Executive Connections LLC

Connecting organizations with the future of marketing

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Filed Under: Announcements, Connections E-Zine, Executive Coaching, New Executive Search

CONNECTIONS Ezine No. 84

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: Entangled Marketing
  • Career Management
  • Career Opportunities:
    • Director, Advanced Analytics – Influent 50, an AARP company – NEW
    • VP, Marketing – B2B Financial Services / Collections
    • Dir., Web Product Management – Travel/Hospitality
    • Marketing Leader – Northeast Region
    • Sr. Mgr., Digital Strategy

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

Entangled Marketing

With marketing changing at a faster pace than ever before, we all look to seers and visionaries for predictions about the future.

One of the marketing visionaries we have long admired is Stan Rapp, one of the founding fathers of direct marketing, the founder of Rapp Collins (now Rapp Worldwide) – one of the top 2-3 global direct marketing agencies. After selling Rapp Collins to Omnicom, Stan went on to build McCann Relationship Marketing (“MRM Worldwide”) from scratch as a global direct/CRM network for Interpublic Group. After leaving IPG, at a time when many of his contemporaries were retiring, Stan partnered with Halyard Capital, a private equity firm, and over a 5 year period he built Engauge, a new integrated “agency of the future,” including general advertising, analytics, and digital marketing integrated into a single operating unit under a single P&L. Engauge grew successfully and was acquired by Publicis 2-3 years ago which represented the third holding company for whom Stan had built new age marketing services  models and profitable agency businesses.

When engagement is not enough and something more is needed. Stan’s most recent futuristic innovation is Entangled Marketing in collaboration with Sebastian Jespersen, CEO of Vertic, a global digital agency. At a time where digital- and mobile-first marketing has agencies and advertisers focused on reinventing customer engagement and experience, Stan as usual is a step ahead of the rest of us, stating in the October 12, 2015 Advertising Age that “engagement is not enough, something more is needed.” Metaphorically, Stan says what’s needed is what Louisa Guilder writes about in “The Age of Entanglement,” a quantum physics theory about particles, once entangled remain inextricably connected. According to Stan, people worldwide want to be entangled with what Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google can do for them….so the imperative for marketers is to figure out how to create brands that entice customers to become entangled.

Entangling – Brand and Consumer. Stan and Jespersen, together with Laura McLellan of Gartner, have written a book soon to be published titled, Entangling – Brand and Consumer. Their thesis is the march from mass marketing to one-to-one marketing and digital marketing is moving to the new era of entangled marketing. This new business model is as much about the consumer wanting to be entangled with the brand as the other way around.

We have seen a number of newer brands like Amazon Prime and Uber become industry transforming brands which consumers love and want to be part of for reasons of the unique values they provide to customers. It is certainly giving all of us things to think about as we evaluate whether our customers are entangled or what it would take for our customers to want to be more entangled with our brands.

Bottom Line: What changes are you making to enable your brand to become more entangled with customer and new prospects?

Career Management – by Lola White

NOW more than ever, managing your career is critically important!

To respond to this marketplace dynamic, Executive Connections is adding a Career Management column to our monthly e-zine. It is designed to support and guide YOU as you build your personal brand, manage your career path and prepare for career transitions.

Wikipedia describes Career Management as a combination of structured planning and the active management choice of one’s own professional career. Successful outcome includes personal fulfillment, work/life balance (we like to think of it as work/life blending), goal achievement and financial security.

Bottom line: Effective Career Management positively impacts your long-term career success!

Why is MANAGING your Career so important?

It’s simple, if YOU do not manage it, someone or something else will manage it for you!

Career Management needs to be a structured and active process. It takes time and effort to strategically think through what is really important in the short and long term in order to be proactive, not reactive, to career shifts.

With so many companies and executives impacted by a record-setting number of mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations, and increasing competition from other high achievers vying for the same positions, your personal brand may not be setting you up for success in today’s increasingly competitive job market. Nor is it helping you achieve your short- and long-term personal and professional goals.

Or… how about this? You might be the best-kept secret because you are not taking the time and effort to build your own brand with the same focus you would your company’s brand.

Ask yourself, which of the following career managers am I? As it relates to my current career management, is there something I’m not doing?

  • I have the know-how and skills to take my career to the next level but not a plan to get me there.
  • I’m comfortable where I am right now, I’ll figure it out when I need to
  • What’s the rush, I am so busy I’ll actually wait until there is a need
  • I was an emergency career manager and I paid the price…. now what?
  • My career is on track and I have a plan to get me where I want to go
  • I have the connections and resources to raise my career game but could use a little extra support

Knowing the answer to these questions will guide you in taking the critical next steps to map out where, when and how you can successfully achieve your career goals. Be in charge of MANAGING YOUR CAREER PLAN so YOU are focused and always prepared!

Does this make sense to you?

Confidently know where you are going!

You wouldn’t go on a long road trip without your GPS, why would you navigate your career without mapping out a strategic game plan?

Look for more about Managing Your Career next month. 

Over the last 15 years, Lola White, Managing Partner at Executive Connections LLC, has worked closely with hundreds of EC’s clients to support and guide them as they proactively manage their careers and build strong, credible personal brands that result in short and long-term career success.

Please let us know what areas of career management you want to focus on so we can support you and help you achieve your career goals. Contact Lola at lwhite@executiveconnectionsllc.com.

Career Opportunities

We have career opportunities at a variety of companies including a Global Data/Direct Marketing Services Company, a Global HR Professional Services firm, one of the largest Global Digital Agencies, a Privately-Owned Direct/Digital Agency, Travel/Hospitality and a Non-Profit Student Loan Collection.

