January 2025 President's Note

Happy New Year,

I hope you had a fun and memory-rich holiday with family and friends, and you’re starting the year inspired and refreshed.

If you set any resolutions, I hope day five is going well. Remember that it typically takes 66 days for new habits to take effect, so stay strong: it gets easier.

Everyone at the CMA is excited for the year ahead, and the many ways we will help futureproof you and the profession that we all love. Here are some highlights: 

1. Our new CMA Mentorship Program kicks off this month, and we have close to 200 members benefitting from this exclusive free program.

2. All CMA members benefit from complimentary access to 25 CMA events.

• Plus, members can attend most other CMA events for only $25: a significant savings of 80%.

3. We’re expanding our national event presence with in-person gatherings in Montreal and Vancouver during CMA Marketing Week, and a new Ottawa event later this year.

4. As our profession evolves at an accelerating pace, continuous learning is mission critical to futureproofing your career. CMA members receive a notable discount of 50% off all CMA training programs, Certificate Courses and the Chartered Marketer (CM) program.  

• Our Winter Digital Marketing courses close for registration on January 19.
• Our CM program is Canada’s only professional marketing designation and a terrific career accelerator. That’s why our community of CM graduates has doubled in the last 18 months, with many being recognized through promotions.
• We offer customized training and speakers for your monthly team meetings so you can learn together.

5. We’re launching the CMA AIM Development Program, so organizations can recognize and nurture their emerging talent. The program combines CMA training with mentorship and exclusive opportunities to network and build their profile.

6. We’re launching a new CMA CMO Forum for senior marketers, and a CMA AIM Forum for rising stars from across the marketing ecosystem.

7. We’re launching an Innovation Council and Social Commerce Committee in 2026, bringing together members to drive thought leadership in these critical areas.

• We’re adding more opportunities for junior and up-and-coming members to join our CMA Councils and Committees.

8. Following our record-breaking 2025 event that doubled attendance, we’re expanding CMA Marketing Week for an even bigger experience in 2026. Save the date for the week of May 4th and stay tuned for exciting details in the coming weeks.

As you can see, our commitment to futureproof and strengthen your career and our profession continues through diverse programs designed for our community’s needs. I’ll have more to share on these exciting new initiatives in the coming months.

The CMA has evolved significantly over the last three years, with the introduction of many new benefits and an expanded service offering. It's important that our brand reflects this evolution, and work is well underway on a refreshed CMA brand. I am excited to unveil our new brand during CMA Marketing Week in May.

Knowing that the economy is still challenging for many organizations, I’m also pleased to announce that we will not increase membership rates in 2026. 

AI continues to dominate conversations among marketers at every level. The CMA has led the way in helping our community navigate these uncharted waters through our AI Mastery series: 35 practical playbooks created by marketers for marketers. Each provides a roadmap on a different aspect of marketing, taking you from experimentation to execution. Access the complete series through our blog, with more playbooks launching in 2026.

The CMA community continues to grow, and I’m thrilled you’re part of it. We welcomed 62 new member organizations in 2025. We look forward to sharing great conversations and thought leadership with all our members at our upcoming events.  

As the voice of marketing in Canada, the CMA is where the entire marketing ecosystem uniquely comes together to network, learn and tackle the topics that impact all of us. 2026 promises to be our most impactful year yet, and I welcome the opportunity to connect with you personally. Reach out anytime. I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Warmly,
Alison Simpson
President & CEO

P.S. Our second annual AI Readiness survey is now open, and your participation is critical. Whether you’re just starting your AI journey or leading the charge, your insights will shape how our profession navigates this transformative technology. I strongly encourage you to participate. Every response matters.