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

In a world obsessed with optimizing the ad tech supply chain, what if the focus on 'shorter' paths is a complete misdirection from building 'smarter' ones that actually align with brand value?

Agility requires brands to move beyond incremental optimization and fundamentally rethink their media operating models. It’s about building a framework that is inherently resilient to platform shifts, privacy changes, and evolving audience expectations.

Today, we're going to talk about the disconnect between the technical ad tech conversation and the strategic needs of the brand. We’ll explore how leaders can bridge this gap by focusing on smarter media paths, curated inventory, and an operating model built for long-term value creation.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Bob Regular, CEO at Infolinks Media. Bob, welcome to the show!

About Bob Regular

Bob Regular is a long-established pioneer in the digital media industry with over 25 years of advertising experience. As CEO of Infolinks Media, he drives the company’s mission to provide innovative contextual and native advertising solutions to web publishers and advertisers worldwide. Bob has founded and scaled multiple digital businesses, generating over $1 billion in revenue, and he is the founder and managing partner of Delivering Yield, an investment and advisory firm focused on advancing digital media through strategic investments. With extensive experience in capital raising, he has successfully secured over $250 million in funding and excels in operating ad platforms, developing products, training teams, and implementing efficient processes to meet the industry's evolving needs. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and visionary leadership, Bob continues to influence the future of digital advertising, significantly contributing to Infolinks' success and the broader digital media ecosystem, with a mission to transform the landscape by leveraging data, technology, and creativity to enhance advertising effectiveness.

Bob Regular on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rregular

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

Infolinks Media:

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

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

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.

In the race to implement AI for operational efficiency, are we accidentally designing the essential human elements of creativity, judgment, and trust out of our organizations?

Agility requires not just the rapid adoption of new technologies like AI, but the deliberate and human-centered redesign of the culture and processes that support them.

Today, we're going to talk about:

- Why AI adoption is less about the technology itself and more about a fundamental cultural paradigm shift within your organization.

- Balancing AI-driven efficiency with the essential human elements of creativity, judgment, and empathy to create superior customer and employee experiences.

- How complex industries like healthcare can serve as a model for using AI to democratize knowledge and empower consumers.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Stephanie Trunzo, Chief Executive Officer at MERGE. Stephanie, welcome to the show!

About Stephanie Trunzo

Stephanie Trunzo is CEO of MERGE and a veteran tech and health leader with 20+ years of experience in technology, marketing, health, and storytelling. Formerly SVP and General Manager at Oracle, where she launched Oracle Health and led the Cerner acquisition, she also held executive roles at IBM and was President/COO of PointSource. 

As a recent addition to MERGE’s board in 2024, Stephanie is poised to drive the company's growth at the dynamic intersection of consumerism and health and wellness. A pioneer in AI with over 20 patents, she’s recognized for her thought leadership and was named to the Frist Cressey Ventures Collective in 2024. In 2026, she received an MM+M Pinnacle Award, and under her leadership, MERGE was named 2025 Agency of the Year and made the 2026 MM+M Agency 100 list.

Stephanie Trunzo on LinkedIn

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

MERGE

MERGE is a marketing and technology agency built for the intersection of health and wellness. They help organizations navigate AI, digital transformation, and emerging technologies with a human-centered approach, using storytelling and technology to create more meaningful connections with the people they serve.

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!

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit!

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose.

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show.

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more.

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology.

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.

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

In the push to integrate AI into go-to-market strategies, are we optimizing for activity or for intelligence?

Agility requires not just adopting new technologies like AI, but critically evaluating how they deliver contextual intelligence. It’s about adapting your strategy based on smarter signals, not just automating existing processes at a higher volume.

Today, we're going to talk about moving beyond the hype of generic AI in sales and marketing to focus on what actually drives revenue. We'll explore the concept of vertical AI, specifically for go-to-market teams selling to technical audiences, and how decoding intent signals from public developer conversations can create a significant competitive advantage.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Tal Peretz, CEO and Co-Founder at Onfire.

About Tal Peretz

Tal Peretz is the CEO and Co-Founder of Onfire, a contextual AI platform that helps technology companies decode real-time market signals and drive revenue growth using developer and IT buyer intent data. Prior to Onfire, Tal was Chief Technology Officer at OwnID, a Tel Aviv based startup focused on identity security solutions. Tal served at the 8200 intelligence force and built and scaled advanced data and AI systems focused on large-scale entity resolution and signal intelligence. Drawing on this background, he recognized a fundamental gap in modern go-to-market technology: while AI promised precision, revenue teams were still operating on incomplete, noisy, and outdated data. Under his leadership, Onfire was designed from the ground up to solve the data layer for IT sales by combining structured third-party intelligence with first-party customer context into a continuously updated market map. Tal is married to Shai and is a proud father of two, Dan and Ran.

Tal Peretz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-peretz/

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

Onfire:

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

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

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.

If a brand is no longer what a company says it is, but the sum of every experience a customer has, what does that mean for the marketing department's role in the organization?

