The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström® | What CMOs Need to Know About Marketing Technology, AI & CX

The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström® | What CMOs Need to Know About Marketing Technology, AI & CX

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The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström® | What CMOs Need to Know About Marketing Technology, AI & CX episodes

  • RGP Chief Strategy & Experience Officer Jennifer Jones on the human experience of digital transformation

    What if the biggest obstacle to delivering a world-class customer experience isn't your technology or your strategy, but the very way your teams are structured and enabled to work?


    Agility requires creating an internal environment that can fluidly adapt to—and even anticipate—the needs of the external customer.


    Today, we're going to talk about: the often-overlooked foundation of successful business transformation: the human experience.

    We’ll explore:

    • Why the employee experience isn't just an HR initiative but a direct driver of customer outcomes
    • How designing systems around the way people actually think—not just how we’re organized on a chart—is critical.
    • The practical application of a human-centered lens to business processes
    • Why so many large-scale changes fail when they don't properly connect the dots between people, processes, and technology.

    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jennifer Jones, Chief Strategy & Experience Officer at RGP.

    About Jennifer Jones

    Jennifer Jones is Chief Strategy & Experience Officer at RGP, a global professional services firm, where she leads enterprise strategy and experience end-to-end—aligning go-to-market, customer and employee experience, and operating models to accelerate growth and retention. She is responsible for translating strategy into execution across the business, partnering across sales, delivery, finance, technology, HR, and talent to remove friction, strengthen adoption, and drive measurable outcomes.
     
    Jennifer also leads global marketing and communications, shaping RGP’s market voice, positioning, and demand generation engine. Previously, she served as Chief Marketing Officer, where she unified the company’s brand, go-to-market strategy, and growth programs to support its evolution into a differentiated, execution-focused consulting firm.
     
    With more than 28 years of experience, Jennifer is known for closing the gap between vision and execution. She has led large-scale transformations across brand, customer and employee experience, service design, and AI-enabled operating models—helping Fortune 500 organizations modernize in ways that drive adoption, unlock value, and deliver sustained impact. Her work is grounded in human-centered design, ensuring transformation is not only strategic, but people-focused, actionable and enduring.

    Jennifer Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergardnerjones/

    --------Resources--------

    RGP: https://rgp.com/

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74

    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Don't miss We Make Future - the International Festival of Innovation in AI, Tech, and Digital Marketing, June 24-26 in Bologna. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c80991afff416bb2

    The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  • Resident Expert: Bill Staikos on the CX landscape in 2026

    As a leader, you often spend so much time on the strategies and tactics that keep your brand growing that it’s difficult to keep up with what’s going on in the background with the platforms and the companies behind them.


    That’s why I’m always glad to talk with our guest today, who is both focused on the business of CX as well as the business behind CX and the SaaS platforms driving so many customer experiences. I’m excited to talk again with our Resident Expert on the CX and MarTech platform landscape.


    We talked right at the beginning of 2026 as a look back at last year. Now that we’ve had a quarter behind us in 2026, it’s time to talk about how this year is shaping up and what we can expect in the months ahead.


    To help me discuss these topics, I'd like to welcome, Bill Staikos, Founder at Be Customer Led.

    About Bill Staikos

    Bill Staikos is a senior customer experience executive with over 20 years of leadership across financial services, consulting, and technology. He has held senior roles at American Express, Freddie Mac, JP Morgan, and BNY Mellon, where he led global initiatives to transform client and employee experiences. A former SVP at Medallia, Bill helped organizations turn insights into measurable outcomes.


    Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice and one of the Top 50 Global CX Influencers, Bill is also the founder of the Be Customer-Led podcast and is now preparing to launch The Multimodal Experience. Known for his pragmatic, impact-driven approach, Bill advises leading brands, including Apple, Bank of America, Marriott, and T-Mobile, on connecting customer experience to business growth.

