Leaders Perception Magazine is currently running an interview series called – Navigating the Dynamic Seas of Modern Marketing & Branding
Today, we had the opportunity to interview Paige Arnof-Fenn – Founder & CEO @ Mavens & Moguls.
Thank you so much for joining us today! We are thrilled to have Paige Arnof-Fenn, the Founder & CEO of Mavens & Moguls, with us. Paige’s journey to entrepreneurship was unexpected, as she initially aspired to work for a global business and become a Fortune 500 CEO. However, after a successful career in Corporate America and experiencing the aftermath of 9/11, Paige took the leap and started her own global marketing business. She now enjoys the autonomy, flexibility, and the ability to make a direct impact on her business every day.
In this interview, we will delve into the significant shifts Paige has observed in the marketing and branding landscape over the past year and how businesses should adapt to them. Additionally, we will explore how she balances the need for data and analytics with the creative aspects of marketing and branding in the era of data-driven marketing. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the conversation with Paige Arnof-Fenn!
Interviewee Name: Paige Arnof-Fenn
Company: Mavens & Moguls
Paige Arnof-Fenn ‘s favourite quote: I love the quote “people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” it has been attributed to many people including Teddy Roosevelt. I like it and find it helpful because it is a simple reminder even (maybe especially) online to listen more than talk, show empathy and try to look at the situation from another perspective. The goal is not to wear them down or impress them with your smarts. In business the goal is to connect, communicate clearly, solve the problem and move on. You don’t get to decide how someone else feels.
The Interview
Thank you so much for joining us today! Tell us a little bit about yourself. What is your backstory?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : I did not plan on starting a company. I always wanted to go work for a global business and be a Fortune 500 CEO. When I was a student I looked at leaders like Meg Whitman & Ursula Burns as my role models. I started Mavens & Moguls after beginning my career on Wall Street in the 80s and having a successful career in Corporate America at companies like Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola and then working at 3 different startups as the head of marketing. I took the leap right after 9/11 when the company I worked for cut their marketing. I had nothing to lose. Running a global marketing business provides me a platform to do work I truly enjoy with and for people I respect. I get to set my priorities, I have time to travel and hang out with my inner circle, and work out every day. It has been a journey to get here but I am lucky to have found it. I love the autonomy, flexibility and the fact that I know every day the impact that I have on my business. When I worked at big companies I always felt the ball would roll with or without me, that if I got hit by a bus someone new would be in my office right away. Now my DNA is in everything we do and I can trace every decision and sale to something I did or a decision I made and that is incredibly gratifying and fulfilling. Like most entrepreneurs, I am working harder and longer than ever and I have never been happier. Working for yourself and building a business you started in incredibly rewarding and gratifying. It has been a lot of fun, I joke that I am the accidental entrepreneur. I knew I had made it as an entrepreneur when Harvard wrote 2 case studies on my business a few years after I started it, we were very early to pioneer sharing resources on the marketing front (before my company it was really only done with HR, legal and accounting/finance).
What’s the most significant shift you’ve observed in the marketing and branding landscape in the last year, and how should businesses adapt to it?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : Clients now recognize that market research is more important now than ever! Whatever we thought we knew or understood before Covid about our customers and market must now be checked because the world has changed so much. Before you spend anything you need to conduct market research! When real customers are willing to pay real money for your product or service, you have a real business. Marketing now requires creative thinking and problem solving skills along with a high degree of comfort using data analytics to track and measure success which are critical as we navigate the new reality of life with AI and ChatGPT.
In the era of data-driven marketing, how do you balance the need for data and analytics with the creative aspects of marketing and branding?
Paige Arnof-Fenn : I started my marketing career at Procter & Gamble where they drill into you the importance of customer data to make decisions. The job of data is to be a support point to accelerate the sales cycle. It does not matter what you, your friends and family like it is all about your target audience and what motivates them to purchase. At P&G we did lots of customer satisfaction monitors, quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (focus group) research over months but as a small business owner you have to be scrappy and work fast with a limited budget. Start with the fundamentals: Who are you and why should anyone care? If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, then why should anyone else be? There’s a lot of noise in every category, so if you don’t have a unique story to tell and a new approach or idea that excites you, then go no further. Every great business is built on a great story so start telling yours to potential customers and see if they buy what you’re selling.
Leaders Perception would like to thank Paige Arnof-Fenn and Mavens & Moguls for the time dedicated to completing this interview and sharing their valuable insights with our readers!
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