Agility requires more than just adapting to market changes; it demands a fundamental shift from broadcasting a message to engineering an experience. It requires a willingness to unlearn old definitions of brand and embrace a new reality where customer perception is the ultimate truth.

Today, we're going to talk about what some are calling a "reformation" in branding. It’s a move away from the traditional model of logos, slogans, and campaigns, and toward a new understanding where the brand is the cumulative effect of every single customer interaction. This shift has massive implications for organizational structure, strategy, and how we measure success.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Lou Carbone, Professor of Practice, Michigan State University & Founder/Chief Experience Officer at Experience Engineering.

About Lou Carbone

Lou Carbone, often called the "Godfather of Experience Management," has been a pioneer in experience engineering since the 1980s. He’s a globally recognized thought leader, author of Clued In (Fast Company’s Reader’s Choice Award winner), and co-author of award-winning research like “Sticktion.” He developed the proprietary Experience Engineering® methodology and has advised top organizations including Microsoft, IBM, John Deere, Pizza Hut UK, Allstate, and the UAE government. A frequent keynote speaker and guest lecturer at leading business schools, he’s also Professor of Practice at Michigan State University, shaping future leaders in customer experience. His innovations, like the Paperless Rental Agreement at National Car Rental, have become industry standards. He holds a Distinguished Alumni Award from Thiel College, where he also served as Board Chair, and is active on several healthcare and academic boards including Brown College. Lou also serves as a Professor of Practice in the Eli Broad Business College at Michigan State University, teaching within the Masters of Market Research and Analytics program, as well as the startup of the Masters degree in Customer Experience Management.

Lou Carbone on LinkedIn

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

Experience Engineering

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems.

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!

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit!

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose.

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off.

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show.

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more.

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology.

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.

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

What if the marketing playbook you've relied on for the past decade is quickly failing to get results? 

When customers rapidly shift their behaviors, agility requires being willing to rethink how you build and earn customer relationships from the ground up.

Today, we're going to talk about the shift away from rented audiences and unreliable signals toward building durable, first-party data assets. Specifically, we’ll cover:

- Why the classic B2B and B2C buyer intent signals are becoming less reliable and what to look for instead.

- How to navigate a new era of marketing measurement when privacy regulations and platform changes obscure the full picture.

- The practical steps required to build a first-party data strategy that creates durable customer relationships, not just a larger database.

To help me discuss this, I'd like to welcome, Alexi Hatch, CMO at Acoustic.

About Alexi Hatch

Alexi Hatch is Chief Marketing Officer at Acoustic, where she leads global marketing, brand, communications, product marketing, demand generation, and go-to-market strategy. Over the past decade, Alexi has helped enterprise SaaS companies grow by building brands people remember, modernizing marketing organizations, and turning customer insight into business impact. Her work sits at the intersection of AI, customer engagement, and modern marketing leadership.

She believes the next competitive advantage in marketing won't come from knowing more about customers but from responding to them better.

Alexi Hatch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexihatch/

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

: acoustic.com

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

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

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.

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

Are the platforms you rely on most for growth also the biggest barriers to understanding it?

Agility requires a clear view of the entire customer journey, not just the isolated moments within a single platform. This means brands must adapt their strategies to operate effectively across the open internet, not just within its walled gardens.

Today, we're going to talk about a fundamental disconnect in modern marketing: while AI is enabling a consumer journey that is more fluid and dynamic than ever, many marketers are still planning, executing, and measuring their efforts in platform-specific silos. This can create a distorted view of performance and limit a brand's ability to drive real growth.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Todd Parsons, Chief Product Officer & President of Performance Media at Criteo.

About Todd Parsons

Todd Parsons is Chief Product Officer and President of Performance Media at Criteo, where he leads the company’s global product and Performance Media organization. Since joining in 2020, he has been instrumental in transforming Criteo’s platform, advancing AI-powered solutions for predictive bidding, creative assembly, and merchandising, while scaling self-service activation across channels. In 2025, he assumed leadership of Performance Media to unify product, design, analytics, and go-to-market under a single vision for growth. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of data and marketing, Todd has held leadership roles driving innovation across the industry. He previously served as Chief Product Officer at SocialCode, where he developed tools to activate and measure first-party audiences across platforms including Facebook, Amazon, and YouTube, and earlier helped establish OpenX as the first people-based programmatic marketplace. At Criteo, he continues to shape the future of commerce media, leveraging over a billion daily shopper interactions to deliver measurable outcomes for brands and retailers worldwide.

Todd Parsons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddaparsons

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

Criteo: criteo.com

This show is brought to you by Criteo. 

Their new self-service platform, Criteo GO, makes AI-powered advertising simpler and more accessible for brands looking to drive demand, acquire customers, and scale performance. 

By enabling cross-channel performance across display, web, video, social, and even ChatGPT, Criteo GO helps brands reach shoppers with smarter advertising powered by real-time commerce signals.

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

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

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

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

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

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link.

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

What if your most valuable future customers are discovering solutions in a place your current attribution models can't even see?

Agility requires not just adapting to new channels, but completely rethinking how we measure discovery and value when the customer journey starts with a conversation with an AI.

