Case Study
How Pavilion’s CMO School helped Adrian Chang sharpen his edge and land the VP of Marketing seat
Adrian Chang had already led marketing at global SaaS companies when he found himself at a professional crossroads. With decades of experience across advocacy, customer, and demand generation, he wasn’t questioning his capabilities, but he knew he needed a sharper edge to step confidently into the C-suite.
“Ultimately, they wanted someone with credibility who had done it before. CMO School gave me a chance to demonstrate I was a well-rounded candidate.”
- Adrian Chang | VP of Marketing at Zilliant
The solution:
Strategic insight, rigorous learning, and a framework for leadership
Adrian enrolled in Pavilion’s CMO School in January 2025, drawn by its structured curriculum, high-caliber instructors, and promise of real-world relevance. He wasn’t there to coast.
“There was no way I was going to half-ass this. I took notes. I have a whole book tabbed out by topic. I took it seriously—and I aced the certification on the first try.”
Sessions on product marketing, CEO alignment, budgeting, and ecosystem-led growth reshaped how Adrian approached the Marketing leader role.
“Maureen’s talk on product marketing gave me a completely new appreciation. I’d never done the job before, but now I know how to hire for it—and how it fits in the bigger picture.”
He also noted, “Andrea’s session on managing the CEO relationship? That was huge. The questions she gave us—on net retention, gross recurring revenue—those are questions I now bring into interviews.''
CMO School helped Adrian identify blind spots, pressure-test his leadership toolkit, and clarify the kind of Marketing leader he wanted to be.
Real results:
A new role, stronger conviction, and executive clarity
Shortly after completing CMO School, Adrian landed his new role as VP of Marketing at Zilliant. While the program didn’t hand him a job, it gave him the confidence and clarity to win the one he wanted.
“My fortunes definitely changed after I completed CMO School. I was already deep in process with Ziliiant, but other opportunities started appearing too. It had a halo effect.”
While Adrian connected with a few peers and former colleagues during the program, his primary takeaway was internal: a richer understanding of strategic marketing, CEO alignment, and leadership mechanics.
“I didn’t go in thinking I’d meet someone who’d hire me. It was more about making the investment in myself—and it paid off.”
He’s now applying those learnings to help build Ziliiant’s marketing strategy from the ground up.
“The ecosystem-led growth session was one I keep coming back to. We’re rethinking how we integrate ecosystems into the funnel. The frameworks from CMO School are shaping those conversations."
- Adrian Chang | VP of Marketing at Zilliant
