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Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from Oracle's engineering team to Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto, a trajectory built on product understanding and a strategic shift into marketing, is detailed in this interview.
The role encompasses strategy and execution, from messaging and content creation to managing digital channels and driving growth across multiple marketing approaches.
A day in the life involves pipeline generation, product marketing, and constant communication.
Success requires storytelling, strong communication, and a relentless drive for growth, despite the inherent pressure and short tenure common in the CMO role.
The tech industry's rapid innovation, especially in AI, fuels a career path that demands continuous improvement and pushing boundaries.
Entry-level positions focusing on creative storytelling and product marketing are suggested, coupled with relevant certifications.
The importance of communication, expectation setting, and analytical skills—developed through data-driven thinking—is highlighted, alongside maintaining an open mind and embracing curiosity.
Finally, a discussion of underrepresentation of Asian men in leadership positions emphasizes the significance of delivering results and demonstrating strong leadership skills.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shekar Hariharan
Chief Marketing Officer
Protecto
MSRIT (Bengaluru, India), 1993-1997
Louisiana State university, M.S. in Industrial Engineering
Engineering - Mechanical
Technology
Communication and Marketing
None Applicable
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Career Path of a Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto
Shekar's career began in 2001 at Oracle Corporation's engineering team, progressing through quality engineering, solutions management, and eventually product marketing over 15 years; this experience, coupled with an Executive MBA from UCLA, propelled Shekar into a chief marketing officer role, demonstrating a career trajectory built on "understanding a lot about products...how products work together" and a deliberate shift into marketing.
Main Responsibilities of a Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto
Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto, describes a role encompassing both "strategy and execution," ranging from market messaging and content creation to managing digital channels and generating demand through inbound, outbound, and channel marketing. The significant difference between their current role at a startup with a small team and previous experience leading a 50-person marketing department at a large global company highlights the adaptability required in a marketing career.
A Day In The Life Of A Chief Marketing Officer At Protecto
Shekar, Protecto's Chief Marketing Officer, focuses on pipeline generation through three channels: "direct to customer," a sales-led approach, and a product-led "try before you buy" strategy. A significant portion of Shekar's time is dedicated to product marketing, including "testing messaging, creating content," such as webinars and ebooks, to resonate with potential customers.
Most Important Skills for a Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto
Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto, emphasizes that a key skill is "storytelling," which involves strong communication—both written and oral—to bridge the gap between a product and a buyer's needs. This requires understanding how to communicate effectively across various channels, crafting "a crafty way, in a humorous way," to build a brand and resonate with audiences.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Chief Marketing Officer At Protecto
Shekar, Protecto's Chief Marketing Officer, most enjoys driving company growth, describing the process as "how do you make it 100 million today?". This involves strategic investment and storytelling to investors and the board, a process Shekar finds fulfilling despite the "pressure," which "helps you kind of see the value of your work".
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Chief Marketing Officer At Protecto
Shekar, Protecto's Chief Marketing Officer, cites the pressure to "drive growth" as the biggest challenge, highlighting the constant scrutiny and inherent risk in a CMO role, which has one of "the shortest tenure at the c-suite." This pressure stems from the critical, yet often precarious, nature of the position within a company's structure.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Technology Industry As A Chief Marketing Officer
Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto, enjoys the constant innovation in the technology industry, citing AI and the rapid evolution of use cases as exciting aspects of the field. The dynamic nature of the industry, where "what we will do two years from now will be very different from what we're doing today," is a key driver of Shekar's continued engagement in the tech sector.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Marketing According To A Chief Marketing Officer At Protecto
Shekar, Protecto's Chief Marketing Officer, highlights that success in the industry requires constantly challenging the status quo—"if you're doing the same things over and over again you don't get necessarily better results"—and embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, regularly assessing performance and proactively seeking solutions to suboptimal situations. This proactive approach, involving "pushing your envelope" through new initiatives, is key to thriving.
What A Chief Marketing Officer At Protecto Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Tech Industry
Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto, learned that the role is "very demanding," especially in the fast-paced tech startup world, requiring constant "pushing the envelope." This insight led Shekar to recommend seeking career coaching early in one's career to proactively address blind spots and better prepare for the intense demands of such a position.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Marketers
Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto, advises undergraduates interested in marketing to explore "creative side," "storytelling," and "product marketing" entry points, suggesting relevant certifications like those for product marketing and marketing automation tools to boost marketability. He recommends internships or entry-level positions after graduation, encouraging exploration of marketing's diverse areas to find the best fit.
Significant Career Lesson From a Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto
Shekar's most significant career lesson, learned from a former boss, centers on the importance of "communication" and "expectation setting." By clearly defining goals, managing expectations with superiors regarding achievable outcomes, and consistently communicating progress and successes, a professional can cultivate a strong understanding of their work and path to success, a mantra Shekar considers vital.
College Experiences That Helped a Chief Marketing Officer at Protecto Succeed
Shekar's unconventional path to a Chief Marketing Officer role began with an engineering background, demonstrating that "analytical skills are very important," a skillset developed through data-driven thinking rather than a marketing-specific degree. The most valuable takeaway, however, is the importance of maintaining an "open mind" and a "curiosity to learn," as unexpected knowledge gained from various fields can contribute significantly to career success.
How Identity Has Influenced a Chief Marketing Officer's Career at Protecto
Shekar, a Chief Marketing Officer, notes the underrepresentation of Asian men in leading marketing roles in American companies, stating it's "a low single digits," typically dominated by Caucasian men and women. Success at the executive level, however, hinges on "delivering success" and strong leadership, regardless of race or sex.
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