Most Important Skills for a Chief Marketing Officer at Lookout
Deb, Lookout's Chief Marketing Officer, emphasizes that while marketing knowledge is fundamental, "leadership skills and soft skills" such as grit, resilience, and strong communication are paramount, especially given recent market challenges. The ability to navigate crises, like the CrowdStrike incident, and lead a team through such events is arguably "more important than... specific time spent doing advertising."
Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, Resilience, Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Deb Wolf
Chief Marketing Officer
Lookout
Cal Poly
English, Writing & Education
Technology
Communication and Marketing
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Understanding the market and customer needs is crucial for success as a CMO.
2. Strong leadership and soft skills, such as grit, resilience, curiosity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, are essential and often overlooked.
3. The ability to handle crises and lead a team effectively during challenging times is paramount. This includes problem-solving and communication skills to address customer concerns and maintain a positive public image
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
I have to know my market and understand my customer. I need to think about what they want, stay ahead of them, and ensure we're providing the best service.
The skills most required for any executive are leadership and soft skills, which are often overlooked. These include grit, resilience, and curiosity.
Critical thinking skills are also essential. You need to anticipate where the market is headed. People skills like listening, communication, and collaboration are also important.
These skills aren't typically taught in school; you learn them through experience and by working with others. Especially now, with the tech market facing challenges post-pandemic, resilience and grit are paramount.
These are also the qualities I look for when hiring. Someone might be skilled in demand generation, social media, or PR, but can they handle a crisis?
For example, if you recall CrowdStrike last week, they disrupted the country's IT infrastructure, affecting airlines. The CMO had to rally her team that morning to address a massive customer problem.
That resilience is arguably more important than specific technical skills or years spent in advertising. These are skills developed on the job daily, requiring constant thought on how to manage a team effectively.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn.com/debwolf