Navigating the New Marketing Frontier: Key Imperatives for Brand Growth in 2026

The “Signals From The Stage” report from the 2025 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference provides a critical roadmap for senior marketing and CX leaders. As 2026 approaches, the path to sustained brand growth requires a balanced approach: prioritizing authentic, real-world engagement, responsibly integrating AI into discovery and purchase, and strategically investing in the stability and development of marketing talent.

Expert Mode: The Analog Resurgence in a Digital-First World

As marketing leaders, we live and die by digital metrics and measurements. We obsess over click-through rates, scroll-depth, and algorithmic favor. We’ve become masters of a world measured in pixels and milliseconds, constantly striving to capture a sliver of attention in a deafeningly loud and crowded space.

#71: Optimizing the handoff between marketing and sales with Gabe Lullo, Alleyoop

Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most persistent and costly problems in B2B: the handoff from marketing to sales. We’ll explore why the traditional MQL model often fails, creating friction and wasting budget, and how a more intelligent, data-driven approach to lead qualification can not only fix the sales pipeline but also prove marketing’s direct contribution to the bottom line.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome, Gabe Lullo, CEO at Alleyoop and host of the “Do Hard Things” podcast.

#774: Seel CRO Laura Huddle on seeing customer returns as an opportunity

Today, we’re going to talk about something that many retailers see as a pure cost center: customer returns. Instead, we’ll explore how a smart, data-driven post-purchase strategy can actually become a powerful engine for customer retention and lifetime value. We’ll look at the data trends shaping retail, how to navigate the complex pressures on merchants today, and why this often-overlooked part of the business might be the key to unlocking future growth. Joining me to discuss this is Laura Huddle, CRO at Seel.

W23 Global, a Fund backed by 5 Leading Global Retailers, Invests in Topsort’s AI Powered Ad Infrastructure and Programmatic Vision for the Future of Retail   

 Topsort, an artificial intelligence (AI) and auction-based retail media infrastructure company that aims to democratize Silicon Valley’s monetization secrets to retailers and marketplaces, today announced an investment from W23 Global, a global grocery retail venture capital fund backed by five leading grocery retailers, Ahold Delhaize, Tesco, Woolworths Group, Empire Company Limited/Sobeys Inc., and Shoprite Group.

#268: AI Won’t Fix Bad CX But It Will Expose It with Rajat Chawla

https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/3df0fa12-41df-4a82-9d39-12273ca65a1f/E268_-_Audio_-_Rajat_Chawla.mp3?dest-id=5053835This episode shows how AI magnifies both strengths and gaps in customer experience. Rajat Chawla explains why AI exposes bad CX, how invisible effortless experiences look, and what leaders must do on culture, accountability, and journey design using Taco Bell, KLM, and Starbucks examples. About Rajat Chawla Some highlights about Rajat Chawla: – Asia’s first Certified Customer Experience professional. – Founder of Koyopo, a CX and leadership consulting firm. – Worked with global brands like Google and Cisco. – Over two decades of experience in leadership, consulting, and coaching. – Helping organizations build customer-centric cultures that drive loyalty and growth. – Gallup-certified strengths coach, aligning authentic strengths with CX strategies. Resources Koyopo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chawlarajat/ Please, hit the follow button and leave your feedback: Apple Podcast: https://www.cxgoalkeeper.com/apple Spotify: https://www.cxgoalkeeper.com/spotify Follow Gregorio Uglioni on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorio-uglioni/ Gregorio Uglioni is a seasoned transformation leader with over 15 years of experience shaping business and digital change, consistently delivering service excellence and measurable impact. As an Associate Partner at Forward, he is recognized for his strategic vision, operational expertise, and ability to drive sustainable growth. A respected keynote speaker and host of the well-known global podcast Business Transformation Pitch with the CX Goalkeeper, Gregorio energizes and inspires organizations worldwide with his customer-centric approach to innovation

Agentic Capabilities Influence $73B in Cyber Week Sales

Cyber Week 2025 represents a pivotal moment for digital commerce, with AI agents influencing an unprecedented $73 billion in sales. For senior marketing and CX leaders, this data underscores a clear imperative: AI is no longer an optional enhancement but a strategic necessity for driving revenue and enhancing customer experience. The future of commerce is defined by integrated AI capabilities, a mobile-first approach, and intelligent engagement across social channels.

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