In today’s world, marketing is no longer just about selling products; it’s about shaping culture, amplifying voices, and creating impact that lasts. Few embody this philosophy as powerfully as Kinjil Mathur, CMO of Squarespace. With a career spanning technology, luxury retail, digital innovation, and now global entrepreneurship platforms, she has carved out a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking marketing leaders of her generation.
Mathur’s story is not one of overnight success—it is a journey built on resilience, curiosity, and a fearless commitment to reimagining the role of marketing. From her first unpaid internship to leading groundbreaking campaigns on the world stage, she has consistently proven that success is not just about climbing the corporate ladder but about lifting others along the way.
Early Foundations of Kinjil Mathur: Cold Calls and First Breaks
Kinjil Mathur’s path began at the University of Texas at Austin, where she pursued a double major in Management Information Systems and Finance. Unlike many students waiting for opportunities to knock, she created her own. As a freshman, she cold-called companies, offering to work for free if it meant gaining hands-on experience. That relentless determination landed her an unpaid internship at Travelocity—a small step that set the tone for a career defined by initiative and vision.
Her first professional role came at Protiviti as a technology consultant. Yet, her heart was always drawn toward creativity, storytelling, and the customer experience. That calling led her into luxury retail, where she spent nearly a decade shaping the digital marketing strategies of iconic names like Neiman Marcus, Condé Nast, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Transition to Technology: Artspace, Foursquare, and Beyond
The next phase of her career saw Mathur bridging the gap between luxury and technology. As Chief Marketing Officer at Artspace, she introduced a fresh vision of how digital platforms could democratize art. This leap into tech prepared her for her next defining chapter: becoming CMO at Foursquare.
At Foursquare, Mathur took on the challenge of repositioning the company’s brand to appeal not just to consumers but also to enterprise clients. It was here that her ability to merge brand storytelling with data-driven insights shined, reinforcing her status as a marketing leader unafraid to experiment and innovate.
Kinjil Mathur- Leadership at Squarespace: Building More than Brands
When Mathur joined Squarespace in 2017 as Chief Marketing Officer, she brought with her a wealth of experience and an ambition to make marketing more than just a growth lever. She saw it as a platform for impact. Under her leadership, Squarespace has rolled out world-class campaigns, including memorable Super Bowl commercials, and has built partnerships that resonate far beyond business.
One of her most notable achievements was spearheading the strategic partnership between Squarespace and Madison Square Garden, making Squarespace the first-ever jersey sponsor of the New York Knicks. But beyond branding, this collaboration gave birth to the Make It Awards, an annual grant competition empowering diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses.
She also redefined what it means for a brand to stand for something bigger. Her Equal Pay Day campaign was a groundbreaking example of tying social purpose to business. By galvanizing feminist entrepreneurs and raising awareness of gender pay inequities, the campaign not only sparked important conversations but also led to the biggest sales day in Squarespace’s history at the time.
Through initiatives like these, Kinjil Mathur CMO of Squarespace has shown that business growth and social responsibility are not mutually exclusive—they are powerful partners.
Recognition and Honors: A Global Influence
Mathur’s influence has been recognized across industries. She has been named to Adweek’s Tech-Savvy CMOs list, Campaign’s CMO 50, Adweek’s Young Influentials, Forbes’ CMO Next list, Ad Age’s Women to Watch, and Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs in the World. Vogue India honored her as one of the 50 Most Influential Global Indians, a recognition of her ability to inspire not just in boardrooms but in culture at large.
Her awards—including Visionary of the Year by Adweek and being part of the Gold House A100 list—highlight her role as a change-maker whose impact spans beyond marketing into technology, culture, and global leadership.
Advisor, Investor, and Mentor
Beyond her role at Squarespace, Mathur dedicates her time to shaping the future of business and technology. She sits on advisory boards for Spotify, Sama AI, and Ellevest, while also serving the President’s Leadership Council for Search for Common Ground.
As an active angel investor, she focuses on supporting female- and BIPOC-founded businesses, ensuring that the next generation of entrepreneurs has the resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to succeed. Her investments reflect her personal mission: opening doors that were once closed and amplifying voices that were once unheard.
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