I often feel like a fraud.
This is a mirror of battling impostor syndrome – something I’ve now come to realize is part of being a high-output and high-ambition individual. But it’s especially pronounced when I talk to students or mentees. They’d often gush out some superlative about how I have it all together and how they want to reach a point in their career similar to where they see me now.
And this, invariably, makes me super uncomfortable.
I don’t think that I’ve achieved enough to justify being anyone’s role model.
So, in the spirit of some unseen cosmic balance, I decided to tell you about my role models. I hope you’ll follow these great ladies and find tons of value in doing that.
Why do role models and representation matter?
I could’ve easily included a mix of people I admire, but I decided to go with a women-only list. I don’t think of myself as a feminist, but I understand the need for representation. The truth is, you cannot be what you cannot see.
To my male friends, this often sounds very weird and limiting. “You guys surely have imagination,” they’d say, “why can’t you see a great leader and not care if it’s a woman?” And I really can’t explain it. But I know it’s true. It works.
There is obviously a ton of nuance to the topic of representation, and this is not a post that will cover it all. If you want a read that goes deep into examining both sides, I found it for you, and it’s called “You can’t be what you can’t see” is crap. Here’s the gist of it and the best part:
I do believe representation matters, that it makes it easier for those that come next if we make space for them now. […] While I believe visible representation makes a difference, highlighting excellence is so much more important.
Kasey Champion
So sure, promoting a person just based on gender, religion, the color of their skin, or anything like that is stupid and can even go against the good of that minority. If we promote people driven by tokenism, we will invariably promote less good experts. But at the same time, to feel comfortable in my role as a female solopreneur and consultant, I need to see other strong female examples.
So, without further ado, here are mine.
7 top women marketers I admire
Ann Handley
As a content marketer, it’s no surprise that Ann Handley was the first person I thought of when I decided to write this piece.
Ann is a great professional, and her approach to content, writing, newsletters, and brand communications has shaped my understanding of how to create content that matters. Whenever I get the new edition of Total Annarchy in my inbox, it’s the first newsletter I’ll read. She is also an amazing leader, and sitting at the helm of MarketingProfs, she has formed how marketing is done in a ton of companies.
But the thing I really admire about Ann is that she doesn’t stifle her fun side. She’s not just the most smiling speaker; she has the best suits and is not afraid to tell personal stories. Heck, she even did a full pink onslaught for a Barbie-inspired B2B presentation!
The takeaway from Ann: Always provide value, be kind, and show your fun side.
Joanna Wiebe
Joanna Wiebe created Copyhackers, the best copywriting education platform out there. She has led countless trainings and presentations. Listening to her talk or write about copywriting is a delight. Everything is clear and to the point, backed up with the right examples. It shows that she’s not just teaching—she’s gone through countless hands-on projects, and she’s speaking from experience.
A few years back, I went through Copy School and gained a new appreciation for Joanna. She shows such a great passion for good copy. It’s not all work to her, it’s personal! I was watching a landing page feedback session she led. I’ve never seen anyone so fired up about their work subject – safe for basketball players and TV detectives.
The takeaway from Joanna: If you really care about the work you do, you’re in the right job. Let your passion shine through.
Katelyn Bourgoin
I’ve been following Katelyn Bourgoin for a while. Her newsletter, Why We Buy, is a treasure trove of psychology-backed marketing advice. Every week, she shares not just the psychology principles but also examples and practical tips on implementing the learning into your own practice.
I got to learn from Katelyn in the Un-Ignorable Challenge and saw her passion for teaching and helping first-hand. Since then, I’ve been following her content even more closely, and I love how direct and clear her writing is. It’s also injected with a lot of energy and personality, so you can’t mistake it for anyone else’s. That’s a master example of personal branding done right.
The takeaway from Katelyn: Find your niche and own it.
Amanda Natividad
If I had to say the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Amanda Natividad, it’s “an all-around nice person.” And I say this as the highest praise I can give someone. On top of that, she’s a masterful content writer and a person who dives into the strategic details rather than comfortably floating on the surface of her practice.
I’ve been following Amanda since she joined SparkToro, and I love all the content she creates there. A lot of it is about audience research, which is SparkToro’s bread and butter. But she also shows the changes in content marketing, pushing marketers to think value-first and clicks-second. I love her conviction that if you’re focused on bringing value to your audience, success will follow. And she proves her belief with the value-packed content she creates.
My only secret wish at this point is that she brings back her personal newsletter The Menu.
The takeaway from Amanda: Talk with conviction about the things that matter.
April Dunford
I first heard April Dunford speak at SaaStock in Ireland a few years back. I was impressed by how she makes a complex subject, like positioning, sound straightforward. Then I read Obviously Awesome, her book about the same topic, and it completely blew me away. It is dead simple and incredibly practical. It shows the step-by-step and creates a framework that makes one of the fuzziest marketing subjects concrete.
The top thing about April is that she is so straightforward. She says it like it is, even if that includes telling a story of how she effed things up early in her career. She doesn’t rely on difficult words or complex ideas. Her experience is mainly in tech, but she can explain positioning with a dog accessory that makes your pet’s muzzle look like a beak. This can come only from a person who’s more focused on delivering knowledge than appearing smart.
The takeaway from April: Tell it like it is and tell it simply.
Melanie Deziel
I heard Melanie Deziel on a podcast, and I was immediately interested in what she had to say. She hit a nerve right away because she creates social media content at scale with an organized process. Her Content Fuel Framework is proof she knows her way around content idea generation. I am a big fan of structured content creation, and this is why I reference it in my content marketing classes.
On the human side, Melanie is also not scared to let us all in. She also posts about her family or personal stories from her travels. I find it really cool for professionals to show another side of their lives, and I appreciate that closeness.
The takeaway from Melanie: Create structure for your audience.
Tina Roth-Eisenberg
It was only recently that I found out Tina is the mind behind a few things I’ve been a long-time fan of: the Creative Mornings series of events, the swissmiss blog, and the cool and creative temporary tattoo e-shop Tattly.
Tina is creative, energetic, and incredibly self-aware. It’s a joy to see her cover such complex topics as creative leadership, finding your professional purpose, and persevering as a person. She is not afraid to be very open and personal – and the empathy she exudes is compelling.
Tina is not a marketer by trade, but she’s an entrepreneur. And to a great extent, what she does in terms of building brands, creating communities, and communicating purpose is the best kind of marketing.
The takeaway from Tina: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and personal.
Take inspiration, but be yourself
Just writing this post and talking about women I admire brings a rush of energy to my fingertips. It’s a reminder of where I want to go and what I want to achieve. And it’s a great reminder that you need to push, claw, and persevere. Because, let’s be real, things don’t come easily to a woman. And when we get to a place of success, we need to show everyone that we can do great things.
But the truth is I know I will never get to where they are because I’m not in a place where they have been. In a sense, the title of this post is a lie—I won’t be any of them when I grow up. This gives me the freedom to forge a path for myself. And who knows where that will lead? Exciting, right?
So find the people you admire and keep a close eye on them because they’ll bring you energy. But make sure you don’t compare yourself to them and build your own path.
