Dic: make a mark (as) (on)

21. PHRASE : V inflects, oft PHR on/in n

If you make your mark or make a mark, you become noticed or famous by doing something impressive or unusual.

• She made her mark in the film industry in the 1960s.

..... Cobuild

Cf. similar but slightly different definition:

to make people notice you or to have an important effect on something

• (sometimes + as ) Mr Sorrell first made his mark as finance director at Wimpole and Soames.
• (often + on ) Richards made a tremendous mark on Australian cricket during 1985.

.... Cambridge Idioms Dictionary,

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/make+mark