Today, we're going to talk about:

- How the shift from keyword-based search to conversational AI is creating a new discipline: Answer Engine Optimization.

- Why your current team structure might be the biggest obstacle to winning in the AI era, and how to reorganize talent and process for this new reality.

- The critical role of unified customer data in influencing AI-driven recommendations and why it’s becoming the ultimate competitive advantage.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Kipp Bodnar, Chief Marketing Officer at HubSpot.

About Kipp Bodnar

As CMO of HubSpot, Kipp leads global marketing strategy to drive awareness and demand across a rapidly evolving product suite. He previously served as VP of Marketing, scaling international teams and overseeing demand gen, strategic partnerships, and social media. He’s also a marketing advisor to several SaaS companies, co-author of The B2B Social Media Book, and a respected speaker and blogger.

Kipp Bodnar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kippbodnar/

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

HubSpot website: https://www.hubspot.com/

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

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

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.

With brands being defined by every customer interaction, who is really in charge of your customer experience: your C-suite, or your frontline employees?

Agility requires more than just the right technology; it demands a culture where empowered teams can make decisions and respond to customer needs in the moment.

Today, we're going to talk about building a brand from the inside out, focusing on the powerful connection between internal culture and external customer experience. We'll explore:

- How a "reverse pyramid" leadership model can directly impact customer experience and brand perception.

- Translating core values into an operational framework that empowers employees and fosters accountability.

- The principles of scaling a culture of empowerment as a brand grows from a single location to a global presence.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Rick Rosenfield, Co-Founder at California Pizza Kitchen, and author of the new book, The California Pizza Kitchen Story.

About Rick Rosenfield

Rick Rosenfield is the co-founder of California Pizza Kitchen and a former federal prosecutor and defense attorney. He helped grow CPK to 265 restaurants and a national retail line while shaping a new era of American casual dining. His forthcoming memoir blends legal battles, entrepreneurial inflection points, and lessons in partnership and culture.

Rick Rosenfield on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickrosenfield

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

California Pizza Kitchen: www.rickrosenfield.com

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

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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.

What if the biggest obstacle to AI-driven ROI isn't the AI itself, but everything you’re feeding it?

Agility requires not just the speed to adopt new technologies like AI, but the clarity to recognize when foundational elements, like your data strategy, must be fixed first to unlock true potential.

Today, we're going to talk about the intense pressure on revenue and marketing leaders to demonstrate ROI from AI. We’ll explore the counterintuitive idea that simply chasing 'better AI' is a distraction, and that the real gains come from addressing the foundational data gaps that plague most organizations.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Ann Davis, Chief Revenue Officer at Crunchbase.

About Ann Davis

Ann Davis is the Chief Revenue Officer at Crunchbase, where she leads global sales strategy and drives adoption of the company’s AI-powered predictive intelligence solution. With more than 30 years of experience scaling enterprise sales teams at high-growth SaaS companies, Ann brings deep expertise in data analytics, customer engagement, and revenue growth. She joined Crunchbase from Google Cloud, where she led sales for data analytics solutions—including BigQuery and Vertex—across multiple U.S. regions. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Sales at Looker, playing a key role in expanding its enterprise business ahead of its acquisition by Google. At Crunchbase, Ann is focused on helping customers unlock the power of AI-driven market insights to anticipate shifts and act faster.

Ann Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anndavis3/

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

Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com

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

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

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

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.

What if the infinite shelf of e-commerce hasn't made customers more confident, but has instead created a new kind of friction: the paralysis of endless choice?

Agility requires brands to shift their focus from simply providing more options to actively helping customers navigate them.

Today, we're going to talk about:

- Understanding the modern customer journey when discovery is no longer the primary problem.

- Building value as a "decision layer" that sits on top of commerce, rather than competing with it.

- Using AI not just for personalization, but for simplification and decision support.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Dan Bennett, CMO, and Alexandra Seaman, Co-Founder and SVP at Furniture.com.

About Dan Bennett

Dan Bennett is Chief Marketing Officer and founding team member at Furniture.com, where he’s reshaping furniture retail through AI, data, and an open marketplace model. Since 2022, Dan has helped scale the company to 80+ employees across two offices, connecting millions of shoppers with hundreds of brands. Before Furniture.com, he was CMO at Packable, a Carlyle-backed e-commerce platform that grew into Amazon’s largest third-party marketplace partner and reached a $2 billion valuation. Earlier, Dan spent over a decade leading digital and brand strategy at McCann and Grey, driving growth for global names like P&G, Facebook, Microsoft, and Nike. Dan brings a focus on clear priorities, fast execution, and building teams that fuel sustainable growth.

Dan Bennett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennettdaniel/

About Alexandra Seaman

Alex Seaman is Co-Founder and SVP at Furniture.com, where she leads strategy and partnerships for a fast-growing furniture shopping platform redefining how people discover and buy furniture. Since launch, she has expanded the platform to more than 70 participating retailers and earned recognition as one of Furniture Today’s “40 Under 40.”

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

Furniture.com: https://www.furniture.com

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