A CMO Confidential Interview with Peri Hansen, Korn Ferry Leader, CMO Practice, North America. Peri discusses why the CMO position is becoming the vanguard of innovation, the importance of an "agile learner" mindset, and why there's no substitute for great leadership. Key topics include: how nothing "returned to normal" after COVID; the importance of org design; and why CMO's should own the entire customer life cycle and help drive company strategy. Tune in to hear why references matter more than ever and the importance of building a personal brand.

Why the CMO Is Now the Innovation Leader | Peri Hansen, Korn Ferry CMO Practice

In this episode of CMO Confidential, Mike Linton sits down with Peri Hansen, leader of the CMO Practice at Korn Ferry North America, to explore how the role of Chief Marketing Officer has become the new vanguard of innovation, strategy, and customer-centric growth.

From org design to leadership development, Peri breaks down the key traits of successful CMOs and why companies are no longer returning to pre-COVID norms. She shares why agile learning, personal brand-building, and owning the full customer lifecycle are now non-negotiables for modern marketing leaders.

Topics Covered:

• Why CMOs are being tapped to drive innovation and transformation

• The post-COVID shift in org design and what it means for marketing

• The importance of leadership, agility, and continuous learning

• Why great references still matter in the hiring process

• How CMOs can (and should) influence company-wide strategy

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⏱️ Chapters (Optimized for 29-minute Runtime)

00:00 – Intro: The Evolving Role of the CMO

01:00 – Meet Peri Hansen: Korn Ferry CMO Practice Leader

02:12 – Why the CMO is Now the Vanguard of Innovation

04:30 – Three New Mandates for CMOs: Tech, Strategy & Lifecycle

06:50 – The CMO as a Change Agent and Team Builder

08:30 – Tech CMOs Are Leading—Who’s Catching Up?

10:15 – Building Tech Credibility as a Marketing Leader

12:10 – “Nothing Returned to Normal” After COVID

13:30 – Post-COVID Turnover: What CEOs and Boards Want Now

15:30 – What’s Replacing the Traditional CMO Role?

17:10 – Why Org Design Is a Top Priority in CMO Searches

19:05 – How Companies Realize They Need Org Restructuring

20:45 – The AI Era: Is There a Leadership Gap Forming?

22:20 – What Agile Leadership Actually Looks Like

24:00 – What Resumes Reveal: Pivot Points and Risk-Taking

25:10 – Why References Matter More Than Ever

27:00 – Final Advice: CMOs, Build Your Own Personal Brand

28:40 – Wrap Up & Where to Find More CMO Confidential Content

#CMOConfidential #PeriHansen  @kornferryintl  #ChiefMarketingOfficer #Leadership #OrgDesign #CustomerExperience #MarketingStrategy #PersonalBrand #ExecutiveSearch #CMOInsights

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