CMO Spotlight | Akerho "AK" Oghoghomeh - Beyond Meat

The CMO Spotlight is a chance to get an inside look into the minds and journeys of high-performing marketing leaders. 

Setup Founder & CEO, Joe Koufman, virtually sat down with Akerho "AK" Oghoghomeh, the SVP & Head of Global Marketing at Beyond Meat, to discuss the importance of saying “yes” more often, the influence of his chemical engineering background in marketing, principles of being a good leader, and more.

WATCH + READ THE RECAP BELOW

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Q1 | Is there any advice you would like to share?

Oghoghomeh advises marketers to say “yes” more often. He explained that his career was shaped by the experiences he said yes to, and he even wishes that he said “yes” more often. “By saying ‘yes’ to more things, you might zigzag a bit…but as long as you realize that you're picking up your skill sets and competencies and you're building yourself to become a better human being, you'll become a better marketer.”

Q2 | What is your superpower?

Oghoghomeh explained that being a liaison comes naturally to him. 

“I like to believe that my superpower is connecting people together.” Oghoghomeh specifically likes to introduce people who may not have met otherwise, but share commonalities. “I like bringing them together to find harmonious matching. I love learning about a challenge that someone is trying to overcome, and knowing that there's someone who I've met at some point in my life who might be able to help in some way…and bring them together to find a solution.”

Q3 | What values are important to you?

Oghoghomeh has four pillars that he applies to his work and also expects from others.

The first pillar is simplicity. By removing barriers for himself and his team, they are able to focus on building the brand.

The second pillar is accountability. Not only does he hold himself accountable to a high standard, but he holds his team members accountable too. 

The third pillar he values is collaboration and the ability for his teammates to challenge each other. Oghoghomeh appreciates teamwork that forces people to challenge ideas in healthy ways and come to conclusions that help move the needle. 

The last pillar is the ability to “bump the lamp,” or challenge yourself to “go the extra mile to ensure work is executed with excellence.” 

Q4 | Tell us about an impactful campaign.

When Oghoghomeh worked at Red Bull, he worked on an event called the “Red Bull Culture Clash,” which was centered around bringing musicians together to blend cultures from different genres including, Hip Hop, Jamaican Reggae, EDM, and more. This event gave him the freedom to work with whoever he wanted in order to execute the vision. He was able to work with an agency based in Atlanta and a local Atlanta artist named Fabian Williams to help bring their ideas to life. 

The event was a great success and even had celebrity appearances from rapper Ludacris and producer Mike WiLL Made-It. Oghoghomeh was especially proud that he helped expose the local artists at the event to a larger audience. He added, “The event was really a beautiful marriage for the community, culture, as well as the company needs.”

Q5 | What quote inspires you?

“If you work with the right people, those people will make you better. They will sharpen you in the same way that iron sharpens iron.”

The quote that applies to many relationships in his life is Proverbs 27:17 from the Bible. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens the face of his neighbor.” It goes back to accountability for him. He explained that people need others to help them improve.“If you work with the right people, those people will make you better. They will sharpen you in the same way that iron sharpens iron.”

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For more marketing leadership advice and a view into the mindset of marketing executives in various industries, be sure to watch the full interview with Akerho Oghoghomeh, and keep an eye out for more thought leadership from our CMO Spotlights.

Watch the full interview to the right.