network Services, we focus on her career journey and marketing philosophy—from learning the ropes at startups to leading global teams at Motorola, Oracle, and now Nokia. Jean shares how an MBA at Kellogg shaped her analytical approach, why product marketing is still underrated, and what it really takes to align with a CFO.

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.tmpb2b.com

In Part 1 of our conversation with Jean Lawrence, CMO of Cloud & Network Services at Nokia, we explore the early forces that shaped her - growing up in a tight-knit Chicago family, inventing games before screens took over, and following in the footsteps of her MBA-trained father… who also happened to be a former priest. Jean shares how pattern recognition shaped her childhood, why ambition should never be suppressed, and what historical fiction and The Sound of Music have in common.  

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.tmpb2b.com 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dave Carrel, Global CMO at Thomson Reuters, we explore what it takes to lead in a company at an inflection point. Dave shares how his early days teaching himself HTML mirror today’s challenge of mastering AI, and why staying close to the work still matters—even at the top. He also talks through building effective marketing orgs, launching transformative products like CoCounsel, and the importance of setting a high creative bar.  

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.tmpb2b.com 

In Part 1 of our conversation with Dave Carrel, Global CMO at Thomson Reuters, we rewind to the early influences that shaped his leadership style—from growing up in a competitive, creative household in Buffalo to tournament pickleball in Seattle. Dave shares how becoming a parent made him more reflective, why his personal mantra is “go big or go home,” and how taking risks has transformed his career. We talk about momentum, culture, and why psychological safety is key to speed.  

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by TMP - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.tmpb2b.com

In Part 2 of our conversation with John Watton, senior B2B marketing leader, we explore the evolving demands of the modern CMO. John shares why breaking down silos between brand and demand is critical, how to speak the language of business (not just marketing), and why KPIs must be both practical and precise.

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com. 

In Part 1 of our conversation with John Watton, senior B2B marketing leader and seasoned CMO, we trace his unconventional path from soldering circuit boards in Cardiff to leading marketing teams at global tech companies. John shares how a love of science fiction, prog rock and analogue synths shaped his worldview—and how a lifelong blend of creativity and curiosity has powered his career. He reflects on key early mentors, what it means to simplify complexity, and the value of doing what you're good at—even if it’s not your ‘passion’.

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com. 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo, we shift focus to the practical side of leadership—team dynamics, market positioning, and navigating industry hype cycles.

Brendan explains why coherence across communications and marketing is non-negotiable, how trust is the hidden currency of every brand, and why the best marketing teams behave more like tight-knit crews.

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.

In Part 1 of our conversation with Brendan McCarthy, CMO at Criteo, we explore the early influences that shaped his career—from a pivotal internship and a gifted copy of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, to a teenage love of punk rock and noir fiction.  

Brendan reflects on the power of mentorship, why his five-year career plan never changed, and how music helps him manage energy and mindset. He opens up about discipline, adaptability, and why his dream alternative career might just involve a fast-paced kitchen.  

How to Grow a CMO is brought to you by The Marketing Practice - the global marketing agency for B2B technology brands. To find out more, visit ⁠https://www.themarketingpractice.com.