Take a moment to click on these links (below) for the complete position description:

Learn more about our Career Opportunities…

Wishing all our clients and friends a Happy Thanksgiving!
– Jeff & Lola

Filed Under: Announcements, Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Marketing Conferences & Events, Personal Branding, Uncategorized

CONNECTIONS Ezine No. 83

In this issue:

  • Invest Without Exit – A New VC Investment Model
  • Peter Bingaman Joins Mercer – Congratulations!
  • Career Opportunities:
    • VP, Marketing – B2B Financial Services / Collections
    • Dir., Web Product Management – Travel/Hospitality
    • Marketing Leader – Northeast Region
    • Sr. Mgr., Digital Strategy

Invest Without Exit –  A New VC Investment Model

Kudos to Jessica Herrin, CEO & Founder of Stella & Dot, one of a growing number of entrepreneurs who are changing the rules of engagement with VC firms……..and we like it! 

VC firms forced to eliminate the pressure of providing too much capital and then pushing fast and hard for an exit event within 5-7 years of the initial investment.

Jessica (and Stella & Dot) partnered successfully with Dave Whorton (Founder, Tugboat Ventures) in a new investment model without a planned exit strategy. Rather, VCs were required to invest in an early stage business the founders wanted to hold onto and continue to build and operate. This almost sounds like a Warren Buffett – Berkshire Hathaway business model….except the founders get to keep controlling interest in this model whereas Buffett buys an 80% stake and leaves management as minority partners.

“My Exit Strategy You Ask?”

Interestingly, when Whorton asked Herrin her exit strategy in an early meeting she replied, “My exit strategy is to be rolled out the door on a gurney.”

This new VC investment model (without an exit) enables/requires investors to earn a return through profit distributions, not from selling their shares. Tugboat Ventures invested in Stella & Dot and over the first 5 year period (’05-’10) revenues soared to $100M+ making the company #67 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. Within 2 more years, sales doubled again at which point Sequoia Capital agreed to invest $37M for a 10% equity stake (on similar “buy and hold” terms) thereby valuing the company at close to $400M.

What are the characteristics of successful “evergreen companies?”

Whorton and Herrin (in Inc. magazine’s October 2015 issue) defined the “7Ps” including:

  1. Purpose – Passionately driven by a compelling vision/mission.
  2. Perseverance – Having ambition and resilience to overcome obstacles
  3. People First – Build a talented team and positive culture; take care of people first
  4. Private – Take advantage of ability to operate with a longer-term view
  5. Profit – Measure success by the most accurate gauge of customer value delivered
  6. Paced Growth – Focus on long-term strategy and steady 10-15% growth
  7. Pragmatic Innovation – Embrace continuous improvement

What do we really like about this model?

This model provides founders and management teams the opportunity (and necessity) to create a highly profitable, sustainable, “built to last” business which continues to grow (and prosper) and reward all stakeholders (founders, employees, customers, and investors) without an arbitrary exit point created solely to allow investors to liquidate their interests in a private company.

In this process, Dave Whorton became such a believer he (and Herrin) launched Tugboat Summit, an event bringing together Founders and CEOs of similarly aspiring evergreen businesses. To date, Tugboat has held two very successful summits so hopefully we can expect more of these “evergreen” business start-ups in the future.

Why should you care about this?

Too many start-ups and early stage businesses focus on the wrong things. They focus on revenue growth and building infrastructure without necessarily having defined a profitable, ongoing business model from the outset. Ultimately, this contributes to the vast majority of start-ups shutting the doors after 2-3 rounds of venture capital are consumed without a profitable, sustainable business being created. We need more entrepreneurs like Jessica Herrin to continue changing the mindset and approach of entrepreneurs and VCs.

Here’s to entrepreneurs and VCs building more profitable, sustainable businesses!

We look forward to connecting,

Jeff & Lola

Peter Bingaman Joins Mercer – Congratulations!

Peter-BingamanWe are pleased to announce that Peter Bingaman has joined Mercer as Mercer Marketplace Marketing Leader.

Peter Bingaman joins Mercer to lead the marketing strategies and programs to drive topline growth for Mercer Marketplace, one of the fastest-growing and market-leading digital platforms. As a member of the Mercer Marketplace Leadership Team and the Global Marketing and Sales Leadership Team, Peter will build the brand and business through targeted marketing that delivers Marketing Qualified Leads for active pursuit by our sales and consulting leaders, among other contributions to marketing communications, the digital experience and alternative distribution channels. Peter will work closely with the Mercer Marketplace and the EH&B Marketing team in the US as the go-to resource for any Mercer Marketplace-related marketing and communications activities.

Due to his extensive experience in the business to business to consumer (B-B-C) space, Peter will also contribute to global B-B-C initiatives across Health and Wealth.

Peter has extensive strategic, data-driven B2B and B2C marketing skills from having led major marketing initiatives on behalf of IBM and over the past two decades working in-house with and as a consultant to brands including HP, MSC, Nortel, LexisNexis, P&G, and J&J. A technology enthusiast experienced at leveraging analytical, digital, social media and marketing automation to increase marketing ROI, Peter has successfully identified emerging trends positioning brands ahead of the curve.

Peter has an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a BA from Bucknell University.

Career Opportunities

We have career opportunities at a variety of companies including a Global Data/Direct Marketing Services Company, a Global HR Professional Services firm, one of the largest Global Digital Agencies, a Privately-Owned Direct/Digital Agency, Travel/Hospitality and a Non-Profit Student Loan Collection.

Take a moment to click on these links (below) for the complete position description:

Learn more about our Career Opportunities…

 

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search, Personal Branding, Recommended Books

CONNECTIONS Ezine No. 82

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: “Modern Marketing” Trends
  • Article and Book Recommendation:  
    • Mastering The Art of Mobile Persuasion by Jeff Hasen
  • Career Opportunities:
    • VP, Marketing – Financial Services/Collections – NEW
    • Global Marketing Manager – Travel/Hospitality – NEW
    • Marketing Leader – Northeast Region – NEW
    • Managing Director, Digital Marketing as a Service (MaaS)
    • Chief Creative Officer
    • Digital Strategist – Senior Manager
    • Marketplace Marketing Leader
  • Upcoming Professional Development Events

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

“Modern Marketing” Trends

For quite sometime now, we have been writing about the rapid pace with which Marketing is tilting onto a digital- and mobile-first axis. The underpinnings of this shift are undoubtedly the rapid scaling of tablets and other mobile devices (smart phones and more recently smart watches – even though Apple’s Smart Watch has been less than a resounding success to-date).

