Today is International Women’s Day! Each year on March 8, the world shifts its focus to celebrate women everywhere – not just for all they contribute, but for who they are.
It’s no secret that throughout history, women have had to overcome (and are still overcoming) significant obstacles to gain equality, both in and out of the workplace, and to show how strong, capable, powerful, and resilient we truly are. Each generation of women spearheads new movements and brings about new possibilities that would have seemed impossible to the women before them.
One of these women is KWSM’s fearless leader and CEO, Katie Wagner.
According to a publication by the BLS (Bureau of Labor and Statistics), when Katie founded KWSM in 2010, only 24% of CEOs in the US were women. Now, nearly 12 years later, our team has grown exponentially and is filled with women who influence and lead our team in various roles, from managers to senior-level positions, and more.
One of Katie’s ultimate passions is raising up and mentoring women to both recognize and fearlessly pursue their goals, whatever that looks like for them.
“One of my main objectives with the agency has always been to develop strong women leaders, and give them an opportunity to grow in their careers,” says Katie. “I am inspired daily by the hard work, skill, and emotional intelligence that the women of KWSM bring to the agency, and my intention is to pass the company on to this next generation of leaders when the time is right.”
What International Women’s Day Means To Me
I’ve been a Digital Marketing Strategist at KWSM for more than 2 years now. For most of my life, I struggled with severe self-doubt. So much so, that I would shy away from activities, social gatherings, and special opportunities simply because I was too afraid that I would embarrass myself, that I would let people down, or that I would inevitably fall short. There were so many things that I missed out on because I thought, “I’d rather not try at all than try and fail.”
To a certain degree, this fear showed up when I started working at KWSM. I remember being somewhat terrified to take on new projects and responsibilities because I didn’t know whether or not I was capable of succeeding, and I didn’t want to let my team down.
As I adapted and learned new skills, my confidence started to grow, but it wasn’t until I took part in KWSM’s Leadership Program that I truly saw and felt a deep change. During those three months, Katie met with me and three other female colleagues weekly to teach us how to grow our leadership skills.
I vividly remember Katie telling us how common that type of fear is for women specifically. Think about how many women shy away when it’s time to advocate for their ideas, showcase their skills and qualifications, ask for a raise, etc. How many opportunities are we as women missing out on because we take ourselves out of the game for fear of striking out?
I credit the Leadership Program and the years of observing Katie and other female leaders on our team with the new confidence I have found — yes, in my work-related skills — but also in my personal life as well. If the Meredith from my childhood or even from two and a half years ago could see me now, she would be in awe of how far I’ve come and how truly powerful and capable I feel.
While International Women’s Day carries so much weight and means many different things to women around the world, that is what it means to me — having the opportunity to watch and learn from women who did what I otherwise would have thought to be impossible, evolving into this force to be reckoned with, and now teaching other young women in the workplace and in my personal life just how capable they are. One day, women of the next generation will look to me like I have looked to the women on my team and think to themselves, “If she can do it, I can do it too.” It’s a chain reaction.
Here’s What Other Women Of KWSM Had To Say
“What interested me in a role at KWSM was the opportunity to work with such a strong, respected female CEO and leader, and one of the things that has kept me here is the experiences I have had working alongside the amazing professional women of our organization.”
– Taylor Lizura, Senior Digital Marketing Strategist and Manager of Content, Advertising & Training
“Working for a woman-owned business with several female leaders at the organization has been a crucial part of my career growth. With this team, I feel supported in my daily work and empowered to grow my career in any direction. I’m honored to celebrate international women’s day with such hardworking, compassionate, and fearless women here at KWSM.”
– Brianna Zambrano, Senior Digital Marketing Strategist
“This International Women’s Day, and every day, I’d like to recognize the passionate and motivational women at KWSM. Our leadership has done an exceptional job at creating an environment for professional and personal growth. It is a great feeling to be a part of an organization that not only has a supportive and dynamic team culture, but also helps to set you up for success.”
– Savana Harris, Digital Marketing Specialist
“The leadership team at KWSM is constantly looking for ways to empower and encourage us. I have never felt more supported in my career, and it is so fun to look back and see how much I have grown since I first started working here.”
– Madeleine Wood, Web Designer
“The saying goes, ‘If you never try you’ll never know,’ and that aligns with my growth so far at KWSM. In just a short time here, I have already learned new skills and worked with different clients from industries totally new to me. The women on our team have been so motivating and encouraging while I learn the ropes, always willing to help when I need support.”
– Lauryn Jackson, Junior Digital Marketing Specialist
Are you ready to join a team of powerhouse creators?
We want to work with women (and men) who are passionate. If you have the ability to get excited and roll up your sleeves to serve our clients, we might just be the work-family you’re looking for!
CLICK HERE to learn more.
