I left Coca-Cola for a scale-up: here's what nobody tells you | Kerttu Inkeroinen, CMO @luckysaint

Choosing a marketing role requires balancing your growth goals with company culture. Learn how to navigate big brands versus scale-ups. Kerttu Inkeroinen, CMO at ‪@luckysaintbeer‬ , joins us to break down the differences between working at global FMCG giants like Coca-Cola and Kimberly-Clark versus agile scale-ups. If you are debating your next career move, this discussion provides the framework to assess which environment aligns with your professional ambitions. We analyze the specific skills required for each path and how to position yourself for leadership roles. Kerttu shares her perspective on what makes a successful career trajectory, helping you decide if you thrive in established corporate structures or fast-paced entrepreneurial environments. By the end of this conversation, you will have a clearer strategy for choosing a marketing role that fits your long-term objectives. This is essential viewing for anyone navigating marketing career advice or looking to transition between company types. Whether you are aiming for a CMO career path or just starting, understanding these dynamics is crucial for advancement. Subscribe for weekly marketing leadership breakdowns, and comment below: are you currently leaning toward a big brand or a scale-up? + 00:00 — Welcome 00:37 — Welcome Kerttu, CMO at Lucky Saint 03:02 — Big corporate vs. scale-up environments 08:54 — It's not always a binary choice 10:46 — Questions to ask when evaluating a new role or company 16:16 — Self-reflection exercise 18:19 — “City vs. countryside” 21:20 — What large organisations do well 24:29 — Reflections career choices: breadth vs. depth 27:07 — Overcoming imposter syndrome 32:51 — Advice for a solo marketers 35:33 — Practical tips for applications 41:41 — Pushing for more senior roles mid-career 46:27 — Questions to ask before accepting a scale-up offer 49:20 — Realities and risks of working in scale-ups 53:05 — Navigating compensation expectations 55:51 — Collect experiences, build networks, enjoy the journey + If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps us reach more marketers like you. Join 35,000+ marketers getting our weekly newsletter (it's free): https://themarketingmeetup.com/newsle... Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QvmFdx... + The Marketing Meetup thrives for many reasons, but one of the crucial reasons we're able to do what we do is because we have the support of some incredible individuals from some equally inspiring companies. Below is the list of our partners in crime: our amigos. All we have to say is a big, massive, thank you. Cambridge Marketing College + Frontify + Planable + Mailchimp + Wistia + Prismic + Canva