What a Chief of Staff at Microsoft Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Marketing Industry
Sonia, a Chief of Staff at Microsoft, advises aspiring marketers to understand the diverse roles within the field—from "business planning and operations" to "integrated marketing design"—before specializing, emphasizing the importance of gaining a broad skillset. The fast-paced tech industry demands nimbleness, so acquiring "a matrix of skills" early through varied roles is crucial for career progression and avoiding being "pigeonholed."
Career Development, Marketing, Technology, Adaptability, Career Exploration
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sonia Dara
Chief of Staff
Microsoft
Harvard
N/A
Economics
Technology, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. There is a wide variety of roles within marketing, from business planning and operations to go-to-market strategy, product marketing management, and creative design. It's beneficial to gain experience in different areas to build a diverse skillset.
2. The tech industry is dynamic, with priorities constantly shifting. Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills quickly are crucial for success.
3. It's valuable to gain experience in different marketing roles and products early in your career. This matrix of skills increases opportunities and prevents career pigeonholing.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
I wish I had known the gradient of roles available in marketing. I naively thought marketing was just billboards, but it's so much more.
There are many aspects to marketing, from business planning and operations where you're accountable for the P&L, to go-to-market strategies. This involves working with international teams to launch products, pricing, and volumes.
Product Marketing Managers (PMMs) own inbound or outbound marketing. They work with engineering on product development, value propositions, positioning, and customer scenarios. There's also the creative side, like integrated marketing design and branding.
I didn't realize this full spectrum until I was in a marketing role and learned so much. It's important to get your foot in the door and learn, rather than trying to jump directly into a specific marketing role.
Specifically in tech, it's crucial to be nimble. Priorities constantly evolve, from search to hardware. These priorities will spike differently as the industry changes.
I wish I had known that you can build a marketing toolkit and skillset through various roles and products. Learn and try different types of roles to gain a matrix of skills early in your career.
This will open up more opportunities as you progress. Otherwise, it's easy to get pigeonholed if you only stay in one type of work. Be eager to learn and be nimble, and always look for new and exciting opportunities in tech.