IRG Global CMO Summit Istanbul
Marketing2030: Bridge to the Future
October 6-8, 2026
IRG Global CMO Summit Istanbul
The rapid growth of AI, rising geopolitical fragmentation, increasing public distrust, and a structural shift to short-term focus results are fundamentally challenging how businesses can grow. Winning businesses are balancing new growth paradoxes and applying an Enterprise Growth Architecture 2.0.
Marketing2030 explores the role that Marketing will need to play to help the enterprise succeed, and the CMO strategies, structures, capabilities, and leadership required.
Led by the Institute for Real Growth (IRG) in partnership with over 25 industry partners, the Marketing2030 learning is built on interviews with over 500 board members, CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, and other C-suite leaders, and thousands of expert reports, investor calls, and leadership podcasts.
Winning 2030 CMOs are Humanized Growth Architects, increasing personal, business, and societal impact by creating value for all stakeholders.
Istanbul: Bridge to the Future
The IRG Global CMO Summit will bring together 25 Turkish and 25 global CMOs to discuss the Marketing2030 findings and how to drive sustained business growth in an increasingly divided world.
Few places embody that challenge better than Istanbul.
A city of constant change, some would even say chaos, and fiercely contrasting perspectives, yet also hyper entrepreneurialism and endless growth opportunities, Istanbul represents the bridge to tomorrow’s success.
Marketing2030
Marketing2030 is focused on identifying the Marketing strategy, structure, capability, and CMO leadership characteristics required to drive sustained business growth.
M2030 Phase One defined the trends, business and cultural shifts, and stakeholder expectations that businesses and brands need to understand and navigate. The M2030 Phase One Report can be downloaded below.
M2030 Phase Two captured how businesses are responding to these global trends and stakeholder expectations, as well as WHAT Boards and business leaders expect from Marketing.
M2030 Phase Three focused on HOW Marketing leaders can best align with peers on their role as enterprise growth drivers. This phase included a quantitative validation of identified best practices.
The final M2030 report will provide CMOs with frameworks, case studies, and practical examples to help implement winning strategy, structure, and capability recommendations. As well as the leadership characteristics required to succeed in the future.
IRG Global CMO Summit Topics
On October 6-8, 2026, the IRG CMO Summit will include the global launch of the M2030 strategies, structures, capabilities, and CMO leadership traits required to win in 2030. CMO Summit session topics will include:
-Balancing the 2030 Growth Paradoxes
-Marketing’s role in the Enterprise Growth Architecture 2.0
-Providing the enterprise with a Window on the World
-Managing the Human Quotient in the era of AI
-Building, nurturing, and measuring the value of intangibles
-Building the Marketing ecosystem of the future
-The Da Vinci Growth CMO leadership profile
-Turkish Technology Unicorns Leading the Way
-Bridging Eastern and Western Growth Paradigms
-Anatolian Wisdom for Global Storytelling and Brand Experiences
Istanbul CMO Summit Contributors (TBC)
Istanbul 2026 CMO Summit Attendance Requirements
Participation in this invitation-only IRG Global CMO Summit will be limited to IRG alums and partners, top-tier Turkish and global CMOs, and other senior business growth leaders. Approved registrants will be responsible for their own travel and local accommodation costs, and required to pay a US $110 registration fee, but all summit sessions, meals, and drinks are free of charge.
Istanbul CMO Summit Programming
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (18:00)
Welcome drinks and dinner
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 (09:00 – 21:00)
Morning M2030 Content Sessions
Global CMO connections Lunch
Afternoon M2030 Content Sessions
2-hour Personal Break
Istanbul Experience and Global CMO connections dinner
Thursday, October 8, 2026 (09:00 – 15:00)
Morning Da Vinci Leadership Sessions
Global CMO connections Lunch
Entrepreneurial Turkey Sessions
Future planning and Community session
NextGen Marketing2030 MasterClass (Optional)
IRG Partners
