“Be confident from the beginning,” Michele Barlow from Bank of America

Meet Michele Barlow, EVP, Marketing at Bank of America where she leads all creative strategy, development, and execution, as well as all media and local markets, global sponsorship, content, and owned channels marketing. Michele also leads the bank’s award-winning in-house advertising agency. Michele has launched partnerships with organizations around the globe who are addressing some of the world’s most pressing social issues today, including (RED), Khan Academy, and the Special Olympics. Her team has garnered several industry accolades for their work, including Financial Communications Society and Communicator awards. Michele and her team also earned the coveted Cannes Lions Award for the bank’s work with (RED) and U2, supporting the mission to end the spread of AIDS. 

Michele is a member of the bank’s LEAD for Women network, focused on leadership, education, advocacy, and development for women and is an executive mentor. She also serves on the Boards of the Association of National Advertisers Education Foundation and the Ad Council.

Michele joined us in our Pass the Mic booth at Cannes Lions where she sat down with Nidia Serrano, Vice President, Sales Marketing, to discuss the lessons she’s learned in her career. Listen to her full interview below, then check out some highlights from the conversation. 

Be confident from the beginning.

Highlight: “I read a quote once, and it stuck with me. It said, 'Confidence is more important than competence.' And you need both, right? You absolutely need both. But what I would say to my younger self is, 'Be confident right from the beginning.' You might be different from somebody. You might have a different skill set. You might be going for a stretch. You'll have the confidence to say, 'I can do it. If I fall down, I'm going to get up again.'” - Michele Barlow

Promote your work.

Highlight: “Do the best job you can. Promote your work. Don't be afraid to promote your work… Again, especially in a big company, you do have to have a voice now, and I learned that along the way, as well. I think many times, to your point, because I let others take the spotlight, I probably didn't get credit for what I was doing, or perhaps it contributed to what I was just talking about. So I am a big proponent for celebrating others, but don't forget about yourself.” - Michele Barlow

Find your board of directors.

Highlight: “Your board of directors is a trusted group of people. They can be colleagues; they can be people in your personal life, but there are people that are going to advocate for you when you're not in the room. An opportunity comes up and somebody might say, 'I know exactly who could do that job. I know exactly who could take that project.'” - Michele Barlow

Say it in the moment.

Highlight: “I think it's really difficult as a leader, if you're waiting for a mid-year performance review or a year end review, to say, ‘I need to talk to you about something.’ Immediate, in the moment, it's received better because people are remembering. Actually, I did do that, I did say that, or I didn't do that… That's something that I really take to heart. And I do think people are better for it.” - Michele Barlow

Go back to the feedback.

Highlight: “I really value teamwork. My team will tell you that, I don't ask them to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. We roll up our sleeves together, problem solving. And along the way, I've worked for folks who haven't really embraced that. So on the positive side, what I've also learned is I'm going to go right back to the feedback.” - Michele Barlow

Michele’s confidence and ability to dig deep are parts of what make her a great leader and a changemaker for the future. Check out other Pass the Mic content for more inspiration.