Women have discovered ways to challenge the status quo. The digital marketing landscape is constantly changing, and the women mentioned in this article have not only adapted but also become industry pioneers.
These women have made an indelible mark on digital marketing, from content marketing to social media strategy and SEO. Their knowledge, creativity, and dedication to excellence serve as an inspiration for aspiring marketers and a testament to women’s significant contributions to shaping the future of digital marketing.
As a content writer who has spent years getting around the ever-changing environment of digital marketing, I’ve seen firsthand how women have altered the profession. Hence, this article is a celebration of the outstanding women who have not only broken down boundaries but also set the path for future generations of digital marketers.
The Value of Women in Digital Marketing
Digital marketing has come a long way since its humble origins. Remember when email marketing was deemed cutting-edge? It has grown into a complicated realm that includes social media, content marketing, SEO, and other aspects. In an ever-changing society, women are emerging as leaders, innovators, and visionaries.
From my own experience, I’ve observed how varied perspectives promote innovation and effectiveness. Women provide distinct perspectives and techniques that challenge the status quo and result in ground-breaking strategies. Their impact can be seen in everything from how brands communicate to the creative tools we use.
Did you know that women currently account for 48.9% of all digital marketing specialists? This demonstrates that women in digital marketing are becoming increasingly influential and playing a vital role in shaping the industry.
The figures do not lie, and they tell us something important: the number of women in digital marketing will continue to climb. Women account for 44% of those studying media. This indicates that women’s opportunities in this industry will be even more plentiful. So, what does all of this mean for today’s female industry professionals?
As a result, discussing female leadership in terms of emotional intelligence and empathy is becoming commonplace. While these are important skills for all leaders, regardless of gender, it is important to be aware of the potential consequences of using gender-laden terms like these, which can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes about female leadership and traditional approaches to divisions of labor and leadership roles.
Reasons Why You Should Follow Digital Marketing Experts
Here are a few reasons why you, as a beginner or seasoned marketer, should follow these renowned women in the marketing industry:
#1. Valuable Content
From podcasts to blog posts, marketing experts regularly share what they’ve learned from their own successful experiences.
#2. Competitive Edge
Experts in digital marketing enjoy sharing predictions about trends that they believe will take off. Following them on social media gives you an advantage because you’ll be able to apply these trends ahead of your competitors, allowing you to remain competitive in an ever-changing digital world.
#3: Free Advice
Marketing professionals frequently give their views for free. Beginners and skilled digital specialists alike can benefit from this information. There are numerous themes covered, including advice on marketing tactics for startups and established agencies, as well as expert perspectives and current business news. You only need to subscribe to an email newsletter. If you don’t want to share your email address, you can simply wait for their next social media post. It’s free. You just need some time to read or listen to the content.
Examples of Famous Women in Digital Marketing
The digital marketing industry is unlike any other, and one of the most rewarding aspects of running a top marketing blog is showcasing exceptional talent. People who produce excellent results, motivate others to do the same and make a difference in marketing.
Working in this area for years has provided me with several opportunities to meet, learn from, and be inspired by truly brilliant marketers. Many are women. Here is this year’s list (among many others) of women in digital marketing who have inspired me to be a better and, in some cases, a better person.
#1. Ann Handley
Ann Handley – Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs
@marketingprofs
Ann Hadley is a marketing thought leader who has blazed new trails. Ann, the bestselling author of Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content and Content Rules, has given thousands of people marketing advice. She is also a regular contributor to Entrepreneur, IBM, Huffington Post, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal.
Ann established ClickZ, one of the first websites for digital marketing information, early in her career. She later created MarketingProfs, which currently has more than 600,000 users and is a significant training and teaching organization in the marketing field. Ann has long been celebrated as one of the leading women in marketing and was named by Forbes as one of the most important women on social media in 2011.
Her work is mostly concerned with content marketing and how businesses may improve their writing and content. But what inspires me is how she continues to improve herself and her speaking abilities as a professional keynote speaker. Watching her present at events in other countries has also helped me improve my speaking skills. She’s also really smart and humorous!
#2. Mina Seetharaman
Mina Seetharaman – EVP, Global Managing Director, Content and Marketing Solutions at The Economist,
@minaseeth
Mina Seetharaman had a lengthy and successful career as a marketing executive. Mina is currently the Global Vice President of Strategy & Operations and Global Product Management at Gartner, a leading IT research and consulting organization.
She formerly served as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Creative Officer at The Economist. Mina directed a staff of writers and editors at The Economist, handled its marketing strategy, and oversaw the New York headquarters.
Mina was already the director and co-founder of OglivyOne’s unique Content Marketing Practice platform, which cemented her legacy as one of the greats of digital media. She has worked with several Fortune 500 companies to ensure their marketing success, including Microsoft, Citigroup, Barclays, American Express, and more.
On the side, Mina is a judge for the World Media Awards and has worked with the UN Women Global Innovation Coalition for Change (GICC) since 2018. The GICC is part of the UN’s strategy to increase gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide, and Mina’s collaboration shows her dedication to helping other women achieve success.
