Talent Champion – Deirdre Robinson

Talent Champion Spotlight

AEF Talent Champion - Deirdre Robinson

Deirdre Robinson
Senior Director Corporate Social Responsibility and Marketing Talent Development
Verizon

Deirdre Gall Robinson is the senior director, corporate social responsibility and marketing talent development at Verizon. In this role, Robinson is responsible for leading integrated marketing campaigns to drive positive brand sentiment, awareness and engagement for Verizon’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. As head of Verizon’s marketing capabilities practice, she leads the Verizon Marketing Academy, which is the in-house training organization for Verizon’s 2500+ marketers. She also leads Verizon’s adfellows program, which is the advertising industry’s first and only fellowship program for diverse college graduates, with a job placement rate of 90%.

What prompted you to get involved with the AEF and why are you passionate about the future of the industry?

The marketing industry is constantly evolving and changing through advances in technologies, and greater customer insight and intimacy fueled by new data/analytics automation tools. Digital has become a disruptive force in consumers’ lives-with consumers constantly increasing their need for richer, more rewarding experiences. This creates an exciting time for the future for marketing. But it can also be intimidating, especially for entry level marketers. I became involved with the AEF to join an amazing group of peers to help marketers successfully navigate the dynamic, complex, exhilarating and even unpredictable world of marketing.

What is the best career advice you've ever received?

The best advice was the mantra from Jay Chiat of Chiat/Day Advertising.
“Good enough is not enough”.

Plus: Never stop being curious and inquisitive. Be perceptive. Ask the important questions.

Who was your favorite professor and why?

My Marketing 101 professor. He showed me how marketing could engage both my creative and analytics side.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy being part of a team that is creating a culture of excited, adaptive, continuous learners, helping marketers achieve growth through Marketing Excellence, and shepherding young marketing talent on their career journeys.

"Our future marketing and advertising leaders are not just looking for a job, they are looking for a meaningful career that will make a positive impact on society."
— Gord McLean, President and CEO at ANA Educational Foundation