Marketing wisdom evolves from the marriage of knowledge and experience—and helps us make choices in an ever-changing, unpredictable world.

Each year, we select a senior growth leader for our CLIC Beacon Award. We honor and recognize their commitment to promoting shared knowledge, inspiration, and experiences. The recipient  models the traits of a strategic leader: open, real, and respectful.

The Midlife Innovator cohort (our 9th) will harness corporate and personal wisdom to fuel reinvention and long-term growth.

AI has forever changed how we innovate and collaborate. Move your 2024 growth strategies forward faster at CLIC ’24, happening May 1-2 in New York.

Estimated read time: 5 minutes

I love this time of year when I get to help leaders design their annual kickoff meetings and refresh their vision for future growth.

Sadly, some growth grinches roam these gatherings. Much like the grumpy solitary creature in the film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” some leaders miss the true meaning and mechanics behind this important holiday –the planning season. In 2023, I witnessed how these “bah humbug” habits disrupted investor confidence, demoralized team members, and crushed careers….

Our 2023 Beacon Award recipient, Amy Kellinger, is someone you would love to know. She’s Blackbaud’s VP of global demand gen and event marketing–and an inspiration to our global community.

Making room for the messiness of marketing innovation needs to happen before anyone can perform—or your organization can transform.

In this era of data deluge, suspicion, and endless chatter, I believe that our most successful marketing leaders are rediscovering the lost art of listening.

Our theme – “The Innovation Songbook” – will help you craft new strategies to outpace competitors, think more strategically, and thrive in the year ahead.

I love the marketing profession, and watching our community members build healthier companies and lives. Why? Because marketing leadership combines head and heart—not just during the Valentine’s Day holiday, but throughout the year.