Becoming a CMO: What You Learn in Your First Year as a Marketing Leader (Ep 57)

Welcome back to The Marketing Share Podcast.In this kickoff interview episode of 2026, hosts Alec Cheung and Barb VanSomeren are joined by Michael Barber, CMO at StarTech, to talk about what it’s really like stepping into a CMO role for the first time.Michael brings a unique perspective shaped by an entire career on the agency side, with experience across creative, media, and account strategy.After years of advising brands from the outside and working early in his career alongside Jay Baer, Michael recently made the transition into an in-house executive role and is now navigating the realities of leading marketing from the inside.This episode unpacks the real challenges of marketing leadership, especially for those newly stepping into the CMO seat. You’ll hear:What changes when you move from agency partner to internal marketing leaderHow broad agency experience across creative, media, and strategy shows up in a CMO roleThe mindset shift required when you go from advising to owning outcomesEarly reflections from Michael’s first year as a CMOWhy more marketing leaders are navigating similar transitions todayThis episode is a must-listen if you’re a first-time CMO or considering a move in-house as the next stage of your career as a marketing leader.Connect with the hosts:👉 Barb VanSomeren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbvansomeren/👉 Alec Cheung: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleccheung/Connect with the Podcast Manager 👉 Cinthya Zeledón: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cinthyazeledon/Explore the video content of each podcast episode on YouTube Want to be a guest on The Marketing Share Podcast?  Send us your bio and proposed interview topic to [email protected], and our Podcast Manager will get back to you.