Ingrid Burton ─ balancing the art and science of marketing and technology for big results…
March 8, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Updated October 2022
Ingrid Burton
Marketing Executive,
Board Member & Advisor
(Previously — Chief Marketing Officer
Quantcast)
Are you looking for a marketing executive who blends art and science with creative “big ideas” and a focus on execution to deliver outstanding results? We know the person─Ingrid Burton!
Ingrid is a marketing executive who was previously CMO at Quantcast, a global advertising technology company that empowers brands, agencies and publishers to know and grow their audiences with an intelligent audience platform that gains it’s insights from live real-time data and AI and machine learning. She is a unique technology leader, as she bridges the gap between technology and marketing. With an educational foundation in math and computer science, she believes marketing is a blend of art and science to amplify the brand, drive demand (helping sales sell), and build communities and movements.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™—Ingrid Burton!
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?
They know that I love the outdoors, but what they don’t know I’d rather backpack miles, sleep under the stars, eat a freeze-dried meal in the dirt, than stay in a 4-star hotel. In fact, my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Desolation Wilderness for days and hiked, bagged peaks and just explored.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Probably 75-100K miles per year in a combination of business and personal travel.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
I’m not sure what we ate, but it was something “mushy” and quite interesting in Tanzania. I was polite and ate the whole thing.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I was given the opportunity to lead the Java Marketing efforts in the early 2000s at Sun Microsystems with just a few people on my team. I had a big idea (that was different than the prevailing wisdom), that resulted in a strategic plan that we shaped, formed and executed. It is now part of my playbook for every team that I lead. I clearly articulate the big idea, put together teams that can get it done, help remove all blockers and obstacles for the team, and then conquer and crush the goals of the big idea. It works every time and my teams know it and get it done.
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?
Early in my career, my manager/coach/mentor taught me everything about being a creative engineer. We worked side-by-side as equals in a raised floor computer room. Years later when moved into a product marketing engineering role (my big break into marketing), I had several encouraging mentors that showed me how to do product marketing. In all cases, the biggest lesson is that they believed I could, so I did.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
I wish I had known that I could do anything, be anyone. I wish I knew that I was smart enough too. I secretly wish I had gone to medical school and become a doctor.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I have an open email/text/Slack/Zoom policy. Anyone can reach me at any time. I meet with my teams on a regular basis on video, and make sure I know what they are working on and help them achieve their dreams and objectives. I also mentor college kids to help them get to their first job, and continue to coach them throughout their early years.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
I have had the opportunity to work in the AI and machine learning technology space now and over the last few years. I assert that everyone should know about the benefits of data plus AI. I have written about it, given talks, and want to amplify this message. We are in a new world with AI. If you are not aware of its potential, you and your business will be left behind.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I love words in books, articles, websites, speeches, etc. I aspire to be a better writer, so I continue to read and write more, in order to be able to communicate even better.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
In today’s very challenging world, I see my role as helping my company grow and stay one-step ahead of the competition.