Since the launch of the iPad on April 3, 2010, tablets have become the fastest technology adoption in all of history…reaching 50%+ of U.S. households in less than 5 years…more than doubling the adoption rate of all previous technology innovations including the PC, Internet, TV, Cable Radio, VCR, and other technology devices.

As tablets were quickly adopted by consumers, what followed was the rapid scaling of mobile advertising. “Tablets Rising” a global mobile advertising study conducted by Vivaki/Publicis Group confirmed some interesting findings…consumers are spending an average of 90 minutes daily on tablets/mobile devices…and tablets have become the new “first screen” even if consumers are also watching television. Also, the Vivaki study showed over two-thirds of consumers are active in Social Media networks which has become a new source of consumer influence (positive and negative) regarding brands.

But the most profound finding in the Vivaki study was…tablet ads work…and they are even more effective for highly engaged tablet users. Finally, after years of waiting, 2015 has become truly the year of exceptional growth for mobile advertising….as underscored by Facebook’s Q2 2015 revenues exceeding $4B+ (with $2.9B+ or 75% coming from mobile advertising).

As a help to our clients and readers, we are including an article and book recommendation from our friend and CMO, Jeff Hasen, who has recently authored his second book titled, “The Art Of Mobile Persuasion.” With mobile advertising rapidly growing, this is an art and mastery every marketer needs to develop.

What do these “Modern Marketing” trends mean in terms of the shift in talent needs for both advertisers and agencies?

From our perspective, the highest demand positions currently include Chief Data Officers, Heads of Marketing Analytics, Chief Digital Officers, Digital Strategy & Marketing Leaders, and Customer Engagement/Experience Leaders.  With consumers shopping through tablets, smart phones, and other mobile devices as a first option, marketers are transforming their businesses to offer relevant omni-channel customer engagement. And the “new relevant” means the right communication, to the right consumer/prospect, at the right time, in the right place.

Successful campaigns are now happening “real-time,” as geo-targeting is enabling brands to identify their best customers and prospects in relation to their proximity to the brand or a competitor’s outlet…and in that moment deliver a compelling offer and incentive to shop/purchase.

While brand advertising still has its place, the growing demand (and higher compensation premium) is for marketers with analytics and data skills, knowledge of newer marketing technology platforms, and digital strategy and marketing skills. Its an exciting time…the next generation of marketing leaders include many with M.S. and PhD. degrees in Mathematics & Statistics, as well as many B.S. Engineering professionals with M.B.A. degrees.

It wasn’t that long ago there was a time when senior marketing officers said we know half (50%) of advertising works…we just don’t know which half. Those days, and those marketers, are in the rear view mirror as new “Modern Marketing” is about KPIs and metrics…to deliver reports back to the CEO and CFO on Marketing ROI.

As always, we welcome your input, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Jeff and Lola

Article and Book Recommendation

by Jeff Hasen

Jeff Hasen photoWelcome to the 21st century love affair.

Long-time adman Hank Wasiak, the former vice chairman of McCann Erickson, says that people don’t have a relationship with a television set or their computer, but they do with a mobile phone.

It is part of them.

The central question for today’s businesses…Can they enhance the relationship or is three a crowd?

In truth, mobile users are like teenagers. They want to be understood. But they will fight to maintain their privacy.

What is a brand to do?

Be of value and non-intrusive.

And don’t be creepy.

coverFor my new book, The Art of Mobile Persuasion, I spent a year talking to some of the most courageous mobile marketers working today. Insights from Expedia, Lowe’s, REI, Google, ESPN, and others are applicable to anyone seeking to create a better kind of consumer engagement on the devices that are never out of reach.

Out of the discussion came a number of relationship turnoffs.

Here are words to describe those businesses that are flailing:

  1. Selfish. In outreach to mobile users, there needs to be a specific need that benefits the customer. Jonathan Stephen, who drove innovative mobile programs at JetBlue, points to the greed of some who seek to needlessly uncover such inconsequential details as how many sugars
    wireless owners put in their coffee, and, if they used Splenda or Truvia.
  2. Illogical. If only more mobile marketers would practice common sense. For example, why in the world would a business create an iPhone app if their customers are mostly or completely Android owners? That’s just dumb.
  1. Timid. Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most recognizable, beloved, and successful brands, isn’t being passive. Instead, it is fulfilling its long-established mission of enabling desire in an increasingly-large part through the use of wireless devices.
  1. Impulsive. Sean Lyons, Global Chief Digital Officer at communications agency Havas, chides those who go to such conferences as South By Southwest and unilaterally seek to determine which products and services will matter. Why? The consumer is going to decide.
  1. Inattentive. Google’s Jason Spero refers to consumer actions on mobile devices as signals, rich with information that tells marketers a great deal if they are on the lookout for them. But many regrettably aren’t.

