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In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Jarrod Purchase, a seasoned marketing leader with over 17 years’ experience spanning startups, scale-ups and global brands.
Jarrod shares his journey from hands-on email marketer to CMO, and why working closely with founders shaped the way he thinks about marketing, leadership and impact. He also opens up about building Club CMO Australia, the realities of today’s job market, and how AI is quietly reshaping teams, roles and expectations.
This is a grounded, honest conversation about what marketing really looks like behind the scenes. Less theory, more reality.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:- Why the best marketers balance creativity and commercial thinking It’s not just about great campaigns. The ability to connect activity to outcomes is what earns trust and influence.
- How working with founders changes your perspective Closer to decisions, faster pace, less politics. But it also demands adaptability and accountability.
- The real value of community at CMO level Why Jarrod built Club CMO Australia and how peer conversations often beat any course or podcast.
- What’s actually happening in the marketing job market right now Fewer roles at the top, pressure at the bottom, and a growing shift towards fractional and flexible leadership.
- How AI is changing team structures (without the hype) Not a wipeout of roles, but a shift in how teams are built, where senior thinking matters more and execution becomes leaner.
- Why personal brand is often a byproduct, not a strategy Focus on connecting people and adding value. The rest tends to follow.
- The biggest career mistakes marketers make Not trusting your gut on roles, and not properly assessing whether a business truly values marketing.
Key Takeaways:
- Marketing is both creative and commercial. You need to be comfortable in both worlds.
- The closer you are to decision-makers, the more impact you can have.
- Community and peer learning become critical as you step into senior roles.
- AI is more likely to reshape teams than replace them entirely.
- Strong marketers ask better questions, especially when it comes to numbers.
- Culture, leadership and respect for marketing matter more than job titles.
Connect with Our Guest:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrod-purchase-marketing-brand-strategy/
Club CMO Australia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/club-cmo-aus/
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Instagram: @NewChapterTalent
LinkedIn: New Chapter Talent || CMO Chapters Podcast
This podcast is brought to you by New Chapter Talent recruitment. If you're hunting for a fulfilling new role or seeking the right talent for your company, contact Lucy Bolan today!
Website: https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/contact-us
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/
Email: lucy@newchaptertalent.com.au
Chapters:
- (00:00) Welcome to CMO Chapters
- (00:48) Meet Jarrod Purchase: From Email Marketing to CMO
- (02:08) Starting Out at GSK & Falling Into Marketing
- (04:10) Creativity vs Commercial: What Marketing Really Is
- (05:48) Intentional Careers & Finding the Right Environment
- (08:02) Why the CMO Role Was Never the Goal
- (09:09) Building Community, Not Personal Brand
- (12:08) The Reality of Today’s Marketing Job Market
- (14:00) AI, Lean Teams & The Future of Hiring
- (19:02) Leadership Skills: What Actually Matters
- (20:06) The Gap Between Creative Work & Commercial Impact
- (22:23) The Future of the CMO Role
- (25:25) Failures, Gut Instinct & Choosing the Right Company
- (28:33) Learning from People, Not Just Content
- (30:24) What’s Next for Jarrod
