Episode #57: The Journey to VP of Marketing Ops - Kimi Corrigan
What it means to be a MOPS executive and how to get there
Not many people make it to VP of Marketing Operations—Kimi Corrigan has done it twice. In this episode, she shares her journey from marketing coordinator to leading marketing ops at companies like Duo Security, Cisco, Wiz, Expel, and DataRobot. We dive into what it really takes to reach VP level, how to position yourself for leadership, and why marketing ops pros should start asking for that title.
Kimi also gets real about the challenges of scaling teams, navigating internal politics, and balancing the tactical with the strategic. We talk about how marketing ops has evolved, the role of data and strategy, and why building strong cross-functional relationships is just as important as knowing your way around a tech stack.
If you're a marketing ops pro wondering what’s next in your career—or how to level up—this one’s for you.
About Today's Guest
With over 19 years in marketing operations and leadership, Kimi Corrigan thrives on optimizing marketing strategies for efficiency and effectiveness.
Kimi has held marketing ops leadershiop roles at Duo Security, Cisco, Wiz, Expel, and DataRobot.
Key Topics
[00:53] - How Kimi got started in marketing operations
[03:04] - Early-generation marketing automation
[05:54] - How you know if MOPS is working well
[10:11] - Navigating people and organizational problems
[16:51] - Becoming a VP Marketing Ops
[22:31] - Operations and strategy
[33:47] - Composable stacks vs. suites
[37:51] - MOPS team structure
[39:50] - Planning cycle
Loved this episode! Kimi's journey shows how MOPS isn't just about tools it's about navigating people, processes and politics. The point about balancing tactical execution with strategic influence really stood out. how do you think the rise of composable stacks is reshaping the MOPS role? Are they giving teams more power or just adding complexity?