Insights from The Marketing Society’s Global Leadership Mentoring Programme
As this year’s cohort for The Marketing Society’s 2026 Global Leadership Mentoring Programme began to take shape, several themes became clear around the leadership questions many marketers are currently exploring.
Applicants span a wide range of career stages, from emerging leaders to highly experienced professionals, with an average of around 15 years in the industry. What stands out is that people are not seeking tactical advice or quick solutions, instead, many are looking for the opportunity to step back from the pace of day-to-day work and gain perspective from leaders who have navigated similar moments in their careers.
Influence in complex organisations
One of the strongest themes across the cohort is influence. Many marketers are operating in complex organisations where decisions are shaped by multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. They are thinking carefully about how to contribute more effectively in senior conversations, manage upwards with confidence and influence outcomes without relying solely on formal authority.
Navigating moments of transition
Another clear theme is transition. For some, this means stepping into leadership roles for the first time, while others are moving from operational delivery into broader strategic responsibility. Several are reflecting on how to move from being strong executors to leaders who shape direction and bring greater enterprise-level thinking to their organisations.
Confidence and leadership presence
Confidence and leadership presence also appear frequently in the reflections people are bringing. Even highly experienced professionals are considering how they show up in senior environments, whether that involves contributing more clearly in high-stakes discussions, communicating with greater authority or holding their ground when navigating difficult conversations.
Leading through change
Many are also leading in contexts defined by change. From organisational transformation and team growth to evolving markets and new technologies, the pace of change is shaping the leadership challenges marketers face. In these environments, leaders are thinking carefully about how to guide teams through uncertainty while maintaining clarity, trust and momentum.
Strengthening marketing’s strategic voice
Alongside this sits a strong desire to strengthen marketing’s role within broader business conversations. Several marketers are focused on how to articulate the strategic and commercial value of marketing more clearly, ensuring that the discipline is recognised not only for delivery but for its contribution to long-term growth and direction.
A space for reflection
Perhaps most importantly, many applicants are seeking the opportunity to step back and reflect more intentionally on their leadership. In demanding roles where the focus is often on delivery, mentoring provides a valuable space to think more deliberately about influence, impact and the kind of leader they want to become.
What this year’s cohort highlights so clearly is the importance of continuing to invest in your growth at every stage of your career. Leadership rarely develops in a straight line, and even the most experienced professionals benefit from moments of reflection, challenge and fresh perspective. Programmes like this simply create space for those conversations to happen - and for leaders to keep learning from one another along the way.
Stacey Telford-Grimmer is Senior Membership Manager at The Marketing Society and manager of The Global Leadership Mentoring Programme.
