WISH I KNEW × Naomi Walkland
From starting her career in PR to becoming Chief Marketing Officer at Motorway, Naomi Walkland has built one of the most intentional and impressive careers in marketing today.
Before joining Motorway, Naomi was Vice President of International Marketing at Bumble, helping scale the brand across more than 15 markets and leading up to the company’s IPO in 2021.
But her journey hasn’t been linear.
At one point in her career, Naomi quit a job without a real plan — a decision that felt terrifying at the time but ultimately led her to launch her own consultancy and eventually join Bumble, where her career accelerated rapidly.
In this episode, Naomi shares the lessons she’s learned along the way — from ambition and leadership to mentorship, visibility and owning your career.
We talk about:
- Going from PR intern to CMO
- Taking risks and quitting without a clear plan

- Why “being so good your talent can’t be dismissed” became a career philosophy
- The realities of leadership — and why it can sometimes feel lonely
- Why hard work alone isn’t enough without visibility
- How Naomi now defines success through impact, not titles
Naomi also shares practical advice for anyone building their career — including how to find mentors, negotiate your salary, and create a personal board of advisors.
If you’re early in your career, stepping into leadership, or thinking about your next big move, this conversation is full of lessons that might just be the things you wish you knew sooner.

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This episode was recorded at The Qube.
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