# Best CMOs Drive Growth, Not Just Marketing

> CMOs must lead company growth, not just marketing campaigns, says AT&T's Kellyn Smith Kenny.
- Title: Best CMOs Drive Growth, Not Just Marketing · Adweek | Shortify
- Summary: CMOs must lead company growth, not just marketing campaigns, says AT&T's Kellyn Smith Kenny. AT&T's Kellyn Smith Kenny argues CMOs should understand business…
- Keywords: kellyn smith kenny, att, cmo, marketing, growth, business leadership, ai strategy, Best, CMOs, Drive, Just, Adweek
- Source: Adweek — https://adweek.com/brand-marketing/the-best-cmos-dont-just-run-marketing-ft-kellyn-smith-kenny-of-att
- Author: Jenny Rooney
- Published: 2026-10-21T18:34:09+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kellyn smith kenny, att, cmo, marketing, growth, business leadership, ai strategy
## Marketing as Growth Engine
Kellyn Smith Kenny says marketing must drive company growth, not just campaigns or brand communications.

> Marketing is there to help grow the company
## CMO as Company Leader
The CMO role requires understanding business economics and creating conditions for high-performing teams.

> Marketing cannot operate as an isolated function
## Leadership Through Conviction
Great leaders raise standards with both conviction and patience to build lasting change.

> Raising standards requires conviction and changing an organization requires time
## AI Requires Quality Data First
High-quality data must come before meaningful AI adoption for effective marketing strategies.

> Ai doesn t start with ai before ai comes data
## Human Insight Matters
Human insight remains central to strategic and creative decision-making even with AI.

> Human insight still needs to inform strategic and creative judgment
## Finance and Operations Allies
Finance and operations should collaborate as allies, not separate departments, for business growth.

> Finance and operations should be allies not neighboring departments
## Key takeaway

AT&T's Kellyn Smith Kenny argues CMOs should understand business economics and create conditions for high-performing teams to drive growth.