A masterpiece doesn’t have to be simple. Sometimes the most powerful stories emerge from complexity, cohesion, and staying power.

That’s the lesson of Picasso’s Guernica, a chaotic painting that, when viewed as a whole, tells a timeless story. In this episode, we explore its marketing lessons with the help of our special guest Jerome Stewart, Chief Marketing Officer at Conviva.

Together, we uncover what B2B marketers can learn from building campaigns with a unifying story, turning complexity into an advantage, and creating content designed to resonate long after launch.

About our guest, Jerome Stewart

Jerome Stewart is the Chief Marketing Officer at Conviva. He is a dynamic and people-driven marketing executive with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, elevating brand visibility, and driving revenue growth in early-stage and industry-leading technology companies. Jerome is an experienced global leader with six years of international business experience outside the USA, as well as an accomplished Amazon bestselling author.

• Campaigns need a unifying story. Guernica shows how fragmented, chaotic elements can form one powerful story. Jerome says, “Each one of those [individual pictures] stands out, but when you take a step back and you look at it in its entirety. Indeed, there is a cohesive story.” Marketing works the same way; every asset matters, but true impact comes when the pieces connect into a bigger, memorable narrative.
• Complexity can be an advantage. At first glance, Guernica looks disorganized and overwhelming. However, his chaotic canvas still communicates a clear message. Jerome points out, “Maybe some people look at a more modern artistic style… and you can say, ‘Hey, this just looks really messy.’ But as I say, dig in a little bit deeper and you see there's a very rich story.” In marketing, don’t be afraid of layered stories. Campaigns that invite discovery can spark deeper connection and longer attention.
• Strive for timeless content. Picasso’s painting still sparks reflection nearly a century later. Jerome connects this to marketing: “We’re trying to tell stories and we’re trying to come up with stories that stand out and that maybe stand the test of time. That will resonate into the future.” Campaigns should be built with staying power, not just to make noise at launch but to linger and influence long after.

“A bar  to hold ourselves against is did we tell a story? Was it clear? And something else that Picasso did brilliantly well, he took something as complex as war, and he didn’t simplify it in any way. He did something cohesive. [We have to]  challenge ourselves to do the best that we possibly can to tell those stories.”

Links

Connect with Jerome on LinkedIn

Learn more about Conviva

About Remarkable!

Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. 

In today’s episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. 

Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.