Get new binoculars.

The benefits of changing career paths.

“Get back into Marketing as soon as you can.”

I still remember the feeling in my stomach when Mark Ritson said this to me after I introduced myself. This was quite a proud moment for me, as I have been a fan of the colorful Professor Ritson for some time. I was keen to say hello in person and may have in fact bolted to the stage as soon as he finished presenting. But after I told him I had made the move out of a long career in brand marketing into insights, he punched me in the guts with that comment. I shouldn’t have been surprised; it’s not the first time I’ve heard this.

In 2018, having worked quite happily in Marketing for a number of years, I had two roles on the table. One in Marketing and one in Insights, with one of the biggest confectionery companies in the world, Mars Wrigley. I grappled with the decision for a few weeks (and drove my husband crazy). ‘What if I don’t like it?’ ‘I’m not a researcher!’ ‘Will Marketing let me back in?’

There is a certain loyalty that comes with establishing yourself in a specific field.

It was the best career decision I’ve made.

You’ll often hear about companies, particularly large ones, encouraging their future leaders to gain experience from different functions. Often your VPs and CEOs will have worked across a mix of Supply Chain, Marketing, R&D, Sales. I still remember hearing stories when I started at Mars that the family themselves worked in our factories. Hands on experience across multiple fields and a broader perspective of how different functions of the business work together is invaluable. So why was I getting quizzical looks when I joined Insights.

There is a certain loyalty that comes with establishing yourself in a specific field. The longer you’re in it, the more you can boast that you’re an expert researcher, a sales specialist, a seasoned marketer. Often it means you’ve seen it all.  

So do you need to change teams to stretch yourself and gain broader perspective? No. It was only once I joined Insights that I realized my years in marketing were not linear nor traditional. And each time I moved into a new role or new business I discovered something different: a new area I was interested in, a new way the business interconnected, a new gap in our growth opportunities, a new set of internal mentors and external inspirations.

For example, Amy Webb.

I’m now in Foresight, having made another small shift to the side of Insights. Foresight is a particularly powerful part of the business to be in if you get excited about strategy and perspective. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with some of the most brilliant minds across a multitude of industries and specialties; brainy neuroscientists, creative futurists, brave start up founders, seasoned General Managers, hustling podcasters …

Most recently I connected with a small business owner, which led to two further connections, and ultimately to me discovering Amy Webb’s book The Signals are Talking.

It was a mind blowing moment that reminded me how many insightful and intelligent minds I have met, learnt about or learnt from having joined Foresight.

So what?

Finding Amy’s book and exploring her take on Foresight inspired me to write this article. It was a mind blowing moment that reminded me how many insightful and intelligent minds I have met, learnt about or learnt from having joined Foresight. And that’s only three months in. Just like the binoculars on the cover of the book, I’m now seeing so much I otherwise would have missed.

Depending on what stage you’re in right now you may read this article with a different view. If you’re a start up you might think my risks jumping roles have been nothing. If you’re out of a job because of COVID-19 you might think me indulgent. If you work for a small company you may think moving around large ones holds a safety net. And I wouldn’t disagree with any of that. But then again, you may be reading this having worked most of your life in one field, or with one organization, following a fairly linear path and curiously wondering about another. And to you I say grab those binoculars. There are many paths to success, and each path holds a plethora of inspiration.