Marketer Spotlight: Barbara Pamplin

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Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): In our Marketer Spotlight series, we’re sharing quick insights from top marketing leaders in the SUM community. We sat recently sat down with Barbara Pamplin, a seasoned marketing leader with over 25 years of experience, to explore why vulnerability is a key marketing tool, what fuels her leadership, and why community matters so much.

Barbara Pamplin is an author, speaker, coach, and member of the SUM Advisory Board, with experience driving marketing innovation at Microsoft, Unilever Bestfoods, and Johnson & Johnson.

Her deep expertise spans brand and digital marketing, from creative development and media planning to SEO/SEM and email marketing. At Microsoft, she played a pivotal role in crafting relationship marketing strategies for Azure Marketplace, launching the first-ever global online sales channel for Office 365, and driving the performance marketing strategy for the Office for iPad launch. Her innovative work also includes spearheading the creative development for the Xbox One launch and pioneering mobile marketing strategies across Microsoft’s global marketing landscape.

Barbara’s unique perspective as a Black woman with hidden disabilities enriches her nuanced approach to marketing, making her a go-to consultant for startup marketers and nonprofit leaders looking to navigate the complexities of launching new offerings and entering new markets as well as those who seek to generate positive social impact while achieving financial sustainability.

1. Why did you join the SUM Advisory Board?

I believe in community, not individualism. When people come together, learning expands, progress accelerates, and lifelong bonds are forged. This is why I joined the SUM Advisory Board and its the community connections that I am most excited about.

2. One piece of advice you’d give your younger marketing self?

Believe in yourself no matter what!

3. What’s the most underrated marketing tool in your toolkit?

The most underrated marketing tool in my toolkit is vulnerability. While data, analytics, and technology are often emphasized, the power of genuine vulnerability is unmatched. Sharing our intimate stories connects us with other humans on an emotional level, builds trust, and differentiates you and whatever you offer in a crowded market. It’s not just about selling—it’s about sharing experiences, values, and journeys that resonate with people, making them feel seen and understood. This tool, when used effectively, can turn customers into loyal advocates.

4. What’s your marketing superpower?

My marketing superpower is my ability to connect deeply with diverse audiences through compassionate listening and authentic storytelling.

5. What’s your go-to resource for staying ahead of marketing trends?

Honestly, my main resource is humanity itself lol. I pay attention to what people are doing and saying, how they are behaving, and what’s impacting them to look ahead to how things could change. People watching with an open heart and mind IRL is a treasure trove. Then I go to LinkedIn or the usual players to gather data that supports or refines my gut.