Trailblazer Tips For Next-Gen Female Marketers

Don’t be afraid to speak up, be passionate, and don’t underestimate yourself was the advice from the trailblazing female marketers who shared career anecdotes and advice on a panel called “Raising Up the Next Generation of Female Marketing Leaders” at last year's Brand Innovators Marketing Summit in Atlanta. 

Brittany Billings, EVP of Global Marketing at Trax Retail , moderated the lively discussion, which included Lisa Hallam, Sr. Director of Loyalty at Papa Johns ; Brandy Blackwell, VP, Head of Marketing at Another Broken Egg Cafe ; Laura Rueckel, Chief Marketing Officer at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers ; and Jenna Bromberg, VP, Brand & Creative at Carters Inc.

Topics included breaking through barriers in male-dominated industries, networking, the power of emotional intelligence, and the importance of mentorship.

These were our favorite tips from these powerhouse female marketing leaders:  

Raise Your Hand

When asked about strategies for breaking through barriers, Hallam suggested looking in the mirror first. “How do you show up at every interaction? Where do you sit at a meeting, in the back or the front row? Do you speak up? Do you share your opinions and ask questions?”  

Someone has invited you to the meeting because they want to hear from you, so don’t be shy! 

And it’s okay to ask for things, even if the answer is no, according to Hallam. “Put yourself out there and have confidence. Women look at job descriptions and immediately think that they’re not qualified to do X, Y, or Z, while men think, hey, I can do that!” 

In other words, don’t focus on what you haven’t yet done, but on what you can do. 

Lift Others as You Rise

This is a great motto to follow. Blackwell’s career advanced whenever a senior leader (male or female) took a gamble on her. “I have never regretted betting on emerging talent and giving someone an opportunity. When you’re retired on a beach people will not remember your campaigns, or that great presentation, but they will remember the impact you had on other people’s careers. Make sure you keep that ladder down behind you,” she said. 

It’s Okay to Be ‘Emotional’ 

Women are often stereotyped as being more emotionally driven, but emotional intelligence is a huge strength in marketing roles. For Rueckel, emotion often translates to passion. “I am a very passionate marketer and love making an impact with consumers. I do think females communicate better. Sometimes things are amuck, and you need to bring everyone together. A lot of women I’ve worked with are great at that. It’s a value you bring to an organization.”

Women also often have a gift of being calm under fire, she said, recalling a time when she asked a woman on her team how she was handling a stressful period at work. The woman responded that with three teenage girls at home, she was used to chaos! “You never know when the crisis will hit,” according to Rueckel. “And it doesn’t have to be a crisis. Maybe it’s just a Tuesday.” Billings recalled a senior leader who sought out mothers because of their talent for using time wisely and prioritizing. 

Stop Apologizing for Being Human

Women should stop apologizing unnecessarily or thinking they owe someone an apology. Blackwell discussed playing tennis with a female doubles partner who kept saying “I’m sorry.” Blackwell’s father, who was watching them play, asked why the partner kept apologizing. His advice: “Only say you’re sorry when you actually meant to do something wrong.”

In other words, ladies, there’s no need to apologize every time you’re less than perfect.  

And finally….

The panelists had a few other pieces of valuable advice. Avoid getting pigeonholed and be proactive about learning new skills. Get out of your comfort zone and speak on a panel, for example, even if it makes you nervous! To become more deliberate and proactive, write down all possible barriers and aspirations. Perhaps you’ll discover that money isn’t the most important thing for you and that your ultimate goal is to work for leadership that inspires you at a company that values you and where you can achieve a happy work-life balance.