In response to Sprout’s 2025 Affect of Social Report, most advertising and marketing leaders perceive the affect of social media on numerous levels of the shopper journey, together with consciousness (67%), buyer acquisition (60%) and buyer loyalty (58%).
The issue? They’re not as assured of their groups’ capability to tie social to those outcomes, usually as a result of disjointed tech stacks and unclear ROI.
In different phrases, many execs are feeling unsure about their groups’ social intelligence—the artwork of harnessing the unfiltered, real-time pulse of your market from social media and incorporating these insights all through what you are promoting in tangible methods.
Thankfully, there are many digital advertising and marketing leaders who’re repeatedly put social first, harness social intelligence and share their experience. We’ve curated an inventory of those advertising and marketing leaders so you’ll be able to observe them for inspiration and steerage.
Dara Treseder, CMO, Autodesk
Dara Treseder is the CMO of Autodesk, a world chief in 3D design, engineering and leisure software program.
Autodesk’s mission is to empower everybody, in every single place to design and make something that might create a greater world for all. And that mission seeps into all the things the model does, each in real-world and social areas.
However Autodesk doesn’t simply speak the speak—it walks the stroll, actively proving you could make something with its know-how. Take its involvement with the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Video games. Its “Let There Be Something” marketing campaign stars three Group USA athletes who dwell and breathe Autodesk’s values.
Along with championing these campaigns, Treseder makes use of her LinkedIn profile to share candid takes, tangible takeaways and real-world recommendation on industry-relevant matters and trending applied sciences like AI. Better of all, she does it in a voice that’s unmistakably hers: assured and forward-thinking but wholly conversational.
In a social panorama riddled with obscure or surface-level commentary, her readability and candor make her the form of advertising and marketing chief you need in your feed.
Stacy Taffet, Chief Development Officer, The Hershey Firm
With over 25 years of expertise, Stacy Taffet is among the most achieved leaders in advertising and marketing. As Hershey’s Chief Development Officer, she’s enjoying an integral position in adapting the model’s practices and merchandise to maintain up with customers’ ever-changing tastes.
Particularly, the model is getting a advertising and marketing makeover in 2026, which is able to see it dabble in modern-day ways, similar to TikTok influencer campaigns, dwell occasions and exercise round huge cultural moments.
One development they’ve already tapped is Dubai chocolate—a viral chocolate bar full of pistachio paste and kataifi pastry. Hershey noticed the rising curiosity on-line and seized the chance to affix in, releasing its personal limited-edition model of Dubai chocolate.
Taffet’s LinkedIn presence reinforces that cultural fluency. She repeatedly posts about Hershey’s newest campaigns, underscoring how they faucet into customers’ pursuits and preferences.
A case research in assembly customers the place they’re, Taffet’s content material mirrors the trendy route Hershey is taking. And by following her, you’ll get a front-row have a look at how a legacy model is maintaining tempo with its viewers.
Brittany Hennessy, VP of Social Intelligence Evangelism, Sprout Social
If there’s anybody who understands the facility of social intelligence, it’s Brittany Hennessy. A former influencer with over 15 years of expertise within the social media house, she now serves because the VP of Social Intelligence Evangelism at Sprout Social.
She understands that social media—and different related applied sciences like AI—is formed by human habits, emotion and tradition. On LinkedIn, she repeatedly demonstrates how leaders can use social to craft accessible, human-centered narratives round these rising applied sciences.
She did the identical factor throughout her Creator Financial system Dwell session, The Good Match: Creator Partnerships Your CMO and CFO Will Ship. In it, Hennessy leaned into the “matchmaking” metaphor, framing creator discovery as a relationship journey. She reminded manufacturers that discovering the best companion isn’t about chasing who appears to be like good on paper—it’s about real compatibility and shared values.
Equal components witty and strategic, Hennessy is an knowledgeable at translating advanced social ideas into relatable tales that assist entrepreneurs perceive what’s coming subsequent.
Keep updated on Hennessy’s newest endeavors by following her on LinkedIn and subscribing to her Substack, Suite Intelligence.
William White, CMO, Walmart
Since 2020, William White has served because the CMO of Walmart. His work for the business big has earned him recognition as a prime advertising and marketing chief, together with a spot within the 2025 Forbes CMO Corridor of Fame.
