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

Setup CEO Joe Koufman virtually sat down with Alan Magee, the current VP of Digital Marketing at OVME Aesthetics and previously the VP of Digital Marketing and Technology at Church's Chicken, to share his journey about gaining perspectives from different industries and working towards progress, not perfection.

WATCH + READ THE RECAP BELOW

Q1 | Tell us about your career path.

After receiving his Masters in Advertising at the University of Texas, Magee landed his first job at a marketing agency in Atlanta, and then moved to Arby's Restaurant Group to work on the brand side. Magee described his career as a “zigzag” since he hopped around different industries and roles in companies. His journey includes working for Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Moe’s Southwest Grill as a part of Focus Brands, Church’s Chicken, and now OVME Aesthetics. 

“It's really been my trend of zigzagging in different types of roles, different types of brands, and different  industries,” he shared. It’s this zigzagging, however, that gives him such a deep understanding of the marketing landscape. 

Q2 | What advice would you give to other marketing professionals?

His advice when people enter a role is to identify two goals they would like to achieve before they leave a role. Magee emphasized that there is an opportunity in every circumstance. Whether it is to learn or contribute something, there is always a take away. “In some roles it's going to be very hard skills, but in other roles there might be more of those soft skills where you're focused on leadership, collaboration, or project management.” There is a beauty in mastering soft skills, and they are just as important as the hard ones. 

Q3 | What is your superpower?

Magee prides himself on his ability to stay in the middle ground to see how the tactical strategy connects to the big idea. “Being in that middle part is something that I've learned to do pretty well throughout my career,” he stated, because he can get in the weeds while keeping the goal in mind. 

Q4 | Where do you find inspiration?

Magee believes in finding inspiration from everywhere. His team looks within and outside their industry, in webinars and conferences, anywhere where there is something different or insightful that may spark a new approach. 

Q5 | What values are important to you as a leader?

Besides having a good attitude, Magee takes a coaching mindset when working with his team. “It's all about getting them ready for the game, how to help them build confidence, how to help them grow in their careers - whether it's in their role or just long term down the line.”

Q6 | What is your biggest challenge?

“It's the combination of people and technology,” Magee shared. Traditional brands specifically struggle with this because people view technology as a threat instead of a value add. In order to combat this, leaders have to ask: How do we bring technology in at the right pace? 

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 Alan Magee, and keep an eye out for more thought leadership from our CMO Spotlights.

Watch the full interview to the right.