We finally made it to week 10! I have really enjoyed learning from you
all and appreciate the insights you have given me. Though my
undergraduate is in marketing, much has changed in the past few
years, and I am truly grateful to be able to see different ways to look
at this course scenario. The three course takeaways that resonated
with me were the Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification,
Corporate Social Responsibility, and Multi-generational Marketing.
The inbound marketing certification was a fantastic way to better
understand what the buyer’s journey is and how customers go
through these decision-making processes. I have spent many years in
outside sales where I would have to find the potential customer and
interrupt their day to try and convince them of a value proposition.
Inbound marketing is a great way to “accelerate leads into sales
opportunities” and would have been a great tool to take advantage of
in my previous roles (Feinberg, n.d.). Understanding multi-
generational marketing was a tremendous help as well. Not only do
we need to tailor our message to suit our target audience, but
different generations require different channels of delivery. Finally,
the research I did in Corporate Social Responsibility will help in my
future career. It is not enough for a company or brand to simply
provide their respective products or services; they must use that
platform to strengthen their communities.
Research shows that 87% of American consumers are more likely to
buy a product from a company that advocates for an issue they care
about, and 76% would refuse to purchase a product if they found out
a company supported an issue contrary to their beliefs (Murphy,
2022).
My MBA focus is Sustainability and Environmental Compliance, and
CSR is something that I will enjoy helping businesses develop and
implement.
Two of the most important qualities of an effective leader would be
visioning and communication. Without being able to envision the
future and communicate that vision effectively, it would be difficult
to inspire others. “Leaders who Inspire a Shared Vision passionately
believe that they can make a difference” (Shafer Leadership Academy,
2018). This is critical to my personal brand. In focusing on
sustainability and environmental compliance, I want to inspire others
to make a difference. My desired personal brand is one of passion,
integrity, empathy, and a desire to make the world a better place.
Being a lifelong learner is so critical to my trajectory because to be
successful, we must have a learning and growth mindset. The world is
volatile, uncertain, and in a perpetual state of change. By having this
learning mindset, I will continually build value in myself and seek
opportunities that are out of my comfort zone (like this class). Though
I have no intention of being in a marketing role, having this
understanding of buyers is an invaluable asset to add to my
repertoire.
References
Feinberg, J. (n.d.).
Inbound Marketing vs. Inbound Sales
. SP Home
Run Inc. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from
http://www.sphomerun.com/blog/inbound-marketing-vs.-inbound-
sales#:%7E:text=Inbound%20marketing%20attracts%20new%20stra
ngers,sales%20opportunities%20into%20new%20clients.
Murphy, C. (2022, March 24).
Why Is Social Responsibility Important
to Some Businesses?
Investopedia. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from
https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/041015/why-social-
responsibility-important-business.asp
Shafer Leadership Academy. (2018, August 26).
Inspire a Shared
Vision
. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from
https://www.shaferleadership.com/inspireasharedvision/#:%7E:text
=%E2%80%9CLeaders%20who%20Inspire%20a%20Shared,enlist%2
0others%20in%20their%20dreams.
