In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re putting a spotlight on the phenomenally talented women who have made tremendous strides & contributions within our company.
We are grateful for any opportunity to spotlight the incredible women we are lucky to know and work with, so, without further ado, meet the amazing women leading the way at inSegment!
Ilona Roberts, Executive Director of Digital Marketing
What advice would you give to women trying to build a career in our industry?
This is a fast-paced, demanding, and ever-changing industry. For the same reasons, it can be incredibly fulfilling and exciting for those willing to take risks, put themselves out there, and seize opportunities to learn and grow. You won’t always be the most knowledgeable person in the room, and while that may be uncomfortable, it’s a good thing! It means there is always room to get better, perfect your skills, and learn new ones – you will rarely find yourself bored if you keep a growth mindset.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and proactively create your own opportunities. Develop your voice and own it; you have to believe in yourself first before others can.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Seek out mentors as soon as possible! I’ve been very fortunate to cross paths with some incredible leaders (both men and women) in my career, but I only learned the value of having a great mentor a few years ago. There is so much we can learn from one another’s experiences, and I wish I had sought out guidance as soon as I started working in the ad industry. It doesn’t have to be one individual; it can be a network of people who you can bounce ideas off of, discuss industry trends and best practices, and turn to for a fresh perspective.
Diana Vasile, Head of SEO
What got you interested in working in marketing/advertising or your specific area of expertise?
I have always had a strong creative side, fueled by my love for reading, therefore my first role in a marketing agency was as content writer. This is when I was also first introduced to search engine optimization, and when I really felt like being part of an amazing, young, and results-driven team, all driven by the urge to learn and better themselves in the IT field. It wasn’t long until I discovered that my favorite part of digital marketing was helping businesses create and grow their online presence, and SEO was the natural way of doing just that, so I took my master’s degree in online marketing while continuing to work as an SEO copywriter. I think that this first work experience combined with my education really solidified Search Engine Optimization as my career of choice.
What advice would you give to women trying to build a career in our industry?
When it comes to a career, be it in marketing, or any other industry, I am a strong believer there is no one responsible for your results and role but yourself, so you must prove your value by generating results, by jumping at the opportunity, and by not being reluctant to new ideas. Working in marketing is working in an environment where every day is different from the next, where you must constantly stay up-to-date with technology and trends. It is a “living and breathing” industry, almost never boring. So if you thrive in such an environment, then digital marketing is your go-to choice.
Alexandra Stan, Digital Marketing Analyst
What got you interested in working in marketing/advertising or your specific area of expertise?
I experimented with a few things over the years. I first started in an advertising agency as an account executive, I switched to customer support with a bit of influence on the more technical side of things, I then moved to online sales, switched to marketing, and finally concentrated on the digital side of marketing, and that was the moment when I really felt like I belonged and that was what I wanted to do.
What advice would you give to women trying to build a career in our industry?
Just like anyone trying to make it in any industry, my advice is to keep your eyes open for opportunities, stay ahead of trends by continuously reading various leading business sources and mostly importantly, just tune in and listen. Listen to the random people talking in front of you at the grocery story, listen to your friends and colleagues, and you’ll get more insights about life and business than you’ll ever realize. And just like David Ogilvy said, “The customer is not a moron. She’s your wife.”
What do you like most about working in this industry?
What I like the most is also what frustrates me at times. Being in an industry that is constantly changing, is giving me the chance to always learn, but at the same time, it gives me the thought that I’ll never be even close to mastering the field. But overall, it’s great to be in such a dynamic environment. It never gets boring.
