If you're looking to know what it takes to build a kick-ass career in marketing, you need to meet Timm Baldwin. This guy has been around the block, from his early days writing copy for radio ads to his current gig as the Associate Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Towson University. Along the way, he's racked up experience in everything from nonprofit marketing to higher ed branding. If there's a marketing challenge, Timm has probably tackled it head-on.
As Timm and I dug into his career journey, one thing became crystal clear: this is a guy who knows how to roll with the punches and turn every curveball into a home run. From his childhood spent hopping around the globe to his zigzagging path through the marketing world, Timm has mastered the art of using his diverse experiences and nuanced insights to create success, no matter where he is or what’s asked of him.
You can listen to the full episode with Timm here:
But if you're itching to get started, here are five powerful takeaways from my interview with Timm to whet your appetite:
In today's business landscape, just being a marketing savant isn't enough. If you want to make a real impact, you need to have that X-factor. According to Timm Baldwin, that X-factor is emotional intelligence.
"You really have to have the ability to walk into a room, meet with people, read those cues that are happening between the individuals that are part of a group or a team, and know how to insert yourself in a way that's going to be effective."
Basically, if you can't read people and adapt your approach on the fly, you're going to have a tough time getting your ideas off the ground. It's not just about having a stroke of genius; it's about knowing how to sell that genius to everyone else.
Too many marketers make the rookie mistake of trying to slap a brand identity onto an organization from the outside. But as Timm points out, that's not how it works.
"Our jobs as marketers and communicators are to help the institution find out what it already is."
If you want to create a brand that actually resonates, you need to do your homework. Dig deep into what makes your organization tick - its values, strengths, and vision. Then, use that intel to craft a story that feels real and inspiring to everyone from the CEO to the intern.
This won’t come as a surprise to anyone, but the world of higher education is kind of a mess right now. Students are changing, competition is fierce, and a lot of people are starting to wonder if that expensive degree is even worth it. In these crazy times, marketers are the ones who have to help schools stay relevant and attractive.
"Those organizations that are having the conversations with their marketing and communications teams and saying, 'Listen, how can we reposition our institutions so that we're not thinking just about ourselves, but rather we're thinking about the audience first and how we can support their goals and their needs?' Those are the institutions that are likely going to be best positioned to weather the storm."
The key is to never lose sight of what actually matters to customers. If you can keep your finger on the pulse of their needs and help your company adapt accordingly, you'll be able to ride out even the roughest waves.
In marketing, change is the only constant. And if you want to make it in this field, you can't be afraid to roll with the punches.
"You can't get married to your ideas, and you have to be able to come to the table with a spark of something and be able to lead the conversation and drive people towards something. But at the same time, be willing to be flexible in your thinking about how you might accomplish that idea or that goal that you have."
The best marketers are the ones who are always ready to pivot when needed. They know that being stubborn is a surefire way to get left behind. So, stay curious, stay open-minded, and don't be afraid to change course when the winds shift.
For Timm, the roots of his marketing chops can be traced back to his globe-trotting childhood. Living in different countries gave him a valuable perspective on how to connect with all kinds of people.
"Travel and being abroad especially were really critical to my view of the world. It teaches you a lot about other people. It teaches you a lot about yourself."
In a world that's more connected than ever, marketers who can think beyond borders are the ones who will thrive. By making an effort to understand and appreciate different cultures, you'll be able to create campaigns that hit home no matter where your audience lives.
