“I quite like doing scary stuff. I find I always move into something challenging and different,” Appearing on the  the latest episode of the Behind the Face of Success podcast, Pete Markey, CMO at Boots explained the importance of embracing the new and being open to trying things that might scare us.

Marketing leader and host Visha Kudhail embraced the back to school energy we all need in an expansive conversation  with Pete Markey, CMO at Boots and Tony Miller, Digital Marketing Consultant and Non-Executive Chair at the DMA. The trio discussed how they stay so well in tune with the marketing community by embracing the world around them. Ultimately, embracing what fuels them as people has been one of the largest contributing factors to their success within the industry.

Foundations of inspiration

Ever embracing something new, the pair met at an improv comedy course where CMOs put on a show for comic relief, which raised £30,000. “It's a really good shortcut to get to know people quicker. We  were airline pilots, rockstars, tennis pros.”

While the industry may know Markey and Miller for their achievements in the world of brand and marketing, it is their broader life  experiences that have shaped them.

Markey’s dad worked in the railways, which meant he  moved around the UK because of his Dads  work. He shared that he championed creativity throughout his life and was inspired by Star Wars at a young age. He found the  science fiction genre  exploded his imagination and attributes his interest in creativity to the interests his family encouraged.

Miller was born in New York, the youngest of three and was surrounded by education with both parents working as professors. He remembers conversations around the dinner table that delved into critical thinking and while he tried to reject it, ultimately his upbringing encouraged ambition and thinking in new, creative ways.

Going with your gut

“I get asked what was my masterplan and I could write it backwards but I couldn’t write it forwards,” shared Markey. The pair remarked on the fact they both ‘fell into’ marketing coming from more analytical, problem-solving backgrounds. “There’s a lot of being in the right place, grabbing opportunities and luck,” he shared.

“Be careful what you wish for, don’t be focused on this one road because you might miss a fork,” added Miller. He shared that his career in marketing has opened many doors and led to opportunities that have broadened his worldview. The pair champion not having a rigid plan, listening to their guts and going with the flow.

Embracing curiosity and change

In an industry that is changing at pace, Markey and Miller champion the importance of evolution.

“You need to keep evolving and not standing still. If you’re not evolving you get stuck,” says Markey. He shares that he does this by surrounding himself with people who are also evolving, think differently to him and challenge him to move forward.

Miller adds that keeping up with a rapid pace of change also takes confidence of ‘not being afraid to ask’ and embracing ‘the freedom to fail.’

The pair both feed their curiosity by consuming media, listening to podcasts, reading books, music and things to get the brain flowing. Ever embracing something new, Markey is taking a course on music improv, learning to make songs up on the spot. “All these things help you develop and push your creativity.” adds Markey, “It's healthy to indulge in things that get you thinking,” he adds.

“If you get someone outside of their own environment and into a creative environment it will spark ideas,” explains  Miller. Be it fringe theatre, art galleries, rollercoasters or even industry events, getting away from the desk creates moments of inspiration.

Learning from transition

Miller shares his experiences of being an American in London and shared his experience of living in Cambridge as a child. When the opportunity arose to move to London he grabbed it. “I was nervous, I had a lot of friends and community [in Seattle]” says Miller, but he found himself instantly at home.

“I didn’t stay in an expat community, I immersed myself in British culture and grew my network that way,” he says. Embracing his new surroundings and throwing himself into it. Markey reinforced that Miller is a natural at networking, complimenting that it is: “one of your superpowers.” The trio underlined the importance of building strong relationships within the industry and building up those around you.

Sharing experiences of loss, transition and coping with life changes, Markey and Miller champion adaptability. Throwing themselves at new things, being open to opportunity and being unafraid to do things that scare them, their attitudes to life have shaped their successes as leaders.