197. AMA 2026 Marketing Trends: How Trust, AI, and Audience Fragmentation Are Rewriting the Rules of Growth

Marketing is shifting — and many brands feel it, even if they can’t yet name it. In this episode, Sonia Thompson speaks with Bennie F. Johnson, CEO of the American Marketing Association, about the AMA 2026 Marketing Trends shaping the future of modern marketing and growth marketing. They unpack how trust in marketing, AI in marketing, and audience fragmentation are rewriting the rules of growth — driving up customer acquisition costs, raising expectations for relevance, and reshaping how brands build credibility in identity-driven communities. Drawing on insights from the AMA’s 2026 Future Trends in Marketing research, this conversation explores what’s changing beneath the surface — from responsible artificial intelligence, inclusive leadership, and evolving workforce models to the implications for growth strategy in today’s complex marketing environment. 🎧 A must-listen for CMOs, growth leaders, and brand strategists navigating the next era of modern growth marketing.