Q&A: Meet the Women Changing the Martech Industry Part 2!

With Women's History Month ongoing, we here at Martech Alliance are taking the opportunity to celebrate. Streamers? Check. Bunting? Check. A bunch of VIP guests ready to answer questions way below their pay grades? Check. Our industry is filled to the brim with talented women, taking charge and taking names. ‘Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change’ - the UN motto for International Women’s Day - is a perfect description for what women have been doing for years in the Martech industry!

Also, there would be NO Martech memes without the women on our team, which would be an absolute travesty.

From marketing to mantras, dilemmas to dinner plans, fulfilment to Pho, we cover all bases. 

Say hello to the women making a real difference in the industry!

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Oh, and we're running a women-centric Websesh soon - click here to find out more!

Stephanie Hanson HexagonStephanie Hanson is OneTrust's Offering Manager, and an all-round tech expert. From product development, client service, to sales engineering experience, Steph's got it covered. And with a degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, she's not messing around either. She's the One we Trust (sorry, that's a terrible pun).

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Promote transparency and privacy for marketers.

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Different tech stacks everywhere! Distributed and varied tech stacks – nobody has the same stack there are so many tools out there.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Always find clarity in complex situations in changing tides. Don’t be thrown off by the changing landscape. Focus on the solutions instead of the problem.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

Of course, my number one mentor is my cousin who works in marketing. She’s been a big mentor to me in my life. She is one of the people I consult when making a major decision in many aspects of my life but especially professionally. Another mentor in my life has been my mom. She was the breadwinner and ran her own business and as a young girl I got to watch her achieve so much. I learned from her that anything is possible.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

People will be more selective with live events and engagement Small video squares are here to stay. In the short term there will be a drive to see people face to face but in the long term I think we will stick with remote working. Covid-19 spill over into martech, ordering off menus off of QR codes. People will want to understand how the data that is being collected from these types of apps is being used.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Yes, I am very much looking forward to being back out and enjoying the outdoors and socialization!

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

Own your failures to make sure you are learning from and understanding that growth is a process. Focus more being growth minded and moving forward with grace. Failure is inevitable but how you handle it is what is important. Keep growth minded statements and affirmations and use those as a reminder – remind yourself it’s good to feel uncomfortable.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Don’t be hesitant to work across teams and departments that exposure to different processes and business functions will give you a lot of insight into how to scale. There isn’t a lot of value in staying in one place too long. By moving around you learn so much more.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Carla Harris from Morgan Stanely. She is from a different industry but has done a great job making her mark on the industry. She brings so much of who she is into her work. I'd highly recommend reading her book!

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

On the business front I would say upcoming projects include helping our customers scale their consent approach for the new changing web, mobile, and TV landscapes. In my personal life spending time with my daughter.

 

Lauren Patrick Hexagon 2-1VP of Marketing at Curricula, Lauren Patrick is up next! Emerging from the writing pathway (one of us, one of us) Lauren is a top-tier storyteller. She took a shift into the digital marketing world by launching her lifestyle blog PrettySouthern.com, and since then has worked at the forefront of the Atlanta start-up scene! #LovetheSouth #GoDawgs

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Marketing team leader at Curricula

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

The lack of empathy. We can't just wave a magic wand and make stuff happen. Even with automation, it still requires work.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Worry less, work smarter. Also you can't change a person - you can only find their strengths and make them shine.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

I'm blessed to have an amazing community of Wonder Women in Atlanta and in MarTech. There are too many to count, but I'd like to give a shoutout to Ann Handley for always being so nice to everyone. She's a true leader.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

I don't know when - if ever - we'll get back to big conferences like Dreamforce. The hybrid model of virtual + in-person events is here to stay.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Gosh yes. I was chatting with Nicole Wojno Smith of The Revenue Collective, and we both agreed we'd never complain about having to attend a conference again.

