“Seeing other women in leadership makes me, someone who is just starting out, feel so inspired and empowered. I feel like I can do this too if I want to, whereas men often do not doubt themselves or feel insecure about putting themselves out there because they see so many other men in leadership roles and have numerous examples of success to model their careers after.”
The Importance of Female Thought Leadership
Let’s talk about why having more women in leadership roles is so crucial. Diversity of thought is essential for a creative, vibrant, and thriving workplace. When everyone in the room thinks, acts, and behaves the same, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking take a hit.
More women leaders mean better pay equity and more role models showing us how it’s done. When you hear successful business people talk about their journeys, they often mention a mentor or someone who believed in them early on, providing invaluable advice. Personally, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without a network of strong female business leaders who came before me, paving the way and showing me what’s possible.
“There have been moments in my career where I was too intimidated to speak up, add my two cents, or voice my opinion. It can be quite daunting to speak up in a room filled with men, especially if they are all more senior in title, or they’re all engineers and I’m the lone ‘marketer’ who doesn’t know JSON or Python languages. Who am I to chime in? I consider myself smart and educated, but never brave. I never imagined myself as a technologist, or even as a consultant, until I saw a friend go out on her own. Even then, I was shy and very intimidated to begin my own journey. But her experience, along with others who have shared their career stories, has boosted me in so many ways, and I can never thank them enough. The list is long, but it begins with Heather Watkins, Britt Bingham, and Elena Verna.”
-Courtney McAra, Marketing Operations Consultant, Mustang MarTech
Other Inspiring Female Leaders
I find Sandy Lerner’s story incredibly fascinating. She co-founded Cisco and, after leaving, went on to start the cosmetics company Urban Decay. When she sold Urban Decay to the Louis Vuitton group, she didn’t stop there. She then started a sustainable organic agriculture farm in Virginia. Sandy’s journey is so inspiring to me, not just as a woman in technology but also as a woman in business. She was fired from Cisco, the very company she founded, but she didn’t let that stop her. Her resilience and ability to adapt are truly remarkable.
Another female leader I enjoy learning from is Caterina Fake. She co-founded Flickr with her ex-husband and is known for her trend-spotting and huge focus on community building. Caterina has invested in other community-based technology companies like Etsy (where she previously served on the board) and is actively involved in thought leadership discussions about the power of online communities. I’d love to hear her take on MOPros.
“When I look at the world around me, I can’t help but feel that most of the problems that our world faces today stem from a lack of balanced leadership. Our species could not exist without a balanced co-creation between men and women, so why should our society? Our workplace? Our government? Women in thought leadership is not merely important. It is essential and it is vital.”
Taking That First Step
It’s so important to surround yourself with people who see more potential in you than you see in yourself and who will push you out of your comfort zone. These are the people who help you stretch, raise your hand, ask for that promotion, or take on a new project. It can be uncomfortable, but that’s how we grow and move into leadership roles.
Early in my career, I struggled with presenting my ideas. I always wanted others to speak on my behalf because I feared no one would want to hear what I had to say. I battled imposter syndrome, constantly thinking, “Who am I to say this?” or “What if they think it’s obvious?” But here’s the thing: the more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.
I mentioned earlier the importance of mentorship and finding role models. These relationships create safe spaces to voice fears, overcome self-doubt, and improve communication skills. Many years ago, a marketing leader I admired coaching me to stop using negative or apologetic language in meetings and emails. I had a habit of saying things like:
“Sorry if you’ve heard this already…”
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea but…”
“Apologies for taking up time for this call…”
That advice made a huge difference in how I communicated and perceived myself. Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can grow.
Here are two opportunities for you to surround yourself with women elevating each other:
As women, let’s help one another find our voices, get a seat at the table, and encourage each other to lift one another up because we all benefit when that happens. Who are the female leaders that inspire you? I’d love to know who they are – tag them below!
A while ago, Mike Rizzo asked a pointed question on LinkedIn: are Marketing Operations professionals actually seeing ROI from their AI investments? The poll got tons of responses. At least 91% of people wanted to see how companies were measuring AI ROI but only 6% of those people were willing
Everyone wants proof of AI ROI. Almost no one can show it. Here’s why the gap isn’t about AI investment, and what MOps teams need to fix for marketing attribution first.
Let’s clear something up: MOpza isn’t over but it is evolving. And it’s coming back in 2026. We’ve seen the questions, the comments, the speculation. So let’s be transparent. Because if there’s one thing this community thrives on, it’s clarity and connection. You Spoke & We Listened When we shared
