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There was a lot to take from this year’s Marketing Institute Ireland Annual Conference.
From Carolan Lennon opening the day with real clarity and perspective, to Laura Dowling (The Fabu Pharmacist) bringing it back to something so simple but powerful, the role of trust and word of mouth. It was a brilliant line-up.
In between, there were some phenomenal contributions from Dermot Mulligan (Return), Orla Mitchell (ex WaterWipes), Patrick Kennedy (Pinterest), Donal Comerford (Oatly), Jay Reid (Core) and Simon Geraghty (Amárach Research).
But the overall theme really stayed with me:
Build brands. Build careers.
Simple. But very true.
Because after nearly 20 years working with marketers, one thing I see time and time again is this, the people who build strong brands tend to build strong careers alongside them.
And it is rarely by accident.
Careers Are Not Linear. They Are Built.
A consistent theme across that really resonated was how non-linear careers actually are.
Very few people follow the “perfect” path.
Some start slow and accelerate when they find the right fit.
Some take risks, stepping away, doing an MBA, trying something new.
Some build their brand quietly internally before making a bigger move.
The common thread?
They stayed close to what interested them and kept moving forward.
Your Internal Brand Matters More Than You Think
We spend our careers talking about external brand.
But what really stood out in the room was the importance of your internal brand.
Your reputation.
The small decisions you make.
How you show up in meetings.
Where you put your energy.
As was said on the day your reputation is what people say about you when you are not in the room. And from what I see every day in the market, that couldn’t be more accurate.
Watch Where the Energy Goes
This was one of the most practical takeaways for me.
In busy roles, it is very easy to get pulled in multiple directions.
But the strongest marketers are very clear on this:
If it is not solving something for the customer, it is probably not the right priority.
It sounds obvious, but it is not always how teams operate.
Be Clear (and Brave) About What You Want
Something I often say to candidates came through strongly on the day:
Do not wait to be tapped on the shoulder.
People ahead of you generally want to help. But they cannot help if they do not know what you want.
The people who progress fastest are the ones who:
Get involved
Put their hand up
Are clear on their ambition
Even when it feels a bit uncomfortable. Ask for more
Progress, Not Perfection
There was also a refreshing honesty around balance.
You are not going to get it right every day.
Some days will be very work-heavy. Others will not.
But over time, it balances out. And that long-term view is important, especially for people building careers while navigating everything else life throws at them.
What I Took From It
Sitting in that room and thinking about the candidates and clients I work with every day, it reinforced a few things:
The right fit really matters
Passion still drives progression
Your reputation compounds over time
And small decisions shape bigger outcomes
Most importantly, it reminded me that careers are not built in big moments alone.
They are built in the day-to-day.
Final Thought
For anyone building a career in marketing right now:
Be intentional. Stay curious. Back yourself.
Because the brands you build will absolutely shape your career.
And the career you build will shape the brands you get to lead.