AM to C-Suite EP3: Navigating the Path to CMO: Insights from Michael Cole

In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out (AM to C-Suite Edition), host Dustin Howes welcomes Michael Cole, CMO of Everflow, to discuss how affiliate marketers can grow from affiliate manager to executive leadership.Michael shares how he got started in affiliate marketing, why many affiliate managers hit a career plateau, and how skills like partner relationship management, fraud prevention, and strategic communication translate into leadership roles. He also explains why affiliate marketing is more than a single channel and how to report results in terms of revenue, pipeline, and business growth.Whether you're an affiliate manager, partner marketer, or performance marketer, this episode offers practical insights to help you grow your career.00:00 Affiliate to CMO Mindset00:39 Welcome to Nerditorium01:05 Meet Michael Cole01:31 Accidental Affiliate Start02:31 Mentors and Relationships03:14 Breaking the Plateau04:38 Fraud and Deescalation06:16 Affiliate Beyond a Channel07:18 From AM to C Suite08:56 Learning All Disciplines10:11 Speaking Executive Metrics11:15 Career Regrets and Lessons12:10 CMO by 2030 Playbook13:10 Closing and SignoffSubscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes#AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateManager #PartnerMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateProgram #AffiliateNerdOut #csuite #Everflow #SaaSMarketing #MarketingLeadership #DigitalMarketing #MarketingCareers #MichaelColeAlfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first monthFor more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com