I thought of Meyer six months into one of my past jobs, when the head of my department resigned. When I shared the news with my peers, on two separate occasions two of my male friends asked, “Are you going to apply for his job?” I laughed and shook my head. The thought never even crossed my mind, and perhaps my inability to entertain the possibility of a leadership role was the only thing holding me back from stepping into one.
This conversation points to a larger truth within today’s workforce: Research shows women have a tendency to not pursue opportunities unless they think they are 100 percent qualified for them, where men apply for jobs even when they only fulfill 60 percent of the qualifications. Perhaps the first step to empowering women to break the barriers in the working world is to help them recognize their ability to take on the unknown.
WomenAdvancing Boston Brings Together a Panel of Curious Risk-Takers
Women leaders in marketing, advertising and media gathered for a discussion at WeWork Boston. WomenAdvancing, a group that connects 6,000 female professionals in the media, marketing and advertising industries, works to give women the support and inspiration they need to succeed. At a recent panel discussion in Boston, top female leaders gathered to talk about their starts and stops and offer insight for women at all levels on how to find success and fulfillment.
Four of the top female leaders on the panel included:
Carol Capeci, CMO at Hearts on Fire (@heartsonfire)
Capeci worked on the agency side for 20 years, leading initiatives for DeBeers and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Now, she focuses her expertise and passion for the diamond industry in her leadership role at Hearts on Fire, driving integrated marketing campaigns that make the brand experience memorable for all customers.
Barbara Messing, CMO of TripAdvisor (@tripadvisor)
Messing leads the marketing efforts at TripAdvisor, the Boston-based travel site that brings in 280 million unique visitors on a monthly basis. Messing also serves on the board for Mashable and XO Group, Inc, and was named “Brand Genius” by Adweek for her vision, leadership and ability to differentiate TripAdvisor in an overly saturated market.
Anne Potts, EVP of Global Services and Standards at Racepoint Global (@atmpotts)
Potts is grateful for the unexpected twists and turns throughout her career. She worked at eight different companies before finding her role at Racepoint Global. Her experiences have given her a strong and varied skill set, including corporate communications, public affairs, media relations and social media. As EVP at Racepoint Global, Potts dedicates her time to boosting the firm’s market presence and ensuring the success of all its clients.