Company: Meylah Corporation

Designation: CMO

Can you share the path you followed to reach your current position?

Embarking on an Unconventional Path to Triumph: From early on, my upbringing instilled the expectation that my role would be that of a housewife. Unexpectedly, my journey veered off this conventional trajectory when my husband recognized my untapped potential, urging me to explore new avenues. This atypical course paved the way for a gratifying career, encompassing both corporate ventures and entrepreneurial pursuits.

My unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact has been the driving force behind my achievements. Drawing upon a distinctive blend of expertise in technology, marketing, and business, I spearheaded billion-dollar expansions for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. Simultaneously, I co-founded a cloud-based tech marketing company. Beyond the corporate realm, my dedication to fostering economic growth led to the establishment of Women in Cloud—a community uniting 100,000 members with a shared goal of empowering women in the tech sector.

As a thought leader and sought-after speaker, I’ve had the privilege of presenting at prestigious events such as TEDx, Grace Hopper Celebration, Microsoft Inspire, and even before the United Nations. My passion for creating positive societal impacts extends to the entertainment industry, where I’ve ventured into launching a Movie Fund, expanding my influence further.

In recognition of these endeavors, I’ve received numerous accolades, including the Forbes 1000 Next Entrepreneur, Ideagen Global Leadership Award, Microsoft Women’s Leadership Award, and acknowledgment as one of the top 100 Most Innovative MarTech Leaders by the World Marketing Congress.

As a Chief Marketing Officer, identify the three character traits you believe played a pivotal role in your success.

In my role as a Chief Marketing Officer, I attribute my success to three fundamental character traits: collaborative action, contribution, and curiosity.

Collective Action: Throughout my professional journey, I’ve come to understand the paramount importance of collaborative efforts and cultivating a team-oriented environment. Embracing collective action has allowed me to amalgamate diverse perspectives, talents, and skills, leading to the formulation of innovative marketing strategies and substantial business growth.

Contribution: A core principle guiding my approach is the commitment to making a meaningful contribution in every project and initiative. This dedication to actively contribute has played a pivotal role in my achievements as a CMO.

Curiosity: The driving force behind my continuous professional development has been curiosity. Sustaining a curious and open-minded outlook has empowered me to stay abreast of industry trends, adapt to changes, and identify novel growth opportunities. This thirst for knowledge has provided a profound understanding of our customers, competitors, and market dynamics, shaping our marketing strategies and contributing significantly to our success.

In your perspective, what significance does marketing hold in contributing to the overall success of a company?

As a seasoned marketing professional, my steadfast belief has always been that marketing occupies a central role in driving the overall success of a company. Allow me to share an illustrative tale to underscore this conviction.

In a realm where innovation thrived, there existed a startup armed with a groundbreaking cloud-based event platform poised to reshape its industry. Despite the exceptional product, the company grappled with gaining market traction. It was at this juncture that the power of marketing came into play. The marketing team, which included myself, recognized the imperative to not only navigate but also conquer and cultivate the markets, essential for the triumph of our product and the company at large. Our chosen path was a Cosell-Led Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, a carefully crafted navigation tool for this transformative journey.

As a CMO, I positioned myself as an integral part of the C-Suite office, collaborating closely with other leaders to architect a strategic GTM plan. Our journey commenced with extensive market research, unraveling insights into our target audience, competitors, and industry trends. Armed with this knowledge, we meticulously crafted a compelling brand narrative, showcasing the distinctive value proposition of our product.

In your role as Chief Marketing Officer, what decisions do you consider the most important for guiding your organization?

In my role as the Chief Marketing Officer, I wield the authority to make pivotal decisions that significantly influence the long-term success of our organization. Among these decisions, I place paramount importance on three key pillars: people, planet, and profit.

People: The bedrock of any successful organization lies in its people. As a CMO, my foremost commitment revolves around attracting, retaining, and nurturing top-tier talent within the industry.

Planet: Acknowledging the impact of marketing decisions on the environment, I am dedicated to implementing strategies that uphold environmental responsibility. This involves leveraging digital channels, minimizing waste in our marketing materials, and establishing partnerships with eco-friendly suppliers. By infusing sustainability into our decision-making process, we contribute to a healthier planet while positioning our company as a socially responsible industry leader.

Profit: At the core of organizational success is the ability to generate profit. As a CMO, my responsibility encompasses crafting and executing marketing strategies geared toward revenue growth and bolstering our company’s bottom line. This necessitates data-driven decision-making, identification of new market opportunities, and optimization of marketing initiatives for maximal return on investment. Prioritizing profitability ensures the sustained success and expansion of our organization.

Describe the experience that your clients can expect, and elaborate on how you cultivate and enhance their trust.

As a leader in my industry, my primary objective is to establish myself as a champion and trusted advisor for our clients. I firmly believe in providing our clients with an exceptional experience, ensuring the delivery of world-class Go-To-Market (GTM) solutions that effectively move, win, and nurture their markets. This unwavering commitment to excellence propels my dedication to delivering unmatched service and fostering enduring relationships with our clients.

To fortify the trust factor, I emphasize the importance of leading with people. Central to our approach is the ROCC model, a foundational principle that guides us in cultivating high-trust relationships throughout the journey. When undertaking strategic GTM projects, people consistently take precedence within our ecosystem.

The ROCC model, encapsulating Reliability, Openness, Competence, and Compassion, serves as our beacon for instilling trust with our clients. By consistently embodying these qualities, we create an environment where clients feel assured in our ability to fulfill promises and surpass their expectations.

Reliability: Recognizing the significance of dependability, we prioritize delivering on our commitments. Clients can rely on us to consistently offer unwavering support and provide the highest quality of service.

Openness: We foster open communication and transparency, ensuring clients remain informed and actively engaged in the decision-making process. This commitment to openness builds trust and enables us to better comprehend our clients’ needs and expectations.

Competence: Our team comprises highly skilled professionals who excel in their respective fields. Harnessing our collective expertise, we deliver innovative and effective GTM solutions that yield tangible results for our clients.

Compassion: Every client relationship is approached with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the unique nature of each client’s challenges and goals. We tailor solutions to address their specific needs, fostering a sense of compassion in our interactions.