Women's History Month

Team spotlight: Yvonnie Phan, Associate Vice President; Cameron Gurley, Account Supervisor; Leonelda Fitch, Account Manager; Charlotte Hole, Senior Account Executive; Kathryn Norris, Junior Account Executive; Cathy Hewitt, Graduate Trainee As we close out Women’s History Month, we sat down with a few of our colleagues to discuss topics from female role models to the importance of actionable initiatives for women in the workplace.

1. What do you believe are the key skills or qualities that have helped you advance in your career, and how can women be encouraged to develop and leverage these skills in the workplace?

Cameron: From a young age, my mom always taught me to be unapologetically myself. Now, you certainly have to reel that in to some extent in the professional world, but I've always stayed true to myself and my values in the workplace. Women need to work in environments surrounded by like-minded people. Unfortunately, we can't change some of the workplace leaders in this world, but we do have a choice over where we work and who we work with. Surround yourself with those who share your values, who accept you for who you are at your core, and who celebrate your successes alongside you.   Yvonnie: There are two important qualities that have helped me as young professional – having integrity and confidence. It’s common for younger professionals, especially for women, to lose their identities or feel the need to mask who they really are when trying to integrate into a workplace. But trust yourself, remain true to who you are and embrace your unique, individual personality because that is what makes a workplace thrive – it’s how new ideas, experiences, and relationships are formed.  

2. Who has inspired you most in your career as a woman in business?

Cathy: My great-grandma has been a huge inspiration to me. As a woman of 22 (the same age I am now) in 1948, she didn’t have the same opportunities for higher education and career freedoms that I have had access to. Instead, she was expected to work on the looms in the local factory and be a homemaker to her young family. She taught me to appreciate the freedom we have as young women in the 21st century to forge our own path in our careers, embrace the unknown, and take hold of the opportunities we have available to us in order to build a career that we love.   Leonelda: I am inspired by any woman in business who has mastered the art of poise, confidence, and authority in her line of work. To me, inspiration is discoverable in many different fields and drawn from many different women. From Michelle Obama, a prime example of a woman who first strode into the highest levels of the male-dominated field of the law before assuming the role as a champion of grace, self-esteem, and family values as FLOTUS, to Gwyneth Paltrow who went from displaying excellence in the arts to later pursuing her passion of wellness and lifestyle curation, successfully sharing that with a mass audience—I am constantly inspired by women who live their values unapologetically as they strive for greatness.  

3. How can organizations create environments that help women break through barriers more effectively?

Charlotte: I think the first step is noticing. Organizations need to notice where they may be falling short and take action. Across all industries, we have to move beyond performative gestures and implement tangible policies—pay transparency, leadership training, flexible work structures, and robust parental leave policies. When companies foster a culture of equity and ensure women have a seat at the table, they create pathways for long-term change.   Cathy: Lots of women feel worried about the impact having a child will have on their career, and so it’s important that organizations ensure that women who want to start a family feel supported and who like their career trajectory are not being disadvantaged by wanting to become a mother. By having flexible work arrangements such as remote working or flexible work schedules, women won’t be forced to choose between becoming a leader in business and their personal life, and this in turn, will break down barriers to women reaching the top positions in business.  

4. Can you share your career journey and any key turning points that helped shape your professional path?

Cameron: I have always worked on the agency side of PR in my career, and early on, it was clear that despite the general view that it can be a more "feminine industry," it's actually male-dominated. My first boss was a big male presence, and I looked up to him as I started my career in the industry. However, I was constantly being told my ideas were not good enough and wasn't given clear direction on how to improve. It wasn't until my female team leads stepped in and helped me learn the ropes that I saw growth in my career. They led with positive reinforcement, compassion, and overall kindness. I attribute where I am in my career today to those women who were mentors to me early on, who taught me with kindness rather than instilling fear, and who saw the potential in me.   Kathryn: I feel that mentorship has played the most important role in my professional path--from high school teachers who supported my expanding interests in writing to college professors who pushed me to strengthen my skills and think outside the box. In the workplace, having mentors who provided thoughtful feedback and leadership has continued to shape and strengthen my capabilities. It’s easy for me to doubt myself, so having mentors I admire recognize my strengths and suggest paths where they saw me excelling greatly influenced my career interests and brought me to where I am today.  

5. How can women support and elevate each other in the workplace?

Cameron: What I learned from my first female mentors is that women really need to support women. We need to have open lines of communication with each other and recognize when our peers may be struggling in the workplace. We need to stand up for one another and help find solutions to problems or certain systems that just may not be working. Charlotte: Amplification! We can actively advocate for each other by amplifying one another’s ideas, celebrating achievements, and ensuring women are included in decision-making spaces. It’s also important to acknowledge the struggles that many women face outside of the workspace and examine how this may be affecting them. The concept of ‘double burden’ refers to the workload of people who work at paid jobs whilst also taking on responsibility for a significant portion of unpaid care work. Women continue to perform the majority of this unpaid labor, which can lead to reduced well-being, career limitations, and health issues. Family-friendly initiatives and acknowledgment of these issues are a good place to start.  

6. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Accelerate Action.” What do you think is the most urgent step businesses should take right now to create more equitable environments for women?

Cathy: I think the most urgent step businesses should take is closing the gender pay gap. Businesses should regularly reflect on whether there are disparities in pay and what they can do to overcome these disparities. For example, research has shown that women often feel more uncomfortable than men in negotiating pay as they worry about being perceived as ‘pushy’ or ‘bossy,’ in order to overcome this, businesses could make salary ranges clear and be transparent about whether a salary is negotiable, to help women to feel more confident when negotiating.   Jamie: The clearest first step is setting up intentional conversations with women at your organization to hear from them about how they can make their specific environments more equitable. Where do they need the most support? What are the specific barriers to success and equity? Creating an open dialogue and showing women in your workplace that they have an open forum to discuss issues they’re facing is probably the most important first step.