CIM Marketing Podcast by CIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing

August 13, 2026Episode 1251 hr 3 min

How to master the art of pitching and persuasion

How do you turn a good idea into a winning pitch your clients can’t stop talking about ? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by Danny Fontaine, author of Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience on the Planet, to unpack the art and science of winning pitches in today’s competitive marketing landscape. From the legendary British Rail pitch to a bold workshop with a luxury retail company, Danny shares real-world stories that show why emotion-first, PowerPoint-last is the future of persuasion. You’ll learn how to move beyond 100-page decks, create pitches people remember for years, and genuinely differentiate your approach when everyone else looks and sounds the same. Whether you’re pitching a new client, an internal concept, or your own ideas as a marketer, this episode will help you rethink how you show up in the room. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why emotion must come before information in every pitch, and how to back it up with evidence Practical ways to differentiate when your competitors are just as smart and experienced How to handle curveball questions and mid-pitch pivots without losing your cool The leadership behaviours that create brave, creative pitch teams If you’re tired of safe, forgettable pitches and want to captivate and convince any audience, this is an episode you’ll want your whole team to hear. Listen now to start reimagining your next pitch. Want to know more? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing. Thanks for listening to this episode. You can share your thoughts and feedback in our survey now, or contact us at podcast@cim.co.uk

August 12, 2026Episode 1251 min

Sneak peek: How to master the art of pitching and persuasion

How do you turn a good idea into a winning pitch your clients can’t stop talking about ? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by Danny Fontaine, author of Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience on the Planet, to unpack the art and science of winning pitches in today’s competitive marketing landscape. Whether you’re pitching a new client, an internal concept, or your own ideas as a marketer, this episode will help you rethink how you show up in the room. Can’t wait for the full episode on Thursday? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing.

July 30, 2026Episode 12448 min

AI-native marketing teams: Rethinking roles, skills and structure

What does a marketing team look like when AI is embedded in every part of their workflow, from research and briefing to creative, measurement, and sales enablement? In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by Scott Allen, General Manager of Global Marketing, Privacy and Agency Management at Microsoft, to explore what it really means to build an AI‑native marketing team without losing the human premium . Drawing on insights from CIM’s new AI report, Scott explains why AI won’t simply “take all the jobs”, but it will change them. He shares how Microsoft has adopted AI internally, what that has meant for teams, and how leaders can redesign roles, apprenticeships, and talent pipelines so humans and AI work together, not in competition. If you’re a marketing leader, or an ambitious early‑career marketer wondering how to stay relevant in an AI‑driven world, this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: · How to balance automation and human judgement so you protect the human premium · What Scott learned leading AI adoption at Microsoft, and how smaller organisations can apply the same principles · A simple approach to getting started: where to pilot AI, what to measure, and when to scale (or stop) Listen now to rethink what a marketing team is and how you can lead your organisation towards a confident, AI‑native future. Want to know more? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing. Thanks for listening to this episode. You can share your thoughts and feedback in our survey now, or contact us at podcast@cim.co.uk

July 29, 2026Episode 1241 min

Sneak peek: AI-native marketing teams

What does a marketing team look like when AI is embedded in every part of their workflow, from research and briefing to creative, measurement, and sales enablement? In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by Scott Allen, General Manager of Global Marketing, Privacy and Agency Management at Microsoft, to explore what it really means to build an AI‑native marketing team without losing the human premium . If you’re a marketing leader, or an ambitious early‑career marketer wondering how to stay relevant in an AI‑driven world, this episode is for you. Can’t wait for the full episode on Thursday? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing.

July 16, 2026Episode 12352 min

The AI strategy gap: Why 40% of marketers don’t expect ROI before 2030

Why are 40% of marketers not expecting ROI from AI until 2030, and what does that reveal about the AI strategy gap in marketing? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by Jemma Conner, Associate Director at YouGov, Jamie Credland, CEO of World Media Group, and James Delves, Head of PR and External Affairs at CIM to unpack new CIM research on AI in marketing. Together, they explore why larger organisations are racing ahead with AI, why SMEs are struggling to see returns, and why Gen Z is actually the most sceptical generation when it comes to AI-generated content. The panel examine the trust penalty of poor AI use, the risks of over-automation and job cuts, and what an AI‑fluent, future-ready marketing team should look like over the next 18 months. You’ll also hear why AI is supercharging back-office efficiency but creating real anxiety in front-office, customer-facing work. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to balance innovation with risk, from governance frameworks to choosing the right tools (not just the biggest LLMs) Why the public wants much tighter regulation of AI-driven advertising, and what that means for marketers How to use AI to enhance human creativity, not replace it, and build a team that works more like a high-performing newsroom than a content factory If you’re a marketing leader, strategist, or practitioner trying to use AI without losing creativity, trust, or differentiation, this episode gives you research-backed insight and practical direction on what to do next. CIM members will get exclusive early access to the full AI report at the end of the month. Want to know more? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing. Thanks for listening to this episode. You can share your thoughts and feedback in our survey now, or contact us at podcast@cim.co.uk

