3 Unusual Ways to Start a Career in Marketing

One of the unique things about a career in marketing is there’s no right path to success. Even the definition of success is up to you. So we compiled guests from the Marketing For The Now series who are living proof that if marketing’s your passion, there are countless ways to get there. From national champions to chance encounters, here are just a few of these leaders’ unconventional paths to success.

How did you find success in marketing?

Musa Tariq (Advisor, Masterclass): “That’s a great question. [At first], I was adamant I wanted to be a banker. I was growing up in London, I wanted to drive a fast car…unfortunately, halfway through university I lost both my parents. I had to pivot. [Later], I met someone who told me to do something I love with my life, and I would do well. I loved marketing, but there was no one for me to talk to about it. LinkedIn wasn’t around and Facebook had only just started and there was no way to connect with people. 

It was really, really hard. It only happened because one individual who worked in marketing happened to sit next to me while I was in a restaurant. We randomly started talking, and he sort of guided me [into that world]. His name was Michael Inpong and he’s a marketing director in the UK. [Our connection] was as random as him sitting next to me in a restaurant.

I once heard a story: luck is chance versus opportunity. If you don’t put yourself in [ideal] situations, the opportunity will never present itself.

Can you talk about your non-traditional path to marketing? 

Jen Sey (CMO of Global Brands, Levi Strauss&Co.) : Haha, well I’ve certainly had an unusual childhood; I was an elite gymnast. At five years old, with an unnatural combination of discipline, commitment, and a degree of talent I got [on the national team]. I was there for eight years and I was the national champion in 1986. I wrote a book about my experiences and was featured in the Netflix documentary, Athlete A. 

A national championship? You must have been on top of the world.

Jen: Unfortunately, despite my success, I left the sport pretty emotionally broken. There’s a culture of coaching cruelty that, I would say, is pretty dominant in the sport. Not every coach practices it, but it’s way way too common.

So, what drew you to make the switch to marketing?

Jen: It was challenging. I went to college to figure my shit out, [which is hard] when you’ve spent the part of your childhood being told you’re garbage. You [eventually] begin to think you’re garbage. I kind of didn’t know who I was without [gymnastics]. 

What I love about marketing, specifically branding, is that it intersects art with science. Data analytics and gut perspective [intertwine]. You’re able to understand how the content can connect to the broader culture. I am competitive, I want to “win” in the market. But, I [truly] enjoy being a part of a team.

I avoided sports after gymnastics. [Now], I learned to manage my competitiveness and work for an awesome brand. 

What was your path to a career in marketing, Thomas?

Thomas Ranese (VP of Global Marketing, Uber): [Actually], I had a pretty unconventional past. I often wonder how I got into marketing…what am I doing here? When I was a kid I wanted to be an actor. 

How did you make the switch?

Thomas: I spent a lot of time working in policy and government. Soon, I became the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) for the state of New York. Then, I went to the dark side — I started working for [big marketing agencies and financial firms]. You learn from those hardcore institutions that you can do anything if you break a problem down to its pieces. Those were some of the most painful years of my life but also some of the most incredible learning experiences. 

What do you enjoy the most about marketing?

Thomas: I admire the process so much. [Balancing] humanity with clear and measurable business results. It’s like how you can break down [and study] the process of basketball [even though] not everybody is going to be Lebron James, you can still be pretty good. You get to redefine the roles of businesses and brands in the community, society, and policy. It’s true, businesses and brands can play a strong role in positive change. 

That’s all for now, Vaynernation. If you liked this post, be sure to share it on Twitter with the #MarketingForTheNow.