The CMO Corner: Embracing Risk

Health Marketing Collective

Welcome to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.

Today’s episode is the first of the CMO Corner series, and we’re kicking it off with one of the most accomplished and respected chief marketing officers in all of health care, Marcia Miller.

Marcia is one of the most respected CMOs in all of healthcare. She has grown her success by not shying away from risks. Marcia discusses the crucial intersections of risk, fear, and leadership in marketing, emphasizing the need for marketing to be acknowledged as a pivotal element of strategic business discussions.

Marcia shared her insights on why marketing needs a seat at the leadership table and how proving your value can change the game. Our conversation covers the art of taking risks, the importance of brand consistency in healthcare, and the power of building high-performing teams.

With so much wisdom in one conversation, she leaves us with this key piece of advice: face fears, embrace challenges, and always advocate for yourself, especially in leadership roles.

Thank you for being part of the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence. The future of healthcare depends on it.

Key Takeaways:

1. Earning & Occupying a Leadership Seat: Marcia Miller stresses the imperative for marketing professionals to demonstrate the tangible value and impact of their strategies to secure a rightful place at the decision-making table. This involves not only advocating for marketing's role but also aligning marketing strategies directly with core business objectives to enhance visibility and influence within the company.

2. Confronting Fear with Courage: The conversation sheds light on the transformational power of approaching fear not as a barrier but as a motivator. Marcia's personal journey in starting a fly fishing school serves as a poignant example of how embracing risk can open doors to fulfilling endeavors that one might typically shy away from due to fear of failure.

3. Strategic Partnerships and Crisis Management: The selection of creative partners is highlighted as a critical decision point in health marketing. Marcia advises seeking partners who not only bring expertise and innovative ideas but also possess the reliability to manage crises effectively. This underpins the broader strategic approach of assuming positive intent and fostering respectful, yet honest dialogues to drive brand success.

4. Female Leadership & Self-Advocacy in the Workplace: With an emphasis on the unique challenges faced by women in leadership roles within healthcare marketing, Marcia Miller encourages female professionals to vigorously advocate for themselves and actively seek leadership opportunities. Building confidence and resilience is key to navigating and overcoming gender-based obstacles in professional environments.

5. Practical Strategies for Team Building and Budgeting: Marcia shares her holistic approach to constructing high-performing marketing teams and budget advocacy. Key strategies include hiring talent that complements existing team strengths, setting realistic goals, and aligning budget proposals with clear, data-driven expectations. This ensures that marketing efforts are both effective and sustainable, reinforcing the need for leadership to fully support and understand the value of their marketing divisions.

About Marcia Miller

Chief Marketing Officer

Marcia is a career marketer with strong experience in a wide range of business challenges - from Start-up companies... to Fortune companies ...to marketing agencies - she's tried her hand at all of them. She's at her best when she is building teams, brands or companies and she prides herself on helping others develop professionally while not letting a job define them. When she's not working, you'll find her traveling the globe with her lovely husband or spending time with their four adult children.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-miller-7887a04/

www.margolola.com