I marvel at Mina’s willingness to entertain meetings with me to share marketing and health tips alike. As a leader in her company and industry, she is a passionate public speaker, advocate, and lifelong learner who inspires me to continuously improve.
#3. Tyrona (Ty) Heath
Tyrona (Ty) Heath – Global Lead, Market Development at LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
Tyrona has worked her way up from Custom Media Solutions Strategist at Google to Founder of Spectacle Marketer and is currently LinkedIn’s B2B Institute Global Lead, continually promoting excellence in the digital marketing space.
She holds an MBA in Marketing and Management as well as an International Economics degree, which has helped her become a great influence in the sector today. In addition, she is a contributor to the recently published book “The Professional Black Woman” and the author of “Marketers of Tomorrow: A Step-by-Step Toolkit for Inbound Marketing.”.
#4. Maggie Chan Jones
Maggie Chan Jones is a pioneering marketing professional. She persuaded her family to emigrate from Hong Kong to the United States when she was 14 years old in search of better educational prospects.
Maggie started her marketing career at Microsoft after obtaining an MBA from Cornell University. Her career accelerated, and she rose through the ranks to become the Director of Cloud Services and Office 365, overseeing their marketing strategy. Maggie then became SAP’s first female Chief Marketing Officer, overseeing a global staff of 1,300 marketers.
Maggie was voted the 15th most influential CMO in the world by Forbes in 2017, cementing her legacy in the marketing industry. She has now founded Tenshey, a company dedicated to empowering people from diverse backgrounds to achieve leadership equity. Maggie’s favorite piece of advice is a one-liner from her grandmother: “Just be happy and be yourself.”
#5. Amisha Gandhi – VP of Influencer Marketing at SAP Ariba
@AmishaGandhi
As the pioneer behind SAP’s influencer marketing program, Amisha has been a spark that has ignited many of the most referenced case studies in the B2B influencer marketing space.
She is very passionate about her work and life and is always working to improve. Her ability to empathize with other people has made her a very effective negotiator and wrangler of resources to get work done and done well. It has been a pleasure for me and my team to work with her, both at SAP and now at SAP Ariba.
#6. Carla Johnson
Keynote Speaker, Author and Programmer Director, Digital Marketing at HARBOUR.SPACE
@CarlaJohnson
Carla is one of those rare people in marketing who can “walk the talk” with marketing strategy and equally “talk the talk” as a professional marketing keynote speaker. That ability to do both is very inspiring to me. She is as smart as she is friendly, and also a true professional. It has been a real pleasure to know her and see her grow over the years.
#7. Olga Andrienko – Head of Global Marketing at SEMrush
@Olgandrienko
My recent return to the search marketing conference scene has reintroduced me to some of the world’s most talented marketers. I’ve long been a fan of SEMrush SEO software and have witnessed Olga’s incredible work with content, media, and influencers, which has resulted in multiple industry awards and increased exposure at events. She is nice and extremely intelligent, and her marketing leadership has put SEMrush on the martech software map, which should encourage every marketer.
As a result, Olga is a strong force in the field of digital marketing. She has launched the SEMrush brand in over 50 countries, with a 90% year-over-year growth rate, and has garnered nine accolades for the company as the best search software in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Olga is also in charge of all of the brand’s marketing and top-of-funnel efforts across North America, Europe, APAC, and LATAM. She has 16 years of combined expertise in brand management, demand generation, and leading and expanding a SaaS / B2B marketing team. She is well-known for creating one of the most robust worldwide communities in the online marketing sector.
#8. Maryam Banikarim
Maryam Banikarim has more than 25 years of marketing experience, much of which was spent managing global brands as Senior Vice President (SVP) or Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for companies like NBC Universal, Univision Communications, Hyatt and Gannett Corp. She is the Head of Marketing at Nextdoor and serves on the advisory council for several companies, including Samsung Retail.
Not only is Maryam an incredibly successful marketer, but she also uses her success to transform the lives and careers of others, as shown by her work with various non-profit organizations. She is a board member for Reporters Without Borders and the Women Trailblazers Council, an executive in residence at Columbia University, and a co-founder of NYCNext, a volunteer organization aimed at rejuvenating the creative scene in NYC.
A renowned motivational and business speaker, Maryam often focuses on leadership, diversity, and inclusion in the world of business.
Maryam has been recognized as one of The New York Post’s “50 Most Powerful Women in NYC.” She has also received the Columbia Alumni Medal, the most prestigious award from the association, as well as the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her contributions as a US immigrant.
#9. Heidi Bullock
Heidi Bullock, another marketing powerhouse, has a resume that makes you wonder how somebody can accomplish so much in a single lifetime.
She has over 20 years of marketing experience, having started in the life sciences with a degree in molecular biology and genetic engineering. She began as a product manager, subsequently acquired an MBA, and soon advanced to Director, Vice President of Marketing, and Chief Marketing Officer.
