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Renette Youssef knew from an early age that she wanted to travel the world. Growing up in Australia, she remembers telling friends and family at age 11 that she wanted to live in different countries and experience their unique cultures.
Renette Youssef
Is it any surprise then that Renette is now a natural born traveler? “I did the math and visited over 35 countries, some multiple times,” she says.
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Of course, at such a young age, she couldn’t possibly have known that her desire to venture out into the world would play a big part in her success later in life as Chief Marketing Officer of Velo3Da leading additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical metal parts.
Last year she got to experience the excitement of attending Velo3D’s belling ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange – a far cry from her early marketing days, filling envelopes for direct mail pieces, writing web copy and managing email campaigns as part of a small but scrappy team of young marketers.
“It was a very small team, so I got to do a lot and experience a lot of different marketing roles, which helped me later in my career by giving me a holistic view of marketing and understanding how different efforts can come together to create synergy and better perform better than they would alone,” she says.
After many years in various marketing roles, Renette is at the helm of Velo3D’s marketing team. Despite her initial skepticism about the move from SaaS to the world of additive manufacturing, Renette says she put her initial doubts aside after being impressed by Velo3D’s technology, mission and CEO, Benny Buller.
Shaping how the world views production technology
A thought leader and brand disruptor, Renette is helping shape the way the world views manufacturing technology. As CMO of Velo3D, she has built an experienced team of marketing professionals and worked closely with Velo3D engineers and sales leaders to develop long-term strategies for driving innovation in the aerospace, energy and semiconductor industries.
“I love that we disrupt additives,” she says. “We’re the new kid on the block, the new guard, and we’re disrupting the feathers of the old guard. We are setting the standard for what is additive and what can be achieved with metal 3D printing, giving customers the parts they want without having to redesign for additives.”
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A born communicator with an enthusiasm to help others, Renette has always been driven by her desire to bring people together with good stories.
This storytelling gift was put to good use this year with the premiere of Renette’s first podcast series, Laser Focused, which takes listeners on a journey of discovery with the leaders who are changing the world with new design and revolutionizing how we think about advanced production .
Renette says she has always been an admirer of innovation, especially leaders who inspire others through the groundbreaking work they do. The podcast has put its focus on that, with guests including former BMW CFO Stefan Krause and modern rocket man, and Launcher CEO Max Haot.
Of course, Renette has led many initiatives over the years, including creating targeted marketing campaigns aimed at communicating the value propositions of Velo3D’s manufacturing solutions to key audiences, including customers and partners.
Set the stage as the company’s first CMO
As the person responsible for bringing Velo3D’s marketing and branding to life, Renette has played a key role in defining the company’s identity.
As she explains, “I’m basically responsible for helping people understand who we are, what we do, how we’re different, and why that matters.” Under her leadership, the company has launched its full marketing efforts and is now working to further develop its brand.
How Personal Travel lends itself to taking a business globally
As someone who has lived and worked on three continents and cultures, Renette has gained a unique perspective on what it takes to be successful in different countries.
“Working internationally has helped me understand that everyone works differently,” she says. “The way people think about business differs depending on where they live. The kinds of messages they need to hear can also differ. Working internationally gave me a higher emotional intelligence than if I hadn’t had these experiences.”
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With the company enjoying tremendous success with further growth potential ahead, Renette is well aware of the task she and her team must embark on to achieve their goals.
“We are focused on growth in Europe, Japan and Australia,” she explains. While we have built a lot of credibility in the US, we need to approach these new countries in a different way. It takes a lot of research, planning and figuring out the best way to tailor our messaging to the needs of these important new markets.”
Advice to get started and succeed in your career
Renette’s story is one of adventure, ambition and achievement. Looking back, she’s clear about the lessons she’s learned along the way, but perhaps more importantly, she’s had time to reflect on the attributes needed to succeed in the professional world.
“Passion, curiosity, determination, ambition, a work ethic taught to me by my father, inspired by those around me to do my best, are all things that have led me to where I am today,” she says. to all women who want to build a successful career, don’t be put off by a “glass ceiling”, go through it and build strong relationships, work together, and don’t forget to market yourself and celebrate your successes.”
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