High School
Take as many marketing classes as possible and join your school’s marketing club to learn more about the field. Brand strategists have top-notch oral and written communication skills, so it’s important to take English, writing, speech, and foreign language classes. Other recommended courses include digital design, psychology, mathematics, computer science, and social studies.
Postsecondary Education
You’ll need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to become a brand strategist. Many strategists have degrees in marketing, but others have degrees in psychology, advertising, communications, English, social media, or journalism. Regardless of your major, you must also take courses or earn certificates in brand strategy, brand management, and strategic communication. Some employers prefer candidates who have a master’s degree in one of these fields. Students typically participate in internships at marketing, public relations, advertising, or content creation firms to obtain hands-on experience.
Certification
Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificates in marketing, while a smaller number offer programs in brand strategy, brand management, and strategic communication. For example, Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois) offers a graduate certificate in brand management and an advanced certificate in brand strategy and digital marketing. The Fashion Institute of Technology (New York) offers a luxury and lifestyle brand strategy certificate. Contact schools in your area for information on available programs.
Other Education or Training
Classes in marketing, brand strategy, brand management, strategic communication, advertising, communication, social media writing, and other topics are offered by colleges and universities, professional associations, and online learning platforms. For example, the American Marketing Association offers Brand Strategy 101 and a Brand Management Essentials bootcamp. The eMarketing Association, Internet Marketing Association, Association of National Advertisers, and organizations at the local and state levels also provide continuing education opportunities.
- Accountants
- Brand Ambassadors
- Business Continuity Planners
- Business Development Managers and Directors
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Business Managers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Revenue Officers
- Chief Strategy Officers
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Copywriters
- Data Scientists
- Database Specialists
- Decision Scientists
- Digital Designers
- Digital Marketing Workers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Document Management Specialists
- Ergonomists
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Consultants
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Go-to-Market Managers
- Graphic Designers
- Green Marketers
- Growth Hackers
- Hedge Fund Investor Relations Specialists
- Human Resources Consultants
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- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Management Analysts and Consultants
- Marketing Automation Specialists
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