Ops Cast The MOps Leap: Transitioning into Strategic Marketing Roles with Rick Collins
May 26, 2025
In this conversation with Rick Collins, Vice President of Demand Generation at ConnectWise, he details his unique journey from IT to marketing leadership. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and relationship-building in career growth. Rick shares invaluable lessons on navigating transitions within organizations, managing change, and expanding influence. He discusses the balance between technical skills and business acumen in hiring, as well as the complexities of moving from a contributor to a leader. This dialogue is packed with insights for anyone looking to advance in marketing operations.
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Rick's Unconventional IT Start
- Rick Collins started in IT with no tech background and learned coding and systems on the job, transitioning from QA to software implementation.
- He bridged technical systems and non-technical users, which helped him later in marketing operations roles.
Curiosity Fuels Career Growth
- Cultivate natural curiosity to dig deeper and learn independently in marketing operations.
- Use questioning and self-driven problem solving to develop valuable technical skills and innovation.
Found the 'Unicorn' Role
- Rick's extensive interviews revealed the need to balance technical expertise and business connection.
- He fit the "unicorn" role blending both, which won the confidence of the CMO at ConnectWise.