Working for a founder who understands marketing (e.g., a former CMO) creates a high-trust environment. This empowers marketing teams to invest in long-term brand building and creative initiatives that are notoriously hard to attribute, without being handcuffed by demands to prove the ROI of every dollar spent.

Technical founders often mistakenly fall in love with product marketers first. However, at the early stage, the single most important function of marketing is generating leads. A new CMO who prioritizes a website redesign over demand gen is a major red flag; the focus must be on building pipeline.

At the beginning, a startup is just an idea. A strong brand provides a clear narrative that resonates with potential hires, helping them make a decision based on identity and shared values. This attracts a cohesive team from day one.

A foundation in one-to-one sales reveals the human element often missing in marketing. This experience highlights the void of genuine storytelling and creativity in many marketing departments, equipping professionals to fill it with authentic, person-to-person narratives instead of just focusing on metrics.

The marketing playbook has shifted from promoting products to promoting the personality behind them (e.g., Tesla is Elon Musk). A company without a founder or CEO who can act as a public "character" struggles to gain traction, as corporate messaging accounts are no longer effective in a noisy media environment.

The nature of marketing has shifted from promoting a faceless corporation to showcasing an authentic founder personality. Companies without an interesting character at the helm are at a disadvantage. This requires leaders to be public figures, as their personal brand, story, and voice are now integral to the company's identity and success.

Instead of hiring for the trendy "storyteller" role, companies should recognize founders are the most potent narrators. Focus resources on creating a single, memorable marketing campaign rather than a constant stream of low-impact content to truly break through the noise.

When interviewing, ask founders about their perspective on long-term brand investments versus short-term pipeline goals. Their answer reveals if they understand marketing's true value beyond being a sales support function, indicating the strategic role you'll be allowed to play.

AI enables smaller, more efficient teams, shifting the ideal CMO profile. Founders now prefer marketing leaders who are hands-on brand builders and storytellers over those who are primarily large-scale people managers. The "CMO with a team of 5-15 plus AI and agencies" is the new model.