Leader’s Corner: Merinda Hillier, Tealium

Known for her intentional approach to career growth and her innovative marketing strategies, Merinda Hillier shares her journey, from navigating pivotal career transitions to embracing mentorship and building collaborative communities.

Merinda Hillier is the Vice President of Marketing for EMEA at Tealium, a leading company in the data management sector.

With a reputation among the marketing community for being a strategic thinker and an advocate for intentional career growth, Merinda has made a significant impact in the marketing landscape. Her approach to leadership and marketing is shaped by a deep commitment to learning, mentorship and building collaborative relationships.

Discover more about Hillier’s career and hear her insights in this Leader’s Corner interview recorded at The Studio.

Merinda Hillier: Leader’s Corner Insights

• The power of intentionality
• Marketing strategies: from broad brush to precision
• Navigating career transitions
• The importance of mentorship

The power of intentionality

Throughout her extensive career, Hilliers has emphasised the importance of being intentional. From her choice of study to her strategic career moves, she has consistently focused on identifying her gaps and pursuing opportunities to fill them. This intentionality has guided her in choosing the right companies and leaders to learn from, allowing her to develop a robust skill set.

“I think it's really important to be intentional about your plan so then you know what the steps are in order to get there,” she shares. Her direct approach to achieving her goals, which she attributes to her partly Australian background, has been a cornerstone of her success. Whether it's seeking a mentor or joining a company known for best practices, Hillier is always focused on growth and learning.

Marketing strategies: from broad brush to precision

In her current role at Tealium, Hillier has spearheaded a shift towards more targeted marketing strategies. Recognising the need to “do more with less,” she has embraced ABM, honing in on Tealium’s ideal customer profile (ICP) and focusing on strategic accounts.

This carefully curated approach has not only improved the quality of the sales pipeline but has also strengthened the relationship between sales and marketing within the organisation—a critical success factor in today’s competitive marketing landscape.

Navigating career transitions

One of the pivotal moments in Merinda’s career came when she transitioned from managing a large team to an individual contributor role in a larger organisation. While it initially seemed like a “step back,” Hillier viewed it as an intentional move to learn from the best. 

The decision ultimately paid off, as she gained invaluable experience that later propelled her into newer and better leadership opportunities. Hillier’s advice to others  in this situation is clear: “Look at the companies that do things well and even if you’re taking a slight step back… to learn, that’s a really important thing.”

The importance of mentorship 

Mentorship has been a crucial element of Hillier’s career development. She emphasises the need to seek out managers, sales partners and mentors who can provide guidance and support. This focus on mentorship, coupled with her belief in the power of community, has helped Hillier navigate the challenges of her career and build lasting, impactful relationships.

“I'm a big fan of bringing communities together and I think we need more of that in general.”

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.