Career Opportunities

We have career opportunities at a variety of companies including a Global Data/Direct Marketing Services Company, a Global HR Professional Services firm, one of the largest Global Digital Agencies, a Privately-Owned Direct/Digital Agency, Travel/Hospitality and a Non-Profit Student Loan Collection. Please take a moment to click on a link and see the complete position description:

Filed Under: Announcements, Branding Yourself Online, Connections E-Zine, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Getting Hired in Digital Marketing, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search, Recommended Articles, Spotlight On

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 80

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: ‘Mad Men’ to Data Geniuses
  • Invitation REMINDER:
    • 2015 Rising Stars Awards Dinner – Tue, June 9, 2015
  • Announcements:
    • Monika Wilczak Joins Accenture Interactive as MD, Customer Advanced Analytics
    • NOW 2015 Women of Power & Influence Awards Dinner — June 11, 2015
  • Articles:
    • #MktgFemme – Direct Marketing News’ 2015 Marketing Hall of Femme Awards
  • Career Opportunities:
    • Marketing Leader, Private Exchange – NEW
    • Marketing Leader, Northeast – NEW
    • Social Media Strategist
    • Digital Strategist – Senior Manager
    • Digital Strategist – Manager
    • Social Senior Manager and Account Lead
    • Manager, Social Media
    • Director, Insights and Strategy

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

 ‘Mad Men’ to Data Geniuses

Kudos to AdAge Editor Simon Dumenco and his team in compiling the 2015 Agency Issue (published May 4, 2015). AdAge highlights several trends which underscore while ‘Mad Men’ the TV series is ending this year, there will be plenty of ‘Mad Men’ continuing to dominate the global marketing, media and entertainment sectors for decades to come. Except ‘Mad Men’ are starting to look much different today than the ‘Mad Men’ from the 60’s and 70’s.

With IBM Experience, Deloitte Digital, and Accenture Interactive moving into the list of Top 10 global agencies (and Top 3 global digital agencies), and digital capturing nearly 40% of total advertising spending and rapidly heading to 50%+, it is becoming clear the future of marketing is shifting (as Dumenco and AdAge projects) from Art & Copy ‘Mad Men’ of the past to “Data Geniuses and Technologists” of the future driving targeted digital, mobile and social brand engagements with consumers which are apparent in the revolutionary marketing innovations we are experiencing on a daily basis.

Where and when will the next Uber, AirBnB, or Jet.com appear? Almost every sector is rapidly shifting toward a greater digital focus to assure their business is not rapidly encroached by a new unforeseen digital competitor.

It’s great to see the marketing industry leading U.S. economic growth. In 2014, U.S. agency revenues grew 5.4% to a record $43.6B. Ad-agency employment is climbing, and agency stocks scored all-time highs. It’s indeed a good time to be in the agency business…especially if you’re connected to digital.

One final thought…some ‘Mad Men’ from the 60’s and 70’s who were really revolutionary and predicted the future of marketing…were the pioneers in direct marketing…leaders including Lester Wunderman, Stan Rapp, and others who predicted “mass marketing” was wasteful and would give way to “one-to-one” marketing (or direct marketing). Those who have been around the direct marketing sector for 3-4 decades know digital marketing is “direct marketing on steroids”…so thanks to Lester, Stan and the other direct marketing pioneers who paved the way for the data geniuses and technologists of the future.

As always, we welcome your input and comments.

Jeff and Lola

Announcements

Monika Wilczak Joins Accenture Interactive as Managing Director, Customer Advanced Analytics

Monika J. Wilczak Head ShotWe are pleased to announce Monika Wilczak has joined our client, Accenture Digital, as Managing Director, Customer Advanced Analytics.

Prior to Accenture, Monika was Global Head of Customer & Market Intelligence at Bloomberg LP, and earlier, Monika was Head of Decision Management, Commercial & Small Business Banking at Citibank.

In this new marketing era of targeted, relevant two-way communications with customers and prospects, Monika is an analytics executive leader with a proven ability to identify business growth opportunities and translate them into new revenue streams using customer insights. Monika’s expertise includes B2C, B2B, and vertical sectors including media, technology, financial services, and consumer goods/services.

At Accenture Digital, Monika will have both U.S. new business development responsibilities as well as leadership of clients/teams delivering cutting-edge Analytics strategies and program results.

Monika holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Statistics & Operations Research with Honors (from Stern School – NYU).

Executive Connections LLC initiated this executive placement as part of  an ongoing senior-level talent acquisition relationship with Accenture Interactive.

We wish Monika well in this exciting new career opportunity!

Upcoming NOW 2015 Women of Power & Influence AwardsNOW logo

Please join me at the NOW 2015 Women of Power & Influence Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Three Sixty in New York City.

 

For more details…

Invitation REMINDER

Join Me At Marketing EDGE 2015 “Rising Stars” Dinner
in NYC on Tuesday, June 9, 2015RSA15-banner-linkedin

Register now and start planning how you’ll take advantage of the networking opportunities at the Rising Stars Awards Dinner – with this year’s Rising Stars and the 400+ industry leaders expected to attend.

Marketing EDGE provides many training and employment programs for college students including Collegiate ECHO Awards, Scholarships, Student Career Forums, One Week Immersion programs (I-MIX – Interactive Marketing Immersion Experience; I-MAX – Interactive Marketing Analytics Experience), Next Generation Leaders, Summer Internships, and Entry-level marketing positions.

Marketing EDGE also provides programs for educators in over 100+ colleges and universities nationwide including Professors’ Academy, Journal of Interactive Marketing, Research Summit, Professor’s Institute, and Collegiate ECHO Challenge.

Marketing EDGE sponsors and corporate partners include Brierley & Partners, Direct TV, Epsilon, Executive Connections LLC, Facebook, Google, Gerber Life, Guthy Renker, IBM, Javelin, KBM Group, Ogilvy & Mather, Merkle, Microsoft and Twitter, among others.

2015 RISING STARS HONOREES —Louis Cohen, Citi Cards | Andrea Steele, Unilever | Lisa Radding, Ethnic Technologies | Amina Dilawari, St. Jude Children’s Hospital | Jessica Hawthorne-Castro, Hawthorne Direct

Link to MarketingEdge event…

Article

#MktgFemme – Direct Marketing News’ 2015 Marketing Hall of Fame

By Laura Gigliotti – April 27, 2015

“18 chief marketers who put the ‘excel’ in excellent”
“An elite group of women who are driving marketing today”
“Exceptional leading ladies who have risen to the apex of their profession”

So were the accolades floating around the Grand Hyatt in New York City last Friday during Direct Marketing News’ 2015 Marketing Hall of Femme Awards.

