Alan See, the Chief Marketing Officer at CMO Temps, LLC, is an accomplished leader with a proven track record of success. Holding both a BBA and an MBA from Abilene Christian University, Mr. See has established himself as a highly capable executive who consistently delivers on his goals.
Beyond his role as CMO, Mr. See is also the founder and owner of CMO Temps, where he takes a hands-on approach, ensuring the company remains aligned with his core strengths and values. He is not one to waste time on initiatives that don’t resonate with him or his team, believing that passion and commitment are critical to the development and execution of any marketing strategy.
Mr. See has earned significant recognition in the marketing world, having been listed by Forbes as one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Chief Marketing Officers on Social Media.” Additionally, he was named the American Marketing Association’s “Marketer of the Year” in both content and social media marketing. He has also held the position of Associate Professor of Marketing and remains an active blogger and speaker, sharing his expertise with organizations seeking to drive profitable growth. Recently, he was honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who.
Sales Foundations in Marketing
Mr. See’s career began in sales, where he gained hands-on experience as both an individual contributor and a sales manager responsible for territory and quota management. This early exposure to the pressures of sales provides him with a unique understanding of the challenges faced by sales teams in meeting their objectives. Throughout his career as a management consultant and CMO, Mr. See has worked with high-profile companies like IBM, Cap Gemini, Teradata, SAS Institute, NCR Corporation, and AT&T, along with startups and small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) lacking a global presence.
Tailoring Solutions for Client Needs
Mr. See has a strong belief in the value of listening to clients to truly understand their challenges and goals. Recognizing that many businesses may not be ready for a full-time Chief Marketing Officer, he created CMO Temps as a flexible solution that provides experienced marketing leadership without the commitment of a permanent hire. This model offers agility, leveraging a network of skilled freelancers to fill gaps in expertise while keeping costs low and the organization nimble.
Building Trust in Business Relationships
In B2B environments, relationships are key. Mr. See emphasizes that trust is the foundation upon which all transactions are built, and it’s critical for brands to cultivate rapport, credibility, and reduce perceived risk in order to strengthen trust. To do so, he applies his “Trust Equation,” which asserts that:
Trust = (Rapport x Credibility) / Risk
By delivering valuable content and engaging through social media, Mr. See helps organizations enhance their trustworthiness and brand visibility, ensuring that consistent efforts in these areas translate into long-term growth.
Company Culture and Change Management
The culture within a company is crucial for the successful adoption of new ideas and strategies. Mr. See believes that any attempt to introduce change can be thwarted by an existing culture resistant to innovation. Drawing on his experiences from both the United States Naval Academy and Abilene Christian University, where values like honor and faith shaped his worldview, he stresses the importance of understanding and navigating a company’s culture before implementing any transformative initiatives.
Three Pillars of Innovation
For Mr. See, innovation is key to growth and success. He identifies three core principles that fuel innovation within organizations:
- Resources – While it may seem obvious, a lack of investment often stifles good ideas. Limited resources (time, money, and people) require a strategic focus on the most promising initiatives to maximize impact.
- Persistence – Ideas may not always gain immediate traction. Overcoming resistance from colleagues or stakeholders is often part of the process, and persistence is necessary to push through challenges. In some cases, external resources may be brought in to accelerate progress.
- Learning Culture – Fostering an environment where failure is seen as a learning opportunity is essential for innovation. Encouraging risk-taking, continuous learning, and experimentation are necessary for a culture that thrives on fresh ideas and critical thinking.
The Power of Teamwork and Accountability
Mr. See believes that teamwork drives success, embodying the philosophy that “Together Everyone Achieves More.” Through his extensive study of team dynamics, he highlights the importance of understanding team stages—forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. He also draws attention to the Abilene Paradox, a concept developed by Professor Jerry B. Harvey that explores how group decision-making can lead to poor outcomes. In business, while teams often share responsibility, success or failure is frequently attributed to an individual, underscoring the importance of personal accountability.
Guidance for Aspiring Leaders
Reflecting on his early career, when formal business attire was the norm and tools like Zoom, smartphones, and social media didn’t exist, Mr. See acknowledges how much the business landscape has changed. As an early adopter of LinkedIn, joining the platform in 2002, he has embraced the digital age, recognizing the transformative power of social media and content marketing in today’s business environment.
Mr. See offers this advice to emerging leaders: “Accelerate your learning. In today’s fast-paced world, most organizations operate with short-term goals, so it’s important to quickly grasp the market, systems, culture, and products you’re working with. As a marketer, continuous learning is essential. And never stop nurturing your personal brand, as it’s a vital part of building a successful career.”
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