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

By The Agile BrandBusiness Marketing

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

October 23, 2025 #755: Sitecore CMO Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek and Microsoft's Talisha Padgett on designed intelligence for marketing
In the race to adopt AI, how do we avoid creating a sea of sameness and alienating the very customers we're trying to connect with?

Today, we're going to talk about the intentional design of our marketing future. We’ll explore how leading brands are moving beyond the hype of AI to build practical, collaborative frameworks between humans and machines, shifting from outdated customer segments to real-time signals, and ultimately, creating experiences that are not only efficient but deeply empathetic and relevant.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek, CMO at Sitecore and Talisha Padgett, GM MArTech, AI & Automation at Microsoft, who will be doing a fireside chat at the upcoming Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. We’re going to get a sneak preview today of some of the topics they’ll be discussing.

About Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek and Talisha Padgett

Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellebb/

Talisha Padgett on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/talishapadgett/

Resources

Sitecore: https://www.sitecore.com

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando, Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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
October 22, 2025 #754: Robin Ross on what happens to retail when your best customers are AI agents
What if your perfectly crafted brand message, your multi-million dollar ad campaign, and your carefully designed user experience are completely ignored by your next customer... because your next customer is a machine?

Agility requires not just adapting to changing customer behaviors, but completely rethinking the very definition of a "customer interaction." It means building the technical and strategic flexibility to engage with autonomous agents as effectively as we do with people.

Today, we are at MAICON - the Marketing AI Conference - in Cleveland, Ohio, and we're going to talk about a concept that’s moving from science fiction to strategic planning: agentic commerce. This is the world where AI agents don't just help us, they act for us. On one hand, brands are using internal agents to optimize their own operations. But the more disruptive side, and our main focus today, is when consumers deploy their own AI agents to research, negotiate, and purchase on their behalf. This shift could fundamentally change everything from marketing and branding to the very nature of e-commerce.

About Robin Ross

I’m a marketing and strategy executive with 20+ years of experience driving growth through data, loyalty, and digital transformation. I’ve led initiatives that expand membership, strengthen customer engagement, and scale innovation across functions.
My expertise includes marketing analytics, loyalty programs, digital transformation, and applying AI and data to accelerate decision-making. I focus on simplifying complexity, aligning teams, and building systems that deliver measurable results.
I thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution—partnering with leaders to clarify goals, design customer-centric programs, and turn them into business impact.

Robin Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-ross-activateinsight/

Resources

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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
October 20, 2025 #753: Wrike CMO Christine Royston on building marketing teams for agility
Is your marketing organization built for disruption or doomed to be disrupted?

Agility requires both rapidly responding to market changes while also anticipating and shaping your products or services to map to evolving customer expectations. This means embracing new technologies and strategies while maintaining a laser focus on delivering value.

Today, we're going to talk about how leading marketing organizations are leveraging AI and collaborative work management to not only survive but thrive in today's dynamic landscape. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Christine Royston, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrike.
About Christine Royston

Christine Royston serves as Wrike’s Chief Marketing Officer and is responsible for overseeing the global marketing program, driving a customer-first strategy, and focusing on enterprise growth. Christine joined Wrike with more than 20 years of B2B enterprise marketing experience. She most recently served as Vice President and Global Head of B2B Marketing for Udemy and Vice President and Head of Marketing at Bitly.
Christine has also held senior leadership roles at Dropbox, Imperva, and Salesforce. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an International MBA in Global Marketing from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business. ,Yes, this will be completed shortly

Christine Royston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineroyston

Resources

Wrike: https://www.wrike.com/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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
October 17, 2025 #752: Microsoft Azure Core CTO Marcus Fontoura on innovation and the platform mindset
Is your organization truly agile, or are you still clinging to outdated processes and siloed teams instead of a platform mindset?
Agility requires a fundamental shift in mindset, embracing collaboration, rapid iteration, and a willingness to adapt to change. It demands a commitment to not just talking about silos, but meaningfully breaking them down, while fostering a culture of shared ownership across the organization.
Today, we're going to talk about the power of a platform mindset in driving innovation and achieving true agility within large organizations. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Marcus Fontoura, Technical Fellow at Microsoft, as CTO for Azure Core at Microsoft, and author of the book “A Platform Mindset: Building a Culture of Collaboration”

