Marketing managers don’t exactly have it easy.

Too often, you find yourself caught between executive demands and your team’s realities, requiring you to make tough calls and manage a long list of priorities.

If you can relate to this scenario, you need to hear from Edessa Polzin, PCM, Director of Strategic Partnership, American Marketing Association, who’s the speaker of our next event that’ll cover this very subject coming up March 4, 2025 at 3 PM at MYArts.

If you can join us, you’ll hear Edessa’s expert tips for developing your team and improving your effectiveness, plus actionable templates for communicating with leadership. She’ll even share the new AMA skills research that’ll enlighten us on this topic even further.

You can learn more about the event and register here.

But in the meantime, get a preview of what to expect at the event in the Q&A conversation below with Edessa:

What to expect: Q&A with Edessa Polzin, PCM

1. AMA: Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

Edessa: I’m a marketing practitioner who’s spent the better part of my career navigating that tricky space between executive expectations and team realities. I’ve worked across B2B and B2C environments, working with different teams through digital transformations, staffing and budget changes, and the constantly changing marketing trends and channels. Currently, my role focuses on forging high-impact partnerships to empower marketing practitioners with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.

2. AMA: Managing from the middle often means juggling multiple priorities. How do you prioritize tasks and ensure nothing falls through the cracks?

Edessa: I live by what I call “impact-based prioritization.” Rather than just tackling what’s urgent, I assess tasks based on their business impact and alignment with strategic goals. I’ve found that creating clear communication cadences—both up and down the org chart—prevents things from falling through the cracks. Weekly team huddles, bi-weekly leadership updates, and a solid project management system (a notebook or a Google doc to track what you’re doing is a system that works wonders) are non-negotiables. The key is being intentional about what gets your attention and having systems that flag potential issues before they become fires that need fighting.

3. AMA: As a preview of your presentation, what’s one piece of advice would you give to marketing managers who are just starting out and looking to make a significant impact in their roles?

Edessa: Learn to translate. Marketing managers who make the biggest impact aren’t just good at executing campaigns—they’re exceptional translators. They can take executive strategy and translate it into actionable team priorities. They can take campaign metrics and translate them into business outcomes that leadership cares about. This translation skill is what separates managers who simply maintain from those who truly advance their organizations and careers.

4. AMA: What is a big takeaway people can expect if they attend the event?

Edessa: Attendees will walk away with practical frameworks for having both types of crucial conversations: upward communication that resonates with leadership and developmental discussions that empower their teams. These aren’t just theoretical concepts—they’re battle-tested approaches backed by AMA’s latest marketing skills research. You’ll leave with templates you can implement immediately to increase your effectiveness and, honestly, maintain your sanity while navigating the challenging middle ground of marketing management.

See You March 4 at MYArts!

If you haven’t yet, register here. We can’t wait to learn and network with you.

Location: MYArts, 1055 E Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703

Thank you to our sponsor(s)