Contributor

Marketing has transformed dramatically over the last decade. What once relied on print ads and billboards now demands agility, data fluency, and strategic digital execution. Yet despite all these tools at their disposal, many small business owners remain dependent on agency models that limit autonomy.

Courtney Hurley and Kelly Evans, founders of Market Like a CMO, saw this pattern repeating in their 30+ years in marketing. So, they created a different path. Their program is a hands-on strategy workshop designed for flexibility, helping entrepreneurs regain control of their marketing by equipping them with the right systems, strategies, and productivity tools to run things independently and sustainably.

Rethinking the Agency Model

For many business owners, hiring an agency can feel like relief. But the hidden cost of that relief is dependency. Changes often take weeks. Strategy adjustments come with added fees. And control of core assets like websites and funnels sometimes remains with the agency itself.

Hurley and Evans believe marketing should be something business owners understand and manage with confidence. Their workshop provides a framework to learn those systems, without the unnecessary complexity.

The Market Like A CMO Workshop: Strategy Meets Sustainability

What makes Market Like A CMO different is its blend of technical skill-building and focus optimization. Participants walk through the fundamentals of campaign design, customer data management, and website optimization. But they also gain tools grounded in neuroscience to improve decision-making, energy management, and focus.

Hurley, who completed certifications in peak performance training, introduces participants to techniques designed to help them tap into “flow” — a mental state that research has connected to higher productivity and creativity. These practices are taught alongside marketing systems, giving participants a more efficient and sustainable way to lead their businesses.

Clear Results Backed by Process

During the pandemic, Market Like A CMO worked with a 30-year-old retail business that had no online presence and was facing possible closure. They helped the business owner develop a digital strategy that could be managed in-house. According to Hurley and Evans, within months, leads increased by over 50%, and revenue rose alongside it.

This success wasn’t the result of an expensive overhaul—it came from returning control to the business owner, who could then test, adapt, and scale without agency bottlenecks.

Marketing That Works with You, Not Against You

The core of Hurley and Evans’ message is simple: business owners shouldn’t have to give up control to get results. With the right systems and science-backed strategies, they believe small businesses can adapt more effectively in a shifting digital landscape—without relying entirely on third-party agencies.

Their approach centers on building internal capability rather than external dependency, aiming to reduce stress and improve decision-making. As marketing continues to evolve, models like this may offer small business owners a more sustainable way to grow—with greater clarity, flexibility, and ownership over their brand.