About Marcus Fontoura

Marcus Fontoura has spent more than 20 years in big tech companies and has been at the forefront of industry-shaping technology innovations, from computational advertising to cloud computing to fintech. He is currently a Technical Fellow at Microsoft, where he works on cloud computing infrastructure.
His new book, A Platform Mindset: Building a Culture of
Collaboration (8080 Books, Feb. 11, 2025), shares how companies can expand and scale processes to bring about competitive advantages.
Learn more at fontoura.org.

Marcus Fontoura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusfontoura/

Resources

Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Get Marcus' book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Mindset-Building-Culture-Collaboration/dp/B0DSY849P8
Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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
October 15, 2025 #751: Traject Data CEO Rochelle Thielen on the role of data in retail
In today's hyper-competitive retail landscape, is it even possible to build a sustainable brand without a thorough, real-time understanding of your customer and your market?

Agility requires more than just fast reactions; it demands proactive insights driven by robust, real-time data. It's about anticipating the next move, not just responding to the last one.

Today, we're going to talk about the critical role of real-time data in navigating the complexities of modern retail, from combating fraud and unauthorized sellers to personalizing the customer journey and staying ahead of the competition.
To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Rochelle Thielen, CEO at Traject Data.

About Rochelle Thielen

Rochelle Thielen is the CEO of Traject Data, where she champions the vital role of data aggregation in driving transformative advancements in AI, machine learning, and software development.

Rochelle Thielen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-thielen/

Resources

Traject Data: https://www.trajectdata.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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
October 13, 2025 #750: MOO's Corin Mills on the strength of physical marketing in the digital age
With all the fragmentation in the media landscape, how can brands cut through the digital noise and create meaningful connections with their customers... without resorting to yet another intrusive pop-up ad?
Agility requires not only adapting to changing consumer behaviors but also proactively anticipating them. It demands a willingness to experiment with new channels and tactics, even those that might be considered “traditional"
Today, we're going to talk about the surprising resurgence of physical marketing in the digital age and how it can be a powerful tool for building brand loyalty and driving business growth. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Corin Mills, Brand Marketing & E-commerce Director at MOO.

About Corin Mills

Corin Mills is the Brand Marketing & E-Commerce Director at MOO, specializing in data-driven marketing strategies that revitalize brand experiences and foster meaningful organizational change. With over 15 years of extensive brand management experience driving business transformation across multiple sectors and international markets, his passion for impactful branding drives MOO’s success in bridging the gap between quality design and human connection. As former Head of Brand and Comms at Currys, his transformative approach centers on genuine collaboration and inclusive leadership at all levels of business. With previous success at major brands including EE, Tesco, Currys, Google, Orange, and AXA, Corin brings unique cross-industry perspective to discussions about e-commerce strategy and optimization. Corin holds a BSc in Product Design from Brunel University of London.

Corin Mills on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corin-mills-a2678211/

Resources

MOO: https://www.moo.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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.
23 min
October 10, 2025 #749: Data Axle CEO Andrew Frawley on using identity resolution for stronger customer relationships
Are you building a brand that's building customer relationships—and the data behind them—to last or one that's just trying to keep up with today’s omnichannel consumer?
Agility requires not just reacting to change but anticipating it and even shaping it. It demands a deep understanding of your customer and the ability to adapt your strategies in real-time.
Today, we're going to talk about the critical role of data reliability and identity resolution in building an agile brand. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Andrew Frawley, CEO at Data Axle.

About Andrew Frawley

Andrew (Andy) Frawley, with over 30 years of operational experience, including 25 years in senior leadership, has excelled in diverse industries such as agency, marketing services, software, and professional services. As a seasoned leader, he specializes in SaaS, Digital Marketing, CRM, Big Data, and Marketing Automation. As the CEO of Data Axle, Andy is dedicated to further developing industry-leading client solutions and delivering world-class services to Data Axle clients.