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

The Four Agreements is a book that someone shared with me in my early 20s that has helped me exponentially in my career, especially Agreement #2 which says nothing other people say and do is because of you, it's a projection of their own reality. And when you're immune to the actions and opinions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Take those extra design courses. You'll be surprised how often you'll need to produce a graphic on the fly, or design your own webpage.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Kat Cole, Katharine Mobley, Ann Handley, Jill Rowley, Trish Bertuzzi, and Maria Pergolino paved the way for us all in this industry. Big shoutout to Stephanie Kelly at Terminus who showed me how to truly run MarOps.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

At Curricula, we're launching our channel partner program which presents a whole new list of marketing activities that are all very exciting. And for dinner tonight, my husband is making pho in our Instant Pot.

 

Annette Ochoa Hexagon copy

Annette Ochoa, Head of Demand Generation, Lilt. Marketing, Events, Enterprise. Annette is multi-faceted! She's not just a marketing expert, though. Her degree from Santa Clara University, with a degree in Environmental Science, says otherwise! She has volunteered with the National Charity League, and currently acts as a mentor for kids at a local elementary school. 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Source prospects & operationalize the hand-off

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Keeping data clean is very difficult. It involves every person on Sales + Marketing to be aligned, plus multiple tools. Also, the standard tech stack is not set up for ABM, making Marketing Ops more difficult.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

You win a game with base hits, not grand slams.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

Yes, definitely.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

The only thing that has really changed is event strategies (and the associated tools) plus direct mail campaigns + tools.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Travel internationally!

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

Shake it off. You're human. We all make mistakes. You have to keep trying until something works. Also, being ultra organized will do you more favors than a high IQ or years of experience. Be organized. Be methodical.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Keep diving into the deep end. Sometimes you sink, but most the time, you will swim and it will be awesome. Also - content syndication will never convert quickly no matter how many additional steps vendors propose to you. Give it up. Accept that they have to be nurtured.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Bozoma Saint John, CMO at Neflix

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

We are building out a State of Localization report, which is the first of its kind!

Laura Merten Hexagon-1

Laura Merten is Capita's Head of Marketing Technology, with 10+ of amazing experience. CRM, UX, IDM, CDP, B2B, IPASS, BI, GDPR...Laura is an acronym aficionado. Rising to Head of Marketing Tech at Capita in just a year, there's no stopping her! She's also a self-described "all-round martech and data nerd". That's why we love her here at Martech Alliance!

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Maintain and Develop end-to-end martech stack & dataflow

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Under resourced to cover all areas of Martech well. Lack of understanding/appreciation for time for implementation of new tech and areas such as change, adoption etc. Tech being purchased outside of the martech team which then is not complimentary to the rest of the tech stack.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Get shit done.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

My last programme director was amazing in leading us, inspiring us and supporting us in all aspects!

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

I think as the markets pick up budgets begin to bounce back we will see another surge in digital transformations with a greater emphasis on digital commerce and data led decisioning. CDPs and DMPs will continue to be key.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Can't wait to get back into an office! A lot of projects have been challenging in this remote world, especially when in the discovery and design phase - digital whiteboards and zooms can't replicate being in person.

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

The best lessons I have learnt are from failing - these are what shaped both the way I manage and work with people as well as the way in which I have approached projects. It is important to reflect on what you did and what you could have done differently. Most importantly it is important to let go of those things that are out of your control.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Read more, surround yourself with different types of people with different expertise.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

CDP Implementation, End to end digital commerce roll out, Sushi Samba, Cocktails on the Amalfi coast, buy a house in Spain.

Nikki Raber Hexagon 2-1

Nikki Raber is the Sr. Demand Generation Manager @ Integrate, and a rising star in the marketing world. From Media Buying, to Digital Strategy, to Digital Marketing, Nikki has done it all. She's skilled at deploying revenue-driving tactics, SEO, Digital strategy, CPL, and much much more (At this point I need her to have FEWER skills, so that this bio doesn't reach 4 pages long). Full-funnel AND Fully-rounded!

 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Drive qualified buying interest.

 

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

The jargon! Can we get the English translation please?

 

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

It doesn't ALWAYS fit, but 90% of the time "done is better than perfect" applies (especially when you're a bit of a perfectionist to start with).