Heidi is now the CMO of Tealium, a technology business that specializes in real-time consumer data orchestration. She has contributed to thought leadership books such as The Clear and Complete Guide to ABM Analytics and The Definitive Guide to Account-Based Marketing, Lead Generation, Content, Mobile Marketing, and Engaging Email.
Heidi can often be found speaking at B2B marketing conferences and is a consistent guest speaker on various podcasts and shows, including Catalyst. In 2018, she was named one of the SaaS Report’s “Top Women Leaders in SaaS.”
#10. Purna Virji – Sr. Manager, Global Engagement at Microsoft
@purnavirji
Last but not least, with over 18 years of experience, Purna Virji is a force to be reckoned with in marketing. Purna’s first big position was as Senior Manager of Global Engagement at Microsoft, following years of management experience.
In this role, she was named one of Adweek’s 2018 Young Influentials and the 2019-2020 Search Personality of the Year by the US Search Awards. She also served as chair of the judging panel for the Drum US Search Awards in 2017 and 2018.
Purna is now a Senior Content Marketing Evangelist at LinkedIn and a popular keynote speaker at events such as AdWeek, The Next Web Conference, and INBOUND. Among her other awards and accolades, Purna was named the #1 Most Influential PPC Expert in the world.
Women in the Digital Marketing Revolution: Key Challenges and Triumphs
When you step into the world of digital marketing, you quickly realize it’s a landscape brimming with creativity, data, and innovation. However, it’s also a field where challenges are abundant, and these challenges can be particularly pronounced for women. Over the years, as a content writer who’s navigated this industry, I’ve seen firsthand how women have faced and overcome these hurdles, and how their triumphs have reshaped the field. A few of the common Challenges Faced by women in digital marketing are
#1. Striving for Recognition
One of the most prevalent obstacles that women encounter in digital marketing is a lack of recognition. Despite their considerable achievements, women frequently have to work harder to receive the recognition that they deserve. I recall when I was just starting out and working on a large campaign. I was part of a team lead by a female project manager whose ideas and plans were always spot on. However, in meetings, her ideas were frequently overwhelmed by stronger speakers. Many women have reported feeling undervalued or neglected for their employment.
#2: Navigating a Male-Dominated Environment
Historically, men have dominated digital marketing, particularly at the senior level. This environment can be frightening and tough for women looking to ascend the professional ladder. ladder. I once attended a marketing conference where, out of a panel of ten, only two were women. This lack of representation can make it difficult for women to find mentors or role models who reflect their experiences.
#3. Balancing Work and Personal Life
Balancing the demands of a career in digital marketing with personal life can be especially challenging for women. Many women are juggling work responsibilities with family commitments. For example, a colleague of mine, a talented digital strategist, often had to work late into the night to meet deadlines while also managing family responsibilities. This balancing act can create additional pressure and stress.
#4. Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling
Women have made remarkable strides in breaking through the proverbial glass ceiling in digital marketing. Take Ann Handley, for instance. Her journey wasn’t without obstacles. Early in her career, she had to prove herself in a field where women’s voices were not as prominent. She worked tirelessly to build her reputation, often facing skepticism from peers. Her perseverance paid off, and today she’s a leading voice in content marketing, showing that determination and skill can break down barriers.
#5. Overcoming Bias and Stereotypes
Bias and stereotypes can be substantial barriers. I remember a talk with a friend who was up for a promotion but was skeptical because of her gender. She was an amazing marketer with a proven track record of success, but she had to continually confirm her knowledge. Overcoming these biases necessitates not only individual resilience but also a supporting network of supporters and advocates for change.
#6. Developing Confidence and Voice
Many women deal with imposter syndrome and the difficulty of emphasizing their presence in meetings and strategy sessions. I’ve been there myself, hesitant to speak up despite having great views. It required time and mentorship to have the confidence to express my opinions assertively. Women who overcame the obstacle have often done so by finding supportive mentors and developing their professional confidence through experience and feedback.
How many women are in digital marketing?
Women hold 60% of all North American marketing jobs, according to data from LinkedIn, and women now hold 52% of CMO roles.
What are the challenges faced by women in the digital world?
Among the challenges they face are limited access to education, professional training and economic opportunities.
Why is empowering women in the digital age important?
With the help of technology, we can build a world where every woman can live free from violence and discrimination.
What is the bias of women in tech?
73% of women in tech have experienced gender discrimination recently. Women are judged or held to different standards because they work in a male-dominated field.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a digital marketer or a business owner, you must constantly expand your marketing knowledge to prevent typical, costly blunders. Staying up to date on the newest marketing trends can also help you optimize your campaigns and stay one step ahead of competitors in your industry.
One of the greatest methods to accomplish this is to follow a few digital marketing professionals. They often deliver practical insights interestingly, ensuring that you have access to more than just boring statistics.
If you want to learn more about these remarkable women, read their interviews, books, and essays. And remember, whether you’re just starting or wanting to enhance your profession, there’s always more to learn from the amazing women leading the way in digital marketing.
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