    Bill Staikos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billstaikos/

    Resources

    Be Customer Led: https://becustomerled.com/

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74

    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Don't miss We Make Future - the International Festival of Innovation in AI, Tech, and Digital Marketing, June 24-26 in Bologna. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c80991afff416bb2

    The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  • University of Phoenix Chief Strategy Officer Ruth Veloria on higher education and the workforce of the future

    With the half-life of professional skills shrinking every year, is the traditional model of corporate learning and development fundamentally broken, and what role should employers play in the new era of continuous education?


    Agility requires a workforce that can adapt and acquire new skills as quickly as the market changes. This means the old models of education and professional development must be re-engineered for a world that demands continuous learning integrated with professional life.


    Today, we're going to talk about the evolution of higher education, specifically how online programs are being redesigned from the ground up to meet the complex needs of working adults. We'll explore how concepts we often discuss in customer experience—like personalization and flexibility—are being applied to learning to help professionals advance their careers without putting the rest of their lives on hold.


    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Ruth Veloria, Chief Strategy and Customer Officer at University of Phoenix.
    About Ruth Veloria

    Ruth Veloria is Chief Strategy and Customer Officer at the University of Phoenix, where she leads strategic vision, customer experience innovation, and the use of student data to support progress, graduation, and career success. She joined the University in 2009 and has held roles including chief customer officer and executive dean of the Business School, with prior strategy experience at Booz Allen, BCG, and Charles Schwab. Veloria holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from New College at the University of Oxford and a master’s in management from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.

    Ruth Veloria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthveloria/

    Resources

    University of Phoenix: https://www.phoenix.edu/

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658
    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  • MarketingOps CEO Mike Rizzo on Marketing Operations as a strategic driver of growth

    Most leaders see Marketing Ops as the team that keeps the trains running on time, essentially the plumbers of the marketing department. But what if I told you they’re actually positioned to be the architects of your company’s most durable competitive advantage?


    Agility requires moving beyond the transactional nature of campaigns and technology. It demands building a durable, responsive ecosystem around your brand, one that can listen and adapt not just quarterly, but constantly.
    Today, we're going to talk about how to reframe the marketing operations function from a cost center or tactical execution engine into a strategic driver of growth. And we’ll explore a powerful, and perhaps counterintuitive, way to do it: by building a genuine community, not just as a marketing channel, but as the core of your go-to-market strategy.


    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Mike Rizzo, CEO at MarketingOps.

    About Mike Rizzo

    Mike Rizzo is a career marketing operations professional passionate about using a people-first approach to building scalable and efficient solutions to the challenges faced by marketing, business operations, and client success teams.

    With his extensive background in marketing Mike helped build, launch, manage and optimize Mavenlink's first user community and Client Advisory Board programs.

    In 2017 he also founded the growing community of MO Pros - a place where thousands of Marketing Operations Professionals connect, collaborate and help elevate the practice of Marketing Ops. He is also the co-host of the podcast called Ops Cast.
    As the founder of MarketingOps.com, Mike is taking a community-led approach to building a platform purpose-built to elevate Marketing Operations Professionals.

    Mike Rizzo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aharze/

    Resources

    MarketingOps: https://www.marketingops.com

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74

    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  • Tealium's Zack Wenthe on the hidden challenge of AI-driven commerce

    As you race to adopt AI-powered shopping experiences, are you creating a new data black box that will make your customer journey less understood, not more?


    Agility requires not just the speed to adopt new channels like generative AI, but the foresight to ensure these new touchpoints don't become blind spots in your customer journey. It demands that our data strategy evolves as quickly as our customer-facing technology.


    Today, we're going to talk about the hidden challenge of AI-driven commerce. As major brands roll out compelling shopping experiences on platforms like Google's Gemini, they risk creating a new data black box. When customer interactions happen inside these AI environments, the insights from those conversations can become disconnected from the overall customer journey, making it difficult to measure impact and act on what you've learned.


    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Zack Wenthe, Director of Product Marketing & Customer Data Evangelist at Tealium. Zack, welcome to the show!

    About Zack Wenthe

    Zack Wenthe is a seasoned product marketing and customer data expert, currently serving as Director of Product Marketing & Customer Data Evangelist at Tealium, where he helps brands unlock the power of unified customer insights and drive meaningful engagement through data-driven strategies with the power of value-add storytelling in product marketing. He’s a prolific speaker, writer, and storyteller in the martech space, known for breaking down complex ideas into practical, revenue-focused narratives.

