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Career

How She Got There: Hope Neiman, CMO of ShoeDazzle

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Gennifer Delman

Name:  
Hope Neiman
 
Age:
old enough to have a daughter in college
 
Job Title and Description:  
Chief Marketing Officer, ShoeDazzle.  I lead a great team that finds ways to acquire customers, then give those customers great experiences when they get there.  We also have to look back and understand the numbers so we know what works and what doesn’t.  In short, I lead our PR, Creative, Product, Marketing, Business Development and Analytics teams, as well as engage in overall corporate strategy.

College/Major:
Wesleyan University/ Mathematics. Also have an MBA from Harvard

Website:
shoedazzle.com
 
Twitter Handle:
@hopien
 
What is a typical day like for you?
No two days are alike.  Too many meetings overall, but days filled with decisions on how to surprise and delight customers, help develop my team so they can in turn get their teams to develop and do more, and hopefully contribute to many “aha” moments for us all.
 
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it? 
I worked for Procter and Gamble in a program that combined sales and marketing.  Everyone wanted the marketing only jobs, but I am a far better marketer today because of that early sales experience.  I learned a lot about doing what is best for your customer from their perspective.  It was my college’s career guidance office that set up that first interview.

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better? 
Brigadier Harry Langstaff.  I had an opportunity to work for McKinsey and Company, a large international consulting firm. I was very naïve and uncultured.  He taught me confidence, set high goals and how to believe in myself—and more importantly, to at least sound like I believed what I was saying!
 
Is there a particular quote or mantra that you live by?
Always take a long look back.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it? 
I didn’t know when to back down when I should have.  Sometimes you can be right, but still lose the bigger prize.
 
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Helping our more junior staff grow.
 
What do you look for when considering hiring someone? 
Someone who really shows ways in which they took initiative, as well as a true problem solver.  I look for those who can find their way without a roadmap (or GPS).
 
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations? 
Keep your eyes open and take advantage of every opportunity afforded you.  Raising your hand to do the jobs others don’t want to not only get you noticed, they provide skills many others never gain.
 

 
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Gennifer is the Branded Content Specialist for Her Campus Media. In her role, she manages all sponsored content across platforms including editorial, social, and newsletters. As one of HC's first-ever writers, she previously wrote about career, college life, and more as a national writer during her time at Hofstra University. She also helped launch the How She Got There section, where she interviewed inspiring women in various industries. She lives in New York City.