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The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX

#847: Acquia CMO Jennifer Griffin Smith on MarTech that delivers beyond the hype

The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX

The Agile Brand

Business, Marketing

4.9113 Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Now that AI can generate endless content, what is the true strategic value of a human-led content strategy? Agility requires more than just adopting the latest tools; it demands a foundational strategy that allows you to integrate new capabilities without disrupting the core customer experience. This means being able to distinguish between a promising innovation and a distraction. Today, we're going to talk about moving beyond the hype cycle to build a marketing technology ecosystem that actually delivers. We'll explore how to treat content orchestration not as a task but as a core strategic discipline, how to make AI a practical asset rather than a science project, and why so many CMOs are re-evaluating what they truly need from their platforms and partners. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Jennifer Griffin Smith, CMO at Acquia back to the show. About Jennifer Griffin Smith A well-respected international marketing executive, Jennifer Griffin Smith has more than 20 years of experience managing go-to-market strategies and corporate communications for public and private technology companies. She focuses on the needs of customers and partners in the ever-changing digital world, ensuring that Acquia solutions deliver exceptional value today and in the future, and that all programs and communications are addressing the unique needs of customers. Jennifer leads the global marketing organization, including product marketing, GTM programs for customers and new business, brand, and marketing communications. With her extensive experience as a B2B marketing practitioner, Jennifer is passionate about new ways to grow awareness, improve marketing ROI, and create high-performing, award-winning teams.Before joining Acquia, Jennifer held CMO positions at Brightcove, Alfresco Software (acquired by Hyland), Software AG, Workhuman (formerly Globoforce), Avid Technology, and Progress Software. She has also held senior European marketing roles at Microsoft, PeopleSoft, and Information Builders. Jennifer Griffin Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergriffinsmith/ Resources Acquia: https://www.acquia.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 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/gregkihlstromDon'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

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, I'm Greg Kilstrom, host of the Agile brand, and here's a question for you.

0:04.0

Now that AI can generate endless content, what's the true strategic value of a human-led content strategy?

0:11.0

Agility requires more than just adopting the latest tools.

0:14.0

It demands a foundational strategy that allows you to integrate new capabilities without disrupting the core customer experience.

0:25.3

This means being able to distinguish between a promising innovation and a distraction.

0:31.8

Today we're going to talk about moving beyond the hype cycle to build a marketing technology ecosystem that actually delivers.

0:38.2

We're going to explore how to treat content orchestration not as a task, but as a core strategic discipline, how to make AI a practical asset rather than a science project, and why so many CMOs

0:43.4

are reevaluating what they truly need from their platforms and their partners.

0:50.3

Welcome to Season 8 of the Agile Brown podcast.

0:53.5

This season we're going all in on expert mode MARTEC, AI, and customer experience,

0:58.0

talking with the people and platforms behind the brands you know and love.

1:01.0

Again, I'm your host, Greg Kilstrom, and I help Fortune 1000 companies make sense of MARTEC, AI, and Marketing Ops.

1:08.0

Hit subscribe or follow to make sure you always get the latest episodes and leave us a rating

1:12.1

so others can find us as well.

1:15.1

And make sure you check out our sponsor Tech Systems, an industry leader in full-stack

1:18.8

technology services, talent services, and real-world adoption.

1:23.1

For more information, go to TechSystems.com.

1:26.1

Now let's dive in. Tell me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome

1:30.7

Jennifer Griffin-Smith, CMO at Aqua, back to the show. Jennifer, welcome back. Thank you, Greg.

1:37.2

It's nice to be back. I think last time I was here, neither of us really knew what we'd be talking

1:42.5

about in 18 months time, right? I know, right? It's a yeah, crazy world we live in. Crazy world. I was actually thinking about that and I went back and looked at it and I thought, wow, if only we'd known, we'd have been a little bit ahead. But I'm excited to be back. Thanks for having me. Yeah, absolutely. And for those that didn't catch our last conversation, why don't

2:01.5

you give a little background on yourself in your role at Acquia? Sure, sure. I'm the chief market

...

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