How CEOs & CMOs Shape Digital Transformation | DisrupTV Ep. 20
In DisrupTV Episode 20, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar interview:
- Clara Shih, CEO & Founder of Hearsay Social
- Naveen Rajdev, Chief Marketing Officer at Wipro
- Alan Lepofsky, VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research
The conversation focuses on how executive leadership, marketing strategy, and technology insight must converge to make digital transformation real in organizations. They explore the responsibilities of CEOs and CMOs in disruption, the evolving role of platforms, and how to bridge strategy with execution.
Key Takeaways
CEOs & CMOs Must Co-Lead Transformation
Clara Shih and Naveen Rajdev argue that digital change can’t be delegated entirely to IT. CEOs and CMOs must participate in shaping digital strategy to ensure alignment across functions.
Marketing as a Strategic Force, Not Just Channels
Rajdev emphasizes that marketing must evolve from promotional campaigns to strategic positioning, data-informed engagement, and value delivery through customer journeys.
Platforms & Ecosystems Over Tools
Lepofsky underscores that the future is about platforms—systems that allow modular innovation, integration, and extensibility—rather than one-off tools or point solutions.
Bridging Strategy to Execution
One recurring insight: strategies without disciplined execution fail. The conversation highlights the need for feedback loops, metrics, governance, and cross-functional ownership.
Leadership in Ambiguity
In disruptive times, leaders must hold ambiguity, experiment, and pivot. The ability to adapt quickly becomes more important than predicting the future.
Final Thoughts
Episode 20 highlights a central truth: digital transformation succeeds at the intersection of leadership, marketing, and technology. Tools and platforms are necessary, but they only deliver when leadership aligns, marketing adapts, and execution is disciplined.
Clara Shih’s focus on organizational alignment, Naveen Rajdev’s view of marketing’s elevated role, and Alan Lepofsky’s platform-first architecture together show a blueprint: transformation isn’t linear — it’s a dynamic orchestration across function, vision, and structure.
Organizations that nurture this alignment—leaders who guide, marketers who strategize, and technologists who build flexibly—will stand out in disruption.
Related Episodes
- Ep. 23 – The ROI of Customer Success & Data-Driven Growth
- Ep. 22 – “Digital Disruption & Marketing Leadership” – more on how tech reshapes marketing roles
