A transformational leader drives innovation and inspires new ways of thinking, harnessing a team’s creativity to respond to change. The more you know about transformational leadership, the better prepared you’ll be to lead in today’s dynamic business environment. The world is changing faster than ever before. The strongest leaders don’t merely keep up or react to change.
They are prepared to meet current needs while staying focused on the future by being proactive, agile, and visionary in their decision-making. Transformational leaders are constantly open to innovation wherever it may arise.
They constantly look for opportunities to do things differently and are always open to new ideas, no matter where those ideas may present themselves. Standing out with these attributes is Mido M. Chishty, CMO of Your Marketing Chief Ltd.
Under proficient leadership, the organization aims to deliver continuous growth whilst balancing consumer needs with shareholder expectations, to foster innovation, leading digital transformation and driving betterments in the organizations.
Mido, kindly describe for our audience your professional journey up until now.
Prior to establishing Your Marketing Chief (YMC), I gained industry experience at Procter & Gamble, Unilever, PepsiCo, and Nestlé. I hold a Master’s in Business and Marketing from Brunel University Business School UK, and a Bachelors (Hons) in Economics and Management from the University of Manchester, UK.
I also attended executive programs with top schools, including Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, USC Marshall, UCLA, and UC Berkeley Haas.
I am a chartered, certified, and certified digital marketer, and an active member of key leadership and marketing bodies including CIM, AMA, DMI, and GCC BDI. In addition, I serve on a number of boards providing marketing and leadership guidance.
What challenges did you face along the way?
Most people want to keep the status quo and resist change. Hence only those who really believe they can change things actually do. We are often told to stay in our own lane in our careers but that doesn’t enable one to cross over into other areas and grow, and it ensures the status quo in many businesses.
How many times have your heard…you don’t have experience in this industry or product or market. Are they insane? A leader asks the right questions and mobilizes behind a vision and purpose, regardless of whether that is in shampoos or gaming or energy. That’s real leadership. Our lives cut across many different industries, markets and products so why our careers shouldn’t?
What significant impact have you brought to the marketing industry?
Having founded Your Marketing Chief to apply Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) AKA Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) best marketing practices across a number of industries and businesses, I engineered the FUZN™ marketing system which has transformed numerous organisations into marketing, digital and innovation leaders.
My career goals and path have been influenced by the places I have lived, with California, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) having inspired me the most.
The economy of California is the largest in the USA, estimated at around $3 trillion, and if the state was a stand-alone country, it would rank as the world’s fifth largest economy. This, combined with Cali’s innovative spirit and its out-of-the-box way of doing things, has created new industries, companies, and hubs such as Silicon Valley.
Mido says, “I love being part of creating those Cali ideas and bringing them to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to accelerate rapid growth in the region, which then inspires innovation of its own which in turn calls for further Cali input. It’s a cycle of innovation that keeps turning and is intoxicating.”
The GCC includes countries such as KSA and the UAE. Hence, turning to the GCC region, we can see that H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) has put Dubai on the world map with iconic projects such as Burj Khalifa, Burj Arab, the Palm, and Expo 2020, showcasing Dubai as world-class and an innovation hub.
Additionally, H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (MBZ) has ensured that the UAE and Abu Dhabi shine as a beacon of stability for the region and the world. We are also witnessing H.H Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS)’ inspirational vision to transform KSA with futuristic projects such as NEOM, the Line, and TROJENA.
Tell us about your company and its foundation pillar.
At the foundation of the stewardship YMC provides are values of growth, culture, leadership, innovation, and balance. These are all key to ensuring business success.
Due to the nature of the rapidly evolving world, there has become a need for CMOs to broaden their roles and take the lead on new initiatives, including being the voice of the consumer and customer; designing the company purpose; creating a framework for humanistic leadership and mindfulness; utilising marketing to drive business growth; leading in digital transformation including being the custodian of Big Data, AI, UX, UI, and the metaverse; creating sustainability strategy; driving innovation; producing inclusivity programmes; partnering with CEOs and boards; and influencing shareholders.
Each requires robust marketing to all stakeholders – consumers, customers, employees, shareholders, industries, partners, and change agents.
This marketing alphabetisation balances profit and people and, ultimately, planet amelioration. Hence, CMOs are, by default, becoming CEOs whilst maintaining the CMO responsibility, as marketing is everything in the new age of blockchain, crypto, web 3.0, and marketing 4.0.
How does your company promote workforce flexibility, and what is your role in it?
The team works out of Los Angeles, Sydney, London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, so it is truly global and flexible, combining remote and face-to-face.
What is your take on technology’s importance, and how are you leveraging it?
Tech is super important in marketing as marketeers and leaders need to be at the forefront in driving business growth, and tech helps in that. Over the years, a number of off the shelf software solutions have emerged combined with CRM’s and SAAS to make work smarter.
In addition, the move into web 3 and the metaverse adds to this future now a phenomenon that great leaders must master. I use tech solutions for marketing, CRM, sustainability, big data management and AI and it has paid back in spades.
What will be the next significant change in the marketing industry, and how are you preparing for it?
We will witness the further empowerment of the CMO, and naturally, they will step into the CEO role. Perhaps a hybrid role exists – the CEMO – the Chief Executive and Marketing Officer as we do away with the old ways of running companies and boards. Is this already happening? How does a CMO prepare? Keep on top of the game and be close to the customer, consumer, data, and sustainability.
What are your goals in the upcoming future?
I think being dynamic and working across geographies tying up with happening places. This keeps us relevant and cutting edge. It is a really exciting time to blend the Californian spirit with the innovative leadership in the region. It is truly maverick. This inspired me to create Your Marketing Chief to bring the highest level of marketing and leadership to regions most deserving of it. That is the core strength of the company. I embed into organisations as CMO so that they emerge successful and grow aggressively.
What advice would you like to give the next generation of aspiring business leaders?
Be real and be maverick and let’s change the world together.
