And at a dinner co-hosted with LinkedIn, The Female Quotient, and our partners Adobe and Microsoft, Steven Bartlett, entrepreneur, investor, author and host of the podcast The Diary of a CEO, urged executives to make themselves available, even if it means exposing themselves to criticism, in order to engender trust and authenticity.
“It’s better to be understood than liked,” he said.
With accessibility and accountability as table stakes, CMOs must intentionally determine where human judgment, creativity, and authenticity remain essential, even as they embed AI across their organizations.
CMOs are no longer being asked to market change. They must model it. They can’t just respond to AI-borne changes, but must direct them.
The most relevant leaders must be willing to step outside echo chambers, engage deeply with complexity, and lead transparently at the center of their business.
