What Marketers Know Now That They Wish They Knew Then

Jen Gray, vice president of marketing and creative services, HelloWorld, told CMO.com:

Always surround yourself with good people–don't compromise on this. Your co-workers and being a part of an organization with integrity is as important as the work itself. These people become your family away from home–you're in the trenches with them, you need to be great problem solvers together, create trust, and learn from each other. If you find yourself in a situation where you aren't jibing, don't waste time and stay because of the paycheck. Find a place that fuels your skills, passions, and your soul. But remember, don't discount these experiences. Each career move is an opportunity for learning–both what you want to be and what you don't want to be when you grow up.

Number of years in marketing: 20+

Oren Harnevo, co-founder and CEO, Eyeview, told CMO.com:

My advice? If you know what you want to do, don't let the rules hold you back. No amount of studying or working for others will teach you what you need to know or how to follow your dreams. Take that leap of faith. It’s a big risk, but with even bigger rewards.

Number of years in marketing: 15+

Steven Cook, CMO, Fision, told CMO.com:

I would tell my younger self to continually renew and recruit a diverse range of mentors throughout my college and professional career to accelerate my learning and networking. I would also do even more mentoring myself to others to pay it forward and to refine my understanding of business and life.

Number of years in marketing: 25+

Casey Carey, director, Adometry marketing, Google, told CMO.com:

The advice would be simple—make a concerted effort to more readily recognize and embrace change. Over the years, my experience is that resisting, ignoring, or otherwise downplaying change gets both individuals and companies in trouble. You don’t have to look far to see the impact of this on companies such as MySpace, Blockbuster, and BlackBerry. In particular, the explosion of marketing technology, data, and channels has rewritten the marketing rulebook and fundamentally changed what it means be a marketer.

Today’s marketing leaders are a combination of creative, technologist, analyst, and strategist. Success in modern marketing is predicated on being agile, having great vision, and being able to effectively manage change across the organization. To be clear, the advice would not be to blindly chase shiny new objects. Rather, it would be to proactively set aside the time and resources to foresee, evaluate, and test opportunities on the horizon.

Number of years in marketing: 15+

Mariann McDonagh, CMO, inContact, told CMO.com:

Don’t settle for just a marcom role, which is primarily tactical and limited. Learn everything you can and then figure out how you can transform yourself into a much more strategic thinker with a bigger purview. Develop an intentional strategic road map for your own development so that you can contribute to the strategic growth of the business. Push the boundaries.

Number of years in marketing: 20+

Marisa Ricciardi, CMO, NYSE Euronext, told CMO.com in a previous interview:

That it’s good to hire people who are stronger than you and smarter than you. I have learned that. You’ve got to hire people who are experts in their field because they can help bring the rest of a team up to speed.

Number of years in marketing: 15

Lisa Arthur, CMO, Marketing Applications, Teradata Corporation

If I could go back in time and give myself a piece of career advice as it pertains to marketing, I would make sure I know not just marketing strategy but marketing technology. And I would study what companies like Teradata and other marketing applications firms are providing to make marketing better, faster, easier, and more personalized. Data-driven marketing technology is what is shaping our future, and its power for helping us as marketers to understand customer preferences, nurture long-term loyalty, and respond in real time is simply unbelievably valuable and important. It’s changing the way marketers work.

Number of years in marketing: 20+

Giselle Abramovich