Becoming a Successful Leader Within The Marketing and Communications Industry
Marketing & Communications Leader Series Eepisode.1: Bee Patel
We are pleased to be launching EMR's Marketing and Communications Leader Series. In this podcast, we dive deep into the journeys of exceptional senior marketing and communication practitioners. Join us as we take a closer look as to how they got started in marketing and the strategies that led them to success in their industries.
To kick off the series, EMR's MD Tom Brockton interviews Bee Patel, who currently holds the position of the Global Director of Brand & Communications at AlphaSights. Find out more about Bee's path to success and gain invaluable advice for navigating a career in marketing and communications.
Crafting your path to a successful career in marketing
Starting from scratch, Bee learned the basics of website development and content creation. She then transitioned into a role within a large technology organisation and continued to ascend the ranks, accumulating a wealth of experience encompassing event management, demand generation, and strategic leadership.
How to approach decision-making and strategy in a marketing role?
When crafting a marketing strategy, it’s crucial to understand the business strategy, including the business goals and objectives, and the strategic direction that the organisation is taking.
Understanding "the why" helps me to bring in the team, get that buy-in from my team in terms of the marketing goals and strategy that we set.
Once we have clear goals and vision, it’s important to revisit previous campaigns to see what has worked well in the past and what hasn’t. We also need to look at our competition and what they are doing, which will help benchmark but also potentially identify any gaps. And last, but not least, we need to have a good understanding of the available resources and platforms, and the expertise within our team.
Key skills and experience required for a successful marketing career
Bee emphasises the significance of empathy and persuasive communication. These skills can help us foster meaningful connections with both internal stakeholders, but also with clients.
Whether you're in sales or marketing, being an active listener will help you really get to know your target audience; like what are they feeling and what's important to them, and then what pain points are you trying to solve for them.
Aspiring marketing and communications professionals need to hone their writing skills, particularly in crafting concise and impactful messaging.
By prioritising empathy, communication, and adaptability, individuals can position themselves for success in the competitive industry of marketing and communications.
We're in that world where change is all around us. So it's just having a wits about you, being curious and embracing that the fact that change is going to continue as we progress.
Learning to navigate boardroom dynamics
Communicating effectively with non-marketing stakeholders, such as board members, requires speaking their language and presenting ideas at a macro level. Explain how a marketing activity is going to help the business.
So a good example would be, and it's one that I've used quite often is rather than talking about PR or media relations, talk about the corporate reputation, the business reputation as an example. And suddenly you've got ears perking up around the room.
The devil is in the details. Go to a boardroom meeting armed with all the data and every granular detail possible around a particular project, but present at macro level. This will allow you to give the details when asked and help build your credibility in the room.
Another great tip is to never go with just a single idea as business decision-makers, at senior board level like to have options.
By translating marketing initiatives into tangible business outcomes and demonstrating flexibility in response to feedback, marketing professionals can foster trust and collaboration at all levels of an organisation.
Balancing work and personal life
Outside the office, Bee is a devoted mother of two. She shares a framework for achieving balance between her personal life and her marketing career. It's the three P's: prioritising, planning and preparing.
So ensure that you are prioritising everything that you are doing day and night, whether that's personally or professionally, and then planning in that order. So work out what the five things that you need to get done today or this week and then plan whether it's using your diary time blocking, whatever works for you, make sure you plan them in to get them done. And then finally is prepare for the unknown because it will occur, whether that's at work or whether that's your son forgetting his homework or having a sports day, prepare for the unknown.
Advice for aspiring marketing or communications leaders
Whether you’re an aspiring head or director of marketing and communications, or young professional at the start of your career, Bee offers the following advice:
- Study the core principles of marketing and communications
- Hone your persuasion and negotiation skills
- Work on your personal brand
- Take pride in everything you do
Listen to the full interview with Bee Patel above and follow EMR on LinkedIn to hear the next episode in this series.
Let EMR help you with your executive search and recruitment
Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out EMR’s Senior Appointments resources or browse our senior vacancies.
Alternatively, find out more about EMR’s senior and executive search recruitment expertise across marketing, digital and communications.
Whether you’re an aspiring head or director of marketing and communications, or young professional at the start of your career, Bee offers the following advice:
- Study the core principles of marketing and communications
- Hone your persuasion and negotiation skills
- Work on your personal brand
- Take pride in everything you do
Let EMR help you with your executive search and recruitment
Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out EMR’s Senior Appointments resources or browse our senior vacancies.
Alternatively, find out more about EMR’s senior and executive search recruitment expertise across marketing, digital and communications.
Ready to take your career to the next level? Check out EMR’s Senior Appointments resources or browse our senior vacancies.
Alternatively, find out more about EMR’s senior and executive search recruitment expertise across marketing, digital and communications.
Sign up for more insights
Related jobs
Salary
£400 - £500 per day
Location
England
Job Type
Contract & Interim
Discipline
Brand Marketing
Work From Home
Work From Home
Seniority
Manager
Salary
£500 - £749
Country
United Kingdom
Sector
Professional Services
Description
Brand Project Manager needed for a 9-month contract with a global professional services firm
Reference
CR/132486_1714572853
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Sam BrimbleAuthor
Sam BrimbleSalary
Up to £45400 per annum + + Benefits
Location
London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Content
Seniority
Manager
Salary
£45,000 - £59,999
Sector
Charity & Not-For-Profit
City
London
Description
Become a Content Marketing Manager for a prominent animal charity, collaborating closely with the marketing and communications team.
