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.
Executive/Leadership, Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Goals, Motivational Stories, Industry Realities
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
Video Highlights
1. Shekar's experience as a rare Asian man leading marketing teams in American companies highlights the underrepresentation of Asian men in executive roles.
2. His focus on delivering success and enabling his team emphasizes the importance of leadership skills and performance over race or gender in career advancement.
3. He suggests that career success at the executive level depends primarily on leadership capabilities and the ability to achieve company goals, regardless of one's background.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as an Asian man, how has that impacted how you navigate your career?
What I would say is not many Asian men have made an embark in American companies leading marketing teams. It's kind of a rare breed. I don't have statistics, but I know it's low single digits.
Typically, these roles are dominated by Caucasian men or women. So, at the end of the day, any role at an executive level is all about delivering success.
You need to be laser-focused on where the company wants to go. Focus on what needs to be done to achieve progress. It's all about enabling the team and having the right team to hit success.
It's all about leadership. As long as anybody is able to understand that and deliver success, I don't think race or sex is going to be a challenge for anyone, including myself.