Peri Hansen | Leader, CMO Practice, Korn Ferry - Is Marketing Still Marketing?

This week on CMO Confidential, we're revisiting our conversation with Peri Hansen from July of 2025 - this is one of our favorites with topics just as relevant to marketers today. 

Peri discusses why the CMO position is becoming the vanguard of innovation, the importance of an "agile learner" mindset, and why there's no substitute for great leadership. Key topics include: how nothing "returned to normal" after COVID; the importance of org design; and why CMO's should own the entire customer life cycle and help drive company strategy. Tune in to hear why references matter more than ever and the importance of building a personal brand. 

Topics Covered: 

• Why CMOs are being tapped to drive innovation and transformation 

• The post-COVID shift in org design and what it means for marketing 

• The importance of leadership, agility, and continuous learning 

• Why great references still matter in the hiring process 

• How CMOs can (and should) influence company-wide strategy 

This episode is sponsored by Typeface - the agentic AI marketing platform that turns one idea into thousands of on-brand assets. Learn more: typeface.ai/cmo

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⏱️ Chapters

01:20 – Intro: The Evolving Role of the CMO

01:46 – Meet Peri Hansen: Korn Ferry CMO Practice Leader

02:39 – Why the CMO is Now the Vanguard of Innovation

05:53 – Three New Mandates for CMOs: Tech, Strategy & Lifecycle

07:05 – The CMO as a Change Agent and Team Builder

09:51 – Tech CMOs Are Leading—Who’s Catching Up?

12:25 – Building Tech Credibility as a Marketing Leader

14:18 – “Nothing Returned to Normal” After COVID

14:51 – Post-COVID Turnover: What CEOs and Boards Want Now

16:07 – What’s Replacing the Traditional CMO Role?

19:15 – Why Org Design Is a Top Priority in CMO Searches

20:58 – How Companies Realize They Need Org Restructuring

22:44 – The AI Era: Is There a Leadership Gap Forming?

24:14 – What Agile Leadership Actually Looks Like

25:51 – What Resumes Reveal: Pivot Points and Risk-Taking

27:21 – Why References Matter More Than Ever

29:09 – Final Advice: CMOs, Build Your Own Personal Brand

30:53 – Wrap Up & Where to Find More CMO Confidential Content

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