In its third iteration, the annual Award ceremony recognizes the achievements of the most accomplished and influential women in marketing. Over 80 nominees were submitted during the call-for-nominations period, 18 of which were selected for induction. Selection criteria included leadership style, approach to marketing, and career achievements—both past and present.

For complete article…

Career Opportunities

We have career opportunities at a variety of companies including a Global HR Professional Services firm, a Global Financial Services firm and a Global Digital Consulting firm.  Please take a moment to click on a link and see the complete position description:

Learn more…

Filed Under: Ask Our Coach, Branding Yourself Online, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Personal Branding, Recommended Articles

Career Path Insights

Is Career Jumping Different Now From In The Past? Is It More Or Less Common?

Career jumping is definitely the “new normal” and it’s the result of several factors. First, the rapid global transition to a digital- and mobile-first economy has created enormous opportunities for technology-savvy and analytical/quantitative young professionals to join or start new businesses (i.e., Google, Facebook, Amazon) with rapid growth and significant wealth creation possibilities. Additionally, many legacy industry sectors (i.e., print, media, CPG, retail) are experiencing consolidations which eliminates traditional career path growth opportunities within the same company and forces career change.

How Can Someone Know They Are Truly Ready For A Career Change?

You know you are ready for a career change if any of the following conditions are present: (a) you no longer believe in the vision/mission of your company/organization; (b) you no longer respect your direct boss (and/or the company leader); (c) you are not growing/developing new skills in the role; (d) you are not feeling challenged by the path in front of you. We are seeing less loyalty today in both directions. Companies are less loyal to employees and routinely make cutbacks (in both good times and bad) as a result of increased efficiencies. Likewise, today’s employees are less loyal to their companies than previous generations, and it has become more readily acceptable that each individual will shift jobs/career several times over the course of their work life.

For the complete article by Melissa Batchelor Warnke…

Filed Under: Ask Our Coach, Connections E-Zine, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 79

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: Life Expectancy of CMOs Is Increasing
  • Spotlight On: Lia Sagerman – 2015 EC Rising Star
  • Invitation:  Marketing EDGE 2015 “Rising Stars” Award Dinner
  • Career Opportunities:
    • Social Media Strategist – NEW
    • CMO, Customer & Digital Marketing – NEW
    • Digital Strategist – Senior Manager – NEW
    • Digital Strategist – Manager – NEW
    • Social Senior Manager and Account Lead
    • Manager, Social Media
    • Director, Insights and Strategy

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

Life Expectancy of CMOs Is Increasing

Jane Odell at Chief Marketer magazine just reported “Good news for the CMO: life expectancy in your job continues to climb, according to new data from Spencer Stuart, who analyzed the tenure of CMOs for the top 100 US advertised brands.”

We recall as recently as 3-4 years ago CMO tenure was less than 2 years according to Spencer Stuart. Since that time, CMO tenure has doubled and a recent report from Forrester Research projects this year average CMO tenure would reach 60 months (that’s 5 years).

One key reason according to Odell is CEOs are relying more heavily on CMOs for critical advice in the fast changing world of marketing. We agree, and would add, there is a new crop of digitally-savvy, data-driven marketers who have become the “new breed” of CMOs. With marketing tipping toward a digital- and mobile-first axis, digitally-deficient CMOs need not apply.

If you are a CMO, what’s your current and expected tenure? If you are a CEO, how well advised do you feel by your CMO on the digital marketing transformation path? If you are on a career path trajectory to a CMO role, are you learning the new data, digital, mobile, and social media marketing skills to be relevant in the new digital marketing eco-system?

As always, we welcome your comments and input.

Jeff and Lola

 Spotlight On

Lia Sagerman – EC 2015 Rising Star

Lia headshotWe would like to introduce Lia Sagerman, EC’s 2015 Rising Star.  Lia is an exceptional candidate with strong leadership skills.  We first spotted Lia in 2013 when she led the Tufts Women’s Varsity Field Hockey team (as Captain) to the NCAA National Championship.  Next, while completing her Masters degree in Education over the next two years at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, Lia worked as a teacher in a highly regarded “Teach for America” program, creating innovative strategies to improve student success.

Lia is now interested to leverage her undergraduate degree (B.A., Psychology from Tufts) and begin her business career in NYC in a marketing or strategy role.

Lia has already been to NYC in March and interviewed with a number of EC clients.  Her next visit will be in May 2015…and she will be available for a full-time position in NYC on August 1, 2015.

We highly recommend you meet and speak with Lia on her next visit.  You will not be disappointed.

Please contact Jeff Gundersen directly, if you have any questions or would like to meet Lia Sagerman.

Invitation

Join Me At Marketing EDGE 2015 “Rising Stars” Dinner
in NYC on Tuesday, June 8, 2015RSA15-banner-linkedin

As many of you know, I am a Board Trustee of Marketing EDGE, a non-profit organization with the mission to Educate, Develop, Grow, and Employ the next generation of marketing leaders.

Marketing EDGE provides many training and employment programs for college students including Collegiate ECHO Awards, Scholarships, Student Career Forums, One Week Immersion programs (I-MIX – Interactive Marketing Immersion Experience; I-MAX – Interactive Marketing Analytics Experience), Next Generation Leaders, Summer Internships, and Entry-level marketing positions.

Marketing EDGE also provides programs for educators in over 100+ colleges and universities nationwide including Professors’ Academy, Journal of Interactive Marketing, Research Summit, Professor’s Institute, and Collegiate ECHO Challenge.

Marketing EDGE sponsors and corporate partners include Brierley & Partners, Direct TV, Epsilon, Executive Connections LLC, Facebook, Google, Gerber Life, Guthy Renker, IBM, Javelin, KBM Group, Ogilvy & Mather, Merkle, Microsoft and Twitter, among others.

