May 2025 President's Note

Happy May!

The month is off to a terrific start. Our second annual CMA Marketing Week kicks off this morning, with sold-out hybrid events in Toronto and Vancouver.

This will be a jam-packed, exciting week filled with amazing opportunities to learn, engage and come together with your colleagues from across Canada.

Members can benefit from free access to four CMA professional development opportunities, three thought leadership sessions, socials, and our signature CMAfutureproof event.

Here are some highlights:

• This afternoon, we have a free for members training session on Demystifying Generative AI, which provides learning on the practical uses of Gen AI without the hype.
• Tomorrow is CMAinclusion, where we’ll unveil the latest CMA research findings on how our profession is embracing DEI. You can also benefit from another free training session on AI-Driven Storytelling for Marketers.
• Wednesday is our signature CMAfutureproof event, featuring a keynote by Jonah Berger, international bestselling author and innovation and disruption expert, and a second keynote by Mark Schaan, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet on Artificial Intelligence.
• Outstanding marketing executives from leading Canadian and global brands will also be sharing the stage to discuss the future of marketing.
• Our in-person event sold out quickly, but you can still attend virtually.
• Thursday features two thought leadership panels: Growth's ‘Big 3’: Storytelling, Brand and Business; and The Next Age of CX: Maintaining Customer Facing Systems.
• On Thursday evening, we’re hosting our AIM Social Connect for the next generation of marketing leaders.
• We wrap up on Friday with two virtual training sessions that are free for members:  Reset Your Mindset: Bouncing Back when Things are Tough, and Copywriting: From Strategy to Storytelling

The week is an inspiring way to help futureproof yourself, your team and your business. I encourage you to register for as many of the sessions as you can squeeze in.

This week is also Privacy Awareness Week in Canada and the CMA is releasing a new research report on Canadian Consumers’ Expectations for Privacy and Relevance in a Data-Driven World  in this week’s Top 5 Picks on Friday..

With the federal election behind us, we all continue to manage through tariffs and the rapidly evolving marketplace. One way we’re supporting our community is with CMA Connect episodes on how Canadians are adapting their behaviours in the face of uncertainty and renewed Canadian patriotism. We’re releasing our next episode on this important topic May 20.

This year, our innovative Digital Marketing Skills Canada upskilling program focuses on scholarships for marketers in the government’s priority industries, including: telco, retail grocery, food CPG brands, automotive, food processing, medical technology and electronics, to name a few.

An exciting change to the program is that marketers who are employed in these sectors – as well as marketers in transition - can now apply. It's a great way to earn the Chartered Marketer designation, fully funded by the Government of Canada, in partnership with Palette Skills. 

Another way the CMA is futureproofing marketers is by helping you understand and leverage AI. Our four latest efforts include: 1. a new AI in Marketing Guide, 2. a weekly Mastery Series of AI playbooks to upskill marketers on AI, 3. incorporating AI into our

CMA Code of Ethics, and 4. introducing a new CM elective and courses on AI.

Work is well underway for our 2025 CMA Awards. You still have time to apply to judge this year’s awards. Entry submissions are now open as well, and you can benefit from early bird pricing.

Clearly, we have a lot on the go. It’s an inspiring time to be part of the CMA community. I hope to see you at CMA Marketing Week and have a chance to raise a toast to our amazing profession.

Warm regards,
Alison Simpson
President & CEO

P.S. As part of our CMA Marketing Week celebrations, you can save 20% off all upcoming Chartered Marketer and On-Demand certificate courses if you register by May 9th. Simply use code MW2025.