In his time as CMO, White has been working tirelessly to drive demand and buyer loyalty, and place Walmart as a digital-first retailer.
Previously yr alone, his oversight has made 85% of the corporate’s media shoppable.
White has additionally been instrumental in growing the Walmart Creator platform, significantly because the enterprise leans extra into creator advertising and marketing.
On his LinkedIn feed, White usually breaks down Walmart’s most revolutionary partnerships, similar to its collaboration with OpenAI to construct AI‑first procuring experiences and its launch of drone deliveries in Atlanta. However he additionally brings a uniquely human contact to his content material, tying the model’s initiatives to his personal passions, background and experiences.
His mixture of imaginative and prescient, strategic perception and real character make him a prime advertising and marketing chief to observe.
Leslie Berland, CMO, Verizon
Leslie Berland is the CMO of Verizon, an iconic telecommunications firm incomes a popularity for best-in-class natural engagement on social.
The recipe for Verizon’s success is rooted in daring creatives and taking huge swings, whereas nonetheless folding in relatability and suppleness. They discover moments to take part in (and create) tradition on social, and pave new paths ahead for his or her model.
Underneath Berland’s stewardship, the model has additionally forayed into social and influencer advertising and marketing, with campaigns that includes the likes of David Beckham, Kevin Hart, Lindsay Lohan and Pete Davidson.
Because the Official Telecommunication Companies Sponsor for FIFA World Cup 26™, their latest collaboration with Beckham is the right instance of how the model faucets into cultural moments whereas leveraging the affect of A-list figures. The advert leans on Beckham’s authority within the sport whereas concurrently highlighting Verizon’s worth proposition in a fascinating manner that capitalizes on the thrill for the World Cup.
These forward-thinking social campaigns have cemented Berland’s place as one of many prime digital advertising and marketing leaders to look at by famend organizations like AdAge and Matrix.
Keep related with Berland by following her on LinkedIn and studying her thought management options.
Nathan Jun Poekert, Interim Head of Model, Blueland
Nathan Jun Poekert has constructed a reputation for himself on social. With greater than 40,000 followers on LinkedIn, and over 900K throughout Instagram and TikTok, Jun Poekert is well-known as an knowledgeable in natural, influencer and paid social technique.
After serving as Head of Social, Content material & Digital Innovation at American Eagle, he transitioned to consulting manufacturers on their social methods, and constructing a popularity as a thought chief and creator. He then pivoted his social expertise into the position of CMO at Common Thought, a model company behind main trend moments.
Now, Jun Poekert is serving as Interim Head of Model for Blueland, which makes a speciality of eco-conscious cleansing and private care merchandise.
Even whereas juggling his new place, Jun Poekert stays an lively on-line character and creator. His posts study the philosophical and moral questions of working in social whereas strolling followers by way of the true finest practices of working a profitable model presence.
To remain related with Jun Poekert, observe him on social and rewatch a few of our favourite webinars he took half in, together with Navigating Social in an Election Yr and Underneath the Model-fluence.
Todd Kaplan, CMO, Kraft Heinz North America
Todd Kaplan is the CMO of Kraft Heinz North America and has helped the model usher in a brand new period of transformation within the digital panorama. As he instructed Adweek, his model of management helps his staff “discover the candy spot between creativity and enterprise aims.”
Kaplan has been acknowledged by Forbes and Enterprise Insider as a prime CMO, and was even known as a “Advertising and marketing Rockstar” by Rolling Stone. Kaplan spent most of his profession serving to PepsiCo develop and keep cultural relevance.
His transfer to Kraft Heinz in 2024 was a recent begin for the legacy model. Since then, it’s considerably elevated each its share of voice and its on-line cultural competency.
Take its launch of the Leftover Gravy sauce for example. Created in honor of the actual hero of Thanksgiving—the leftovers sandwich—the product additionally capitalized on a social development.
As Kaplan factors out in his put up, yearly on the day after Thanksgiving, Millennials take to TikTok to indicate off their leftover creations, whereas nostalgically paying homage to the ‘Moist Maker’.
Sustain with Kaplan—a pacesetter well-known for his laidback model and dedication to his favourite sports activities groups—on LinkedIn for highlights from his newest media appearances.
Kikora Mason, VP of Group & Social Media, JPMorgan Chase
Kikora Mason is the VP of Group and Social Media at JPMorgan Chase. The multinational monetary providers agency is 225 years previous, but nonetheless invests in new methods to attach and develop its neighborhood, which is essential to its success over the centuries.
