Marketing Great Retires

One of the world’s best marketers announced his retirement last year – after 35 years with the company – and will be moving on in May.

Keith Weed, the Global CMO of Unilever, spoke on the need to be curious.

“You need to be curious about people’s lives, curious about what works and what doesn’t work. Marketing leaders should value curiosity, understanding of consumers and consumer trends, and also ensure they are bringing the outside in and really driving growth, “he said.

He went on to share that: “if you have to get to the future, first you need to have a view of where that future is.”

Do we have a view of where the future is? As, we should – the most successful of people and companies are almost hinged on their ability to have a view of where the future is, and often move farther than anyone else towards it.

It has become quite evident in companies such as Amazon, Airbnb, Microsoft, Apple, Discovery Vitality to name a few. What all these companies have in common is that they all chartered their own futures – saw opportunities where many didn’t.

In closing not many may know Wayne Gretsky – no doubt the greatest ice hockey player in history – who scored more goals than anyone. When asked how he did it, he had this to say: “I don’t skate to where the puck is, I skate to where it is going to be.”

Let’s go to where the future is!