So, You Want to Be a CMO? We’ve Got Advice For You
There are many ways to get started.
This afternoon at Office Hours, Her Campus Media co-founder Windsor Western hosted a conversation with special guest Jenny Campbell, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at kate spade new york! They chatted about all things marketing and digital media, plus, they announced a special giveaway for three lucky attendees to win a kate spade bag — perfect for your dream career wardrobe! In case you missed it, be sure to check out the event replay below:
Watch HERE
In the meantime, if you dream of becoming a CMO someday, here are three lessons from office hours you need to hear.
1. Your passion will get you noticed.
“When you’re graduating from college, no one is expecting you to have a ton of experience,” says Jenny, who worked multiple internships before landing roles at Nike, Tinder, and eventually, kate spade new york. “But if you really love something, you’ll have done things to show your enthusiasm and passion — even a school project. When I hire, I look for passion and proof that you’re going to come in and crush the job.”
Jenny also says that while networking is important, you shouldn’t get too caught up in the politics of it all. “Focus on doing a great job at the job you have, be a really good teammate, be generous in your favors, and if you’re going to network, network with people you find interesting, or people you simply want to know more about. If you do those things, you’ll get noticed in your career.”
2. Gain experience in both business and creative work.
If you dream of becoming a CMO, Jenny says to be prepared for a mix of business and creative responsibilities. “My job is a mix of creative reviews, strategic planning sessions, and a lot of business. You have to know how to give creative feedback — you don’t have to be the one who comes up with the idea, but you have to be the one who shapes it,” she says.
Jenny also shares candidly that being CMO comes with big responsibilities. “You have to be innovative and always trying new things,” she says. “At the same time, you’re given the responsibility of spending a lot of money really wisely. That tension is sometimes hard to manage, but it’s why the business side of the job is so important to know, on top of the creative.”
3. View your career path as a treasure map.
Windsor Western reminds you to imagine your career path like a treasure map. “Think about what steps you’ll need to take to land that job! If you need a certificate or a specific skill required for a marketing job, look at your treasure map, and determine how you’ll get where you want to go.” Jenny adds that there are many ways to become a CMO, like working for a media agency, beauty brand, getting experience in retail, and even startups. “Know that there a lot of paths in!” she says.
Finally, Jenny gives us a fun tip for how to overcome imposter syndrome in your career. “Remember how Beyoncé said she gets stage fright, and how she taps into ‘Sasha Fierce’? I think of that,” she says. “I do this ‘pump-up’ thing where I repeat to myself, ‘I am not afraid!’ I’ll also work on shifting my nerves to excitement — instead of thinking about how nervous I am, I tell myself, ‘I’m so excited to do this!’ If you’re heading into a new job, be conscious of what you know and don’t know, and be confident about it. Then set some goals for what you want to learn. This has been really helpful for me.”
We loved Windsor and Jenny’s tips and tricks for breaking into marketing and setting yourself up to become a CMO someday! In case you missed Office Hours this week, catch up on the replay here and be sure to join us next week on Generation Hired for an exciting conversation with Kate Green, Head of Brand & Integrated Marketing from Fitbit!
Follow @generationhired on Instagram for more inspiring career advice.
