5 Tips for wannabe CMOs with Eleonora Rocca
Hey there Croners! Welcome back to 5 Tips for Wannabe CMOs, our marketing column where we get to know great marketers, their stories and some inspiring tips for the next generation of CMOs.
In this episode, we’ll have Eleonora Rocca, CMO and Founder (among many other things).
Let's start with the basis: who's Eleonora?
Eleonora is a dynamic leader with a deep passion for innovation, technology, and female empowerment.
Currently, I serve as the Head of Marketing at ARuVR, a pioneering platform that enables organizations to create and deliver immersive learning experiences through Extended Reality (XR), which includes Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).
In addition, I am the Founder and Managing Director of WomenX Impact, an initiative that aims to empower women and help them unlock their full potential. WomenX Impact is not just an event but a thriving community and academy that aims to guide women toward a brighter future.
Through our annual conference, which gathers influential female leaders from around the world, we foster meaningful discussions around leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional development.
WomenX Impact also functions as a vibrant community of women supporting each other and as an academy offering education and mentorship programs, all designed to inspire, uplift, and equip women with the tools they need to succeed in their careers.
Can you give us a short overview of your career and projects?
My career truly gained momentum during my time at Microsoft, where I managed marketing strategies for flagship products like Windows 8 and Office 2013.
These efforts led to a 47% year-on-year increase in sales.
After Microsoft, I transitioned to Kingston Technology and TP-Link UK, where I further developed my expertise in B2C marketing and omnichannel campaigns. During these roles, I significantly enhanced sales performance and executed demand-generation strategies, including securing a 30% increase in marketing development funds from major retailers.
My career evolved further as I shifted to B2B marketing roles, including my time at Zones UK and Lineup Systems, where I managed global marketing programs and achieved notable growth in website traffic and sales.
In 2019, I joined mmi Analytics, where I was responsible for global marketing strategy and managed a significant budget, driving a 25% increase in inbound leads.
Most recently, at Horizone Group, a digital marketing agency, I led the marketing strategy and creative direction.
This role further strengthened my expertise in B2B marketing and allowed me to continue working at the cutting edge of digital strategy.
Parallel to my corporate roles, I also ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Mashable Social Media Days, which became the country’s largest digital marketing and innovation conference.
What brought you to the marketing world? How did you discover your passion?
My journey into the marketing world wasn’t a straightforward one.
After earning a degree in law and working in sales for Hewlett-Packard for over 7 years during my studies, I came to understand that my skills and interests were more aligned with creative and relational work.
The structured, traditional nature of law and even sales didn’t resonate with my desire for flexibility and dynamic problem-solving. That’s when I decided to make a pivotal move into
marketing, a field that would allow me to be innovative while engaging deeply with people.
To formalize my transition, I pursued a degree in Marketing and Communication, which opened doors for me to fully explore my passion.
This shift also aligned with my goal of building a career with international exposure and greater flexibility, something I had always craved. Working in marketing, especially at companies like Microsoft, where I led key product launches, made me realize how much I enjoyed using creativity and strategy to influence consumer behaviour and drive business results.
Marketing gave me the dynamic environment I was looking for, where I could thrive by blending innovation with meaningful relationships.
What are your 5 tips for a CMO wannabe?
If you’re aspiring to be a CMO, here are my five tips:
▪️ Always stay curious and open to learning new trends and technologies.
▪️ Build strong relationships with your team, colleagues, and industry contacts.
▪️ Prioritize creativity and innovation in your marketing strategies.
▪️ Embrace data-driven decision-making to optimize your campaigns effectively.
▪️ Never underestimate the power of networking and personal branding.
What's your source of inspiration in marketing?
My source of inspiration in marketing comes from various places, including innovative campaigns, consumer behaviour studies, and emerging technologies.
However, I’m particularly inspired by the stories of individuals who have overcome challenges to create impactful marketing campaigns that resonate with audiences on a deep level.
What are the core values for the marketing of the future?
The core values for the marketing of the future, in my opinion, revolve around creativity, inclusivity, empowerment, innovation, and community building.
As the marketing landscape evolves, it’s essential to prioritize these values to create meaningful connections with consumers and drive sustainable business growth.
Keep reading 5 Tips for CMOs Wannabe