As March comes to a close, so will National Women’s Month. It’s the perfect time to celebrate all the women who have shattered the glass ceiling and made their names in male-dominated spaces. This applies to both the personal and professional aspects of life. Women are showing up more and more in different fields, including the marketing industry.
This article honors all the trailblazers who paved the path for other women to succeed in the field of marketing. Read on to learn more about these inspirational figures!
1. Helen Lansdowne Resor
Nowadays, no one would bat an eye at the use of sensual appeal in marketing campaigns. However, in the early 1900s, it was a big deal, and Helen Lansdowne Resor was ahead of her time. As the head copywriter at J. Walter Thompson, Landsowne introduced the concept of sensual appeal in advertising.
She came up with the tagline “A skin you love to touch” for Woodbury Soap, painting the product and its customers in a sensual light. This led to a 1000% increase in the company’s sales, earning Landsowne the reputation of being one of the greatest copywriters of that period.
2. Melanie Perkins
If you use Canva to create your work presentations, posters, and the like, you have Melanie Perkins to thank! Perkins is the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Canva, an online graphic design app used to create and edit photos, videos, and graphics. Her idea of creating a budget- and beginner-friendly design platform started in 2006 when she was in high school. She turned her dream into reality in 2013, seven years later.
She is known to be one of the youngest CEOs of a tech unicorn, which is a startup worth USD 1 billion. Not only did she develop a tool that has helped over 170 million people, but she also inspired many women entrepreneurs.
3. Jacqueline Parkes
Though much progress has been made in the sports industry becoming more inclusive, it is still a hard industry for women to break into. Jacqueline Parkes defied these odds and became the first female chief marketing officer (CMO) in professional sports in 2008.
As one of the influential women in marketing, she is credited for the idea of having players and managers wear microphones during games. This allowed the crowd a more immersive sports-watching experience, which many sports enthusiasts appreciated.
4. Michelle Ngome
As the founder and CEO of Line 25 Consulting, Michelle Ngome has carved a niche for herself in the marketing industry. Her work focuses on diversity in advertising, emphasizing the importance of inclusive marketing strategies that resonate with a broad spectrum of consumers.
Her work is most meaningful in uplifting women of color, but she also inspires anyone who wants to go into marketing. Her podcast, “Networking With Michelle," provides insights on professional networking, personal branding, and strategic marketing.
5. Marisa Thalberg
Being a recognized brand builder is already a full-time job, but Marisa Thalberg juggles that with another demanding role — being a mom. Thalberg is the founder of Executive Moms, an organization aimed at supporting and empowering mothers in executive positions. She is a vocal proponent of work-life balance, challenging industries to be more accommodating and supportive of working mothers.
Aside from that, she is also one of the influential women in marketing, creating innovative marketing strategies for many household brands. These include Taco Bell, Estée Lauder, and Unilever.
6. Lynne Choy Uyeda
Lynne Choy Uyeda’s work provided much-needed progress in the realm of inclusive marketing. She co-founded the Asian Business Association and used her expertise in consumer behavior to create effective and culturally sensitive campaigns. With a career spanning several decades, Uyeda has been instrumental in developing marketing strategies that effectively reach and resonate with diverse audiences, particularly within the Asian community.
She then founded the Federation of Minority Business Associations, creating a safe space for minority communities in Los Angeles to support each other.
7. Shirley Polykoff
If you love dyeing your hair to express yourself, you’re going to like Shirley Polykoff’s legacy. Polykoff was a copywriter in the 1950s, and she was in charge of creating campaigns for Clairol, a hair company. She came up with the slogan “Does she …or doesn’t she? Hair color so natural only her hairdresser knows for sure,” cleverly alluding to how well the company’s hair dye works.
While hair dye is not a big deal anymore these days, it was in the 1950s. Polykoff’s campaign contributed to destigmatizing women dyeing their hair as it is a form of personal expression. It also led to Clairol’s sales skyrocketing!
Celebrate These Influential Women in Marketing This Women’s Month
The Stellar Enterprise is a workspace that recognizes the importance and brilliance of women — it was even founded by one! Vanessa Guiles is the founder and executive director of the company, spearheading a strong business with her marketing expertise and leadership.
If you’d like to join our team of diverse and talented people, check out our career opportunities!
