B2 Awards Top Jury

DON MCGUIRE

Executive Vice President and
Chief Marketing Officer
Qualcomm

BIO

Don McGuire is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Qualcomm Incorporated. In this role, McGuire leads global marketing across all Qualcomm’s businesses, as the company continues to diversify beyond mobile into new industries. McGuire oversees all aspects of marketing including corporate communications, advertising, creative, media, brand management, product and technology marketing, partner and channel marketing, sales and ecosystem enablement, marketing strategy, planning and operations, and data science. Under his leadership, Qualcomm has entered The Interbrand Top 100 Global Brands at #39 and Snapdragon on Kantar’s BrandZ at #38. 

Prior to becoming CMO, McGuire led the Global Product and Technology Marketing organization. His oversight and strong marketing expertise led to innovative marketing campaigns and collaborative partnerships that have brought the most cutting-edge technology products to market. 

A dynamic marketing leader with 25 years of experience, McGuire has worked across mobile provider, device OEM, content/developer, and semiconductor industries. Prior to joining Qualcomm, McGuire held senior leadership positions at Intel, Amp’d Mobile, Kyocera, Leap Wireless and Sprint PCS. 

Don has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Influential CMOs by Forbes for four years from 2022-2025 and was recognized on the 2024 Forbes Entrepreneurial CMO 50 list. He was also recognized on Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs list and ADWEEK’s AI Trailblazers Power 100. Don holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Chico in Business Administration and attended an executive master’s program at Stanford University’s Schwab School of Business. 

Q&A with Don McGuire

Please provide one word that defines great B2B brand leadership today. 

Impact. 

Please share one trend you are watching closely. 

The switch from SEO to GEO. 

In one sentence – What will it take to make an entry worthy of a B2 Award? 

A standout B2 Award entry needs a clear, measurable result paired with a bold idea that moves the needle for your brand and business. 

What advice would you offer to teams preparing submissions for the B2 Awards? 

My advice for teams entering the B2 Awards is simple: focus on what makes your work stand out. Lead with the results—show how your campaign drove impact for your brand and business. Make it clear, concise, and compelling. Tell a straightforward story that highlights what you accomplished and why it matters. Good luck! 

Why do awards programs like the B2 Awards matter to the health and progress of the marketing industry? 

Awards programs like the B2 Awards play a big role in the marketing industry. They celebrate standout work and set the bar for creative excellence. When brands and agencies get recognized, it motivates teams to push boundaries and deliver their best. These awards also help spotlight new trends and ideas, giving everyone in the industry valuable benchmarks to learn from. If you want to see what’s next in marketing, awards like these are a great place to start. 

What distinguishes exceptional B2B marketing from work that is simply “good”? 

Exceptional marketing doesn’t just share a message—it delivers real business impact. That means building the right partnerships, understanding your audience, and creating campaigns that drive measurable results. Good marketing might get you noticed, but the best efforts move people to action and open new doors for your brand. At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure your marketing drives value—not just for your business, but for the partners and customers you serve. 

How have your expectations of great marketing evolved over the past few years— and how does that shape how you evaluate work today? 

Great marketing has always been about connecting with people in a way that matters. Over the last few years, I’ve seen expectations shift—speed, innovation, and real impact are non-negotiable now. Today, we look for work that doesn’t just grab attention but actually drives results and builds a relationship with the audience. We keep an eye out for ideas that move quickly, break through the noise, and feel relevant.   

When reviewing submissions, what signals tell you that a program is driving real, sustainable business growth? 

When we’re going through submissions, we look for clear proof points that show a real impact on business results. We want to see strong numbers—growth in revenue, new customers, or clear increases in engagement. We also look for consistency over time, not just a one-off spike. If a program is building brand loyalty or making customers come back again and again, that’s a strong sign. And the best submissions make it clear how their approach stands out from the competition.  

An effective performance evaluation framework is critical to show the value a marketing campaign delivered. What type of evaluation framework do you use when assessing marketing efforts? What metrics and KPIs will you expect entrants to provide in their submissions? 

I take a results-driven approach when evaluating marketing efforts. We look for clear frameworks that tie back to business objectives and measurable outcomes. For submissions, I expect to see a blend of KPIs, including metrics that show performance and increase brand and business value. I also want to understand the impact across the funnel—from awareness to purchase intent to advocacy. Show how the campaign moved the needle and what success looked like, both in the short and long term. I’m looking for proof that your marketing efforts delivered real value and made a meaningful impact. 

What lessons from your own leadership journey most influence how you assess excellence? 

For me, excellence comes down to three things—clarity, action, and results. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that setting a clear vision, building the right team, and driving toward ambitious goals are what move the needle. I look for leaders who communicate simply, who are willing to take smart risks, and who always keep the focus on outcomes.  

Get to know the 2026 B2 Top Jurors.