Here's how you can strategically plan your long-term career growth as a marketing leader.

This is the most underrated point whilst planning the career trajectory. Most of us, Indians who started our career in the 90 ies were still clouded by the "roti, kapda, makan" and simply made best of the situation we thought we were "in". The lesson I have learnt, dream because somewhere dream tend to rationalize and become goals!

In the realm of marketing leadership, the dynamic duo of narrative intelligence and design thinking sets a trailblazing path. Narrative intelligence, empowered by tools like Contently, goes beyond traditional storytelling; it's about crafting a brand's journey that enthralls and converts onlookers into ambassadors. Take the time I utilized this approach to pivot a product's tale. Parallel to spinning tales, design thinking ignites innovation. Adopting this mindset fuels out-of-the-box strategies. Leveraging AI tools such as Adobe Sensei, which infuses intelligence into design and experience, can result in marketing that's both aesthetically stunning and ingeniously tailored to user needs.

Everyone preaches the idea of building a "personal brand" on LinkedIn with "consistent posting". But, I've found it counterproductive. The platform is oversaturated with "thought leaders" sharing the same recycled advice because everyone says you must "post daily" to see results. Instead of joining the noise, I moved my focus to real, behind-the-scenes work. I stopped posting motivational stories and focused on solving actual marketing problems at work. Doing this gave me more authentic experiences to then base my content on, whenever I wanted to post. Honest takeaways inspired by real work will always get more attention & opportunities than regurgitating recycled stories and advice in the name of "regular posting".

The quintessential example of this is Gary Vaynerchuk. Starting with his family's wine business, Vaynerchuk leveraged social media platforms to share his expertise in digital marketing and business growth. He actively contributes to industry discussions through his daily vlog, podcast, and frequent speaking engagements. His unique value proposition combines practical business advice with a no-nonsense, high-energy approach. Vaynerchuk's strong personal brand has made him highly visible in the marketing world. He's become a sought-after speaker, consultant, and thought leader. His brand has opened doors to numerous opportunities, including founding successful companies like VaynerMedia and authoring best-selling books worldwide.

Planning often falls short, especially in a world where things change so rapidly and skills become obsolete almost overnight. I had planned to retire at 30, but unforeseen developments, like the advent of AI, altered my course significantly. My advice is to continuously evolve and always leave room for unexpected changes. This approach will help you avoid disappointment. The most valuable lesson I've learned is to be the first to acknowledge that change is inevitable and to embrace it without hesitation.