In this episode of The Curiosity Current, host Molly Strawn-Carreño and guest host Shanon Adams speak with Steve Olenski, founder of The CMO Whisperer Advisory. Drawing on more than twenty-five years working alongside CMOs at Mastercard, Walmart, the NFL, and other major brands, Steve offers a direct view into what marketing leaders truly need from research. He argues that CMOs are not missing data; they are missing clarity. Insights must operate as a growth engine, not a reporting function, shaping decisions upstream rather than validating them after the fact. Steve outlines a partnership framework built on trust, translation, and timing, and emphasizes why research should be measured by decisions made, not slide volume. He also discusses the role of AI as a force multiplier guided by human judgment, and the importance of courage and honesty in C-suite relationships. For insights leaders, this episode is a blueprint for driving action, relevance, and meaningful impact.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why modern CMOs need clarity more than additional data
• How to structure a marketing-insights partnership around trust, translation, and timing
• How storytelling accelerates decisions when spreadsheets stall progress
• Why AI must enhance human judgment rather than replace it
• How to earn real influence by challenging assumptions with courage and clarity
• How speed and empathy work together to create relevance and growth

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Episode Resources:

• Steve Olenski on LinkedIn
• Shanon Adams on LinkedIn
• Molly Strawn-Carreño on LinkedIn
• The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on Spotify
• The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on YouTube
  
  

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