The CMO Whisperer

My guest this week is Bill Harper, a guy who's been building brands longer than most people have been talking about branding. He's the Chief Creative Officer/CEO of BrandBossHQ , his fifth agency, where he helps businesses find the story that actually scales.

Bill has worked with more than 300 brands, helped drive over $2.5 billion — that’s with a B — in new revenue, and built a playbook that small and mid-sized companies can use to punch way above their weight, just like the Fortune 1000 do.

He's got the receipts, the results, and the reps. And today, he's dropping the kind of brand wisdom you don't Google — you earn.

Last time, Alan Bethke, SVP of Marketing at Subaru of America, joined me on the show. We talked about the heart of Subaru’s “Love” campaign and why this brand has such a unique emotional connection with its customers. If you missed that episode, definitely go back and listen — though not yet, after this one. It’s truly one of the most memorable conversations I’ve had.

Today, I’m thrilled to have Alan back — but this time, he’s not alone. Joining him is Matthew Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA. Not only that, we’re recording live at Subaru headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.

Subaru of America and the ASPCA have been partners for 17 years. Subaru is the ASPCA’s largest corporate sponsor, donating more than $41 million over the years.

That support has helped rescue, treat, transport, and rehome more than a quarter of a million animals across the U.S.

Every October, more than 600 Subaru retailers team up with local shelters to host adoption events — sometimes right inside their showrooms — as part of the Subaru Loves Pets program.

Through it, they cover adoption fees, provide supplies, and make sure people leave ready to be the best pet parents they can be.

This year alone, Subaru and its retailers will provide over $3 million in direct funding through ASPCA grants to prepare animals for adoption.

Together, they shine the spotlight on overlooked underdogs — senior dogs and those with special needs — even creating National Make a Dog’s Day on October 22nd, a day to celebrate and adopt those dogs who are often left behind.

With all that in mind, it’s going to be an amazing conversation.

My guest this week is Tifenn Dano Kwan, Chief Marketing Officer at Amplitude.

Tifenn’s mission as a data-driven leader is to shape the future of work through superior digital experiences, great teams, and technology that customers love. What a novel idea.

At Amplitude, she drives global marketing strategy and leads a team focused on helping organizations thrive in the digital era.

Her career includes CMO roles at Collibra—hopefully I said that right—Dropbox, SAP Ariba, and SAP Fieldglass. A track record that speaks to her ability to scale brands, build impact, and lead with vision.

Beyond the C-suite, Tifenn is a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate, a passionate supporter of women in tech, and an avid motorcyclist who brings that same bold energy to everything she does.

Dare I say, my newfound friend.

My guest this week is John Jorgenson, CMO at Cambium Learning Group. John spent his first seven years at Cambium leading marketing for two of its brands, where he helped grow Learning A-Z into its largest division. Now, as Enterprise CMO, he works alongside the Cambium executive team to shape strategy, creativity, and culture. What sets John apart is his vision—not just to advance education, but to empower his colleagues to do their very best work.

From scaling brands to guiding enterprise vision, John’s blend of marketing expertise and people-first leadership makes him a compelling voice in edtech.

My guest this week is Kimberley Gardiner, the CMO of Tractor Supply Company. Since 2022, she's been leading the charge on all things marketing for the country's largest rural lifestyle retailer, from big national campaigns to loyalty programs that keep their 30 million-plus Neighbor’s Club members engaged. Kimberley’s career isn't just impressive, it's diverse—she's held senior marketing roles at Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Kia, and Toyota, and even jumped into the tech space as CMO of a digital asset management company. She knows what it takes to connect with people, whether they're shopping for cars, tractors, or anything in between. On top of that, she's a Mills College graduate with an MBA from Indiana University, and she still makes time to shape the future of the field, serving on the Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Council and helping guide the PopTech Advisory Board.

My guest this week is someone who doesn’t just talk the talk—he’s lived it, built it, and continues to help others do the same. Jay Baer is one of the most dynamic voices in business growth, customer experience, and marketing. He’s a New York Times bestselling author of seven business books, the founder of five multimillion-dollar companies, and a Hall of Fame keynote speaker.

His humor and insight have captivated audiences around the world. Jay has advised more than 700 brands, including 40 of the Fortune 500, and his expertise has been featured everywhere from NPR and CNN to The Washington Post. And here’s the twist—Jay isn’t only a strategist and storyteller; he’s also a certified tequila sommelier.

He’s also one of the world’s top tequila influencers, blending spirited tastings and unforgettable stories into his talks. From creating iconic marketing frameworks to hosting podcasts like The Spirit Guides and the long-running Social Pros, Jay has cemented his place as a true thought leader.

My guest this week is Kevin Akeroyd, a veteran tech CEO with a career spanning Fortune 500 giants, private equity powerhouses, and venture-backed disruptors. He’s currently leading Sovos, a PE-backed tax and compliance AI SaaS platform. Before that, Kevin was CEO of Magna Global, the world’s largest contingent workforce technology provider. And prior to that, he took Cision public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2017 as its CEO. 

Early in his career, he held president-level roles at both Oracle and Salesforce, and before that, he drove four successful exits at VC-backed startups. Outside the boardroom, he’s a father of five and a sports, music, wine, and travel enthusiast. Kevin also studied at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the University of Washington. 

Before I bring him on, I’ll add that he’s also a dear friend, a mentor, a fellow sports nut, and someone I had the pleasure of working with—and for—at Oracle. 

My guest this week is Laurie Lam, the Chief Brand Officer at E.L.F. Beauty, the powerhouse behind E.L.F. Cosmetics, E.L.F. Skin, and Well People. With nearly two decades of experience shaping global brands, Laurie is a dynamic marketer and strategic innovator who’s redefining what an authentic, accessible beauty company looks like. Before joining E.L.F., Laurie held leadership roles at L’Oréal USA, working across the U.S., France, and Asia Pacific in marketing, e-commerce acquisition, business development, and brand innovation. 

She’s also credited with helping supercharge E.L.F.’s reputation for quality, inclusivity, and viral cultural moments — from TikTok stardom to collaborations with brands like Chipotle, Dunkin’, and even Tinder. 

My guest this week is a force in the media world, Anna Bager, President and CEO of the Out-of-Home Advertising Association of America — quite a mouthful, so we’ll just say OAAA going forward. She is leading the charge in transforming out-of-home advertising into one of the most innovative, tech-driven, and brand-friendly platforms out there.

Before taking the reins at OAAA, she was the EVP of Industry Initiatives at the IAB, where she shaped the future of digital, mobile, video, and audio, spearheaded the Digital Content NewFronts, and was named one of the 30 most powerful women in mobile advertising by Business Insider as well as one of the top women in media by Folio and Synapse.

Anna brings both brains and bold vision to the table. I am honored to call her my friend, and this conversation is long overdue.

 My guest is Andrea Brimmer, the Chief Marketing and PR Officer at Ally Financial, where she leads the company’s integrated marketing strategy and brand transformation. Since joining Ally in 2006 and relaunching the brand in 2009, she has redefined what a financial services company can be—putting consumers first and driving bold, disruptive growth. 

Under her leadership, Ally has earned spots on Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter,” and Brimmer herself has been recognized as one of Forbes’ Most Influential CMOs five times, earning a place in the 2024 Forbes CMO Hall of Fame. An absolute trailblazer in the industry, she has also been honored by Adweek, Fast Company, and She Runs It for her creativity, leadership, and cultural impact.