 

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

My mom has told me from day 1 that I'm capable of excelling at anything I put my mind to. I'm drawn to anyone with that same "can do" attitude. I've been lucky enough to have had many female leaders along my career, some that immediately come to mind that have poured into my growth and supported me: Leslie Dement (Managing Director at Tailwind), Kate Athmer (VP Growth at Bombora) and my current boss Stephanie Swinyer (Head of Revenue Marketing at Integrate). Without the direction, advice, and trust from these women, I would not be the marketer I am today! I'm so thankful.

 

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

I think buyers and sellers alike are experiencing a degree of enlightenment during this period. We're seeing the faults in relying too heavily on specific channels, technology, and systems and learning that we need to be set up to pivot quickly, not just in a pandemic, but in a future that will require adaptability and innovation. I think the martech companies that will flourish are those investing in technology an in their own product to enable agile strategy shifts and a connected ecosystem.

 

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

I'm ready to get back in the world! I'm ready to see if any of my social skills are still intact a year later.

 

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

Take every failure or difficulty as a lesson learned. You will bring that lesson with you into your next chapter and be better because of it. So much of the time working in martech, we're literally getting paid to learn and apply our learnings. Hopefully there will never be a day where things won't be difficult or have the potential of failure because that day will mean we're no longer challenging ourselves or taking risks.

 

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

I'd tell my younger self to keep asking questions and offering to help others whenever given the chance. By helping and listening you're growing your own skills and perspective and it will always make you better.

 

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

I'm inspired by all women working in martech. In an industry traditionally dominated by males, the women who have persisted and paved the way for young women to rise in this career path is hugely inspiring. Marketing is an art that requires intuition, emotional intelligence, empathy, and creativity - attributes that are so evident and inherent in the women in the martech community.

 

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

In the near future in my role, I'm looking forward to amplifying voices, experiences, and advice to marketers working in demand generation seeking to take their channel strategy and execution to new heights. For dinner later....hey! maybe there will be an ubereats incentive to participate - you're getting me thinking with this question!

 

 

Emily Ann Kolvitz HexagonEmily Ann Kolvitz, Content Manager, is head of content strategy at Bynder! In the past she has also worked as a digital asset manager for JCPenny and, in a very Indiana Jones twist, as a project archivist at the Oklahoma Historical Society. Throwing axes, and riding motorbikes, in her spare time, she's one fedora away from the real deal. 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Crafter of copy and content

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Spending time on manual tasks like copying and pasting copy into our CMS or spending time manually pulling reports. I'm energized by creative tasks and mostly by writing, so spending time on manual or repetitive tasks drain my energy completely.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

It's more of a shared mantra with family and friends: "Always be clutchin'" Which means always go for the win/the kill shot in competitive axe throwing.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

My former boss who was VP of brand and comms at Bynder. My mother. My colleagues. I think there's always women along the way that leave you thinking why didn't you do more to encourage and mentor others? I can think of a few women who I was eager for mentorship from who were working in martech who wouldn't give me the time of day. I think that's a shame and we should all do more to be supportive of other women - especially if they are explicitly seeking mentorship.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

More authentic, more humane behavior. Have you noticed it's easier to have a real conversation with people these days? It's like COVID took away inhibition about being vulnerable.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Travel. I really miss traveling - seeing my colleagues from other offices, visiting new places, having new experiences, trying new foods in new countries. As a mom, and also as a mom that was working at home pre-covid, I found that it was hard for me to keep my sense of self as I had previously. The line between mommy and Emily definitely blurred in a way that made things feel unmanageable. I need me time. I miss going to the commercial gym, putting my headphones in, and just focusing on me for an hour. I have space to work out at home but it's not the same experience.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

To be yourself to the fullest. Not everyone is going to like you and that's cool. In the words of Dave Skylark, "They hate us, cause they ain't us." or "They're peanut butter and jealous." It might give you a laugh, but more importantly, remind you of who you are.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

The women I work with. My sister. My mother. My mother-in-law.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

Scale our localization of content, launch a new campaign, eat something vegan (Tired of the what's for dinner question - try a new diet and get a magazine of recipes!)

