Dara Treseder

This CMO Is Making Engineering Software Sexy

Design, engineering and construction software company Autodesk generates almost $7 billion in revenue a year — but it isn’t exactly a household name. That’s quickly changing under CMO Dara Treseder, who came on board in 2022 and is making the B2B company stand out by thinking like a B2C brand, with partnerships that tap into the pop culture zeitgeist. In her first 30 days on the job, Treseder created a Walking Dead-themed campaign that “helped launch the company back into the mainstream media conversation,” according to CNBC, which named the Nigerian-born marketing pro a 2025 Changemaker. Last year, Autodesk created ads for Disney+, touting how its technology brings Star Wars to life, and for the Oscars, showing how it’s made movie magic for films like Avatar: The Way of Water and All Quiet on The Western Front. Treseder also helped Autodesk snag a huge partnership with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company’s software will be used in the $1 billion effort to retrofit 40+ venues across Southern California, helping to shorten timelines, cut costs, and incorporate sustainable design principles.

By Audrey Goodson Kingo