Priorities of a CMO

The Setup CMO Spotlight series highlights high achieving marketing executives from different industries. After over 70 interviews with leaders at brands like Papa Johns, HEINEKEN, Randstad, NCR, and more, we’ve found that, despite each leader’s individual career journey and siloed industry, many CMOs and marketing professionals share the same priorities and outlook. 

Besides wanting to create groundbreaking marketing campaigns and a successful ROI, many Chief Marketing Officers, SVPs of Marketing, and other marketing leaders want to be well-rounded leaders who shape strong teams and individuals. 

Here are a list of values from most referenced to least referenced that CMOs expect from their team:

• Servant / Mentor Leadership 

• Integrity 

• Honesty / Authenticity / Transparency

• Empathy - Being Kind / Compassion 

• Communication 

• Accountability 

• Curiosity 

• Positivity 

• Vulnerability / Openness 

• Collaboration 

• Drive / Ambition / Take Risks / Passion

• Respect 

• Intelligence 

• Listening 

• Resilience 

• Reliability 

• Directness 

• Teamwork 

• Encouragement / Inspiration 

• Acceptance

• Confidence

• Fairness

• Attention to Detail

• Trust

• Adaptability

In a world where Servant Leadership is prioritized by the people at the top of an organization, of course attributes like “Vulnerability” and “Empathy” rank high as desired traits for employees. Leaders are taking more of a human-centered approach to managing their teams. This is evident in the advice they share from the interviews as well. They encourage new marketers to seek growth in every aspect of their career. 

5 Pieces of Advice from CMOs

1. Take some risks, don't be afraid of change, and try new things. Be fearless and confident.

2. Learn as much as you can, and continue to learn and seek growth.

3. Always find the joy in what you’re doing, and enjoy it and the people you're with.

4. Be intentional, go after what you want, and advocate for yourself/manage your own career.

5. Be curious, ask questions, and listen.

---

Wherever you are on your marketing journey, there is so much to gain from hearing how peers have navigated their wins, losses, and overall journeys. If you’d like to check out other CMO Spotlights, you can find the interviews here. If you know someone who should be interviewed, please submit them here. 

If you are navigating your own career journey and may be new to a marketing leadership role, we have free Guides that can assist you in that process here.

Subscribe to the Setup newsletter below to get the latest CMO Spotlights and other industry news in your inbox!