Communicators spotlight: Stacy Martinet
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Stacy Martinet. Photo: Courtesy of Stacy Martinet
As Adobe's recently appointed chief content and creative officer, Stacy Martinet leads how the company shows up across creative and advertising, editorial content, collaborations and experiences.
Why it matters: Adobe sits at the intersection of tech and creativity, and is now pitching AI tools to filmmakers, designers, illustrators and other creatives.
The path here: "Looking back, I've been fortunate to have a front-row seat to several major shifts in technology and culture," Martinet told Axios.
- She started her career at the New York Times, then joined Mashable.
- When she joined Adobe in 2016, she initially focused on operations and strategy, before taking on leadership roles across marketing and communications.
Tough lesson: You can't do big things alone.
- "I've got plenty of ambition and grit, but grit alone doesn't get you there," she said. "You have to bring people in, listen to them and be willing to adapt to what you hear."
Trendspotting: Companies are building a content software stack alongside their traditional marketing and technology systems, Martinet said.
- The shift is less about adding AI tools and more about connecting people, workflows, data and decision-making to speed up storytelling.
- "Content and creative teams are increasingly being asked to operate more like media companies — with editorial instincts, production infrastructure, audience relationships and always-on storytelling capabilities," she said.
Reading list: "Whistler," by Ann Patchett.
- "There are very few authors who can write characters like Ann Patchett," Martinet said.
Morning ritual: Water before anything else.
- "Some mornings include a workout; others are spent getting the kids out the door. I've stopped pretending every morning needs to look the same after my cup of tea," she said.
Best advice: "My first boss at the New York Times told me that great opportunity often comes from chaos," she said.
- "It has helped me find the silver lining through cultural and industry shifts, and it feels especially poetic today as AI is changing the way we work."
Have a colleague, mentor or comms hero you want to see in this series? Let me know.
