One of the most important things to understand is knowing who wants to understand.
Time and again, an up and coming leader delegates design, manufacturing, marketing, engineering, software development, customer relations—while directing brand strategy in a vacuum from whatever they delegate. Brand graveyards are littered with flowers from copywriters who quit or were fired just before the brand failed. Do your research and find out.
In fact, always do your research. Work with people who do their own research. Teach people who teach themselves. Teach yourself so good teachers want to teach you.
Grow with people who grow up.