Which trait or practice is essential for marketers in change?

Jesse Johnson

VP, Marketing · Chili'S

Empathy

Jesse Johnson says marketers should start from empathy—focusing on the consumer’s needs and situation—because it may lead to new insights and messages that resonate more with the audience.

Matt Spiegel

Board Member · Liftup Enterprises

Listening

Matt Spiegel says at the core he spends as much time as he can listening, to both answers and questions, because both give insight into what the industry is thinking.

Duarte Garrido

Co-Founder & Co-CEO · DOJO AI

Thinking Differently

Duarte Garrido says the differentiator for marketers is the ability to think differently, because AI commoditizes intelligence and logic cannot separate brands, while creativity comes from human experience.

The answer starts at 29:15.

Vineet Mehra

(NASDAQ: CHYM) Chief Marketing Officer (IPO June’25) · Chime

Obsessed with Growth

Vineet Mehra says marketers should get much more obsessed with the growth they need to drive and the customer problems they're solving, rather than their title or function, because functions are becoming less important.

The answer starts at 38:34.

Kipp Bodnar

CMO · Hubspot

Outlearning Others

Kipp Bodnar says the key is being able to outlearn the people around you, because if you can outlearn others you will be successful and if you can't you'll likely be less successful than them.

The answer starts at 10:56.

Clayton Pritchard

Owner & CEO · Olivine Marketing

Patience

Clayton Pritchard says patience is essential, calling it the way to go before adding another channel and the thing he sees most people struggling with.

The answer starts at 51:37.

Gary Lombardo

Adjunct Professor

Listening to Customers

Gary Lombardo says staying agile means talking to customers and hearing what they're going through firsthand, since the market is moving faster than ever.

Katie Miserany

CCO & Global Head of Marketing · SurveyMonkey

Authenticity

Katie Miserany says marketers should pick brands and stories they can authentically connect with and champion, because she thinks that authentic storytelling will make companies stand out.

The answer starts at 37:41.

Jay Schwedelson

#1 Marketing Podcast in United States! (Source: Apple Podcasts) - Do This, Not That: For Marketers · GURU Media Hub

Repeating Core Story

Jay Schwedelson says marketers need to be comfortable repeating the same core stories instead of always needing new ideas, because it builds familiarity, connection and trust.

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Marc S. Pritchard

Chief Brand Officer · Procter & Gamble

Curiosity

Marc S. Pritchard answers curiosity: young marketers should be super curious about a full range of skills and capabilities, not just marketing, citing his own broad experience.

Marvin Chow

VP of Consumer and AI Marketing · Google

Growth Mindset

Marvin Chow says a growth mindset is important for marketers, because he's had to learn web, social and AI and be open to unlearning old ways as things shift.

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Khurrum Malik

VP of Business & Product Marketing · Walmart Connect

Focus

Khurrum Malik says focus is essential for marketers, since he sees the biggest threat as an inability to focus amid more tools, channels and strategies.

Jordan Slover

Founder · Neon Ambition

Spending Time with Customers

Jordan Slover says spending time with customers is key, as the best marketers regularly talk to customers and sit in on sales calls because it's their job to be the voice of the customer.

Dawn Dawson

Chief Marketing Officer · Mortgage Solutions Financial

Curiosity

Dawn Dawson says curiosity and being nosy are superpowers not to ignore, and advises staying open because what makes great advertising shifts.

Trevor Pyle

Head of Marketing · Profound

Fractal Speed

Trevor Pyle says fractal speed is his company's core value, and that maintaining dedication to making everything go as fast as possible—forcing yourself to build systems for that environment—is essential, though painful.

Lucinda Barlow

Senior Director, Head of International Marketing (APAC, EMEA, Latin America) · Uber

Curiosity

Lucinda Barlow says the one thing she'd advise is to bring a creative spirit, which means curiosity and openness, and to embrace smart risk-taking to achieve impact and growth.

Gilad Bechar

Founder & CEO · Moburst

Testing New Tools

Gilad Bechar says he tests every new tool that comes to market to stay agile, because otherwise he would stay behind.

Rachel Thornton

CMO, Enterprise · Adobe

Continuous Learning

Rachel Thornton says continuous learning—reading, learning and listening to podcasts to collect information—is critical and helps people stay agile, since so much happens daily and it affects marketing.

Todd Kaplan

Chief Marketing Officer, North America · Kraft Heinz

Empathy

Todd Kaplan names empathy, specifically consumer empathy and knowing what a real consumer insight is rather than citing a fact, as one of two of the biggest traits teams will need.

Jonathan Kerr (JK)

Chief Growth Officer · Auto & General Australia

Curiosity

Jonathan Kerr points to curiosity, saying he was incredibly curious and wanted to understand it all, and advises not waiting for others to build your knowledge and becoming great and undeniable.

Mark Ritson

Founder · Minimba

Being Good with AI

Mark Ritson says human marketers need to be pretty good with AI, along with knowing more about marketing.