A published author of “Igniting Customer Connections” (2014), Andy is a sought-after speaker on various business and technical topics related to Digital Marketing, Product Innovation, Agency Innovation, Customer Analytics, Big Data, and Customer Value Management. During his distinguished career, he has advised many clients, ranging from small digital businesses to the largest global marketing organizations. Andy’s breakthrough thinking and methodologies, including ROE2, Cliquity, Continuous Customer Management, and Value in Play, have guided organizations in delivering tangible ROI from their customer and marketing investments.

Andrew Frawley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfrawley/

Resources

Data Axle: https://www.data-axle.com/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

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://www.theagilebrand.show

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.
18 min
October 09, 2025 #748: Markup AI CEO Matt Blumberg on creating a winning AI-supported content strategy
How can large organizations harness the power of AI for content creation while simultaneously mitigating the risks that come with exponentially scaling content volume and velocity?
Agility requires adaptation to new ways of working as well as adapting governance and oversight processes to maintain brand integrity and manage risk in the new paradigm that AI has helped to create. It also requires the ability to quickly react and adjust content strategies in response to real-time performance data and market shifts.
This episode is brought to you by Markup AI. AI can create content, but Markup AI’s Content Guardian AgentsSM perfect your content. Markup AI instantly scans, scores, and rewrites any content to enforce your standards for brand voice, terminology, and compliance, giving you the confidence you need to scale your use of AI. Learn more at www.markup.ai.
Today, we're going to talk about navigating the exciting but often treacherous landscape of AI-driven content creation. The sheer volume of content being generated presents unprecedented challenges for maintaining quality, consistency, and brand integrity.
To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Matt Blumberg, CEO at Markup AI.

About Matt Blumberg

Matt is the CEO of Markup AI and has more than 30 years of leadership in scaling global disruptive technology businesses. Matt is passionate about the power of language — being precise with it, using it to move people, and ensuring brands maintain a consistent voice with it — and he is equally passionate about the power of technology to change lives for the better.
Before launching Markup AI, Matt successfully launched and led brands and companies including Acrolinx, MovieFone.com division of 777-FILM (acquired by AOL), Return Path (#2 on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Companies to Work for” list and later acquired by PSG/Validity), the nonprofit Path Forward, and Bolster, a disruptive platform for executive search in the tech industry.
Additionally, Matt is the author of a blog (Startup CEO), a podcast (The Daily Bolster), and three acclaimed books on startup leadership (Startup CEO, Startup CXO, and Startup Boards), further underscoring his expertise and commitment to innovation. Matt is based in New York City.

Matt Blumberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blumbergmatt/

Resources

Markup AI: https://markup.ai/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/

Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

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://www.theagilebrand.show

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
October 08, 2025 #747: Shutterfly's Chip Lewis on building a strong content strategy by listening to customers
Is your content strategy guided more by hunches than data?
Agility requires being nimble enough to adapt everything from a single post to key components of your content strategy based on how real customers are interacting and engaging.
Today, we are in New York City at Contentsquare’s CX Circle and we're going to talk about listening to what your customers want and how they interact with your content to help a brand create the strongest possible content strategy.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Chip Lewis, Director of Web Analytics at Shutterfly.

About Chip Lewis

Chip Lewis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulianau/

Resources

Shutterfly: https://www.shutterfly.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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.
15 min
October 06, 2025 #746: Microsoft's Kelly Soligon on personalizing the DTC customer experience
In a world saturated with marketing messages, how can brands cut through the noise and create truly resonant experiences that go beyond transactions to create genuine, long-term customer relationships?

Agility requires a willingness to constantly adapt and evolve your strategies based on real-time data and customer feedback. It also demands a culture of experimentation and a commitment to iterating quickly on what you learn.

Today, we are in New York City at Contentsquare’s CX Circle and we're going to talk about leveraging AI and personalization to drive success in direct-to-consumer marketing. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Kelly Soligon, VP of Consumer Digital Direct Sales at Microsoft. Kelly, welcome to the show!

About Kelly Soligon

Kelly Soligon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksoligon/

Resources

Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/
Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150

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://www.theagilebrand.show
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.
23 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…