Ask why before how: A marketing leadership guide

09 Jan
Ask why before how: A marketing leadership guide


How do you balance data with intuition in marketing decisions? Emily Boyce, CM, Senior Director, Marketing and diflucan canadian pharmacy Customer Enablement at Teranet Inc., believes the best marketing leaders balance both to drive confident, informed decisions. Great marketers ask “why” before they ask “how”— because understanding comes before execution.

Reinforcing Credibility

The Chartered Marketer designation elevates marketing to the level of other professional disciplines by setting a recognized standard of excellence, ethics, and accountability. It validates marketing as a strategic business function grounded in data, creativity, and measurable outcomes. In a world where marketing influences every stage of the customer journey, the CM designation reinforces the credibility of those who drive business growth through insight and innovation. It ensures continuous learning, fosters leadership development, and strengthens the collective voice of marketing professionals across Canada.

Inspiration

I’ve always been inspired by the intersection of strategy, creativity, and human behaviour. Early in my career, I realized that marketing is about more than promotion; it’s about understanding people, solving problems, and shaping meaningful connections between organizations and their audiences. I was drawn to the challenge of influencing perception, driving engagement, and delivering impact through clear, authentic storytelling. Seeing how marketing can inspire trust, shift industries, and create value for both customers and companies solidified my passion for this profession.

What Matters

I’ve learned that clarity and focus matter more than volume and speed. Early in my career, I equated productivity with impact; however, I’ve come to understand that strategic alignment and thoughtful prioritization yield more meaningful results. I’ve also learned the importance of cross-functional relationships. Marketing is most effective when it’s embedded throughout the business, rather than operating as a silo. Finally, I’ve learned that data is powerful, but so is intuition; the best marketing leaders know how to balance both to drive confident, informed decisions.

Ask why before how: A marketing leadership guide

Balance

Marketing is one of the few disciplines that must strike a balance between art and mastercard ventolin science. The profession requires constant adaptation to new technologies, evolving customer expectations, and shifting business priorities; all while delivering measurable impact. There’s also the challenge of perception: at times, marketing is seen as a cost centre rather than a strategic growth driver. Building credibility requires translating creative ideas into business outcomes. Marketers must continually evolve their skills, remain agile, and demonstrate that their work drives measurable value throughout the organization.

Stay Connected

I make it a priority to stay connected to people, insights, and emerging technologies. I invest time in continuous learning through professional associations, thought leadership, and peer networks. I follow trends in customer experience, AI, and digital transformation while grounding my knowledge in marketing fundamentals. I also believe in learning from practice: each campaign, partnership, or platform migration offers lessons in agility and innovation. Staying current is about curiosity, embracing change, testing new ideas, and continually seeking smarter ways to create value.

Data-Driven Discipline

When I started, marketing was considered by some as a creative support function focused on awareness. Today, it’s a data-driven discipline at the centre of business strategy. The integration of technology, analytics, and automation has transformed how we understand and engage customers. Marketing is now responsible for influencing the entire customer lifecycle, from acquisition to retention, and demonstrating measurable ROI. The role has become more complex and strategic, requiring marketers to be both storytellers and technologists, striking a balance between creativity, performance, and accountability.

Ask why before how: A marketing leadership guide

Change

One of the biggest challenges has been leading transformation across the teams I have led. Whether it’s introducing new technology platforms, evolving brand strategies, or aligning diverse teams behind a shared vision, getting executive alignment around the value of marketing as a business driver has been key. Change can create uncertainty, and success often depends on communication, trust, and collaboration. I’ve learned to navigate resistance by focusing on clarity of purpose and demonstrating quick wins. Another challenge has been balancing short-term results and long-term brand health. Overcoming this required developing a disciplined, data-informed approach that directly connects marketing performance to business outcomes.

Validation

A defining moment for me was building a large-scale marketing and カマグラを処方箋なしで購入 customer enablement function from scratch uniting sales, technology, and communications under a shared strategic framework. Seeing the organization evolve from campaign execution to customer-centric strategy reinforced my belief in marketing as a growth engine. That experience strengthened my leadership skills and validated the importance of collaboration and vision in driving change. It shaped how I approach every challenge that followed.

Evolution of Personalization

I’m most excited about the continued evolution of personalization through responsible data use and AI. The potential to create more meaningful, relevant customer experiences, while respecting privacy and ethics, represents the next frontier of marketing excellence. Generative AI is transforming how we craft content, test creative, and optimize engagement, allowing marketers to focus more on strategy and insight. The intersection of technology and humanity is where the most compelling innovation will happen; where data meets empathy to deliver value that truly resonates.

Ask Why
Emily Boyce, CM, Senior Director, Marketing and Customer Enablement at Teranet Inc.

Be curious and never stop learning. The best marketers are the ones who ask “why” before they ask “how.” Build relationships across your organization. Marketing is most powerful when it’s connected to strategy, operations, and customer experience. Don’t be afraid to take on challenges that stretch your skills; growth often happens outside your comfort zone. Most importantly, stay grounded in purpose. Marketing has the power to shape perception, influence behaviour, and drive change. Use it responsibly, creatively, and with conviction.

 

 

Becoming a Chartered Marketer boosts your credibility and ensures you stay competitive in this evolving field. Download the CM Brochure to learn more about the pathways to becoming a Chartered Marketer program today and take a significant step in your marketing career.

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