CMO Spotlight | Colleen Murphy-Gomez - iBwave

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

Setup CEO and Founder, Joe Koufman, virtually sat down with Colleen Murphy-Gomez, the VP of Marketing at iBwave Solutions, to talk about gift-giving as a superpower, inspirational quotes from her father, and more.

WATCH + READ THE RECAP BELOW (SCROLL TO THE END FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW)

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

Murphy-Gomez advises marketers to “experience different roles.” 

“Try the different parts of marketing. Marketing has really gotten more specialized and segmented, but to really understand what it means or which part of marketing you can find the most passion in, I think it's worth trying different parts.”

Marketers can gain experience in other disciplines by taking on a new role, finding new challenges in an organization, or working with a different team. Murphy-Gomez emphasizes how important it is to “find something that you're interested in.” She is a big proponent of finding ways to incorporate your passion even if it seems impossible.

Q2 | What is your superpower? 

Murphy-Gomez’s superpower is gift giving. ”I like to find a person's personality and likes, and then find something unique or meaningful to give. I'm a gifter.”

This sort of leadership mentality makes people feel seen and, most importantly, human. When people feel valued for who they are, a job becomes more than just work to them.

Q3 | Where do you find inspiration?

“Different marketing groups and organizations, influencers, and podcasts” give Murphy-Gomez inspiration. These sources provide new perspectives and ideas, even if they’re not marketing-related. She shared, “I really find it important to try new things, find some inspiration, and not be so rigid. It's interesting to take those outside things that are not marketing related nor business related, and see what you can get out of it.” Creative experimentation is very important for brainstorming, ideation, and growth.

Q4 | What values are important to you?

“Be caring, be courageous, and be present.” Murphy-Gomez’s professional values are the same as her personal ones. Her “people-first” mentality leads her to appreciate caring people and to care for others. A goal of hers is to always strive to make people feel valued. 

She also values courageous individuals who are not afraid to speak their minds, even if it may be unpopular. Being present and fully immersing yourself into what life offers is also very important to her.

Q5 | Is there a quote that inspires you?

Murphy-Gomez reflected on three quotes that all came from her father.

• "There's no point in embarking on an adventure in which you are certain to return." You can’t always predict the outcome of a situation, but you can try your best to keep pursuing what you started. 

• "Put on your big girl panties and just deal with it." 

• “Monticello, Minnesota is not the center of the universe." Her dad would hilariously say this to her to shift her perspective from her hometown to “the bigger picture.”

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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 Colleen Murphy-Gomez, and keep an eye out for more thought leadership from our CMO Spotlights.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW TO THE RIGHT.