Please join 350-400 senior level digital and direct marketers for an exciting evening on June 8, 2015 when we will be honoring 6 of the best and brightest marketing “Rising Stars” under 40YO.

Link to MarketingEdge event…

Career Opportunities

We have career opportunities at a variety of companies including a Global HR Professional Services firm, a Global Financial Services firm and a Global Digital Consulting firm.  Please take a moment to click on a link and see the complete position description:

Learn more…

Filed Under: Announcements, Branding Yourself Online, Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Marketing Conferences & Events, Personal Branding, Recommended Articles, Spotlight On

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 77

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: New Year’s Resolution – ‘Aspire’
  • Spotlight On Sean Rach:
    • Sean Rach Promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at PCA
  • Career Opportunities:
    • VP, Individual Digital Experience – Global Financial Services
  • Your Comments:
    • Susan Cotton, Executive Chairman of The Lily Project – “2014-The Year of Social Enterprise“
  • Articles:
    • “The Tyranny of ‘Scale’ ” by Michael Baer

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

New Year’s Resolution – ‘Aspire’

Happy New Year!

One thing we love about January is all businesses start again at zero, create new surges of momentum, and begin implementing action plans to achieve the strategic, marketing, operational, and financial plans created in the prior fiscal year.

However, frequently there is an overlay to the global business environment, a general mood, influenced by CEO and consumer confidence, and economic forecasts/trends, which enhances or dampens the enthusiasm of individuals and organizations to assertively drive to achieve their best potential performance.

In our view, the 2014 economy (especially the US) outperformed forecasted growth rates, led by sectors including healthcare, mobile advertising and online shopping which grew in double digits. While there are several areas of global concern including rising terrorism, political instability in the Middle East, and government dysfunction, the overall sentiment heading into 2015 feels strongly positive on balance, and we see many early signs of companies investing more heavily in marketing, technology, and mobile commerce to achieve significant global growth objectives.

We recently read an editorial column by Matt Walsh, Editor & Publisher in the January 2-8, 2015 edition of Business Observer – Florida’s Newspaper for the C-Suite (www.BusinessObserverFL.com) where Walsh said…“The Word for 2015 is ‘Aspire’ “…and we could not agree more heartily. Walsh’s column included the following:

“We used to aspire. We aspired to be great, to be the best, to win. And we went for it. We worked for it. We did whatever it took to be great. We need to bring this back. We need to teach everyone – especially America’s children – to aspire to be great. Bring back Vince Lombardi. During Lombardi’s era in the 1960s as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, he epitomized America’s desire to win. He is most frequently associated with the quote, ‘Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.’ He expressed the opinion, forcefully and unapologetically, that the pursuit of victory, fairly and squarely, and within the rules, is life’s great challenge. Not victory for its own sake, but victory as a test of how far you could push yourself to your limits and beyond, a test of your ability to overcome your doubts and weaknesses, and a test of how much of your God-given talent and ability you were willing to expend in the pursuit of success and victory.”

Aspirational leadership starts at the top. We have written consistently about CEOs from companies including Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Starbucks, and Uber, among others, who have pursued aspirational category-changing strategies that resulted in hyper market capitalization growth in short time frames. These CEOS and category-leading companies demonstrate what’s possible with aspirational leadership which pushes for the extraordinary instead of modest growth objectives.

On a personal basis, this is a great time of year to take stock of your business and personal career/brand, and ask yourself the hard questions regarding whether you are playing full-out and pushing yourself and your team/organization/company to your limits and beyond in order to achieve the stretch goals you aspire to produce.

What we know, and what we feel, is we agree with Matt Walsh, if there was ever a year which was right for a mantra of ‘Aspire’…it’s 2015!

Best wishes for continued personal and business success, health and prosperity!

As always, we welcome your comments and input.

Lola and Jeff

Spotlight On Sean Rach

Sean Rach Promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at PCA

Sean RachWe are pleased to share an announcement from Barry Stowe, CEO of Prudential Corporation Asia, that Sean Rach has been named Chief Marketing Officer for PCA effective January 1, 2015.

Executive Connections LLC placed Sean at PCA in 2009, where he has championed the development of integrated marketing solutions for all business lines and has developed innovative digital and branding programs including Cha-Ching, Safe Steps, Prudential Eye, and the Regional Brand Platform – “I am Prudential.”

Sean brought a strong digital marketing foundation to PCA and his promotion to CMO fulfills an EC prophecy that the “CMO of the future” must be digital-first marketers.

Sean is also an “aspirational” CMO who stretches himself and his team to consistently produce the extraordinary instead of  the ordinary results.

We wish Sean continued success in his career!

Career Opportunities

VP, Individual Digital Experience – Global Financial Services

The VP, Individual Digital Experience is a senior level, cross-business leader accountable for collaboratively defining and designing digital experience for Individual constituent types. Constituent types include investors, participants, policyholders, beneficiaries and other individual consumers. The successful candidate will lead diverse, internal, matrix teams, including third-party consultants, to develop competitive web, social and mobile engagement channels across our Client’s portfolio of businesses and corporate functions, including brand, advertising, thought leadership, market research, communications, information technology and digital solutions, ensuring that the Individual’s critical cross channel needs are addressed throughout their customer life cycle.

Learn more…

Your Comments

Hi Jeff –  I was intrigued by your title 2014 – The Year of Social Enterprise, because I am studying at Pepperdine for a MA in Social Entrepreneurship and Change…and I see the impact of social enterprises increasing, but we still have a long way to go.  And while I find both of these companies really great examples of the collaborative consuming/sharing economy, I don’t believe they are great examples of social enterprises.  Social enterprises are built first and foremost to create positive social value – with measurements that go well beyond shareholder value to stakeholder value.  You can generally see it first in their vision, mission, values and financial reporting (does it go beyond shareholders?).   Here are a couple of articles that talk about the distinction between social businesses that are part of the sharing economic and social enterprises.

I think the easiest way to think about it is…Does the company view its mission to deliver social good first or is social good a side benefit?

