Get Points on the Board: Marketing Leadership in 2026 | Amanda Reierson, CMO & Public Board Member

What happens when marketing leaders stop waiting for perfect measurement and start building momentum?You get faster learning, stronger conviction, and teams that know how to move forward - even in uncertainty.In this episode of The Incremental Marketer, Paul Boruta sits down with Amanda Reierson, former CMO of Avant and current board member at Porch Group, to explore what marketing leadership looks like in 2026. Drawing on her experience leading brand, growth, performance, and CX at companies like Farmers Insurance, Thumbtack, Yahoo, and DIRECTV, Amanda shares how modern CMOs balance pressure for results with imperfect data.The conversation covers why progress beats perfection, how to structure marketing teams in an AI-enabled world, and why customer experience has become a core growth lever - not just a brand metric. Amanda also breaks down how brands should think about agentic search and AI-driven discovery, and why “getting points on the board” matters more than waiting for certainty.👉 If you’re navigating AI, fragmented channels, and rising expectations—and need a practical mindset for leading through it - this episode is for you.CHAPTERS00:00 The Importance of Momentum in Marketing01:58 Amanda's Marketing Journey03:18 Challenges Faced by Marketing Leaders05:16 Investing in Marketing Resources06:35 The Role of AI in Marketing09:41 Structuring Marketing Teams for AI10:41 In-Housing vs. Agency Support12:30 Hiring for AI Skills14:16 Market Trends and Opportunities15:00 Adapting to AEO and LLMs16:41 Measuring Marketing Effectiveness18:52 Data Management in Marketing20:28 Building Effective Loyalty Programs21:53 Testing Marketing Strategies23:31 Long-Term Brand Measurement26:09 Customer Experience as a Business Priority27:44 Marketing's Role in Product Market Fit31:21 Future Focus for Marketing Leaders33:04 Advice for Aspiring Marketing LeadersCONTACT AMANADAhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-reierson-5a83241🔥 ABOUT THE CHANNELJoin Slingwave Founder & CEO Paul Boruta as he sits down with top marketing leaders to uncover the strategies, experiments, and data-driven moves that actually drive growth. No fluff. No vanity metrics. Just real, actionable insights to help you optimize, scale, and win.If you geek out on analytics, love testing what really works, and want to stay ahead of the latest marketing trends, this show is for you.👉 Ways to connect & explore:🎥 Prefer video? Watch full episodes on YOUTUBE.🤝 Want to talk marketing analytics? REQUEST A DEMO.🔗 Stay in the loop and follow Slingwave on LINKEDIN.💬 CONTACT PAUL🎙️ Smarter marketing starts here →slingwave.com