Flavilla Fongang Hexagon 2

Flavilla Fongang is a brand strategist, author, international keynote speaker, and founder of TLA. Oh, AND CEO of 3 Colours Rule! She's the ultimate multi-multi-hyphenate. Described as having an "innate understanding of what makes a brand great, as opposed to merely good", she knows what she's talking about. 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

CEO of 3 Colours Rule

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Intuitive marketing

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Be grateful every day

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

So many: Ellie Hale from the collective, Deborah Womack from Deloitte, Cynthia Davies from BAME Recruitment and my mother of course.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

Can't wait to give hugs but might have to wait

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

I look forward to travel

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

Everyone makes mistakes. Don't take anything personally, be a better you tomorrow.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

You are lucky, remember? So don't worry

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Roni Savage

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

Creating a book about Black Women stories that haven't been told so young black girls can feel inspired

 

Christine-Bailey Hexagon 2-1Elsa Coleaux, Marketing Technology Lead at Treatwell, and all round martech master. She speaks four languages; German, English, Spanish and French, so she can rock it in pretty much half of Europe. Previously, she's worked for TripAdvisor, and Secret Escapes, providing expertise and optimisation across the board. Her colleagues describe her as "c'est un véritable moteur dans une équipe de travail. Ce fut un plaisir de travailler avec elle au sein de Dynam'hit webradio", which translates as: She's great!

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Understand, Connect, Build, Test & Measure

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Cross teamwork requires political agility. Not easy every day!

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Listen to your gut.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

I've been supported by incredible women (as well as men) and I'm thankful for the trust and the support I received.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

Martech is becoming more and more important with the third party cookies disappearance coming soon, iOS 14 restriction on tracking, and new behaviors and shopping habits post covid. Not only Martech but Marketing teams will need to be more technical in the near future to innovate and spend efficiently.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

I can't wait to be back out. I miss gigs, weekend trips, gym classes & pubs!

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

- Take time to acknowledge that things are not always easy. - Breathe, take a break if you need to. - Learn from failures and difficulties. What should I have done differently? - Start again.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Be curious and never stop learning.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

it's a secret. For dinner, I'll have a Deliveroo ;-)

 

Jessica Kao HexagonJessica Kao is the Director of Client Strategy at Digital Pi, an Adobe Fearless 50 Marketer, a Marketo Champion of the Year, a Marketo User Group Leader of the Year, AND a 6X Marketo Champion. And breathe. After all that, you'll not be entirely surprised she's got a PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford! She's like a one-stop-shop for any fix you may need, digital or biological. 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Martech data plumber accelerating growth

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

People who buy shiny new martech and mops tools with zero strategy or forethought on how to use it.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Plumbing is Sexy. #mops How bad can it be?

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

YESSSS. So many powerful women CMO have mentored me along the way. Heidi Bullock CMO of Telium, Engagio. VP of marketing at Marketo. Mika Yamamoto - CMO at F5 previous president of Marketo

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

As a women and a mother of two young kids, Covid opened up a ton of possibilities. We don't have to hide the fact that we are moms and martech leaders. The blending of work and home is here to stay. We bring our whole selves to work. When interviewing we can talk about our personal lives and its not something that we have to hide from or be ashamed of.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Can't wait to go to Hawaii for vacation with the family. But also, getting back out at conferences and the keynote mainstage to inspire people in person rather from my home office in a square box.

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

Even the most successful women face rejection and failures. I learn the most from the most difficult projects or stumbles. Be proud and wear them like a badge of honor. Those are the stories that will take you far.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

There's no reason to hold myself back. The self doubt, the chatter in my head that told myself that I wasn't good enough, aiming low doesn't have to be that way. You might have never done something before, but that doesn't mean you can't figure it out. Because you can. You already have what it takes to figure something out even if you haven't done it before. The most important thing is you know how to ask questions. You know how to seek the answer and that's the most important thing.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Aside from my mentors above. The CMO of Netflix. Really strong female leaders who demand an equal voice.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

I'm starting a new gig as Senior Director of Enterprise Demand Operations. For the first time I'm trying something I haven't done before and after applying to 20 jobs and interviewing at 12 and landing 5 offers, i have some how gotten this confidence that wasn't there 2 months ago. And we are having mac and cheese or cereal.

