Katie, Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal: Advize Career Interview

A career journey from Washington D.C. media to Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal, a cannabis company, reveals a dynamic path.

This professional's experience across diverse technology startups honed operational and account management skills, culminating in a multifaceted role managing people, overseeing creative processes, and driving strategic initiatives.

A typical day blends high-level strategy with hands-on execution, demanding a unique blend of "left and right brain" skills. The work's variety and flexibility, coupled with a strong team, stand out as favorites.

Navigating the challenges of a smaller company—balancing strategic thinking with daily operational tasks—is a constant but rewarding juggling act.

The cannabis industry's entrepreneurial spirit and rapid growth are exciting aspects, emphasizing adaptability and quick problem-solving as keys to success.

A significant lesson learned highlights the importance of respectful interpersonal interactions in achieving career advancement.

Entry-level opportunities are surprisingly diverse, spanning various roles within the industry's burgeoning landscape. This career path showcases a compelling blend of creativity, strategy, and people management in a rapidly evolving field.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Katie Skinner

Vice President of Marketing

Old Pal

Georgetown University, 2013

N/A

English

Cannabis

Communication and Marketing

Scholarship Recipient, Student Athlete

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Career Path of a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Katie's career journey, beginning with a "training ground" role in Washington D.C. media, progressed through diverse technology startups in interior design and fashion, where they honed operational and account management skills in "true startup environments." This experience culminated in their current VP of Marketing role at Old Pal, a cannabis company, where they initially implemented processes and now leads the entire marketing team after "working a lot with our creative team working on a lot of events working on product product marketing."

Career Path of a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Main Responsibilities of a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Katie's main responsibilities as VP of Marketing at Old Pal involve extensive people management, including "weekly one-on-ones" with the marketing team and leading cross-functional strategy conversations to ensure alignment across departments on initiatives like product launches. A significant portion of the role also focuses on overseeing the creative process, from "pulling together creative briefs" to ensuring timely completion of marketing materials.

Main Responsibilities of a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

A Day In The Life Of A Vice President Of Marketing At Old Pal

A typical day for this Vice President of Marketing involves a mix of meetings—from aligning with the creative team on marketing materials ("a display piece for a dispensary, ... a piece of Swag") to strategizing with the core team on priorities and upcoming projects, including budget preparation for Q4 and new state market entries. The role also includes reviewing creative briefs, collaborating with state partners on sales and marketing initiatives ("sharing sales data... marketing support"), and conducting one-on-one meetings with team members to provide support and mentorship, all while incorporating travel to meet with key partners and attend industry events.

A Day In The Life Of A Vice President Of Marketing At Old Pal

Most Important Skills For A Vice President Of Marketing At Old Pal

A Vice President of Marketing role demands a unique blend of skills; it requires someone "both left and right brained," equally adept at detailed, process-driven tasks and creative storytelling through visuals and words. The ability to seamlessly transition between reviewing budgets and selecting photoshoots highlights the multifaceted nature of this career path.

Most Important Skills For A Vice President Of Marketing At Old Pal

Favorite Parts Of Being A Vice President Of Marketing At Old Pal

Katie, Old Pal's VP of Marketing, most enjoys the "variety" and "flexibility" inherent in the role, finding fulfillment in the daily changes and the people management aspect, which "humanizes" the analytical work. The strong team further contributes to this positive experience.

Favorite Parts Of Being A Vice President Of Marketing At Old Pal

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Katie's biggest challenge as Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal, a smaller company, is balancing "being forward-looking and focusing on strategy" with the significant amount of daily operational tasks, including "writing creative briefs and giving real-time feedback to designers," which is a common experience in startup environments. This requires a constant juggling act between high-level strategic thinking and hands-on execution, unlike larger companies where responsibilities are more distributed.

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Favorite Parts of Working in the Cannabis Industry as a Vice President of Marketing

Katie, Old Pal's Vice President of Marketing, finds the cannabis industry's newness exciting, describing it as "truly entrepreneurial," because the rapid growth allows for "seeing something from the ground up." This early involvement, coupled with the industry's evolution, has led to significant shifts in Katie's role, highlighting the dynamic nature of their career.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Cannabis Industry as a Vice President of Marketing

What Type Of Person Thrives In Cannabis Careers, According To An Old Pal Vice President Of Marketing

Katie, Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal, identifies adaptability as crucial for success in the cannabis industry, stating that it's "very fast changing and very dynamic." The ability to be a "quick problem-solver" and thrive amidst unexpected change and regulatory shifts is key to navigating this "Wild Wild West" environment.

What Type Of Person Thrives In Cannabis Careers, According To An Old Pal Vice President Of Marketing

What a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal wishes they had known before entering the Marketing industry

Katie, a Vice President of Marketing, wishes she had better understood the breadth of marketing before entering the field, noting that "it really means something different everywhere" and involves a significant "intense data piece." This lack of initial understanding highlights the substantial on-the-job learning required in marketing, even for those reaching senior-level positions like Katie's.

What a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal wishes they had known before entering the Marketing industry

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Marketing Professionals at Old Pal

Katie, Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal, shared that entry-level cannabis jobs are surprisingly diverse, "any sort of job...that relates to a consumer package good product...is in cannabis," encompassing marketing, packaging, logistics, finance, and even chief of staff roles. This broad applicability stems from the industry's rapid growth, making transferable skills highly valuable.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Marketing Professionals at Old Pal

Significant Career Lesson from a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Katie, Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal, emphasizes the importance of respectful interpersonal interactions, stating that "how you carry yourself day to day and the respect that you show for people" significantly impacts career success. This approach, even when delivering critical feedback, fosters positive working relationships and ultimately elevates individuals above even the most technically skilled but less collaborative colleagues, leading to greater long-term success.

Significant Career Lesson from a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal

Advizer Personal Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-skinner-4852a162/