The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlstrom

What if the marketing playbook you've relied on for the past decade is quickly failing to get results? 

When customers rapidly shift their behaviors, agility requires being willing to rethink how you build and earn customer relationships from the ground up.

Today, we're going to talk about the shift away from rented audiences and unreliable signals toward building durable, first-party data assets. Specifically, we’ll cover:

- Why the classic B2B and B2C buyer intent signals are becoming less reliable and what to look for instead.

- How to navigate a new era of marketing measurement when privacy regulations and platform changes obscure the full picture.

- The practical steps required to build a first-party data strategy that creates durable customer relationships, not just a larger database.

To help me discuss this, I'd like to welcome, Alexi Hatch, CMO at Acoustic.

About Alexi Hatch

Alexi Hatch is Chief Marketing Officer at Acoustic, where she leads global marketing, brand, communications, product marketing, demand generation, and go-to-market strategy. Over the past decade, Alexi has helped enterprise SaaS companies grow by building brands people remember, modernizing marketing organizations, and turning customer insight into business impact. Her work sits at the intersection of AI, customer engagement, and modern marketing leadership.

She believes the next competitive advantage in marketing won't come from knowing more about customers but from responding to them better.

Alexi Hatch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexihatch/

---------- Resources ----------

: acoustic.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are the platforms you rely on most for growth also the biggest barriers to understanding it?

Agility requires a clear view of the entire customer journey, not just the isolated moments within a single platform. This means brands must adapt their strategies to operate effectively across the open internet, not just within its walled gardens.

Today, we're going to talk about a fundamental disconnect in modern marketing: while AI is enabling a consumer journey that is more fluid and dynamic than ever, many marketers are still planning, executing, and measuring their efforts in platform-specific silos. This can create a distorted view of performance and limit a brand's ability to drive real growth.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Todd Parsons, Chief Product Officer & President of Performance Media at Criteo.

About Todd Parsons

Todd Parsons is Chief Product Officer and President of Performance Media at Criteo, where he leads the company’s global product and Performance Media organization. Since joining in 2020, he has been instrumental in transforming Criteo’s platform, advancing AI-powered solutions for predictive bidding, creative assembly, and merchandising, while scaling self-service activation across channels. In 2025, he assumed leadership of Performance Media to unify product, design, analytics, and go-to-market under a single vision for growth. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of data and marketing, Todd has held leadership roles driving innovation across the industry. He previously served as Chief Product Officer at SocialCode, where he developed tools to activate and measure first-party audiences across platforms including Facebook, Amazon, and YouTube, and earlier helped establish OpenX as the first people-based programmatic marketplace. At Criteo, he continues to shape the future of commerce media, leveraging over a billion daily shopper interactions to deliver measurable outcomes for brands and retailers worldwide.

Todd Parsons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddaparsons

---------- Resources ----------

Criteo: criteo.com

This show is brought to you by Criteo. 

Their new self-service platform, Criteo GO, makes AI-powered advertising simpler and more accessible for brands looking to drive demand, acquire customers, and scale performance. 

By enabling cross-channel performance across display, web, video, social, and even ChatGPT, Criteo GO helps brands reach shoppers with smarter advertising powered by real-time commerce signals.

We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: agilebrandguide.com

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your most valuable future customers are discovering solutions in a place your current attribution models can't even see?

Agility requires not just adapting to new channels, but completely rethinking how we measure discovery and value when the customer journey starts with a conversation with an AI.

Today, we're going to talk about:

- How the shift from keyword-based search to conversational AI is creating a new discipline: Answer Engine Optimization.

- Why your current team structure might be the biggest obstacle to winning in the AI era, and how to reorganize talent and process for this new reality.

- The critical role of unified customer data in influencing AI-driven recommendations and why it’s becoming the ultimate competitive advantage.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Kipp Bodnar, Chief Marketing Officer at HubSpot.

About Kipp Bodnar

As CMO of HubSpot, Kipp leads global marketing strategy to drive awareness and demand across a rapidly evolving product suite. He previously served as VP of Marketing, scaling international teams and overseeing demand gen, strategic partnerships, and social media. He’s also a marketing advisor to several SaaS companies, co-author of The B2B Social Media Book, and a respected speaker and blogger.

Kipp Bodnar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kippbodnar/

---------- Resources ----------

HubSpot website: https://www.hubspot.com/

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

Start building your own apps with Replit and get $20 off. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/93531742a7625a20

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With brands being defined by every customer interaction, who is really in charge of your customer experience: your C-suite, or your frontline employees?

Agility requires more than just the right technology; it demands a culture where empowered teams can make decisions and respond to customer needs in the moment.

Today, we're going to talk about building a brand from the inside out, focusing on the powerful connection between internal culture and external customer experience. We'll explore:

- How a "reverse pyramid" leadership model can directly impact customer experience and brand perception.

- Translating core values into an operational framework that empowers employees and fosters accountability.

- The principles of scaling a culture of empowerment as a brand grows from a single location to a global presence.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Rick Rosenfield, Co-Founder at California Pizza Kitchen, and author of the new book, The California Pizza Kitchen Story.

About Rick Rosenfield

Rick Rosenfield is the co-founder of California Pizza Kitchen and a former federal prosecutor and defense attorney. He helped grow CPK to 265 restaurants and a national retail line while shaping a new era of American casual dining. His forthcoming memoir blends legal battles, entrepreneurial inflection points, and lessons in partnership and culture.

Rick Rosenfield on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickrosenfield

---------- Resources ----------

California Pizza Kitchen: www.rickrosenfield.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the biggest obstacle to AI-driven ROI isn't the AI itself, but everything you’re feeding it?

Agility requires not just the speed to adopt new technologies like AI, but the clarity to recognize when foundational elements, like your data strategy, must be fixed first to unlock true potential.

Today, we're going to talk about the intense pressure on revenue and marketing leaders to demonstrate ROI from AI. We’ll explore the counterintuitive idea that simply chasing 'better AI' is a distraction, and that the real gains come from addressing the foundational data gaps that plague most organizations.

To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Ann Davis, Chief Revenue Officer at Crunchbase.

About Ann Davis

Ann Davis is the Chief Revenue Officer at Crunchbase, where she leads global sales strategy and drives adoption of the company’s AI-powered predictive intelligence solution. With more than 30 years of experience scaling enterprise sales teams at high-growth SaaS companies, Ann brings deep expertise in data analytics, customer engagement, and revenue growth. She joined Crunchbase from Google Cloud, where she led sales for data analytics solutions—including BigQuery and Vertex—across multiple U.S. regions. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Sales at Looker, playing a key role in expanding its enterprise business ahead of its acquisition by Google. At Crunchbase, Ann is focused on helping customers unlock the power of AI-driven market insights to anticipate shifts and act faster.

Ann Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anndavis3/

---------- Resources ----------

Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com

The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703

We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658

Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f

Chaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other GenAI tools. Learn more at trychaser.com and use code AGILEBRAND for a 3-month free trial (normal trial is 14 days).

The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1

Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom

Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba

Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.