290: Becoming a Transformation Agent with Onriva’s George Corbin
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George Corbin )is a Board Director at Edgewell Personal Care) and is the COO of Onriva), a next-generation, AI-powered, travel marketplace.

In this episode, Alan and George talk about his career path, which includes consulting through the boom and bust of the internet, becoming Chief Digital Officer at Marriott, leading their digital transformation, and making his way to a position on Edgewell's board.

Throughout their conversation they discuss lessons learned through leading digital transformation, what that means for the marketing function, and marketers should think about leading a digital transformation. George says, “The best marketers are transformation agents,” and sometimes that means getting really good at being insightful with your customers and looking at the data. 

Listen in to hear more about digital transformations and the hot topics board members are currently discussing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Getting digital transformation right
• Making your company a growth engine 
• Opportunities for marketers on a board

Key Highlights:

• [02:00] George's wrestling match with an octopus 
• [04:10] George's start in marketing
• [10:34] Getting digital transformation right
• [18:57] Becoming a board director
• [21:48] Opportunities for marketers at the board level
• [26:11] Shifting to a mind of governance 
• [31:20] “Hot or not”—what boards are talking about
• [38:55] George's advice for CMOs
• [45:26] An experience that defines George, makes him who he is today 
• [48:33] George's advice to his younger self 
• [50:14] What marketers should be learning more about 
• [52:07] The brands and organizations George follows
• [55:42] The biggest threat or opportunity for marketers

Resources Mentioned: 

• George Corbin)
• Edgewell Personal Care)
• Onriva)
• Marriott)
• Mars)
• Kim Whitler on Marketing Today discussing marketers on boards)
• Kim's research: When and how Board Members with Marketing Experience Facilitate Firm Growth), by Kimberly A. Whitler, Ryan Krause, Donald R. Lehmann
• Stoicism) (Wikipedia)
• Obstacle is the Way), Ryan Holliday
• Brands George mentions: Alibaba), Shopify), Onriva)

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