Up until last year, Everette Taylor’s career had been strictly in marketing—from a marketing assistant internship at age 14 to his most recent position of chief marketing officer at online art marketplace Artsy.

“Marketing kind of saved my life, in a lot of ways,” Taylor said. “It taught me a new skill set. It got me off the streets. It opened my world up to places I could never have imagined when I was living in Southside, Richmond.”

Last September, though, Taylor made the rare jump from CMO to CEO to take over the vacated role at crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. That career transition wasn’t a spontaneous decision, but part of a lifelong goal that Taylor had been working toward. 

“I turned down multiple offers from some of the biggest brands in the world to be a CMO because I was very intent on making that move to CEO,” said the 34-year-old.

Still, Taylor has maintained his marketing mindset in his new role as he works to revive the company from a pandemic-induced slump.

In just one year, Taylor has refocused Kickstarter’s identity by highlighting the platform’s creator success stories. For example, Kickstarter was an early funder of Issa Rae’s web series “Awkward Black Girl,” and it also helped brands such as Peloton and Brooklinen get off the ground in their early days of existence.

He’s also bolstered the racial and gender diversity of Kickstarter’s leadership team with a string of new hires.

“Marketers don’t usually end up in the CEO seat,” Taylor said. “But Kickstarter really needed a marketer. They really needed someone that understood how to elevate the brand in a new way and turn it around, and it was perfect timing for me to move into that CEO role.”

If you could have dinner with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

My Aunt Misha who passed away when I was kid, I miss her and all the laughs we shared. Also, I have a ton of questions about the afterlife.

What are the top two social media sites you use on a regular basis?

LinkedIn and the artist formerly known as Twitter.

What’s currently on your bedside reading list?

“Jack Whitten: Notes from the Woodshed.” A genius.

What was the last show you binge-watched?

“Suits.” I’ve probably knocked out six-plus seasons this summer. I know the theme song by heart—weird lyrics by the way. Harvey Specter is my spirit animal.

At what age do you hope to retire?

Retirement sounds boring. I’m happiest when I’m doing something I’m passionate about and impacting lives in a positive way with a healthy amount of work/life balance.