There are really great examples of both for-profit/non-profit social enterprises – and many are hybrid organizations.  Take a look at Dlight, Divine Chocolates, Homeboy Industries, D-Rev, Enterprise Community Partners…even Warby Parker.  All doing awesome things!

I can see a lot of potential for your business to get to know this sector well – it is growing and there are some amazing people involved…I’m having a blast 🙂

Susan Cotton headshotSusan Cotton is Executive Chairman of The Lily Project, a community-based women’s health program based in Leon, Nicaragua.  Unlike the US, where widespread adoption of Pap testing has made cervical cancer one of our most treatable and least deadly cancers, in Nicaragua, regular screening is available to only about 10% of the population, and cervical cancer is the #1 cancer killer of women – responsible, on average, for the death of one woman every day. The Lily Project’s mission is to deliver preventive health care to women in rural Nicaragua reducing the number of women newly diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer 30% by 2020 through implementation of an innovative screen and treat approach proven effective in other low-resource communities. The Lily Project is launching in Miramar – a small coastal village where the closest medical clinic is more than two hours away – on January 28th, 2015.

Articles

“The Tyranny of ‘Scale’ ” – by Michael Baer

Commentary from MarketingDaily – December 9, 2014

There it was, in HuffPo, in a listicle called “10 Tricks to appear smart during meetings.” Along with a recommendation to “Pace around the room” and to “Nod continuously while pretending to take notes” was number 6 on the list: “Ask ‘Will this scale?’ no matter what it is.” And, it’s true – say this and people will think you are smart. But, unfortunately, it only perpetuates a fallacy.

You see, there’s an on-going illusion about scale. In digital and mobile advertising, marketers, sellers and buyers are all participating in this illusion day in and day out. That is, there’s a desire and demand for more and more impressions, more eyeballs and views, more tonnage reaching your target. But does this tonnage really reach the target? Is this scale actually useful, valuable or even real?

Link to complete article

Filed Under: Announcements, Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 76

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: 2014 – The Year of Social Enterprise
  • BLOG Roundup:
    • Thanks and Giving Are Good Branding
    • Are You A Successful Entrepreneur CEO?
    • Mastering The Consumer-Driven Decision Journey
  • Career Opportunities:
    • VP, Individual Digital Experience – Global Financial Services

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

2014 – The Year of Social Enterprise

We love year-end…it’s a time for reflection on what worked, what didn’t, key accomplishments, new skills developed, as well as disappointments, missed opportunities, and regrets.

It’s also the time of the year when all the major media provide their “Best of 2014” lists…Best Dressed, Best Movies, Best Companies to work for, Person of the Year, Company of the Year, etc.

Not surprising, Inc.’s 2014 “Company of the Year” (AIRBNB) goes beyond the adjectives (audacious, brazen, disruptive, inevitable, unprecedented) used to describe their services. According to Brian Chesky, CEO and Co-Founder, “Airbnb is about so much more than just renting space…it’s about people and experiences. At the end of the day, we are trying to bring the world together.”  Airbnb added 10M+ new customers in 2014…doubling their client base…and this rapid scaling digital brand is evidence of the power of social enterprise. On one level, Airbnb is just an innovative global home rental/reservation service. However, on a deeper level, Airbnb is a new, global social community of homeowners looking to monetize their primary or secondary (investment) properties thereby enabling them to pursue additional global travel opportunities. Airbnb is part of a new global “social economy” being enabled by mobile and the forces social media.

Another social enterprise “Company of the Year” is Uber Technologies, Inc. which is rapidly transforming the global taxi and limousine industry. As reported recently by Bloomberg/Business Week, Uber recently raised $1B in capital (in November 2014) at a valuation of $40B (up from a $17B valuation in July 2014). This doubling of company valuation in less than six months truly underscores the rapid effects possible for a social enterprise that has rapidly scaled on a global basis. Uber is another global business where growth is being fueled by the rapid consumer (and business) adoption of mobile technologies…which has been the driving force behind Uber’s quantum leaps in economic growth and wealth creation. Uber’s current $40B valuation makes it 3-4x more valuable than Hertz ($11B valuation) and similar in valuation to Delta Airlines and Kraft Food Group. And some financial analysts are forecasting Uber’s eventual IPO valuation will be in the $80-100B range.

These examples (Airbnb & Uber) of Social Enterprise underscore the assessment by Steve Case (AOL founder) and Peter Diamandis (XPrize CEO) that the future will belong to companies that improve life for billions of people. This is also very much aligned with the new vision being created by Google’s CEO, Larry Page, recently named Fortune’s 2014 “Business Person of the Year.”  Google has outgrown its original vision (15 years ago) “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” and the company is now making huge bets in new technologies that could redefine the future in a number of sectors from automotive to healthcare. Page is simply a visionary (think Steve Jobs) who, according to Fortune, “thinks the improbable is a given and the seemingly impossible is likely.”

  • Where is your organization in terms of pursuing social enterprise and innovations in various industry sectors which can change the lives of millions of people?
  • Who are the “game changers” and innovators that inspire you?
  • What are your audacious innovation plans for 2015?

We close by wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season and best wishes for continued success in 2015!

As always, we welcome your comments and input.

Lola and Jeff

BLOG Roundup:  Did you catch our recent blog posts?

Thanks and Giving Are Good Branding

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” —William James

Give ThanksWith the Thanksgiving holidays upon us, we would like to express our personal “thank you” to all of EC’s connections—clients, friends, our business colleagues, and emerging members of our personal and professional network. We’ve been honored to reinvigorate and clarify career and personal brand directions for those we’ve touched this year, especially with those who have experienced the power of our Personal Branding Retreat Center.

Read more…

 Are You A Successful Entrepreneur CEO?

Particularly in this era of marketing technology and ad:tech start-ups related to digital/mobile advertising and marketing, a key question is…do these start-up CEOs have the entrepreneurial “chops” to successfully build and scale their businesses?

