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.
Marketing, Data Analysis, Digital Marketing, Leadership, Career Development
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
Video Highlights
1. Marketing is multifaceted and varies greatly depending on the company and its environment.
2. Marketing involves a significant amount of data analysis and interpretation, beyond social media usage.
3. Practical, on-the-job experience is crucial for understanding the nuances of marketing; prior knowledge is not always sufficient.
Transcript
I think what I wish someone had told me about, and I'll use my area of business, marketing, is that there's just so much to it. In our everyday lives, people will say, "Oh, it's marketing," or "That's the marketing team."
You'll hear different job titles, but it really means something different everywhere. I really do think it's something that is more learned on the job and adapted to based on your job, the environment, and the size of your company.
I feel like that's a broad answer. I didn't know a ton of specifics about the marketing team and what they actually do, or their areas of focus. Those have changed a lot during my time at the company.
If I had been able to see day-to-day what someone who does digital marketing really focuses on, that would have been helpful. I think understanding the intense data piece of that is also important. We all use Instagram and email all the time, but there's a ton that stems from marketing that you might not realize.
Again, perhaps that's too broad an answer. Marketing seemed super broad to me, but it really has so much that falls from it. I guess I did learn on the job, but I definitely didn't have a ton of marketing experience before I got to where I am now in this company.