Looking Forward.

I’m a neurotic planner. Visualizing the future is part of what makes me excited to be alive. So understanding potential outcomes has always been important to me.

I was talking to my husband recently about how after five years in the start-up world, I can see the potential path of starting my own company as an option for the first time in my career. I’ve generally believed that I’m building towards leading a transformational brand as a CMO. But sometimes I wonder if the only way I’ll be able to create change fast enough is by doing it myself.

One thing I do know I’m not ready now. I’m humble enough to know that. Today I want to step into a more complex business and build from within. The work culture here in DC is measurably different than the one I came from in Southern California, and I want to learn new ways of looking at the world from the smartest people I can find.

My experience at Bosch was the best core brand training I could have asked for. I led a wider breadth of marketing activities than most people have the opportunity to lead until they’re in the C suite. In the start-up world, I’ve developed a lot of agility and sprinting power. I’ve done more specialized work, built teams and had to navigate obstacle courses while evolving my role again and again. The velocity required was unlike anything in a bigger business, but you’re still working at a pretty humble scale. My next story will be about this scale. While teaching babies to talk is very satisfying, I’m ready to help a teenage company into adulthood.

There are still many versions of myself in 10 years that I’m excited about. I’m not sure which one I’ll grow into. There’s the plan and then there’s what life has in store. In 10 years, I’ll have a 12 year old and a 15 year old. Self driving cars will be shuttling us all around. Half my meetings might be with a VR set. Who knows what bug I’ll catch!

I know one thing for certain. Whether I’m growing a brand or building a business, nothing can be done alone. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some incredible teams over my career. Looking forward, working with great people is where it always has to start.