The Lie of the Career Ladder: Kathleen Ross on Finding Freedom, Leadership, and AI

What if the career ladder you’ve been climbing… isn’t actually taking you where you want to go? This week on Marketing Your Way, I’m joined by Kathleen Ross — award-winning CMO, creative leader, and fractional brand strategist — for a real and refreshing conversation about what it really takes to build a career that aligns with your life. From publishing to product launches, from corporate burnout to reinvention, Kathleen has seen it all. She’s worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands — BMW, Vera Wang, MONAT — and now helps marketing teams navigate creative leadership and AI innovation on their own terms. We talk about: 1️⃣ Why the traditional “career ladder” is a myth (and what your career probably looks like instead) 2️⃣ Kathleen’s transition from publishing to global marketing leadership 3️⃣ The hard lessons burnout taught her — and how she rebuilt her career with intention 4️⃣ The realities of entrepreneurship vs. corporate (spoiler: neither is the “easy” path) 5️⃣ How AI is changing the game for marketers — and why women must be part of the conversation Plus: Tap dancing, side hustles, leadership lessons, and how to stay creatively inspired when life gets loud. Connect with Kathleen: · Instagram: @kathleenrosscreative · LinkedIn: Kathleen Ross · Website: www.kathleenrosscreative.com   Resources & Mentions: ✔️Book: Time Traps by Todd Duncan* ✔️FloDesk — the easiest, most beautiful email marketing platform out there. Stunning templates, simple automation, and no list limits. Get 50% off your first year: Sign up here Join the Marketing Your Way Community This free Facebook group is for women in marketing and creative roles who want to stay inspired, supported, and sharp — no pressure to start a business, just real talk, creative trends, and honest conversations about what’s working. Inside the group, we: ✔️ Share campaign wins and lessons learned ✔️ Trade resources, tools, and automation tips ✔️ Host casual Zoom chats and brainstorm sessions ✔️ Support each other’s growth — whatever that looks like Come as you are → Join here Liked This Episode? Leave a review, share with a friend, or tag us on Instagram @anastasiia_mann to tell us your favorite takeaway. Subscribe & Review Don’t miss what’s next — hit follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a fellow marketer who’s quietly dreaming of what’s next. *This is an affiliate link - I only recommend tools I use and love. Episode Website