The CMO Whisperer

Building Brands That Last - Steve Cundari

My guest today is Steve Cundari, co-founder and partner of Summit House, an award-winning venture studio that's quietly become a growth engine for some of the most recognizable brands on the planet. Steve is a builder in the purest sense. He's founded companies, exited companies, scaled platforms, and now leads a collective of specialized agencies that operate as one integrated ecosystem, blending strategy, creativity, and innovation into real business momentum.From entertainment and tech to sports, hospitality and consumer brands, his fingerprints are all over modern marketing at scale, and that is not hyperbole. Under Steve's leadership, Summit House has earned top industry honors including Clio's, Emmy's and Film Festival Awards while supporting brands like Spotify, DirecTV, Live Golf, Starbucks, Dick's Sporting Goods, the NBA, NFL, Meta, Nintendo and more!He's also an active advisor and investor in early-stage companies and venture funds, extending his obsession with building and scaling far beyond a single platform. 

Human Intelligence Meets AI - Evan Greene

Evan Greene is back on the CMO Whisperer Show! And if you heard his first appearance, you already know why we brought him back to the scene of the crime. Evan is widely credited as the marketing leader who helped transform the Grammy Awards into one of the world's most coveted brands during his 16+ years as CMO. Before that, he spent a decade on the marketing teams at Disney and Sony, working on some of Hollywood's biggest franchises, including Spider-Man, Men in Black, and Charlie's Angels. He's also a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer at places like Harvard, Wharton, Georgetown, USC, and Colorado University. But instead of taking a victory lap, Evan made a sharp pivot. He walked away from the comfort of a high-profile marketing career to build something far more ambitious. Today, he's the CEO and co-founder of Kwieri, an applied AI collaboration platform designed to address some of AI's biggest blind spots by blending artificial intelligence with personalized human mentorship, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Innovation Beyond the Hype - Jacquie Corbelli

My guest today is Jackie Corbelli, Founder and CEO of BrightLine and one of the true pioneers of interactive television and engagement-driven advertising. She’s spent her career helping transform TV from a passive screen into a two-way experience for Fortune 100 brands and the world’s largest streaming platforms, long before most of the industry realized where things were headed. Jackie is also the author of Changemaker, a leadership playbook drawn from decades of scaling innovation, leading through complexity, and building organizations that actually drive impact. From advising global institutions like the UN and the Vatican on technology and sustainability to shaping how brands think about media, strategy, and transformation, she brings a rare systems-level perspective on leadership, business, and the future of marketing.

Redefining the Airport Experience - Cassie Schmid

My guest today is Cassie Schmid, the Chief Strategy Officer for Philadelphia International Airport and the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. She's the one shaping how millions of people will experience Philly, especially as the city gears up for the World Cup, the All-Star Game and the country's 250th birthday in 2026. Cassie leads enterprise-wide strategy, performance management, communications, guest experience, marketing and brand. If it impacts how travelers see and feel Philadelphia as it's known, it runs through her.She brings a dynamic, sharp, data-driven, customer-first mindset, turning market trends, competitive dynamics and traveler insights into strategies that actually move the needle. Before Philly, she helped guide strategy and stakeholder engagement for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and before that, she built a really strong track record for leading go-to-market strategy and high-impact partnerships across multiple organizations. Simply put, Cassie is one of aviation's top strategic voices, and she's playing a major role in the future of how people arrive in and experience Philadelphia.

The Agentic Shift in Marketing - Don Sklenka

My guest today is Don Sklenka, SVP of AI Optimization at Claritas and one of the rare operators who's lived at the intersection of creative media and machine intelligence long before AI became a buzzword on every deck. With nearly 25 years in digital marketing, Don built his foundation inside global agency powerhouses like Publicis and Dentsu, leading omni-channel strategies for Fortune 500 brands across retail, CPG, automotive and healthcare. Today, Don is scaling patented AI solutions that turn data into decisions and campaigns into performance engines, real-time optimization, predictive analytics, smarter, creative, better outcomes, less noise, and more signal. Finally, he's a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, which tells you everything you need to know about his resilience and commitment to the long game!