Luquire Shares Insight from Female CMO Confessional Survey

We’ve watched AI, data privacy, automated marketing, CX, shrinking budgets, and rapidly evolving expectations for the CMO office create a relentless state of discomfort for senior marketing leaders. Yet, discomfort is hard for most senior professionals – marketers or otherwise – to talk about, especially when leading organisations, large teams, and brands. 

To to crack the lid on that discomfort, Luquire asked female marketing leaders from a diverse range of industries (QSR, CPG, Retail, Hospitality, Financial and Professional Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, etc.) to open up about what keeps them– and their teams - up at night. 

Key insights include:

Commonalities between respondents:

• AI and Technology Adoption: Many CMOs expressed both excitement and discomfort about AI and new technologies. They see the potential for efficiency and personalisation but struggle with rapid adaptation and implementation.
• Overwhelming Data Management: Respondents frequently mentioned challenges with organising, interpreting, and utilising data effectively, highlighting a desire for streamlined processes and tools.
• Focus on Customer Experience: There’s a universal push to improve customer experiences, tying marketing efforts closely to tangible business outcomes.

Differences between respondents:

• Comfort Levels with Change: Responses varied widely, with some CMOs embracing discomfort as a driver for growth, while others found the constant pace of change to be a major stressor.
• Approaches to Social Media: Some respondents viewed social media as an essential but draining tool, while others actively advocated for shifts in platform priorities toward more ethical or humanity-centred advertising.
• Trends Excitement: Excitement levels about trends like influencer marketing, AI, and sustainability were mixed, reflecting differences in industry-specific priorities.

Discomfort Assessment:

• On a scale of 1–10, many respondents rated their discomfort between 6–7, reflecting cautious optimism but significant unease about rapid changes in the field.

Key sources of discomfort:

• Rapid Industry Evolution: Keeping up with consumer behaviour shifts, post-pandemic changes, and competitive pressures.
• Loneliness in Leadership: CMOs often lack direct mentorship and are solely responsible for their organization’s marketing impact.
• Resource Gaps: Many feel constrained by outdated tools or insufficient training to leverage emerging technologies like AI fully.