Right About Now with Ryan Alford

What's up, everyone!

A few years back, I was part of a campaign that went from an idea scribbled on a napkin to a national TV spot. The sleepless nights, the late-stage feedback, the long weeks... it all came rushing back listening to Casey Hurbis, CMO of BetMGM, talk about the launch of their new brand campaign with Jon Hamm. That rush of creative chaos? It's what makes the magic happen.

Casey breaks down how today’s CMOs balance brand storytelling with data-driven precision and why personalization and creative bravery matter more than ever. Here are a few takeaways from our conversation:

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

🔥 Here’s What We Hit

Marketing Moves Faster Than Ever.

Casey says, "The pace of change in this business is the fastest I’ve ever seen." Between AI, personalization, and constant shifts in digital culture, the role of the CMO has become part creative visionary, part data scientist.

Your Move: Keep learning. Experiment with new tools and test bold creative ideas. The market will reward those who move first and move smart.

AI is Transforming Brand Storytelling

For Casey, AI isn’t replacing creativity but amplifying it. From one-to-one personalization to scaling campaign assets, BetMGM uses data and AI to connect with fans in more human, relevant ways.

Your Move: Look at how you can use AI to serve more meaningful content. Think segmentation, not automation.

Creativity Still Wins

Despite the data-driven world we live in, marketing is still subjective. The best leaders, like Casey, keep teams focused on pushing boundaries, even when it’s hard. "If this was easy, everyone would do it," he says.

Your Move: Embrace tension in the creative process. The friction is where innovation happens.

Make it Legendary

The new BetMGM campaign with Jon Hamm captures a feeling; that blend of excitement, sophistication, and entertainment that only MGM can deliver. For Casey, it’s more than a tagline; it’s a brand promise.

Your Move: Define what "legendary" means for your business. Then build every touchpoint to live up to it.

🤝 Connect with Casey Hurbis

Casey reminds us that legendary brands aren’t just built but they’re earned through creativity, courage, and connection. Follow Casey Hurbis on LinkedIn and check out BetMGM to see their latest campaigns.