What does it take to become a chief marketing officer today? To find out, I asked three world-class CMOs how to build a successful marketing career. These leaders generously shared the top career strategies they’ve used to navigate challenges, adapt to industry shifts, and ultimately ascend to the top marketing position.
A clear pattern emerged from these conversations: a deliberate and strategic approach to career growth. In this article, I’ll distill their wisdom into three essential pillars for marketing career success: build a strong foundation; embrace diverse experiences; and master organizational dynamics.
1. Build a strong foundation and keep learning
A foundational understanding of the core principles of marketing is the bedrock of any successful marketing career. While it may be fashionable now in some circles to discount formal marketing training and talk instead about “growth hacking,” “outsiders reinventing marketing,” and “the death of marketing,” none of that is actually true or effective.
“Starting your career with a …