July 15, 2026Episode 1231 min

Sneak peek: The AI strategy gap

Why are 40% of marketers not expecting ROI from AI until 2030, and what does that reveal about the AI strategy gap in marketing? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by Jemma Conner, Associate Director at YouGov, Jamie Credland, CEO of World Media Group, and James Delves, Head of PR and External Affairs at CIM to unpack new CIM research on AI in marketing. Together, they explore why larger organisations are racing ahead with AI, why SMEs are struggling to see returns, and why Gen Z is actually the most sceptical generation when it comes to AI-generated content. Can’t wait for the full episode on Thursday? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing.

July 2, 2026Episode 12253 min

How marketing leaders are delivering social impact

How can marketing leaders drive real social change, not just publish another glossy purpose statement? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by Caroline Taylor OBE, former IBM CMO, and now Chair of Oasis Community Learning, and Jack Lowman, Chief Social Change Officer at disability charity Sense, Founder of Hack Yourself and CIM Course Director. Together, they unpack how marketers can move beyond “purpose washing” and use marketing skills to deliver genuine social impact, whether you’re in a big corporate, an agency, or the nonprofit sector. Caroline shares her journey from global tech marketing at IBM to leading a multi-academy trust, and why enlightened self-interest is the most sustainable way for brands to contribute to society. Jack explains what it really means to run a social change team, why delivering “the plan” isn’t the same as delivering change, and how data, storytelling, and theory of change come together to shift systems, not just sell products. In this episode, you will learn: · How to find the sweet spot where commercial goals and social impact reinforce each other · Why storytelling and data is the most powerful combination for shifting beliefs and behaviour · What will distinguish the next generation of marketing and social change leaders If you’re a marketer wondering how to make your work more meaningful, without losing sight of commercial reality, this episode is for you. Want to know more? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing. Thanks for listening to this episode. You can share your thoughts and feedback in our survey now, or contact us at podcast@cim.co.uk

July 1, 2026Episode 1222 min

Sneak peek: How marketing leaders are delivering social impact

How can marketing leaders drive real social change, not just publish another glossy purpose statement? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by Caroline Taylor OBE, Chair of Oasis Community Learning, and Jack Lowman, Chief Social Change Officer at Sense. Together, they unpack how marketers can move beyond “purpose washing” and use marketing skills to deliver genuine social impact, whether you’re in a big corporate, an agency, or the nonprofit sector. Can’t wait for the full episode on Thursday? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing.

June 18, 2026Episode 12146 min

Why authenticity is still vital for senior marketing leaders

Is human authenticity still a competitive advantage in an AI-driven, metric-obsessed marketing world? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by award-winning marketing leader and author Visha Kudhail (ex-Google, YouTube, Pinterest, Square UK) to unpack what authentic marketing really looks like in practice. Together, they go far beyond buzzwords, TikTok trends, and vanity metrics. Drawing on insights from her new book, “Authentic Marketing”, Visha explores how brands can use AI without outsourcing their soul, and why audience-first, intent-driven strategies are the real differentiator in a sea of sameness. She also shares powerful lessons from big tech leadership, building marketing functions from scratch, and a decade of championing women in leadership positions. In this episode, you’ll learn: What authenticity actually means in marketing, and why most brands get it wrong How to align values, leadership, product, and marketing so your brand truly matches its beliefs How to build and lead high-performing marketing teams in complex, global organisations If you’re a marketer, comms leader, or aspiring CMO wondering how to stay relevant in the AI era, this episode is for you. Check out Visha’s book Authentic Marketing here: https://www.vishakudhail.com/authentic-marketing Want to know more? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing. Thanks for listening to this episode. You can share your thoughts and feedback in our survey now, or contact us at podcast@cim.co.uk

June 17, 2026Episode 1211 min

Sneak peek: Why authenticity is vital for senior marketing leaders

Is human authenticity still a competitive advantage in an AI-driven, metric-obsessed marketing world? In this episode of the CIM Marketing Podcast, host Ben Walker is joined by award-winning marketing leader and author Visha Kudhail to unpack what authentic marketing really looks like in practice. Together, they go far beyond buzzwords, TikTok trends, and vanity metrics. If you’re a marketer, comms leader, or aspiring CMO wondering how to stay relevant in the AI era, this episode is for you. Can’t wait for the full episode on Thursday? Check out the CIM Content hub now for all things marketing.