Women’s History Month: Female Marketing Experts Panel Discussion & Breakfast – Houston
Forget the case studies showcasing perfect campaign launches and viral moments. Our Female Marketing Experts are discussing what’s behind the metrics.
We’re gathering female marketing professionals who’ve navigated it all. They pitch brilliant strategies only to watch committees water them down. They’ve also been asked to make it go viral; with zero budget. There’s also burnout from constantly proving ROI while others get blank checks. Furthermore, they have the expertise that gets questioned until a man repeats your exact idea.
This Women’s History Month, join us for breakfast and real conversation. Our panelists aren’t here to walk through their LinkedIn achievements. Instead, they’re here to discuss the actual experience of building marketing careers. These include the pitches that died in boardrooms, the credit stolen by colleagues, the “aggressive” feedback for the same assertiveness that gets men promoted. In addition, they’ll discuss the code-switching required to be taken seriously.
Expect truth about imposter syndrome in an industry that worships youth while demanding experience. Also about the freelance hustle when agencies lowball your rates, and the tactics used to negotiate fair compensation. Because “exposure” doesn’t pay rent. They’ll reveal which networking actually led to opportunities. Moreover, you’ll hear about the pivots that saved failing campaigns, the data that finally convinced skeptical stakeholders, and the boundaries they wish they’d set sooner.
Come ready for honest discussion about being the only woman in strategy meetings. Talks of managing up while mentoring down and building authority in spaces designed to question it. Leave with tactical advice from women who’ve fought through the pretty branding to create substantive change. This applies both in campaigns and company culture.
Complimentary breakfast provided. Because marketers know the power of breaking bread together, and these conversations deserve more than another unpaid coffee chat.
Moderator: Ashley Small (Medley, Inc) Ashley Small thrives at the high-stakes intersection of business strategy, PR, and digital media. She founded Medley Inc. in 2009, right as the social media landscape was beginning to take shape. Since then, Ashley has been on a mission to merge traditional PR with tech-forward digital trends. Her expertise has amplified the voices of global giants, including Major League Baseball, AT&T, The Obama Foundation, and Kroger.
A recognized leader in her field, Ashley is an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and holds spots as a Houston Business Journal “40 Under 40” recipient and a “Woman in the Fast Lane” by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Beyond the boardroom, Ashley is a dedicated mentor who has trained over 2,000 girls and entrepreneurs in technology and leadership. She brings a wealth of knowledge on scaling visibility and maintain a global reach while navigating modern public relations.
Panelists:
Sheana Hamill Sheana Hamill is an award-winning B2B marketing leader and executive with a career defined by high-impact roles across energy, technology, and financial services. She has served in global leadership positions at giants like Wood Mackenzie and IHS Markit, and as the SVP of Marketing for a government contracting tech firm. Sheana understands the complexities of navigating large-scale corporate landscapes. Currently serving as a Fractional CMO, she translates that “big-business” expertise for small to mid-sized companies while sharing her insights as a LinkedIn “Top Voice” in B2B Marketing Strategy.
As an immigrant, Sheana has a deep commitment to “paving the way” for others. She actively fosters the next generation of marketing leaders through her work on the board of the American Marketing Association (Houston) and her dedication to mentoring under-represented communities in career development. A lifelong learner with a passion for the future of digital marketing and Generative AI, Sheana joins the panel to share her unique perspective on leadership, diversity, and the evolving role of the CMO.
JoAnn Smith (Jo & Co. PR) Jo Smith is a strategic communications leader with over a decade of experience architecting high-impact experiences and campaigns across tech, finance, private equity, entertainment, and luxury hospitality. As Co-Founder of The Plug, a data-driven strategic communications firm specializing in public relations and strategic narratives, Jo has directed campaigns for industry-leading brands including Disney’s D100 campaign in partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Anscape, Onyx, Hulu, and The Recording Academy. She’s also led event strategies for productions like NYC’s Juneteenth Festival. Also notable conferences from CES and Oktobertech to a lobbying event for affordable housing on Capitol Hill.
Jo has served as Strategic Events Manager at Y-Combinator backed OneText and currently advises Jem Social and She&HER, a women-loving-women dating app, where she mentors emerging talent and guides brand positioning strategies. A WSET Level I Sommelier and proud Cal State LA alum, she joins our panel to share insights on scaling communications strategy, the founder-to-acquisition journey, and building brands worth acquiring.
Show up as an ally in amplifying women’s expertise in marketing. Not in Marketing? We have plans for HR, Non-Profits & Events happening too!
