Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of International Women’s Day. It’s a global day of celebration, commemorating the historical and cultural accomplishments of women all over the world and bringing attention to issues surrounding inequality and violence.
The day has been celebrated in some form since the start of the 20th century. However, it has been widely celebrated each year on March 8th since its adoption by the United Nations in 1975.
International Women’s Day is the perfect time for us to take a look at some inspiring female figures in the business and marketing world who are paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
1) Laura Miller
A good social media campaign can make all the difference for brands, businesses, and even political movements.
Formerly Director of Online Engagement for the Obama White House, in which she oversaw the administration’s digital strategy, Laura Miller has made a name for herself in the realm of political social media and engagement, later accompanying Michelle Obama on her book tour in order to oversee the management of her social media accounts.
With years of experience in social media strategy, Miller has dedicated her career to the use of social media for social and political movements. She is currently Managing Director of When We All Vote, a leading organisation that encourages participation in elections.
2) Olga Andrienko
Olga Andrienko is the Head of Global Marketing at SEMrush, moving to the position from Head of Social Media in just three years. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, SEMrush has become one of the leading software tools for digital marketers all over the world.
Andrienko speaks at a range of marketing conferences, meaning that budding marketers have the opportunity learn from her wealth of experience that led to the vast growth of SEMrush’s users and client base.
3) Judy Vredenburgh
Judy Vredenburgh was the President and CEO of Girls Inc. This non-profit organisation works with schools and local communities in the United States and helps girls navigate socioeconomic and gender barriers. Starting in 1864, it is one of the world’s oldest continuously operating organisations that is exclusively devoted to helping girls succeed and progress along the paths that they’ve always dreamed of.
Vredenburgh is committed to improving the lives of children in America; she served as CEO and President of Girls Inc from 2010 to 2019 and was previously the CEO of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America. Her vast years of experience have positioned her as a leading authority in executive leadership and she is recognised for her skills in business management.
4) Joann Lublin
Reporter and editor at The Wall Street Journal for almost 50 years, Joann Lublin was the first women to run a bureau for the newspaper. And in 2003, she shared the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism in Explanatory Reporting on the corporate crimes of America with her fellow Wall Street Journal reporters.
In 2018, the Wall Street Journal published a video in which Lublin talks about her time as a reporter and editor in a field that is still a male dominated environment, and how she hopes that women will continue to thrive in business and journalism.
Despite her retirement, Lublin still writes the column that she began in the early 90s which offers career advice to budding professionals. A trailblazer for female journalists, Lublin continues to use her wealth of experience to educate and encourage others to follow in her footsteps.
5) Susan Wojcicki
With over 20 years of tech industry experience, American businesswoman Susan Wojciki is now the CEO of YouTube. Her accomplishments predate the popular video streaming platform however, as she was a key figure in the founding of Google and was the search engine’s first marketing manager.
A working mother of five children, Wojciki has spoken and written extensively on the importance of paid family leave, something that is still not federally mandated in the United States. Wojicki has also advocated for other causes, notably ending gender discrimination in the tech industry, and encouraging girls to enter the field of computer science.
Every day, women are advancing gender roles in traditionally male dominated professions and making it easier for others to follow their lead. These five shining examples represent just a handful of the many inspirational female leaders out there that have changed the face of business and marketing for the better.
