We are launching our new series of CMO Spotlight interviews with this one fromåÊStephanie Anderson, SVP, CMO for Commercial Services at Time Warner Cable, New York Chapter President at The CMO Club, and all around great person. The CMO Spotlight series will feature insights on life, career, and achievingåÊpersonal and professional success from our incredible CMO Club members.åÊEnjoy!
1. What was your first (or favorite) job youÛªve had?
One of my favorite jobs was Chief of Staff and Operations for Avaya Global Services. It was an incredible job that centered largely on operations, performance and aligning results of various cross-business functions. I reported to an officer of the company who was truly adored and well-respected. I remember receiving a phone call at 11:00pm at home one night saying that he was looking for the perfect fit for this role to run what he called his ÛÏcabinetÛ of leaders, managing our IBEW and CWA relations, orchestrating global communications and market visits, and running our customer relations. I left a high-level sales leadership job (which is also why I was a desired candidate since we were renewing hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of maintenance and service contracts) to take the role and learned more, worked harder and felt smarter than ever!åÊ Oh, and had lots of fun along the way.
2. What are the three most important components for your personal and professional success:
I always say if youåÊ do the right thing for the right reason, you will get the right result ÛÒ a motto I live by. Also, Be trustworthy, Be Real, Be Factual.
3. Name an “inflection point” experience that prepared you for your current position as a marketing executive.
Being in a start-up that didnÛªt Û÷start upÛª ÛÒ school of hard knocks.
4. What characteristics do you value most when hiring new marketing talent for your team?
I like marketers who know more than marketing.åÊ Most of my leadership ÛÒ GVPs, VPs – have had sales or sales leadership roles and can communicate well across the buyer’s journey. I also expect all of my people to be excellent presenters, storytellers, communicators ÛÒ at all levels.
5. What piece of technology are you looking forward to using or implementing for your brand?
We have been implementing Eloqua 10 for a while now and are starting to see some real benefits. On the sales support side we have rolled out ÛÏGoSocialÛ; a tool that allows our sales people to socially share information that we have vetted and that provides insightful information to the business segments we serve.
6. Which book would you recommend to your fellow CMOs right now?
Well, for fun, I just finished Rob LoweÛªs second book ÛÏLove LifeÛ and it was as enjoyable as his first, ÛÏStories I Only Tell my Friends: An AutobiographyÛ.åÊ Work related, my all-time favorite book is ÛÏThe Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate AmericaÛ by David Whyte. It is about the value of a culture that has people who bring their ÛÏwhole-selves to the jobÛ and the understanding of EQ and IQ.åÊ ItÛªs an oldie, but a goodie!
7. Name one CMO whoåÊimpresses you today and tell us why.åÊ
I am bad at this as I donÛªt really aspire to be a CMO at this point. I aspire to be a CEO so I would say Ginni Rometty.
8. Do you have a personal mantra, words of wisdom or favorite inspirational quote?
ÛÏDonÛªt be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreamsÛ ÛÒ Ralph Waldo Emerson. And, Deepak Chopra, ÛÏThe past is history, the future a mystery, and this moment in time is a gift, that is why we call it the presentÛ.
Note: Under Stephanie’s leadership, the Time Warner Cable Business Class team recently wonåÊan award for ÛÏBest Marketing ÛÒ WorldwideÛ during the MEF 2015 Excellence Awards Dinner in Dallas, Texas. Read more about the award here.åÊ
