In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Oonagh Flanagan, Chief Marketing Officer at FunLab—the parent company of brands like Holy Moly, Strike Bowling, and Hijinx Hotel. With over 23 years of marketing experience across diverse industries, including consumer finance, online casino, and prop tech, Oonagh shares her journey from Ireland to Australia, navigating career pivots, and how being commercially-minded has been crucial to her success.

Oonagh discusses the importance of building core marketing fundamentals, making courageous career moves, and the privilege of leading and mentoring a team. Whether you're a new marketer or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with wisdom on leadership, career growth, and the evolving role of the CMO.

Key Takeaways:

• Commerciality is Key: Oonagh emphasises the importance of mastering numbers and understanding the business’s financial side to gain credibility and drive impact as a marketer.
• Career Courage: Moving across industries and countries wasn’t easy, but Oonagh reflects on how those bold decisions helped shape her confidence and career trajectory.
• Leadership & Mentorship: The role of CMO is as much about developing the next generation of marketers as it is about strategy and execution. Oonagh shares how being a people leader is an intense privilege that should not be taken lightly.
• Stay Grounded in Fundamentals: While technology and tools like AI will continue to evolve, marketers should never lose sight of the basics—understanding the audience, setting a clear strategy, and using the right tactics to solve problems.

Recommended Resources:

• Mini MBA in Marketing by Mark Ritson – A program Oonagh highly recommends for its solid grounding in the fundamental principles of marketing.
• How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp – A must-read resource on brand strategy and distinctive assets that Oonagh and her team frequently revisit.

Connect with Oonagh Flanagan: LinkedIn: Oonagh Flanagan

Follow the Podcast via New Chapter Talent:

Instagram: @NewChapterTalent

LinkedIn: New Chapter Talent

This podcast is brought to you by New Chapter Talent recruitment. If you're hunting for a fulfilling new role or seeking the right talent for your company, contact Lucy Bolan today!

Website: https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/contact-us

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/

Email: lucy@newchaptertalent.com.au

In this episode of CMO Chapters, Lucy Bolan sits down with Karl Winther, Chief Marketing Officer at Kogan.com, to explore his dynamic career in retail and e-commerce. Karl reflects on his 20+ years of experience, including leadership roles at Officeworks, Australia Post, and Myer, and the lessons he learned along the way. From managing toy catalogues at Myer to spearheading marketing for one of Australia's top e-commerce platforms, Karl shares how being adaptable, curious, and committed to learning has helped him thrive.

Karl offers practical advice on career progression, the importance of understanding both the creative and commercial sides of marketing, and how investing in relationships can help you excel as a leader. Whether you’re an aspiring CMO or a seasoned marketer, this episode is filled with valuable insights for those looking to make an impact in the world of marketing.

Key Takeaways:

• Career Progression: Karl emphasises the importance of focusing on progression rather than fixating on titles. He shares how taking unexpected roles early in his career helped him build a strong foundation in retail and marketing.
• Navigating Challenges: One of Karl’s biggest lessons came from working in a role he hated early in his career—inventory planning. He explains how this experience taught him critical business skills like P&L management and stakeholder engagement, which have been invaluable throughout his CMO journey.
• The Power of Relationships: Karl stresses the significance of building strong relationships within and outside your team. He reflects on the advice given to him about nurturing internal relationships, which he believes has been key to his success.
• Get Things Done: A core principle Karl lives by is to take action and focus on execution. He believes in the value of getting things done, even if it's not perfect, and continually iterating to improve results.

Recommended Resources:

📖 Mindset by Carol Dweck – A key resource on developing a growth mindset, something Karl believes is crucial for long-term career success.

📖 Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull – This book, by one of the founders of Pixar, explores how to foster creativity in teams while maintaining high standards of feedback and collaboration.

🎧 Podcasts: Karl recommends listening to podcasts like WorkLife by Adam Grant, which focuses on improving workplace culture and leadership.

Connect with Karl Winther: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-winther-53570673/

Follow the Podcast via New Chapter Talent:

Instagram: @NewChapterTalent

LinkedIn: New Chapter Talent

This podcast is brought to you by New Chapter Talent recruitment. If you're hunting for a fulfilling new role or seeking the right talent for your company, contact Lucy Bolan today!

Website: https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/contact-us

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/

Email: lucy@newchaptertalent.com.au

In this insightful episode of CMO Chapters, host Lucy Bolan sits down with Paul Murphy, an experienced lecturer at Monash University’s Department of Marketing. Paul, who transitioned from the corporate world to academia, shares his unique perspective on the evolving marketing landscape and the education of the next generation of marketing leaders.

Paul discusses emerging trends in marketing education, the importance of soft skills in a hybrid work environment, and offers advice for both graduates and employers. Whether you’re an aspiring CMO, a marketing professional looking to hire fresh talent, or someone navigating the early stages of a marketing career, this episode is packed with valuable insights on bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Social Media’s Role: While social media continues to captivate marketing students, Paul emphasises the need to see it as part of a broader marketing strategy, not just a career in itself.
• Post-COVID Challenges for Graduates: Many students who experienced remote learning during the pandemic now struggle with ambiguity and fear of failure in the workforce. Paul offers advice on overcoming this.
• Soft Skills Matter: Communication, resilience, and empathy are critical for marketing graduates, especially in a hybrid work environment where personal interaction may be limited.
• Practical Job Search Advice: For graduates seeking their first step in marketing, Paul highlights the importance of leveraging part-time work experience and developing generic skills such as customer service and problem-solving.
• Bridging the Gap Between Marketing and Sales: Paul emphasises the importance of understanding sales roles for marketers, recommending that marketers spend time in sales positions to develop empathy and strengthen collaboration with sales teams.

Paul’s Tips:

1. Keep your textbooks, especially the ones from subjects you found challenging. They provide a solid foundation of knowledge to refer back to throughout your career.
2. Focus on continued professional development. The fundamentals of marketing change slowly, but how we do things evolves rapidly—stay updated!

Connect with Paul Murphy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-murphy/

Follow the Podcast via New Chapter Talent:

Instagram: @NewChapterTalent

LinkedIn: New Chapter Talent

This podcast is brought to you by New Chapter Talent recruitment. If you're hunting for a fulfilling new role or seeking the right talent for your company, contact Lucy Bolan today!

Website: https://www.newchaptertalent.com.au/contact-us

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-chapter-talent/

Email: lucy@newchaptertalent.com.au