ABSTRACT
Key traits of true marketing leaders vary from the technical skills and knowledge to the psychological mindset and approach to the ability to coach and mentor. When asked what they thought about the key characteristics of marketing leadership, the CMOs interviewed expressed a variety of answers, but those repeated most included strengths in communication and collaboration, the ability to be agile and flexible yet decisive, have a keen eye on understanding both the business and the customer, and have an innate curiosity. Caren Fleit of Korn and Ferry says that learning agility is defined as being more accurate than intellectual quotient (IQ) emotional quotient (EQ) and other well-known measures such as education level and leadership competencies. The CMO role continues to change rapidly; their influence base is expanding and the ways companies engage with customers is continuously evolving. Increasingly, CMOs are tasked with driving transformation agendas that drive measurable business results.
