Most CMOs are familiar with the "language of the C-suite." Tasked with more responsibility for the entire company, CMOs and marketers have learned that words that are appropriate to use with their peers and other marketers — clicks, views, opens, downloads — don't work in the C-suite. That's where being able to effectively communicate using words and phrases such as "profit and loss" (P&L), "return on investment" (ROI), and other finance-related lingo is the cost of entry.
Many CMOs have won a seat at the table because they learned to convey to upper management the value of marketing activities that...