What A Chief Marketing Officer At Lookout Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Marketing Industry
Deb, a Chief Marketing Officer with 35 years of B2B marketing experience, emphasizes the rapid and transformative changes in the industry since 1988, stating that "it's going to change really fast and you have to stay on top of it," highlighting the importance of seeking mentorship from younger professionals to maintain relevance in a constantly evolving digital landscape.
Technology, Communication, Executive/Leadership, Mentorship, Adaptability
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. The marketing industry changes rapidly due to technological advancements. Deb emphasizes the importance of staying curious and adaptable to remain relevant in a field where jobs and technologies are constantly evolving.
2. Networking and mentorship are crucial. Deb highlights the value of seeking mentors younger than oneself to gain insights into new technologies and approaches to marketing that might not be immediately apparent to those with more traditional backgrounds.
3. Develop strong communication, collaboration, and curiosity skills. These transferable skills are essential not only for success in marketing but also across many industries and career paths. These are skills that are consistently valuable despite technological and industry changes
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
It's been so many years since I entered the industry. I've been in B2B marketing for 35 years. The advice I would've gotten in 1988 wouldn't be very relevant today, though there are some things.
Communication, collaboration, and curiosity are important in any industry and across any career. But I have never seen as much change as there has been in technology since the late eighties. We've had the birth of the iPhone and the internet.
When I started, computers were not connected. I wish someone would have told me that things would change really fast and that I'd have to stay on top of it and remain curious. What we know now will be completely different in 20 years.
There are jobs today that never existed when I started in marketing in 1988, like social media, mobile programmer, and web developer. We didn't have web pages or the internet; there was nothing. My advertising was billboards and newspapers.
The industry has changed so much. The other thing I tell people now is to get a mentor younger than them. I'm 57 and have a mentor who is 30. She grew up as a digital native, while I did not.
She's a digital marketer, and her way of thinking is different from mine. Having someone younger is important because they'll keep you current on things you wouldn't otherwise know.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn.com/debwolf