Gildea Fellowship: Launch Your B2B Marketing Career

Senior Lecturer at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University

Top Ranking Program | Award Winning Professor

Kelley Direct MBA Teaching Excellence Award — 2024
Fettig–Whirlpool Distinguished Lecturer Fellowship — 2023
Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award — 2022

Joshua Gildea - Fellowship Director

Senior Lecturer of Marketing and Director of the MBA Business Marketing Academy at the IU Kelley School of Business
25+ Years experience in marketing, sales, and strategy management with global corporations such as:

Meet Our Fellowship Director

"Hello, My name is Josh Gildea, Senior Lecturer at the IU Kelley School of Business. For the last decade I have been helping students discover the world of B2B marketing and prepare for successful careers as Product Managers, Marketers, and Business Development Professionals. I've personally witnessed the good that comes from an MBA, both as a professor watching my students thrive, as well as my own 25-year career in industry. But, I've also noticed that some career professionals, long after they've graduated, find themselves stuck in a profession that no longer brings them the fulfillment it once did.

I get it. I've been there myself. And I can tell you from personal experience that it's not too late to make a change. There is an exciting world of B2B commercial career paths, many of which you have never heard. These career paths are shaping the worlds of healthcare, transportation, technology & manufacturing in ways society has not yet seen. Although it may be hard to imagine, commercial marketers play a critical role in authoring the future of innovation.

It is the marketer who uncovers new problems in the marketplace and strategizes new products to solve those problems. It is the marketer who, working closely with technical experts, writes the story of how the future gets made. It is the marketer who brings the innovative works of engineers, scientists, and technologists to light and life by finding the right product/market fit.
‍
This could be you!
But my suspicion is that there may be something holding you back. Maybe you feel like your years on the other side of innovation, serving a technical role, has pigeonholed you into being seen as only one thing. Maybe your current employer doesn't see you in a commercial role. Perhaps you feel like you lack the network reach, or you don't feel up-to-date with today's marketing strategies. Maybe you haven't worked in product management, strategy, or business development before and that has you feeling doubtful that you'll actually be able to make the change.

Well, the truth is, many aspiring career switchers fail in this pursuit. But it is not because they don't have the skill or experience. In fact, your deep technical knowledge is a major asset in commercial marketing! You just need to learn how to tell a better story and bring these skills and experience to life through a commercial lens. You must transform your career identity from a technical practitioner into a marketing expert. But most of the building blocks are already there.

I'd love to show you how. Through my Professional Development Fellowship in B2B Marketing, I will train you in the latest B2B marketing strategies and network techniques. I will take you on an explorational journey through a variety of B2B career paths, modern case studies, and interviews with the world's best and brightest commercial marketing leaders. You'll have the opportunity to network with a live cohort of other career switching fellows and receive coaching and direction on getting yourself ready for the job market.

While I would love to say that this fellowship is for all, the reality is that B2B marketing is not for everyone. For some, this is only a “grass is greener on the other side” thought and perhaps a change in some other way would be more meaningful. But for others, you will find that commercial marketing is exactly the change you've been looking for. There is something about getting closer to markets, closer to customers, and closer to product decisions that is really invigorating.

To help you with this decision, I've developed a B2B career shift assessment that identifies whether you are ready to make the switch. This short assessment will examine your personal strengths, preferences, and habits to evaluate whether they align with the skills and activities needed to make the pivot into a B2B marketing, sales, or product management role.

After taking the assessment, you'll receive a personalized report with recommendations on a path forward.

A little word of warning: Not every report will feel like it's saying you're ready. A low readiness score doesn't always mean it's a bad idea. It could just mean that you've got some extra work to do. Remember that this is your career. You get to decide what you do with the results and who you become. This is just your starting point.

Are you ready to make a career pivot?

Prof. Joshua Gildea's

Professional Development Fellowship

In B2B Commercial Marketing

Discover Where You Belong in B2B Marketing

The reality is, switching careers after years in one lane is harder than it looks.

Aspiration Turned Into Confidence

Joshua Gildea - Fellowship Director

Meet Our Fellowship Director

Is B2B Marketing Right For You?

What people say about Professor Gildea:

Ralph M. Paulk

Sanjay Sukumar