I applied to The Marketing Society’s Global Leadership Mentoring Programme at a pivotal moment in my career. As 2026 began, so did my next challenge. After nine years in my CMO role, I had set my sights on becoming a CEO. The ambition was there. But the uncertainty was too. I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready for the step up, or what would make the difference between being a strong candidate and the right candidate.
That’s what led me to The Marketing Society Global Mentoring Programme.
What struck me first was the application process itself. It was clear and thoughtfully designed, but it also made me stop and think. Being asked to define exactly what I wanted from mentoring forced me to get specific about the support I needed. That clarity was energising in itself and meant I was matched with mentors who truly understood the transition I was hoping to make.
Finding the Right Match
I was paired with two CEOs who had travelled a similar path, moving from marketing leadership into broader executive roles. They were beyond generous with their time, honesty and experience. The timing could not have been better. I was preparing for interviews for the CEO role at Worldwide Cancer Research, and those conversations became an invaluable source of perspective and encouragement.
"What made the mentoring so powerful wasn’t that my mentors gave me answers. They helped me think differently."
Laura Brady Worldwide Cancer Research
The Reframe That Changed Everything
One particular piece of advice changed everything. Like many people with a varied and slightly squiggly career path, I had always struggled with the interview question, ‘Tell me about your CV’. One mentor suggested treating it as a problem-and-solution story rather than a chronological list of jobs. Such a simple reframe. Yet suddenly I had language for something I had struggled to articulate for years.
I used that approach during my CEO interviews and later in my first presentation to my new team. It helped people understand not only what I had done, but why it mattered. More importantly, it helped me realise that while my career had crossed multiple disciplines, my passion for leadership had been the constant. That insight was game-changing.
That idea of reframing became a recurring theme throughout the mentoring experience. It gave me confidence, certainly, but also clarity. It helped me see my own experience through a different lens and communicate my leadership story more courageously.
Perfect Timing
The programme arrived at exactly the right moment. It challenged me, stretched my thinking and helped me step confidently into my next chapter. Ultimately, it played an instrumental role in helping me secure the CEO role at Worldwide Cancer Research. My final session is with a reinvention specialist – which couldn’t be better timed as I start this new adventure!
