Fundamentals

As a chief marketing officer (CMO), your role is to lead the development and execution of a company's marketing strategy. But not all CMOs have the same skills, experience, or approach. Research has identified five distinct archetypes CMOs can fall into the Chief Storyteller, the Capability Builder, the Innovation Catalyst, the Growth Driver, and the Customer Champion.

1. Chief Storyteller: This archetype is focused on creating and telling compelling stories that engage customers and build brand loyalty. They are skilled at crafting a brand narrative and using various channels to tell it. They are adept at creating emotional connections with customers and using that connection to drive sales.

2. Capability Builder: This archetype focuses on developing the marketing organization's internal capabilities. They are skilled at building marketing infrastructure, creating processes, and developing the skills of their team. They are also focused on creating a culture that encourages innovation and growth.

3. Innovation Catalyst: This archetype is focused on driving innovation within the marketing organization. They are skilled at identifying new opportunities, testing new ideas, and launching new products. They are also focused on creating new revenue streams and driving growth.

4. Growth Driver: This archetype is focused on driving growth for the company. They are skilled at identifying new markets, creating new products, and expanding existing products. They are also focused on creating new revenue streams and driving growth.

5. Customer Champion: This archetype is focused on creating a customer-centric culture within the organization. They are skilled at understanding customer needs, creating customer-centric products, and building relationships with customers. They also focus on creating a culture that encourages customer engagement and retention.

It's important to note that no CMOs fit perfectly into one archetype, and a successful CMO will likely exhibit characteristics of multiple archetypes. However, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each archetype can help CMOs identify areas for improvement and better align their skills and approach with the needs of their organization.

In conclusion, being a CMO is a challenging role that requires a combination of skills, experiences, and leadership. Understanding the five CMO archetypes can help in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of an individual CMO and aligning their skills and approach with the needs of the organization. A successful CMO will have a combination of all the archetypes and be able to balance the needs of the company, the customers, and the employees.