5 Trends Shaping Marketing & Creative Leadership in 2026
If 2025 felt like a whirlwind, you’re not alone. The good news? 2026 actually looks promising for marketers and creative leaders. More opportunity, clearer priorities, and better tools to get work done are ahead. Here’s what we’re hearing from CMOs, Creative Directors, and digital leaders and how you can use these trends to your advantage. […]
2026: Resilience, AI Fluency, and Variable Capacity
Marketing budgets are not bouncing back yet. Gartner recently reported that for the second year in a row, CMOs feel budgets are insufficient as expectations rise. While Reuters reported that ad holding companies are trimming growth forecasts, signaling continued caution into 2026. The labor market will likely stay mixed. Openings have cooled in Minnesota, layoffs […]
Finding Gratitude in a Season of Change
At True Talent Group, this time of year always reminds us why we do what we do, people! As we head into the holiday season, we want to pause and say a sincere thank you to our incredible community — our clients, our creative and marketing talent, our True Champions, our friends, families, and partners. […]
When Marketing Rolls Up to Revenue
Operating in a Sales-Led, Lead-Hungry Reality Across the U.S., hiring is still slower than last year, yet the revenue bar keeps climbing. LinkedIn reports hiring remains nearly 5% lower year over year and ~20% below pre-pandemic baselines, while many companies are getting stricter about tying every activity to pipe and bookings. Revenue leaders are tightening […]
Minnesota’s Marketing Market Just Blinked
Here’s What It Means for Creative, Marketing & Digital Talent Labor remains tight. If it feels like there are more job seekers than seats, you’re not imagining it. Minnesota’s top-line labor market remains tight, but under the surface we’re seeing longer unemployment durations and signs of softening demand, especially for corporate roles that touch marketing […]
How to Leverage Fractional Talent with Shrinking Budgets
If you’re leading a marketing or creative team in 2025, there’s a good chance your budget is under scrutiny. You might be facing hiring freezes or told to hold off on backfilling open roles. And yet, the workload hasn’t gone anywhere. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Across Minnesota and beyond, CMOs, creative directors, and team […]
The Real Impact of AI on Marketing & Creative
What You Need to Know About AI on Marketing & Creative Teams It seems like AI is in every conversation these days. From boardrooms to brainstorms, marketing and creative leaders are being asked to adapt faster than ever before. And while the hype can be overwhelming, the reality is this: AI isn’t just coming for […]
Why Sales and Marketing Alignment Matters More Than Ever in 2025
If you lead a marketing or creative team, you’re already familiar with the pressure: fewer resources, tighter timelines, and bigger expectations. You’re being asked to do more with less, generate qualified leads, support sales enablement, and still keep the brand experience sharp. But in 2025, there’s one shift that’s separating the high-performing teams from the […]
Not Focused on Retention? You’d Better Be Focused on Recruiting
The reality facing creative and marketing leaders in 2025 is simple but urgent: your team is at risk, especially if you’re not focused on retention. According to recent data, 65% of employees are actively looking for a new job. In this market, job security and flexibility have officially overtaken compensation as the top priorities for […]
2025 Hiring Trends: Flexibility Is the New Currency
What New Hiring Trends Mean for You and Your Team If you’re a creative, marketing, or digital leader managing a team in 2025, you’re likely feeling the shift—again – with new hiring trends. Budgets are tighter. Expectations are higher. And the workforce? It’s recalibrating. What candidates want now is different than just a year ago. […]