Reference
PR/ 1324375_1714486205
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Shanelle GreenAuthor
Shanelle GreenSalary
£45000 - £55000 per annum + 20% Bonus + Benefits
Location
City of London, London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Marketing (general)
Seniority
Manager
Salary
£45,000 - £59,999
Sector
Financial Services
City
London
Description
Event Manager
Reference
RPP_1714477382
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Ronak PatelAuthor
Ronak PatelSalary
£30000 - £35000 per annum
Location
London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Social Media
Work From Home
Work From Home
Seniority
Executive
Salary
£30,000 - £44,999
Sector
FMCG & Consumer Services
City
London
Description
Social Media Manager for a fast-growing hair and skincare brand known for premium quality products that are affordable.
Reference
PR/132484_1714400129
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Amy McCrowAuthor
Amy McCrowSalary
£45000 - £55000 per annum + Excellent Bonus + Benefits
Location
City of London, London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Event Marketing
Seniority
Manager
Salary
£45,000 - £59,999
Sector
Financial Services
City
London
Description
Events Manager
Reference
RPJY_1714144213
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Ronak PatelAuthor
Ronak PatelSalary
£28000 - £32000 per annum
Location
London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Marketing (general)
Seniority
Assistant
Salary
£30,000 - £44,999
Sector
Leisure Travel & Sport
City
London
Description
Marketing Assistant for luxury yacht brokerage based in South West London. Reporting directly to the Head of Marketing, this is a key role in supporting the growth of the brand.
Reference
TJB/MA_1714056227
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Amy McCrowAuthor
Amy McCrowSalary
Negotiable
Location
West London, London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Marketing (general)
Seniority
Specialist
Salary
£30,000 - £44,999
Sector
Leisure Travel & Sport
City
London
Description
Based in West London and working within one of the most exciting industries within luxury travel, this role will see you joining as their new Marketing Executive.
Reference
PR/132483_1714036218
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rebekah CrampAuthor
Rebekah CrampSalary
£45000 - £55000 per annum
Location
West London, London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Social Media
Seniority
Manager
Salary
£45,000 - £59,999
Sector
Leisure Travel & Sport
City
London
Description
Based in West London and working within one of the most exciting industries within luxury travel this role will see you reporting to the Marketing Director and join as their new Social Media Manager.
Reference
PR/132482_1713976337
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Rebekah CrampAuthor
Rebekah CrampSalary
£40000 - £50000 per annum
Location
London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Brand Marketing
Marketing (general)
Event Marketing
Work From Home
Work From Home
Seniority
Manager
Salary
£45,000 - £59,999
Sector
Health & Wellbeing
City
London
Description
An established and market-leading talent firm who work within the healthcare industry are seeking a highly skilled Marketing Manager
Reference
PR/132479_1713456470
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Katie Halliday (née Rogers)Author
Katie Halliday (née Rogers)Salary
£35000 - £42000 per annum
Location
City of London, London
Job Type
Permanent
Discipline
Bids & Tenders
Business Development
Marketing (general)
Work From Home
Work From Home
Seniority
Executive
Salary
£30,000 - £44,999
Sector
Business Services
City
London
Description
Our client is a successful, market-leading UK and international law firm who are looking for an ambitious and creative Marketing & Business Development Executive to join the team.
Reference
PR/132480_1713456255
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Katie Halliday (née Rogers)Author
Katie Halliday (née Rogers)Related posts
Teaser
Discipline expertiseContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
In the wake of the global pandemic, the tech industry has embraced change and innovation in the way it operates and manages its workforce. The shift to remote and hybrid work, the acceleration
Teaser
Case StudiesContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
Spotlight: Property GPE is a UK property development and investment company - it mainly owns office buildings, with a smaller amount of retail property. The company invests in and develops cent
by
EMR Recruitment
Teaser
Case StudiesContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
04/18/2024
Summary
Spotlight: B2C Based in Palma, Italy, Barilla is an Italian family-owned food company and the world’s largest pasta producer. Established in 1877, it’s now an international Group present in mor
by
EMR Recruitment
Teaser
Discipline expertiseContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
04/02/2024
Summary
The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way businesses operate and reshaped clients' expectations, emphasising the importance of agility, efficiency, and digital fluency in service delivery. At
Teaser
Discipline expertiseContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
03/08/2024
Summary
Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands have been at the forefront of digital-first innovation in marketing. Traditionally, these brands relied heavily on third-party retailers and marketplaces to reach consu
by
Rebekah Cramp
Teaser
Career adviceContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
01/17/2024
Summary
Welcome back to EMR's Marketing & Communications Leader Series, where we dive deep into the journeys of exceptional senior marketing and communications practitioners. Join us as we take a closer look
Teaser
Career adviceContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
01/12/2024
Summary
There has never been a better time to launch or boost a career in communications. 2022 was an excellent year to invest in communications, and in 2024, it’s even more vital as people want to feel conn
Teaser
Career adviceContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
01/03/2024
Summary
Welcome back to EMR's Marketing and Communications Leader Series, where we dive deep into the journeys of exceptional senior marketing and communications practitioners. Join us as we explore their pat
Teaser
Career adviceContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
11/28/2023
Summary
Welcome back to EMR's Marketing and Communications Leader Series, where we dive deep into the journeys of exceptional senior marketing and communication practitioners. Join us as we take a closer l
Teaser
Salary & Market Trend GuideContent Type
ArticlesPublish date
11/23/2023
Summary
Our Pay Survey 2024 is your opportunity to share your experience of pay and packages within your current sector and the wider industry and join thousands of professionals who contribute to our researc
Recently viewed jobs