The reality is the vast majority of these CEOs do not have what it takes. So what are the key differentiators between the CEOs that make it and the ones that don’t?

We came across an interesting Gallup survey in the September 2014 issue of Inc. magazine’s issue on the 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies. Gallup polled over 2,700 entrepreneur CEOs (including the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies) on ten crucial personality traits.  Fully 16% of the Inc. 500 CEOs ranked as exceptional on these personality traits:

Read more…

Mastering The Consumer Driven Decision Journey

The recent DMA2014 Strategic Summit at the San Diego Convention Center opened with a keynote from Alec Bokman, Principal at McKinsey Digital, who highlighted the shifting marketing paradigms in a digital-first marketing eco-system.

Bokman told attendees the previous direct marketing funnel is dead…”it’s been announced DOA”…and it has been replaced by a new “consumer-driven decision journey”…with 2/3 of consumer decisions based upon their experiences during the journey. “Today’s brands are having intimate, personal conversations with consumers and geo-targeting and mobile devices are enabling targeted, real-time and relevant offers,” cited Bokman.

Read more…

Career Opportunities

VP, Individual Digital Experience – Global Financial Services

The VP, Individual Digital Experience is a senior level, cross-business leader accountable for collaboratively defining and designing digital experience for Individual constituent types. Constituent types include investors, participants, policyholders, beneficiaries and other individual consumers. The successful candidate will lead diverse, internal, matrix teams, including third-party consultants, to develop competitive web, social and mobile engagement channels across our Client’s portfolio of businesses and corporate functions, including brand, advertising, thought leadership, market research, communications, information technology and digital solutions, ensuring that the Individual’s critical cross channel needs are addressed throughout their customer life cycle.

Learn more…

Filed Under: Branding Yourself Online, Connections E-Zine, Executive Coaching, Personal Branding

Thanks and Giving Are Good Branding

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” —William James

Give ThanksWith the Thanksgiving holidays upon us, we would like to express our personal “thank you” to all of EC’s connections—clients, friends, our business colleagues, and emerging members of our personal and professional network. We’ve been honored to reinvigorate and clarify career and personal brand directions for those we’ve touched this year, especially with those who have experienced the power of our Personal Branding Retreat Center.

Each year, we take our own offsite retreat to reflect on our year in business and to plan for the upcoming one. An important part of our mission is to “be the brand you want others to see.” For us, this also includes the focused charitable work we do and being a business growth catalyst to those personal brands we believe will have a great positive influence on others.

At this time of year, we encourage you to reflect on what you are thankful for and what you can continue to give. Here is some food for thought:

  1.  Thanks
    • For whom are you thankful?
    • What has transpired over this past year that makes you feel grateful?
    • Have you acknowledged yourself for your own professional accomplishments?
    • Have you sincerely acknowledged others who have supported your personal brand and career building efforts? If not yet, what can you do to express your gratitude now?
  2.   Giving
    • Are you truly sharing the best of your talents with those in your “inner circle?”
    • Is there a way for you to share your core knowledge in a way that would also benefit your wider target audience (think articles, blog posts, comments, answering relevant questions on LinkedIn, media interviews, or speaking?)
    • Do you regularly support a particular charity that aligns with  your personal vision?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

Filed Under: Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Personal Branding

Are You A Successful Entrepreneur CEO?

Particularly in this era of marketing technology and ad:tech start-ups related to digital/mobile advertising and marketing, a key question is…do these start-up CEOs have the entrepreneurial “chops” to successfully build and scale their businesses?

The reality is the vast majority of these CEOs do not have what it takes. So what are the key differentiators between the CEOs that make it and the ones that don’t?

We came across an interesting Gallup survey in the September 2014 issue of Inc. magazine’s issue on the 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies. Gallup polled over 2,700 entrepreneur CEOs (including the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies) on ten crucial personality traits.  Fully 16% of the Inc. 500 CEOs ranked as exceptional on these personality traits:

    1. Risk Taker – 85% of Inc. 500 CEOs enthusiastically take on challenges, have a highly optimistic perception of risk, take a rational approach in decision making to mitigate risk (vs. 22% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    2. Business Focus – 72% emphasize profits, goals, metrics, and align employees with company goals (vs. 20% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    3. Determination – 71% have a tremendous work ethic, confront and overcomes obstacles, and are undeterred by failures or roadblocks (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    4. Delegator – 61% readily delegate authority and responsibility, proactively collaborate, and recognize and draw upon others’ abilities (vs. 22% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    5. Knowledge Seeker – 58% acquire business-relevant, in-depth information, use knowledge as a competitive advantage, anticipate information needs (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    6. Creative Thinker – 56% think past boundaries, generate ideas, explore options, think through problems (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    7. Confidence – 54% present well, take initiative, believe in ability to build businesses (vs. 21% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    8. Promoter –  53% speak boldly on behalf of the company, communicate company vision effectively (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    9. Independence – 50% are self-reliant, handle multiple tasks well, have a strong sense of responsibility (vs. 20% of larger entrepreneur sample)
    10. Relationship Builder – 46% have a high social awareness, develop mutually beneficial relationships, and are open and have a positive demeanor (vs. 22% of larger entrepreneur sample)

It’s clear — to be a successful entrepreneur CEO requires personal DNA that separates you from others. Not surprising, Risk Taking is at the top of the list…the ability to take on risks and challenges and then combine optimism and rational thinking/decision making to mitigate business risks. Then there are a number of other personality factors… determination, creative thinking, confidence, promotion, and relationship building…that are key to evangelizing your vision and attracting the customers, investors, and talent required to scale your business.

If you are a CEO (or want to be CEO) of an early-stage, entrepreneurial business, how does your personality measure up against this Gallup scale of CEO personal brand differentiators?  

If you see yourself scoring exceptionally high on these indexes, what’s holding you back from starting a new business or succeeding in the business you already started?