A Day in the Life of a Director of Marketing and Partnerships at a Digital Finance Organization
Houston's role as Director of Marketing and Protocol Relations involves managing a globally dispersed team, requiring early mornings to coordinate with international colleagues and constant communication. The work entails "putting out fires," facilitating collaboration between teams, and ensuring smooth product launches, all while acting as a buffer, so team members can focus on their tasks—"I'm like the s**t umbrella."
Global Teamwork, International Communication, Problem-Solving & Firefighting, Strategic Vision & Execution, Leadership & Support
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Houston Morgan
Director of Marketing and Protocol Relations
Leading Digital Finance Organization
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
N/A
Business & Related, Communications
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Transfer Student, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. This role involves managing an international team, requiring communication and coordination across different time zones.
2. A significant part of the job is problem-solving and removing obstacles for team members to ensure smooth workflow. The interviewee describes this as being the "s**t umbrella".
3. The position demands strong communication skills to effectively convey information to both internal teams and external partners. Vision setting and execution is also key.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a Head of Marketing, Protocol Relations look like?
My team is international, and I manage a relatively compact team of about 10 to 12 people. We are spread all over the globe.
I'm up early, around 3:34 AM PST, to message my team in Brazil, who are three hours ahead and start their day at 6:00 AM. I also need to connect with my team in Australia before they end their day.
Then, I dedicate time for my own work, usually from about 5:00 or 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. During this time, I'm in meetings with heads of product or operations, discussing our product roadmap and how to communicate it effectively.
I also coordinate with my social media and marketing managers. I share updates on the product roadmap and discuss strategies for communicating new products.
My role involves being the "vision guy" while also focusing on execution. This includes things like copywriting and facilitating brainstorming workshops.
My day involves syncing up with people around the globe. Then I go about my day, doing some work. Around noon or 1:00 PM, I have another sync with people as they wake up or as they close out their day.
During these syncs, I ask about their progress, what they haven't accomplished, and if they need help unblocking any issues.
I describe myself as a "shit umbrella." My job is to absorb the problems raining down so my team can focus on their work without worrying about those issues.
For example, if someone isn't paid correctly, I'll handle it so they can continue doing their job. Being a boss isn't about having a cool title; it's about dealing with the difficult issues to ensure my team can have a positive experience.
My life is about putting out fires and ensuring things run smoothly. This includes coordinating launches and making sure my partnership team is on track.
Communication is key. I'm constantly communicating with all the other internal teams and partners.