The Best Gifts CMOs Have Ever Received
In the lead up to Christmas, LBB AUNZ is asking strategists, creatives, CEOs, marketers, production specialists, and music and sound practitioners to share the best gift they’ve ever received - an object, piece of advice or training, or person they’ve worked with. Here’s what marketers shared with LBB’s Brittney Rigby.
The best gifts Andrew Howie, Taco Bell’s chief marketing officer, have ever received are the “really mushy” ones from his kids. Hand-made at school. “Pretty bad,” he jokes. “But they come from such an unfiltered place of love.
“They are the perfect reminder at the end of a long year slogging it out at the coal face as to why we put up with the crap we do all year long. To give them the best chance at being happy and successful.”
Although, his wife bought him a Rolex a few years ago. “That was also pretty sweet.”
When Naysla Edwards finished university back home in Colombia, her parents gifted her a trip to Australia to study English. American Express’ vice president of brand and customer marketing says that trip “supported my career aspirations, provided a world of opportunity, and led me to incredible people, including my husband and daughter.
“Thank you to my wonderful parents!”
Baiada Poultry’s head of marketing Yash Gandhi was obsessed with planes as a kid. Years later, his sister bought him a couple of flight training sessions. He says “sitting in the ‘co-pilot’s’ seat and manoeuvring the Cessna 172 over Sydney is something I will cherish for life.”
At a CMO dinner, the host, an agency founder, ditched the name-tags and instead circled the table, introducing each person to the group with a story about their passions, challenges, and contributions. Katie Dally says while it’s not a present wrapped in a box, it’s the best she’s ever received.
“It was a celebration of our shared humanity that unlocked an evening's worth of conversation and connections well beyond one night,” she recalls. “Suddenly, the room wasn't filled with 'marketing folk,' but with real people behind their marketing veil – charity workers, Brazilian BBQ enthusiasts, and big life decision makers.”
Endeavour Group's GM of brand, creative, and operations loved the idea so much, she stole it. At a big birthday party six months later, she did the same thing, introducing each of her guests to the room personally and thoughtfully.
“Safe to say, there were a few tears in the house. The ripple effect of that one evening's gift keeps giving.
“It's a reminder that the best gifts aren't the ones we unwrap, but rather the ones that unwrap us. They're the words of affirmation, the acts of kindness, and the genuine appreciation we show for one another. Corny? Maybe. But undeniably the most precious gifts of all.”
She’ll be RSVPing yes very quickly to the next CMO dinner. “And if you happen to be one of the lucky attendees… well, let's just say you might want to bring a tissue.”
