Marina Arnaout is Customer Success Director with Marin Software in London, U.K., where she helps clients transform their digital strategies and manage multi-million business plans. She previously held roles in emerging Canadian and Latin American markets, where she became Regional Head of Digital at SAS Software, a global analytics company. Arnaout was the youngest person at SAS to hold that managerial role internationally.
When she isn’t working, she is actively involved in the non-profit and mentorship sector. She helped raise over $500,000 for SickKids Hospital and helped launch a Clinton Foundation chapter in Toronto, the first of its kind outside the United States.
Arnaout was named as one of Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30, and Toronto Stock Exchange Future Leaders 150. Women’s Post sat down with her to talk about her role, her career path, and her advice for young businesswomen trying to break the mold.
Question: You went from studying communications to business in university – why the change?
Answer: I decided to pursue a postgraduate degree in business management to enhance my real life business knowledge with critical thinking and academic frameworks, as well as to expand my knowledge of various business pillars.
What was your first job following graduation?
I started in tech helping a Microsoft Partner go to market with a brand new product, and have been in the industry since then.
When you entered SAS as a manager, what was it that led to your growth and promotion to Regional Head?
To put it into a formula – my own drive and determination paired with skills, and the guidance of a fantastic manager.
Was it intimidating to hold a managerial role at a young age and being one of the youngest in the organization to do so? How did you overcome that?
To be honest – no, it wasn’t. It felt like a very natural progression, and I had an amazing team.
With such a strong position, why move on to Marin three years later?
SAS is a fantastic organization on many levels, and my previous role helped me solidify my professional direction. That being said, I’m also a firm believer in stepping outside of your comfort zone and taking risks, so when an opportunity comes up to go to London, UK to work with enterprises across Europe, you don’t say no.
Can you describe your role with Marin Software?
As a Customer Success Director, I work with some of Marin Software’s biggest clients. I help them develop digital strategies and embrace the benefits of software especially those focused on customer intelligence and cross channel behaviour.
You are finishing your Master’s part time – why return to school with such a successful career?
If anything that’s the reason to do so! The executive global business management programme at LSE has been an amazing experience so far and I highly recommend postgraduate studies for anyone wanting to expand their horizons.
Obviously, mentorship and community engagement is really important to you – why is that?
Making an impact in both business and community drives my purpose and passions. I think that the more you achieve, the more responsibility there is to give back. So far, I’ve helped raise over $500 000 for a children’s hospital, helped expand the first ever Clinton Foundation 20/30 event outside the US, and currently sit on a UNICEF Next Gen committee in London. I recommend finding what you’re passionate about and dedicating time to it.
What do you do to help women?
Mentorship through involvement with organizations such as Tech London Advocates.
What advice do you have to young women entering business, struggling to get noticed?
Read – read the news, read business books, read fiction books. It will expand your vocabulary, make you more articulate, and give you confidence to not only keep up but also meaningfully contribute to conversations around you.
What are you reading right now?
Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson
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