In her position, Mason leads a staff targeted on social listening and neighborhood administration. She critiques development analyses each day—and finds tangible methods to include these insights into enterprise operations.
As she instructed us once we interviewed her for an article about social media govt profession progress, “It’s at all times vital to know your target market and base your technique on what’s going to resonate with them and fulfill your aims.”
However JPMorgan Chase doesn’t chase traits for the sake of it, or run on the development cycle hamster wheel. As an alternative, they take a measured strategy and await alternatives that align with their model. Like when it tapped into BookTok in its personal manner, spotlighting e-book suggestions for professionals at each stage.
Comply with Mason on LinkedIn, the place she shares takeaways from management panels she participates in and presents recommendation to younger entrepreneurs.
Taylor Montgomery, International Chief Model Officer, Taco Bell
Whereas he now serves as International Chief Model Officer, Taylor Montgomery was beforehand Taco Bell’s CMO, overseeing the model’s advertising and marketing presence throughout their greatest social media moments—from recruiting Doja Cat to bringing again Mexican Pizza. Montgomery champions approaching social like a consumer as a substitute of a model, a method that appears to be paying off.
Underneath Montgomery’s management, the model has constantly grown. It has even expanded its choices with a line of Dwell Más Cafés, beverage areas altering the best way followers expertise Taco Bell. The transfer was in direct response to the preferences of youthful customers, who take pleasure in indulging in drinks.
“Over the previous 5 years, we’ve actually, actually been transitioning and excited about the model and learn how to place it for Gen Z, and so Café was actually born from that,” Montgomery mentioned. “I believe it’s one thing like 60% of Gen Z customers come to a restaurant or [quick-service restaurant] for a day deal with.”
Taco Bell’s digital advertising and marketing technique round this initiative has been savvy, with its posts taking up an appropriately youthful tone.
Comply with Montgomery for the most recent and biggest from Taco Bell’s advertising and marketing efforts and overviews of his thought management interviews.
Scott Morris, CMO, Sprout Social
Sprout’s CMO Scott Morris is a prime advertising and marketing chief to look at (however we is likely to be biased). With Morris’ management, Sprout has developed a strong influencer advertising and marketing program, launched a brand new digital launch occasion movement, crafted a “buyer zero” content material sequence and attributed extra income than ever to social efforts.
Morris usually pushes our social staff to assume past tried-and-true B2B advertising and marketing formulation, a testomony to his brand-building experience.
On LinkedIn, he shares wins from our campaigns—similar to our Shorty Award-winning Influencer & Creator program—the most recent product launches and his takeaways in regards to the worth of social and social insights. Comply with him there to remain present, and browse his rising library of articles on our weblog.
Josh Rangel, Senior Director of Social, Ogilvy
As a Senior Director of Social Media at Ogilvy, Josh Rangel brings nearly 20 years of social media expertise to his shopper work. Underneath his management, his staff builds award-winning campaigns for among the world’s most well-known manufacturers.
Rangel can also be a member of our Index Council, a cohort of social entrepreneurs and thought leaders who helped us form our knowledge into the 2025 Index report. Once we interviewed him, Rangel illuminated how he advocates for extra sources for social: “Finances shouldn’t be a grimy phrase. Converse plain language that ties social media efficiency again to enterprise outcomes. Maintain it easy and give attention to: 1) bringing the receipts, 2) positioning social as a laboratory for testing and studying, and three) sharing the price of not being a part of the dialog.”
On LinkedIn, Rangel shares in regards to the expertise of talking up for extra sources and his observations in regards to the newest traits, plus relatable memes and POVs that seize the sentiment of the {industry} solely social entrepreneurs can perceive.
Fill your feed with advertising and marketing leaders’ insights
These advertising and marketing leaders are redefining the position of social—and extra particularly, social insights—in trendy enterprise methods. From legacy manufacturers embracing innovation to trailblazers pushing artistic boundaries, they provide inspiration and actionable classes you should use to refine your methods.
By following their work and studying from their successes, you’ll be able to gas your social-first advertising and marketing technique and hold your wider enterprise plans forward of the curve.
For extra steerage on bolstering your social ROI past viral campaigns, learn the 2025 Affect of Social Report.
