Still Fighting The Same Battles: Why MKTG WMN Exists & Isn’t Going Anywhere
Let’s be real for a minute. If we had a dollar for every time someone told us “things are changing” in marketing while absolutely nothing changed, we’d have enough money to close the wage gap ourselves.
Women and nonbinary marketing professionals continue to face the same frustrations year after year, and it’s been frustrating to see the lack of momentum towards progress.
MKTG WMN is a community and a movement. We’ve been here for 4 years, we’re growing stronger, and we’re doubling down on our commitment to make an impact on our industry.
Our Journey: How MKTG WMN Began
Picture this: Two marketers meeting each other during a networking break at a marketing conference. That’s how we met back in 2018.
Over the years, we started to have conversations, sharing war stories, and documenting patterns and the same BS marketers face:
The persistent gender wage gaps
Continued need for sponsorship
Lack of representation in leadership roles
Subtle (and not-so-subtle) biases in the workplace
As we had more conversations with women and nonbinary marketers, the same themes emerged.
Frustrations of not being seen as equals to our colleagues, getting passed over for promotions, and feeling the pressure to work twice as hard to get half the recognition.
We knew that something had to change – and that’s how MKTG WMN was born.
“MKTG WMN is truly like a safe space and just a place to get real advice, real resources, and mentorship. I love it!”
-Genesis Reyes, early supporter & member of MKTG WMN
The Current State: Why Safe Spaces Are Needed
Fast forward to today. Has marketing evolved? Well, not exactly.
Unfortunately, the landscape hasn't changed as much as we’d hoped.
We’re still dealing with the gender pay gap, marketers expected to perform above and beyond without the compensation worthy of their talents, and male marketers posting about "supporting women in the workplace” that gets 3K likes while they have exactly zero diversity on their leadership team.
On top of companies slashing DEI initiatives this year.
On top of layoffs happening left and right.
And on top of the world being what feels like a dumpster fire, marketers are expected to keep up with algorithm changes, drive leads and increase revenue growth, manage budgets and their teams, etc.
This is precisely why MKTG WMN isn’t just relevant - it’s essential.
The Future: We’re Not Going Anywhere.
Despite the world being crazy and uncertain, we are certain about 1 thing: we’re building something magical that we are so proud of.
“Thank you SO much for pivoting from the all-too-common pink, "women helping women" networking groups that never address systematic issues that hold women and nonbinary folk down. Y'all go there and I appreciate it to the nth degree!”
-Lisa Kalner Williams, MKTG WMN member
It’s been a fulfilling 4 years despite some challenges along the way - and we’re not going anywhere. - and we have the testimonials to back it.
“When my manager encouraged me to come up with a market rate figure for a raise discussion, I immediately reached out to the MKTG WMN community for resources. Gabrielle was incredibly helpful and pointed me towards their comprehensive salary benchmarking data.
What I discovered was eye-opening: I was significantly underpaid and hadn’t even realized it. Armed with this concrete data, I was able to confidently negotiate for $15-20K more than I would have originally asked for!
The transparency that MKTG WMN provides through their salary reports is invaluable. As women, we’re often left out of crucial conversations around compensation, and their resource sheds light on realities we might not otherwise see. The validation and support from this community has been worth every penny.
MKTG WMN’s commitment to salary transparency doesn’t just help individuals - it’s elevating our industry.”
-Eryn Lueders, MKTG WMN member
So, we’re doubling down on our efforts:
More content and knowledge gathering
More events and opportunities for connection
More resources and support
More advocacy to create lasting change
Why this matters now more than ever
In today’s uncertain economic climate / state of the world, marketers are questioning their place in the industry. Job searches grow longer and more challenges. Skills that were in demand six months ago are “nice-to-haves.”
We see women and nonbinary marketers are still fighting to be seen and heard in organizations. We understand the exhaustion that comes from having to prove their worth, and we are here to remind you that you’re not alone in these struggles.
Join us and our movement.
If you’ve ever:
Watched a man get praised for basic competence while you work miracles daily
Been told you’re “too aggressive” for directly stating your opinion
Been seeking a community for marketers you can learn and grow with
Felt tired of waiting for change
Then MKTG WMN is your home.
We can’t promise to fix every broken system overnight, but we promise that your perspective and story will be heard.
We promise you’ll find support, resources, and genuine connections with others who empathize with your journey.
Together we’re reshaping what career paths look like for marketers.
Ready to join a community that gets it? Become a member and use the discount code BIRTHDAYBLOG (expires March 31st at 11:59pm EST)
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