Elevating your Marketing Career.

A new “Fireside Chat Over Lunch” series recently featured valuable insights from Shannon Urie, Director of Marketing for the National Arts Centre. Attendees brought their top questions to Shannon, who shared actionable advice to help grow, overcome challenges, and prepare for a leadership role in marketing. Here are the key takeaways from that chat.

Staying Effective as a One-Person Marketing Team

For those working solo in nonprofits or small organizations, keeping up with trends while empowering a team on a tight budget is a challenge. Here are some ways Shannon offered to address that.

• Leverage free resources. Explore webinars, research reports, and association memberships (e.g., arts and culture organizations or the Canadian Marketing Association). Many offer scholarships for conferences and training.
• Curate knowledge. Subscribe to newsletters, listen to podcasts, and read industry updates.
• Build time for self-development. Dedicate specific times, like Friday afternoons, for professional growth to stay sharp without overwhelming your schedule.

Staying Relevant in the Corporate Marketing World

Navigating the corporate landscape requires a mix of strategic thinking and soft skills. Key advice included:

• Take initiative. Solve problems and present solutions proactively.
• Stay visible. Be a catalyst in your organization by offering recommendations and leading with impact.
• Keep learning. Update your skills in technology and leadership to remain competitive.
• Adaptability is key. Be flexible and open to change while staying true to your values.

Skills for Advancing to a Director Role

For those ready to climb the corporate ladder, these three skill sets are non-negotiable.

• Strategic thinking. Volunteer for projects involving large-scale strategy to fully understand it. Offer to take the first draft or be the note-taker to understand the process.
• People leadership. Manage interns or small teams to gain leadership experience. Consider leadership development courses.
• Business acumen. Develop an understanding of the financials and business strategy, which are crucial at higher levels.

Pro Tip – Don’t wait for opportunities—seek them out. Shadow senior leaders, take initiative, and step outside your comfort zone.

Habits for Success in Leadership

The day-to-day life of a Marketing Director is rarely routine, but Shannon shared these habits that can make a difference,

• Values-centered leadership. Stay true to who you are and lead authentically.
• Effective decision-making. Build confidence in making tough calls.
• Compartmentalization. Separate work from personal life to maintain balance and avoid burning out.

Overcoming Challenges in Leadership

Challenges in leadership are inevitable. Here’s what Shannon suggested on how to best tackle them. 

• Prioritization. Constantly evaluate what’s most important and align resources accordingly.
• Empathy. Understand and support your team but set boundaries to avoid taking on stress.
• Change management. Communicate effectively to bring stakeholders on board with new ideas or processes.

How to Prepare for a Director Role

Every career path is unique, but there are common threads for success based on her own journey.

• Early experiences. Focus on getting the best foundational experience. A strong start can fast-track your development.
• Progressive responsibility. Take on more responsibilities with each role to build a portfolio of accomplishments.
• Bold moves. Apply for roles even if you don’t check every box. Stretch opportunities to accelerate growth.
• Sector transitions. Changing industries may require a temporary step back, but persistence and adaptability pay off.

The journey to becoming a Marketing Director isn’t linear, but it is rewarding for those who embrace learning, take initiative, and build both technical and leadership skills. Whether you’re managing a nonprofit team or aiming for a corporate director role, the advice from Shannon on this Fireside Chat over lunch was a great discussion and roadmap for success.

Learn more about Virtual Fireside Chats Over Lunch – It’s free for Ottawa-based marketing coordinators and managers!