Reaching the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is a huge achievement in a marketing career. It’s the top job, where you get to set the vision for a company's brand and drive its growth. The journey to the C-suite involves more than hitting your campaign targets or having great ideas. It requires building a powerful professional network. Strategic networking is often the unseen force that propels talented marketers into executive leadership positions. It's about creating relationships that provide opportunities, insights, and support.

Build Your Network with a Strategic Purpose

Networking for an executive role isn't about collecting as many business cards or LinkedIn connections as possible. It's about building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships with the right people. Your goal is to create a diverse network that can support you with knowledge, opportunities, and advice.

Identify Your Key Connection Tiers

Think of your network in three important layers. 

  1. Your peers (other marketing managers and directors) 
    1. These connections are great for sharing everyday challenges, tactics, and industry news. 
    2. They are your support system and a source of practical knowledge.
  2. People one or two levels above you
    1. VPs of Marketing and current CMOs
    2. These are your mentors and sponsors. 
    3. They can offer high-level career advice, share their own leadership journeys, and potentially advocate for you when senior roles open up.
  3. Professionals outside of marketing. 
    1. This includes people in finance, operations, sales, and technology, as well as executive recruiters. 
    2. These connections give you a broader understanding of how a business operates.
    3. Makes you visible to the people who hire for top-level positions.

Go Beyond Your Current Company

Your internal network is important, but a CMO needs an external perspective. You must actively build relationships outside of your current workplace. 

  • Join industry associations like the American Marketing Association (AMA) or other specialized groups. 
  • Attend their local chapter events and national conferences.

These events are prime opportunities to meet peers and leaders from different companies and industries. Make a goal to have meaningful conversations with a few people at each event. Follow up afterward with a personalized LinkedIn connection request or an email, mentioning something specific you discussed.

Provide Value Before You Ask for It

The most effective networkers understand that relationships are a two-way street. You can't expect people to help you. You need to find ways to offer value first. This builds trust and makes people more willing to support you when you need it.

Share Your Knowledge and Insights

Position yourself as an expert in a specific area of marketing. You could start a blog, post thoughtful content on LinkedIn, or speak at small industry events. Share your successes, your failures, and what you've learned along the way. Your content doesn't need to be groundbreaking; instead, it needs to be helpful.

You could write a post about how your team successfully implemented a new marketing automation tool. This kind of practical content attracts followers and starts conversations. People will begin to see you as a knowledgeable and helpful professional, which is a key trait of a leader.

Make Strategic Introductions

One of the most powerful ways to provide value is to connect two people in your network who could benefit from knowing each other. Perhaps you know a talented content creator, and you hear a contact is looking to hire one. Making that introduction helps both people and strengthens your relationship with each of them. It shows that you are a well-connected and generous person, which builds your social capital.

Nurture Your Relationships Authentically

Building a network is the first step. The real work is in maintaining those relationships over time. A strong connection isn't built on a single conversation. It's nurtured through consistent, authentic contact.

Master the Art of the Follow-Up

Don't let your new connections go cold. After meeting someone, find a reason to check in every few months. It doesn't have to be a formal meeting. You could send them an interesting article related to a topic you discussed. You might congratulate them on a recent promotion or company achievement you saw on LinkedIn. These small touchpoints keep you on their radar in a positive way. A simple message like, "Saw your company just launched a new product line—looks fantastic! Congrats to you and the team," shows you are paying attention and care about their success.

Seek Mentorship and Be a Mentor

Formally asking someone to be your mentor can be intimidating. Instead, approach potential mentors by asking for advice on a specific challenge. Make this approach specific, respectful of their time, and a way to leave an open door for an ongoing relationship. At the same time, make yourself available to mentor more junior marketers. Teaching others reinforces your own knowledge and illustrates your leadership capabilities. Your ability to develop talent is a quality that boards and CEOs look for in a CMO.