Uncensored CMO

Jim Cregan, founder of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee who built the brand to a £25m exit, tells the origin story and his BottleCan packaging idea. He discusses breaking into Selfridges and Tesco, grassroots in-store hustle, retail and DTC strategy, and why treating suppliers and customers as humans mattered.

Kory Marchisotto, a marketing leader and creative storyteller who blends data with poetic flair, performs a pattern‑disrupting poem that reframes marketing as poetry. Short reflections follow on vulnerability, surprise, and how poetry distills complexity. Conversations touch on ownership, mental fortitude, and seeking what you do not yet know.

Thomas Barta, marketing leadership expert and former McKinsey partner, shares why so few marketers reach the boardroom. He discusses what CEOs expect, how to prove marketing drives profitable growth, ways to build a strong CMO–CFO relationship, and why bravery and quick action beat fitting in. Practical tactics and bold thinking take center stage.

Kory Marchisotto, marketing leader and CMO involved in e.l.f.’s high-profile Cannes Lions campaigns, shares hands-on pitching experience. She explains live pitching for Glass and Titanium Lions. They discuss prepping intense short pitches, using vulnerability and humor on stage, and making campaigns memorable through surprise and emotional focus.

Syl Saller CBE, former Global Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Diageo and now executive coach and President of The Marketing Society. She talks about what a major CMO role really involves. She breaks down handling difficult conversations, building strong CEO and board relationships, reframing imposter feelings, planning bold career moves, and how setbacks can lead to better outcomes.

Kory Marchisotto, a marketing leader focused on brand, storytelling, and customer connection, explores what marketing really encompasses. They unpack why marketing is hard to define. They discuss how brand influences hiring and company behavior. They highlight connection, alchemy in creative work, strategy's role, and the importance of living your story.

James Watt, founder and former CEO of BrewDog turned founder of Social Tip. He recounts bootstrapping BrewDog, the Equity for Punks crowdfunding community, and relentless product obsession. Hear stories of bold marketing stunts, winning a Tesco listing, near financial disaster with a £50m transfer, and why he built a platform to pay customers for authentic social content.

Kory Marchisotto, a senior marketing leader who grew e.l.f. Beauty for 25 consecutive quarters, explains why every marketer must know their numbers. He talks about linking marketing to revenue, proving incremental ROI to scale budgets, earning the right to be bold, and a five-step creative formula for repeatable brand wins.

Jenn Chase, CMO of SAS and 27-year company veteran, led the shift from performance-led to brand-led marketing. She discusses launching SAS’s first brand campaign in 25 years. Topics include using humour and memorable brand devices, partnering with finance to prove long-term value, the Liverpool FC sponsorship, and practical uses of AI to boost marketing productivity.

Kory Marchisotto, marketing and leadership executive who’s been a CMO and head of innovation, talks about reframing failure as practice and feedback. He and Jon explore why failure feels shameful. They also unpack supply chain lessons, investor conversations, and how setbacks set the stage for future wins.