What CEOs are Looking for in a VP of Marketing

So you want to be a VP of marketing?

It’s a coveted role, and a great aspiration.

To transform this ambition into reality, you need to become what CEO’s are looking for in a VP of marketing.

There are several ways that you can prepare yourself to excel in this dynamic and challenging position.

Let’s look more at what it means to do what’s needed to advance in your marketing career.

What is the role of the VP of marketing in a business?

The role of a Vice President (VP) of Marketing is pivotal to a company’s success.

This individual oversees all marketing operations of the company and develops its marketing strategy and vision.

They are the powerhouse behind the brand and have a significant influence over a company’s reputation, directly impacting sales and profitability.

The VP of Marketing is responsible for a wide array of duties.

These include:

• identifying potential markets
• conducting market research
• setting pricing strategies
• developing marketing plans
• overseeing the implementation of marketing strategies – from creative development to advertising and public relations.
• building a highly efficient team of marketing professionals.

Ultimately, the VP of Marketing is responsible for ensuring the company’s message is distributed across channels and to targeted audiences to meet sales objectives.

Their goal is to ensure the company’s profitability by solidifying its position in the market through brand awareness and advertising.

What makes a great VP of marketing? Strategic mindset

A great VP of Marketing with a strategic mindset will always stay ahead of the curve.

They’ll analyze trends, understand the competitive landscape, and predict future shifts in the marketplace.

A strategic mindset will help you overcome the obstacles you and your team face.

Here’s an example:

Consider a VP of Marketing in a tech company.

Instead of blindly following the current trend of AI-based products, they might anticipate the rise of privacy concerns among consumers.

With this strategic insight, the VP could steer the company towards developing products that not only leverage AI technology but also prioritize customer privacy.

In this way, the company would be prepared to meet an emerging customer demand before the competition even realizes it’s there.

This kind of strategic foresight speaks volumes about a VP of Marketing’s ability to lead a company towards successful future outcomes.

What do CEOs want from marketing? Data-driven decision-making

Making data-driven decisions as a marketer requires the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret relevant information, using insights gleaned from this process to optimize marketing efforts and drive desired outcomes.

For instance, a savvy VP of Marketing at an e-commerce company noticed a decline in sales over a certain period.

Instead of resorting to guesswork, they decided to delve into the company’s sales data and customer analytics.

Through meticulous data analysis, they discovered that many potential customers were abandoning their carts at the checkout page.

Moreover, customer feedback data indicated that shoppers found the checkout process cumbersome and time-consuming.

Using these insights, the VP of Marketing led a team to streamline the checkout process, making it more user-friendly and efficient.

As a result, the company saw a substantial reduction in cart abandonment rates and a corresponding increase in completed sales.

This scenario exemplifies how data-driven decision-making skills can directly affect a company’s bottom line.

What do marketing executives care about? Effectiveness and Efficiency

An effective VP of Marketing is a visionary leader who is adept at managing resources, prioritizing initiatives, and inspiring their team to continually push the boundaries of what’s possible in the pursuit of growth and revenue generation.

Being efficient is as important as being effective.

If you’re effective but you take up way too much time, resources, or energy of your team, it can be damaging to the company as a whole.

A VP of marketing needs to be efficient and effective- able to accomplish marketing goals while using their time, resources, and energy wisely.

This is what your bosses care about.

What kind of person makes a good VP of marketing? Personality matters!

One CEO stated that, “Life is too short and business hours are too long to gamble on a rock star VP of sales who reminds everybody of Hannibal Lecter.”

As a VP of Marketing, your personality can have a positive impact on your performance by allowing you to bring enthusiasm and passion to the job.

Your ability to think critically and solve complex problems quickly are important traits for this role, as well as having an eye for detail when it comes to data analysis and decision making.

Additionally, you can strive to be an inspiring leader who is able to motivate and empower your team in order to cultivate success.

Be a VP before you become a VP

Anybody can want to advance, but the key is knowing how to advance in your marketing career.

Cultivating the skills and mindset of a VP NOW can significantly enhance your effectiveness as a marketing professional and your potential for FUTURE growth.

Moreover, choosing to be a communicative and pleasant person fosters stronger relationships with colleagues, making you a valuable team player and a natural leader.

By embodying these qualities, you not only contribute to the success of your marketing department but also position yourself as an ideal candidate for promotion within the organization.

So, start thinking like a VP of Marketing now, and you will be well on your way to becoming one in the future.

Remember, it’s not just about the title – it’s about being a leader who drives impactful results and inspires others along the way.