Interview With A Marketer: Jacqueline Grossman – Director, Marketing at Thomas Cook North America

Curated By MTI Staff on March 18, 2013

have you ever wondered what skills the head of a marketing department looks for when hiring or where marketing leaders turn to for the latest industry trends?

Interview with a Marketer is a featured blog series brought you by Marketing Talent Inc. to provide current and prospective marketers with career insights from passionate marketing leaders. We ask them direct questions related to their career & personal life – giving you an inside perspective to the lives of successful marketing leaders.

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1. Have you always been a marketer? If not, please explain a little about your career transition.

Although I received my University degree in marketing, when I graduated it was a tough job market so I settled for a job in sales with aspirations of eventually moving into a marketing role. I was 100% on commission and literally knocking on doors flogging telecomm services. Although working in sales was not my cup of tea I was pretty good at it, mostly out of fear of not making my quota and it laid the groundwork for my style which has always been very sales focused, accessible to the field and ROI driven.

2. Within the next few years, what skill(s) are you seeing an increased demand for within your marketing department?

The 4 D’s – Digital, Data, Decision Making & Dynamic. The marketing mix in the last few years has drastically changed. The 4 P’s and marketing fundamentals like brand, strategy and segmentation are still there but the ability to use digital marketing and data to drive decisions, personalize, measure and be responsive to market conditions is key. Don’t rule out core competencies like leadership, critical thinking and creative skills, marketing driven organizations will continue to value these skills well into the future.

3. Do you have any creative outlets outside of your day job?

Time is a rare commodity for me these days but when I do have downtime, my favourite pastime is gardening. Not sure I am that good at it but its a great outlet and I feel a sense of pride whenever something grows back the following year. 🙂

4. Are you a dedicated reader of any blogs? Podcasts?

Can’t start my day without reading Seth Godin’s daily blog. The guy is a genius and marketing pioneer. I also read Marketing Mag daily to keep abreast of what’s going on in Canadian marketing industry. If I can find time (which is rare unless I am on vacation) I try to squeeze in a Ted Talk.

5. And we have to ask…What is your favourite travel destination?

I’d have to say of all the places I have been to, Greece has been the most breathtaking, Israel the most cultural but truthfully, I just got back from Mexico with my family and as a Mom of two kids under 5, nothing beats Azul Beach for family fun, great food & service and R&R – it’s truly the most relaxing vacation I’ve had since the kids were born.