    Zack Wenthe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackwenthe/

    Resources

    Tealium : https://tealium.com/products/tealium-for-AI/

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658
    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • #856: CRMC Keynote Speaker Kaihan Krippendorff on making sure your brand is a disruptor not disrupted

    When you look at your five-year strategic plan, how much of it is dedicated to defending your current market share versus actively making it obsolete?
    Agility requires more than just reacting quickly to market shifts; it demands the foresight and structure to initiate those shifts yourself.


    This episode is brought to by CRMC. Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more about CRMC 2026, June 1-3 in Frisco Texas at www.thecrmc.com
    Today, we're going to talk about the accelerating pace of change being driven by forces like artificial intelligence and digitization. These changes are creating a clear divide in the market, sorting brands into two distinct camps: the “Disruptors” and the “Disrupted.” We'll explore the patterns that separate these two groups and discuss practical frameworks for how established organizations can learn to shape the future, rather than be shaped by it.


    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Kaihan Krippendorff, Founder at Outthinker, and keynote speaker at CRMC, taking place June 1-3 in Frisco Texas.

    About Kaihan Krippendorff

    Kaihan Krippendorff is the Founder of Outthinker, a global think-tank of chief strategy, growth, transformation, and innovation officers shaping the future of business. He has been recognized by Thinkers50 and Global Gurus as one of the world’s top 20 business thinkers. A sought-after keynote speaker and strategic advisor, Kaihan works with CXOs from the world’s most admired companies, helping them to drive transformation, reduce risk, and chart their path to long-term growth and success.

    Kaihan Krippendorff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaihankrippendorff/

    Resources

    Outthinker: https://kaihan.net/

    This episode is brought to by CRMC. Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658
    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f
    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min
  • #855: Fullstory President Jason Wolf on moving from observation to actively assisting digital customers
    What's the bigger blind spot for most brands’ digital experience: knowing that a customer is struggling, or understanding why and being able to help them in that exact moment? Agility requires not just identifying customer friction quickly, but having the tools to resolve it in the moment. It’s about shortening the gap between insight and action to create better experiences, faster.
    Today, we're going to talk about a strategic evolution in digital experience management: moving beyond passively observing user behavior to actively intervening and guiding users toward success, directly within the product. We’ll explore how this shift is being accelerated by strategic acquisitions and how it empowers product, marketing, and CX teams to solve problems in real time.
    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jason Wolf, President at Fullstory.

    About Jason Wolf

    Jason Wolf is an accomplished technology executive with over two decades of experience driving strategic growth and operational excellence across the technology sector. As President of Fullstory, Jason leads sales, customer success, support, professional services, partnerships, and revenue operations.
    Before joining Fullstory, Wolf served as Ping Identity’s Chief Revenue Officer, leading an international team that cemented the company’s position in intelligent identity solutions that make digital experiences secure and seamless. Preceding his time at Ping Identity, Wolf spent over 15 years at SAP, where he held several executive positions, ultimately culminating in his role as CRO, overseeing the business's spending management and network line. His career also includes valuable experiences at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and as a consultant for Ernst and Young.

    Jason Wolf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-wolf-ismatsap/

    Resources

    Fullstory: https://www.fullstory.com

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658
    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  • #854: PGA TOUR's Zach Carlson on creating an amazing fan experience

    In an era dominated by high-definition home entertainment and endless digital distractions, what does it take to convince a fan that a live, in-person experience is not just worth their time and money, but is something they can't afford to miss?


    Agility requires not just having a plan, but building a system to listen and respond to your audience in real time. It’s about turning feedback from a retrospective report into an in-the-moment action plan.


