Why ambition will help us be better marketers in 2026, with Sophie Devonshire, CEO, The Marketing Society

Ambition is the watchword for The Marketing Society in 2026: “Ambition for our businesses, our careers and our country.”

In this episode of The Persuasion Game podcast, we welcome Sophie Devonshire, CEO of The Marketing Society, for a conversation not to be missed by anyone working in marketing who has ambitions for a great year in 2026.

We discuss the growing role of CMOs, why leading marketing teams is more like rugby than football, and why we all need to make more time for learning.

Sophie also shares her views on why personal ambition isn’t about “killing yourself at work”, but should focus on how it fits in with the rest of your life goals.

Sophie spent years working in marketing roles at Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola and agency side, before becoming a CEO and published author.

Reading list:

“Superfast, Lead at Speed” by Sophie Devonshire https://www.amazon.co.uk/Superfast-Lead-speed-Sophie-Devonshire/dp/1473661862

“Drive” by Dan Pink https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drive-Daniel-H-Pink/dp/184767769X

“It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be” by Paul Arden https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Not-How-Good-Want/dp/0714843377

"The Whole Marketer" by Abby Dixon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whole-Marketer-successful-fulfilled-marketer/dp/1911671057

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction (01:01) Defining Ambition for 2026 (04:13) Global Perspectives on Ambition (09:57) Building Ambitious Foundations (14:20) The Role of Technology and Human Connection