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50 Under 30 Technology

Meet the women disrupting the status quo in The Drum's 50 under 30

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By Jenny Cleeton | Social Media & Video Content Creator

February 15, 2017 | 10 min read

Each day this week, The Drum will be publishing a list of 10 of the 50 high achieving women making their mark in digital before the age of 30.

50 under 30 2016

Meet some of the women disrupting the status quo in The Drum's 50 under 30

The Drum’s 50 under 30 does just that. After calling on our readers to share their nominations of women who had broken the mould and gone above and beyond before reaching the age of 30, the final 50 were curated with the help of an industry panel.

The list serves to celebrate the level of female digital talent carving out a new way for the industry. Over the next five days, we catch up with the 50, listed alphabetically by surname, to discuss career highlights, a typical day, and what advice they’d give younger women starting out on a similar path.

Here is the third installment of the 10 individuals chosen for this year, you can catch the first here.

Samantha Kingston, founder and client director, Virtual Umbrella

Samantha Kingston 50 under 30

What is your biggest career achievement to date?

It would have to be starting my own company. In under two years our company is a successful, award-winning agency growing every day. Working in an exciting innovative industry, I have the pleasure of meeting and working with so many great people

What one piece of advice would you offer someone entering marketing today?

The world is forever changing. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Working in a fast paced industry means we are always adapting. Be up for the challenge and work with confidence.

Andrea Knowles, art director, DDB Chicago

Andrea Knowles 50 under 30

Who or what motivates you?

I never thought that being a part of a network the size of DDB would lead to a relationship with our North American chief executive, Wendy Clark. She has this unique ability to connect with every employee and person she encounters on a personal level. Day after day she always leaves us feeling inspired.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

My hope is to be working with a team that makes me excited to come to work every day, creating things that keep us inspired. I would also love to be a part of a project that makes an impact for a non-profit or aims to create social change. Maybe in a new city, still drinking lots and lots of coffee.

Estefanía Landaluce, global associate planning director, Carat

Andrea Knowles 50 under 30

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Technology is evolving so fast that it will have a great impact on the marketing industry as we know it. I can see a future where artificial intelligence is integrated within marketing teams, helping them to collaborate more effectively and build a stronger collective knowledge.

Who or what motivates you?

I feel so energised and motivated when I work with people that show passion for their work. Passion can be contagious and makes the time we spend working together more meaningful for you and the people you have around.

Carole Rennie Logan, senior web developer, Equator

Carole Logan 50 under 30

Who or what motivates you?

Being in a job where the technology and trends change so quickly, I am always having to learn to keep up. It’s hard to be bored for too long as a web developer if you are willing to learn, there is always a new framework or methodology to look into and have a play with.

What technology do you most need day-to-day?

I guess it seems like an obvious one, but I would say the internet. Being a developer, I wouldn’t have a job without it or at least it would be very different.

Lauren Maffeo, content editor, GetApp

Lauren Maffeo 50 under 30

What one piece of advice would you offer someone entering marketing today?

Be confident in what you do well, but adaptable about how you do it. When I was a university student, the digital and inbound marketing industry did not exist in its current form. So I couldn’t have known that I wanted to pursue a career in this field

Do you believe diversity in the industry is changing for the better?

I think it’s encouraging that industry diversity is discussed for what it is now – a problem with social and economic consequences. The data on diversity is less encouraging. But the fact that this topic is mainstream today gives me hope that we’ll see those numbers increase over the next decade.

Hannah Mattinson, senior paid marketing manager, Silverbean

Hannah Mattinson 50 under 30

What one piece of advice would you offer someone entering marketing today?

Bring all marketing activity back to what the customer will find useful. While it’s important for a brand to be visible across multiple channels and devices, it’s important to prioritise being useful to potential customers and stop spamming.

Do you believe diversity in the industry is changing for the better?

I do believe that the gender imbalance within the industry is improving, and previous concerns women had about progressing within digital marketing is nothing to worry about. Experience is no longer valued in years: it’s about your approach and getting the most from a team/department/service so there is less pressure on getting back into work if women are thinking about starting a family.

Heather McDaid, publisher, 404 Ink

Heather McDaid 50 under 30

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Continuing to run my own publishing company. Between working in publishing and coordinating book festivals, it’s great fun and something I most certainly hope will continue for the foreseeable.

What one piece of advice would you offer someone entering marketing today?

Don’t underestimate social media. People have always said that but it’s often with the analogy of it being a shop window; one that’s not really for the business side but to give the public a snapshot of what they could be getting.

Rachel Mercer, vice-president and head of digital strategy, Deutsch

Rachel Mercer 50 under 30

What one piece of advice would you offer someone entering marketing today?

My biggest piece of advice is to always chase a boss that you admire over the name that’s on the door. Even the best companies have their pitfalls, but when you’re just starting out a good boss is who sets the frame for your thinking.

Do you believe diversity in the industry is changing for the better?

I think there’s been an incredible groundswell in our industry but it is a reflection of culture at large. The Women’s March is indicative of that. Never in history has it been so good to be a woman, or a person of colour, or a member of the LGBTQIA community. We are an industry whose role it is to absorb, reflect, and amplify culture so in many ways, the industry is starting to ‘wake up’ at large.

Cassi Norman, account director, Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Cassie Norman 50 under 30

What is your biggest career achievement to date?

I think my biggest career achievement to date is the work done in partnership with Adobe and the Advertising Council for the anti cyber-bullying initiative ‘I am a Witness’. We rallied Silicon Valley and social media to create the first ever emoji for a cause and gave those who witness bullying a tool to speak up and shut it down with the tap of a finger.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

From a professional standpoint, I’ve found a home at GS&P. I’m surrounded by so many fantastic and strong female leaders here. I hope to stay and absorb as much wisdom and knowledge as I can.

Ruth O’Brien, senior PR and social media consultant, Equator

Ruth Obrien 50 under 30

What is your biggest career achievement to date?

There’s nothing more satisfying than producing great results for a client, but having that work recognised by the industry and nominated for awards is an incredible feeling.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

In the next five years I’m keen to see more of the world, in both a professional and personal capacity. I also hope to be managing my

own team and continue to work with clients I can be passionate about.

To keep up with the 50 under 30 women in digital you can go here or read more in the magazine.

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