 

Andy Caron Hexagon-1

Andy Caron is Marketo Mad. Revenue Pulse's Head of Martech Consulting has been deeply ingrained in the Marketo community since 2012, and has been at the forefront of its evolution! From marketing, to automation, to public speaking, to training, Andy has the answers. She also volunteers for PAWS, which is (sorry) paw-some. 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Oversee consultants in Marketo/Bizible

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

Tech with no oversight. Companies plug in new tools like they're magic and then don't think about the impact of internal management, integration, and maintenance. Tech isn't magic, and overuse or over-stacking your tech can cause more problems than it solves.

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Don't ask... don't get.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

Absolutely. I had a CMO years ago who showed me what a holistic marketing strategy actually looked like and helped to shape me as a marketer and a leader. I think about her often when I'm digging in on new brands. I've also had a lot of peer support from more women than I can count, and I've prioritized mentoring as well as a way to help others as they rise in my wake.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

Digital has become the necessary focus, and I expect that a lot of the companies that have boomed during this period may have a mini-crash when the market self-adjusts with the shift.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

See family/travel and try to find a way to unplug and decompress after such a crazy time.

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

If you never fail, you never learn anything. I always remind people that if they're not confused by something, it means they're not learning new things, and if they're not failing then they're not pushing themselves.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Know your worth and don't accept less, or let others set your value for you.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Other than literally every working mom who has survived this period, I'm really inspired by Marissa Mayer. Her transparency around motherhood and the priority it takes in her life and work I think has really helped the effort toward being a whole person, and woman at work.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

I'm working toward a larger leadership role in my company and I'm planning on making cauliflower gnocchi for dinner.

 

MicrosoftTeams-image (1)-1Brooke Bartos is the Senior Manager for Marketing Operations at Walker Sands Communications, is a 4x Marketo Champion, a Fearless 50 Marketer, AND part of the 25 Women to Watch in Marketing Ops. That's QUITE the resume. Using her expertise in marketing automation, strategic planning, and analytics, she has worked previously for Misumi USA, and as an independent contractor. She also volunteers as a Person Shopper for the Glass Slipper Project, which helps underprivileged high school girls attend their proms. A real life fairy Godmother! 

Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?

Marketing automation architect and consultant

What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!

The absence of any understanding of data capture or attribution in many of the systems I've inherited, and how clients still think they can wave a magic wand and have closed loop multi-touch attribution overnight!

It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?

Failure is a learning opportunity to grow stronger.

Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?

1000%! I wouldn't be where I am today without women championing me and being my biggest cheerleaders along the way.

How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.

Getting more respect than we had before! I feel that organizations now more than ever are seeing the importance of martech, and in having it work well, driving a thriving talent market.

What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?

Get me out of here! Seriously though, I love to travel and I'm very family oriented, so those two things have both been lacking for me and are at the top of my list, as soon as I can!

Do you have any advice for bouncing back from failure or difficulties, especially for young women within the industry?

Failure or hard feedback can often be difficult because of the emotional response they can evoke. If you can separate out the disappointment and upset, look for what lessons you can learn from it. Ask for actionable feedback. Take what information you can gain and use it to grow, that feedback can be an asset to you in the future.

What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?

Identify mentors as soon as possible. People to learn from and who are willing to share their knowledge are the best way to learn real life scenarios and use cases that documentation can't teach.

Who are the professional women that really inspire you?

Women who have succeeded despite every opportunity to fail. There's something in the core fiber of their beings that just won't quit, won't settle for the easy road.

What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?

The existential question here! I've got some really exciting projects around overhauling lead nurturing, and I'm pursuing an executive certificate in Customer Experience. I've also been dedicating time to coach other women on career goals and personal brand building, which has been tremendously fulfilling. For dinner tonight, I have pasta and walnut pesto sent to me by a friend in Italy that I can't wait to dive into!

Click here to sign up for our Women in MarTech Web Sesh, to find out more about women in the industry! AND if you want to hear from more the incredible women in martech, check out #MarTechFest Dial up!

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