Each of us have a marketing hero. It doesn’t matter if you are new to the marketing space or have worked in the industry most of your life. Each of us know someone who inspires us to be a better marketer today than we were yesterday.

You might think that business executives, marketing consultants, technology gurus, data scientists, and digital specialists would have varying ideas on what makes a marketing hero. Our idea of heroism isn’t as different as you might think. I’ve been talking to people in Dallas, San Diego, Chicago, and other cities to learn what traits people look for in a marketing hero.

Have a marketing hero characteristic to add to the list? Let us know on Twitter using #MyMarketingHero!

1. Socially Responsible. Some of our favorite marketing heroes embrace a philanthropic cause. It’s clear their end goal is to build awareness and spread resources to those in need. Marketing hero Pete Frates, creator of the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge campaign, reminded us of the power of a smart digital strategy powered by community engagement. Retailers, non-profits, and business-to-business brands alike can learn from these passion-filled philanthropists using marketing to help the world.

2. Data-Driven. Our favorite marketing heroes focus on reaching goals in the most efficient way possible. They don’t rely on assumption or hunches, but seek data that informs them on the best route to generating results.

3. Tech-Savvy. A hero sees technology as a tool to provide a more seamless and meaningful experience for both the business and the consumer. They don’t hesitate to learn a new platform and develop creative ways for pushing its capabilities to the max. What if the technology doesn’t exist? No problem. Marketing heroes are oftentimes entrepreneurs of marketing tech.

4. Mentor-Centric. Whether it’s in an auditorium of five hundred people or the corner table of a coffee shop, marketing heroes are eager to share bits of wisdom. They teach us tips and tricks, and inspire us to push the boundaries of what we think is possible. They are positive and give constructive feedback. While they may not always spell out the answer, they provide direction so we may discover the answers for ourselves.

5. Resourceful. Marketing heroes have this amazing ability to make the most out of the tools and talent around them. They have trained their mind to recognize opportunities when others might only see obstacles. A hero also doesn’t expect to go the journey alone, and welcomes those who are willing to work hard to achieve goals.

6. Curious. This is perhaps the most important characteristic of a marketing hero. Curiosity feeds knowledge. It’s a trait that pushes us to look for solutions even before the problem arises. Marketing heroes look beyond the obvious. They see failure as a growth opportunity, and always welcome a challenge that gets them a step ahead from where they were.

Who is your marketing hero?

Who is your marketing hero? Is it a committed mentor or conference speaker? Is it your colleague or friend? A celebrity or client?

Nominate your hero on Twitter using the hashtag #MyMarketingHero.

Some members of the nectarOM team and I attended DMA 2014 in San Diego this past October. There we met kindred spirits in the marketing ecosystem and among new friends was Rick Miller, a marketing technology and direct mail executive at Valid USA.

After winning our #MyMarketingHero contest, I had the opportunity to visit with Rick about marketing heroes. What do we talk about when we talk about heroes? It’s not just Gary Vee, Jay Baer, Seth Godin, or Mark Clark that we look up to. (Although, these names usually make most people’s list for marketing heroes.)

Marketing heroes can be found all around us. They sit next to us in the office, attend the same conferences, lead workshops, or befriend us on social media. Rick shared some awesome points about what it takes to be a marketing hero, and so I’m sharing them with you. Want to join our discussion? Tweet to us and let us know your thoughts!

A Talk with Rick Miller about Marketing Heroes

KD: What do you think makes someone a marketing hero?

RM: When I saw the contest advertised during the DMA Conference I envisioned the qualities I looked for in order to be able to call someone a marketing hero.  I first focused on longevity, it had to be someone dedicated enough about marketing to make it a “lifelong” endeavor, (Tweet this quote) something they were so passionate about that they were willing to stick with it through good times and bad. In addition to this I felt this individual needed to exhibit their willingness to educate and mentor others to develop marketing’s next generation.

KD: Who did you nominate for the #MyMarketingHero contest at DMA 2014 and why?

RM: When I thought of the qualifications I came up with that are outlined above, the first name that came to mind was Brian Kurtz from Boardroom, a publishing company in Stamford Connecticut.  Long before Boardroom became a client of Valid’s I had encountered Brian at numerous industry events, especially those related to the publishing industry.  When he was a presenter at these events, his passion for marketing was evident in his enthusiastic approach to the topics he covered.   Brian continues, after 30 plus years to give accolades to his personal mentors / marketing heroes. In my opinion he has done them proud by exemplifying all that was good in what they passed on to him as he now fills those shoes and educates/encourages marketing’s future generations.

KD: What would you tell marketers to focus on if they want to be marketing hero within their organization / company?

RM: Don’t stagnate in regards to marketing technology and innovation, be willing to try new things because where there is risk, there can be reward. (Tweet this quote.) Also, be a role model and mentor for others within your organization and the industry. Whenever you can pass on the knowledge to others so overall as a company, and within the industry others can become stronger.

KD: Do you think marketing heroes are born or made?

RM: My opinion would be that they are made.  I can’t think of anyone that has ever told me, “when I grow up I want to be a marketer”, rather the story typically starts with an admission that they didn’t really know what they were getting into when they accepted a marketing position.  The marketing hero is the one that develops a passion for marketing through their experiences(Tweet this quote.) Over my 25 plus years in the industry I have encountered a number of what I would consider to be brilliant marketers and their stories are similar, their passion for marketing came about through on the job experiences, personal mentors and heroes that may not have known it at the time but they were helping to grow that passion for marketing in these individuals by encouraging them to pursue marketing as a career.

Who is your marketing hero?

Who is your marketing hero? Is it a committed mentor or conference speaker? Is it your colleague or friend? A celebrity or client?

Nominate your hero on Twitter using the hashtag #MyMarketingHero.