What a Marketing Leader at AWS Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Marketing Industry
Sarah, a Worldwide Public Sector Marketing Leader at AWS with an English degree and no formal marketing training, advises aspiring professionals that a background in marketing is not a prerequisite for success in the industry, emphasizing the importance of "constantly learning and evolving." The interview highlights a pivotal moment in Sarah's career where remaining flexible and open to opportunities, rather than immediately pursuing a new role, ultimately led to a series of promotions and a significantly impactful career trajectory.
Communication, Flexibility, Career Development, Leadership, Strategic Partnerships
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sarah Storelli
Worldwide Public Sector Marketing Leader
Amazon Web Services
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
N/A
English, Writing & Education
Technology
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. An English degree can be a valuable asset in a marketing career; skills in reading, writing, analyzing, and positioning are highly transferable.
2. The marketing industry is constantly evolving, requiring continuous learning and adaptability. Be open to different opportunities and perspectives as skills needed today may differ from those of the past.
3. Flexibility and agility are key; don't be too regimented in your career path. Sometimes staying in a role a bit longer than expected can open up unexpected and beneficial opportunities.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
That's interesting because I have an English degree. With that, it involves a lot of reading, writing, analyzing, and positioning. I actually didn't even take one PR or marketing class in college.
To that extent, I sometimes feel like I have to offer reverse advice to individuals who might think they can't go into this field without that specific background. But you absolutely can. This is an industry that is constantly learning and evolving. It's willing to embrace different perspectives, and the skills needed today are different from those needed 10 years ago.
I think the most important advice I can give is to continuously be flexible. I've been flexible throughout my career, and opportunities have always arisen. Earlier in my career, things felt a bit more regimented. As I've continued to grow, I see the world more in shades of gray rather than distinctly cut and dry.
Being open to different possibilities along the way is crucial. Even when I was at IBM, I considered moving to a different team and leaving PR. This was before I had officially transferred into marketing. I ended up staying in PR and decided to give it one more shot on the developer communications team.
Then, I was tapped to lead all of global communications for our largest tech-for-good initiative, Call for Code. After that, it opened the door for me to lead ecosystem marketing and strategic partnerships. They created a new role for me, and after that, they created the role for me to be the first CMO.
I always think back to that moment and realize, if I hadn't decided to stick with it just a little longer, even though I felt at capacity and wanted something new, it was the right decision and it propelled my career. So, I would say, be open to opportunities and not so regimented. If you feel stuck or want something new, give it a few months to see how things pan out. It might not always turn out as you expect. It might be the right time to jump, or it might propel you on a whole other amazing career path. Flexibility and agility are key.
Advizer Personal Links
My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahstorelli/