Julie Parrish ─ Dynamic go-to-market executive delivering compelling business outcomes for customers, partners and investors...
June 23, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Updated June 3, 2022
Julie Parrish
Chief Marketing Officer
Corelight, Inc.
(Previously—On Sabbatical)
Are you looking for an inspirational leader who can deliver compelling business outcomes through an energized concentration on customers, partners and investors? We know the person – Julie Parrish!
Julie Parrish is one of Silicon Valley’s top go-to-market executives across a diverse set of market segments, technologies, and functions. Not only is she revered as a global leader with experience in sales, marketing and operations, but also for translating technology into corporate narratives, developing talent and building efficient, scalable organizations. She is currently recharging on a short sabbatical and catching up with friends over her favorite bourbons and hamburgers.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Julie Parrish!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
Despite my outbound nature, public speaking reputation and general gift of gab, I am a classic introvert. This always seems to surprise people until they realize that I tend to disappear from most professional outings and dinners rather early!
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Since the early 2000’s I have typically flown more than 200,000 miles per year. I have always been a big believer in getting out to the edge of where business is done and building an outside in perspective to better shape program, product and other strategies.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
As I crisscrossed the globe over the years, there are several things that are now on my “I Won’t Eat That list”. I ate chopped (live) duck heart that was advertised as Beef with Broccoli in Beijing. And I ate spiced, shredded pig intestine that appeared to be a carrot salad in Chengdu.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
Very early in my career I was asked to participate in a task force at Hewlett-Packard that was focused on understanding the cost to serve of various channel types, including direct sales. This became the foundation for how I later approached the economics of developing a partner ecosystem for 3Com, Veritas, Symantec, and NetApp.
A second key experience was leading the marketing and partner integration tracks for the Symantec/Veritas acquisition in 2005. At this time, only Microsoft, Oracle and SAP had greater software sales than Symantec and Veritas’ combined business. To this day, I still leverage the frameworks and processes that I used from that experience.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I often joke that I have many mentors that never knew they were (or are) my mentors! I have built a broad network of people over the years that I seek out on specific topics, or that I have observed “in action” in particular roles. I also have a few people that I continue to tap for insight and perspective on career goals and options.
The biggest lesson I have learned from key mentors over the years is that you must ask for what you want in terms of career advancement.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Be present during the journey - enjoy the people and experiences you will have along the way.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
Social Media and alumni programs are great platforms for maintaining current and establishing new connections. Both of these channels have opened up numerous opportunities for me to participate in mentoring programs and connect with mentees.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
Creating the narrative, business case and multi-year use of proceeds plan to secure funding for a cybersecurity start-up.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
Knowing which technologies are most relevant to “how” I get certain aspects of my job done is most critical to me right now. This is true whether I’m looking at how to improve web traffic conversion, sales productivity, technical support case management, or storytelling.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
Navigating a distributed but connected workforce with employees that are all individually in a different place when it comes to readiness to travel and meet face to face.
