The ability to move fast is the best skill to have right now for Jenny Taylor, vice president of marketing at Salomon.
“Disruption for us is moving just as fast as the brand is growing,” Taylor told FN. “It sounds so simple, but the ability to move fast in a smart way and make decisions and empower your teams to continue to make progress are the best soft skills to have right now.”
Those skills came in handy for Taylor when Salomon started to build out its own retail stores about 18 months ago, she noted. “We had an incredibly small team at the time, so the challenge was to find the skill sets to work fast and to make sure we were aligned with the brand strategy globally to deliver what customers wanted from Salomon at retail,” she explained. “We went through a lot of trial and error, and it bonded us as a team, and it was incredible.”
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The executive said that mentors have played an important role in where she is today in her career. “What’s worked for me is finding people who inspire me and that I want to learn from, and just asking for feedback,” Taylor said. “I ask them to get coffee or ask them to sit in on something that I want to practice. You have to make it your responsibility to seek that mentor out and not just wait for the perfect mentorship program or that perfect person to come along.”
Other advice Taylor has for young professionals is to keep showing up and to be consistent. “If you’re in a role or working with a brand you really believe in, it’s important to stay the course,” she said. “I would also say to surround yourself with people who will advocate for you when you’re not around. You know, what are they saying about you and your work when you’re not in the room? This is so important.”
A version of this article appeared in the June 1 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 3, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation honored these women at the annual live event in New York City.