    Following the recent Qualtrics X4 Summit in Seattle, we're going to talk about what it takes to engineer a world-class fan experience. We'll explore how a legacy brand moves beyond the traditional event model to create personalized, memorable moments, and how they use real-time data not just to measure satisfaction, but to proactively shape the fan journey from the moment someone buys a ticket to long after they've left the course.
    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Zach Carlson, Director of Fan Engagement at PGA TOUR.
    About Zach Carlson

    As a Director of Fan Engagement - Decision Sciences at PGA TOUR, I leverage my consumer research expertise and project management skills to gather feedback and insights from various stakeholders, including fans, players, and employees. I have over 10 years of experience in applying data-driven marketing and research strategies to support business decisions and optimize outcomes.
    I am passionate about enhancing the fan experience and creating value for the PGA TOUR brand and partners. I built and managed the PGA TOUR Fan Council, a research community of over 12,000 fans who help us identify what golf fans want and shape the products and experiences we create. I also lead the implementation of @Qualtrics CX and EX solutions throughout the organization to measure and improve customer and employee satisfaction and loyalty. I enjoy working with cross-functional teams and communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

    Zach Carlson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyjcarlson/

    Resources

    PGA TOUR: https://www.pgatour.com

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658
    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f
    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
  • #853: Sköna CEO Jenny Sagström on design consistency in high-growth brands

    In the race for B2B growth, we often prioritize speed over everything else. But what's the real cost when your brand starts to look like a collection of spare parts cobbled together by different teams?


    Agility requires a strong, foundational framework to enable speed without sacrificing coherence. It's about empowering teams to move quickly and independently, while still ensuring every customer touchpoint feels like it comes from one unified brand.


    Today, we're going to talk about why brand and design consistency is often the first casualty of high-growth B2B environments, and paradoxically, one of the most critical assets to protect. We'll explore how that fragmentation happens, from different teams launching products to rapid hiring, and discuss why building a consistent brand isn't just a "nice-to-have"—it's a direct line to building trust and long-term value with your customers.
    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jenny Sagström, CEO at Sköna.

    About Jenny Sagström

    Jenny is cofounder and CEO of Sköna, a B2B creative agency that’s been building brave brands for innovative technology companies since 2004. Jenny entered the agency world in 1998 with Kraftverket in her native Stockholm, Sweden, shortly after graduating with a BA in Economics and International Relations from the University of Reading. In 2000, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work at Corsi & Partners, where she was responsible for a multitude of clients, including the Oakland Raiders.
    Since founding Sköna, Jenny has helped lead it from a two-person shop to a flourishing global business, where she currently oversees strategy, account management, and global expansion. An occasional public speaker, article writer, and podcaster, she spends her spare time skiing, tinkering with (and even completing!) DIY projects, and enjoying the company of her husband and two daughters.

    Jenny Sagström on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennysagstrom/

    Resources

    Sköna: www.skona.com

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658
    Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  • #852: Zoom Room CEO Mark Van Wye on agile dogs and agile brands

    What if your most visible, most exciting product wasn't your real product at all, but was actually a Trojan horse for building a much deeper, stickier customer relationship?


    Agility requires more than just a willingness to change; it demands a deep understanding of what truly motivates your customer, allowing you to evolve your model in service of their emotional outcomes, not just their transactional needs.


    Today, we're going to talk about how a brand can embody the very principle it sells, turning a core service into a flywheel for customer retention, emotional engagement, and scalable business growth.


    To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Mark Van Wye, CEO at Zoom Room.

    About Mark Van Wye

    Mark Van Wye is the CEO of Zoom Room, the nation’s premier dog training franchise, and the author of the #1 bestselling Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps. He’s a systems architect who saw white space in the $100 billion pet industry and positioned dog training as behavioral infrastructure for modern life. A lifelong builder of scalable learning environments, he taught adults to code at eleven, developed a national learning platform for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and has spent his career designing environments – physical and digital – that scale without losing their human edge.
    Mark Van Wye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoomroom/

    Resources

    Zoom Room: https://www.zoomroom.com

    The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

    Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74
    We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

    Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3
    Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom
    Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba
    Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com
    The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

About The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström® | What CMOs Need to Know About Marketing Technology, AI & CX

From the publisher's feed

Marketing technology, AI, and customer experience, explained by the people building it. Three times a week, Greg Kihlström interviews CMOs, product leaders, and martech executives from platform…

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