Qualcomm CMO Don McGuire: How to Stay Relevant, Resilient, and Ready for Change | E152

Don McGuire did not build his career through a straight line. He lost elections as a kid, moved every few years, started over again and again, and had to learn resilience early. After graduating from college, he was still unsure what to do, but a leap into the early cellular industry launched a career that would take him from sales to marketing and ultimately, the CMO seat at Qualcomm. In this episode, Don chats with Ilana about how to stay in control of your career in a world changing at the speed of AI. He shares why resilience matters more than ever, how to spot the right time to leap, and what it takes to stay relevant in a crowded job market.

Don McGuire is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Qualcomm, with over 25 years of experience across service providers, semiconductors, and technology marketing. In 2025, he was named one of Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs.

In this episode, Ilana and Don will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:14) The Early Experiences That Built Don’s Resilience

(10:46) His Love for Marketing and Journey Into Tech

(18:00) The Transition From Sales to Marketing

(20:18) Why You Must Stay in Control of Your Own Destiny

(23:25) Startup Lessons, Consulting, and Selling Yourself

(27:43) Knowing When It Was Time to Leap Back Into Corporate

(31:45) The Crisis That Forced Qualcomm to Tell Its Story

(38:16) The One Trait Gen Z and Gen Alpha Need Most

(40:33) How to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Job Market

(45:02) Why Portfolio Careers and Side Skills Matter

(48:03) What Excites Don Most About Qualcomm’s Future

(53:05) Q&A: How to Break the “I Can’t Get a Job” Mindset

Don McGuire is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Qualcomm, where he oversees global marketing as the company expands beyond mobile into automotive, computing, AI, and other growth areas. Before joining Qualcomm, he held senior leadership roles at Intel and other major wireless and technology companies. In 2025, he was named one of Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs.

Connect with Don:

Don’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donnymac 

Resources Mentioned:

Qualcomm: https://www.qualcomm.com/

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