Leader’s Corner: Julie Burton-Brown, Soldo

Julie Burton Brown shares her journey of adaptability, creativity and the importance of community in driving marketing success in this Leader's Corner interview.

Julie Burton Brown, Head of Revenue Marketing EMEA at Soldo, has built a remarkable career on the foundation of versatility and a relentless growth mindset. With experience across various industries, she has successfully navigated the complexities of marketing, leading transformative initiatives and fostering a strong sense of community within the profession.

Leader's Corner insights with Julie Burton-Brown:

• Embracing versatility in marketing
• The power of a growth mindset
• Spearheading transformative projects
• The value of community and networking

Embracing versatility in marketing

For Julie Burton Brown, versatility is the cornerstone of her success in the marketing world. As a leader at Soldo, a fintech company, she has leveraged her diverse background across industries such as ERP, security, identity, and now fintech, to bring a fresh perspective to each new challenge. 

"I think versatility is what you need to [have]," she explains. "You need to adapt to different circumstances." This adaptability has been a key factor in her ability to thrive in various marketing disciplines, from product marketing to digital strategy, and even running her own consultancy.

The power of a growth mindset

Brown's success isn't just about versatility; it is also rooted in a growth mindset. She believes in staying open to new ideas and attacking challenges with vigour. "Having a growth mindset, just being open to everything, anything and everything, and just attack it with vigour—that's what's needed," she says. 

This mindset has driven her to constantly innovate and encourage her team to experiment, even if it means risking failure. "Try new things but fail fast," she advises. By using data to make informed decisions and remaining flexible, Brown ensures that her team stays aligned with their objectives.

Spearheading transformative projects

One of Brown's most significant achievements was scaling Soldo's SDR (Sales Development Representative) team from 10 to 70 within 12 months. "Scaling an SDR team is not a quick process," she notes, highlighting the complexities involved in recruiting the right talent, ensuring effective sales enablement, and maintaining team morale. 

Despite the challenges, the project had a substantial impact on Soldo's revenue, showcasing Brown's ability to lead transformative initiatives. "It was a project that I spearheaded, and I'm really proud of it because the difference it made to the organisation's revenue was huge."

The value of community and networking

For Brown, the value of marketing goes beyond the work itself—it’s about the community and the exchange of ideas. She emphasises the importance of learning from others, particularly through networking events and thought leadership forums. 

"Hearing from B2B and B2C organisations in terms of what's really working for them is great because you go away with ideas that you can take back and put into practice," she shares. Brown finds immense value in connecting with other marketing professionals, noting that it’s easy to get "head down" in daily tasks but crucial to "sit up, look around, and absorb new ideas."

In an era dominated by digital interactions, Brown underscores the importance of face-to-face connections. "We hide behind laptops, we hide behind AI, but actually getting face-to-face with the community element is fantastic," she remarks. For her, these interactions are invaluable, providing both personal and professional growth opportunities.

Watch the full Leader’s Corner interview with Julie Burton-Brown.

Leader's Corner: check out our line-up of HotTopics Leaders Profile interviews.

HotTopics produces interviews with a diverse array of leaders, C-suite marketing and technology leaders. These take place in-person during our much-anticipated flagship event, The Studio, and virtually with leaders based all over the world. Learn more about what makes these leaders tick, and their experiences and expertise that have supported them in their careers so far.