The GenHERation^® 5 Questions series features our exclusive interviews with the most powerful women in the world to provide you with actionable advice on how to navigate your career path.

Lisa Pillette is the Chief Marketing Officer of Fossil Group.

What do you know now that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career? 

My career was built on relationships. Each opportunity led to the next because I had developed authentic connections and my business contributions always delivered impact. Building relationships early on is crucial because you grow with your peers and learn from them and your former bosses. The industry moves quickly, so your community and network’s diversity and integrity will be a touchstone of your success.

Which high school or college class best prepared you for your professional career?  

Long ago, I pursued a postgraduate doctorate in clinical psychology before deciding to return to business. In marketing, I was able to apply the drivers of motivation on a broader scale – understanding what people want versus what they need. This helped me deliver solutions that people love and remember, even if they haven’t articulated their needs. Understanding people’s needs and desires are different things, and delivering both allows you to solve problems and build desirability.

What is the go-to question you ask interview candidates? 

I like to know what people are proud of in their careers and why. This allows me to see what drives them – whether it’s business impact, teamwork, or creativity. You can tell a lot about what motivates someone’s sense of success and if they become a member of your team; work with them to deliver projects that stimulate them and their engagement.

What is the biggest risk you have taken? 

In my 30s, I left a great job at one of the best advertising agencies working for my client and became my team’s client overnight. It was controversial and uncomfortable, but it was the best move I made because I was pursuing the business of brand building beyond communication strategies. They are still close to me and in the end, it proved to be the right decision because I understood their perspective better and was also, simultaneously able to represent the needs of the brand more effectively. Understanding others’ perspectives is the basis of empathetic decision making.

What is your genius?

I deliver marketing that hopefully doesn’t feel like marketing. It’s authentic to the consumer and to the brand, and it feels human. This is why I have loved heritage brands like Fossil. The brand has held an authentic place in people’s lives; often, it was someone’s first watch that was a gift from a loved one or something they bought for themselves. This personal relationship is the basis for real experiences and programs that continue to build on real, meaningful memories and often speak to the brand’s role in culture.

You can learn from more of the most powerful women in the world here.