Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Reflecting on International Women's Day

News

As companies across the globe acknowledge the contributions of women past, present and future in honor of International Women’s Day today, we here at H+K Strategies asked some of the firm’s most senior women to reflect on their experience as women in the workplace and share their advice, insights, challenges and successes for the benefit of the females following in their footsteps. 

To all of our female colleagues: Thank you for everything that you do, and everything that you have done. 

 

 


Selena Cameron,
Vice President,
H+K Strategies Toronto

Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced on your path to success and how did you overcome it?

“As a mother of three young children working in an industry that never stops, it’s been difficult to find that elusive
work-life balance. It’s impossible to fit either ‘life’ into set hours.”

“Rather, I’ve come to realize that things work best when the boundaries between work and play are blurred. There’s no more guilt about being at my children’s school during the day than there is about taking that late night client call. Embracing flexibility has been key.”

Q: How do you feel the role of women in the industry has changed throughout your career?

“We underestimate the value of working in an industry that has been dominated by women for years – almost 70 percent of H+K Canada employees are women, including 52 percent of our executive leadership team.”

“Those numbers have given women a stronger voice that has helped to drive a forward-thinking culture and set of policies that led to H+K Canada being named one of the Best Workplaces for Women in Canada. That’s something we wouldn’t have seen at the start of my career.”
 
 

 

 


Sue Cook,
 Managing Director,
H+K Strategies Australia

Q: Which woman inspired you the most along your career path?

“There have been many women I have admired, but one who comes to mind is this year's Australian of the Year
Ita Buttrose.  When I worked at Rupert Murdoch's The Australian newspaper as a young journalist, she had already made significant achievements in journalism, and was then working in the same News Limited publishing group as the Editor in Chief of The Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph newspapers, despite it being very much a male dominated world.”

“She had earlier achieved remarkable success as editor of the Australian Women's Weekly magazine and founding editor of Cleo magazine which fought a number of women's rights issues in its pages. Over the years she has continued her publishing career and has campaigned for a wide range of health issues from HIV/AIDs and arthritis to Alzheimer's disease. She has never shied from taking up causes she believes in and has had to stand up to some very powerful men in the media to get to where she is today.”

Q: What advice would you give to young women in the industry? 

“It is never too early to build a network - it will reap its rewards with lifetime friendships as well as for your career.
Always keep your mind open to new ideas, skills, opportunities, people and markets from which to learn. International experience is invaluable in our industry.”

“Don't be afraid to ask for what you want in your career, or put yourself or your ideas forward - this is typically where women stand back and let men jump ahead. Speak up!”
 

 



Teresa Figueira
General Manager,
H+K Strategies Portugal

Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced on your path to success and how did you overcome it?

“No doubt, the biggest challenge knocked at the door when I gave birth to my first child 10 years ago. Until then, I used to work 24/7. That’s the moment you lose your breath, when you’re no longer only responsible for your life, you need to protect, be attentive and available in every sense, emotionally and physically to guide that new life. That’s the moment when you ask yourself if you have what it takes to succeed in both aspects of your life and if you have the courage and the skills to combine everything.”

“I had to learn that I shouldn’t be too hard on myself, that I needed to dominate feelings of guilt and accept I was vulnerable.  I have learned to delegate more efficiently and to be a true team player.  I have matured enormously.
Today without any doubt I’m a better professional because I have learned a lot being a mother. I became a better human being and, of course, I am very lucky that I have a fantastic and collaborative husband.”

Q: What advice would you give to young women in the industry?

“Let yourself be seen, don’t be afraid of being yourself, raise your hand, and take that seat at the table. Most of all never underestimate your potential and believe that you deserve all the success. The rest is a lot of commitment and hard work.”

 

 

Lindsay Hutter,
EVP, Global Director, Change+Internal Comms,
H+K Strategies D.C.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced on your path to success and how did you overcome it?

“To realize that the journey is not about pursuing success as much as it is about living a life of integrity, humility and character. I'd like to say that I overcame the challenge but the truth is life was persistent in teaching me important lessons. So, it was by being a student for life that the lessons were learned and by having been blessed by many worthy role models. Indeed, I am still learning and still blessed by role models - even men. It is a great gift to have an office in between the offices of Duncan Burns and Chad Tragakis, two fine men and colleagues."

Q: Which woman inspired you the most along your career path?

“Teri Richman. Teri was one of my bosses and mentors at the National Association of Convenience Stores. She had a brilliant mind and a humble attitude. The combination of the two meant that she always invited everyone in...to join her in the quest, and by doing so, encouraged many along the way and helped a great number of young talents believe in themselves. She parked her ego and self-interest at the door. Our world would be a better place if more leaders were like my former boss and friend."

 

 

 


Shelley Joyce,
 Head of Change+Internal Communications,
H+K Strategies London

Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced on your path to success and how did you overcome it?

“My greatest barrier has been my own self-doubt - so many women lack confidence in their abilities and their potential, and end up watching from the sidelines, because they were afraid to take a leap into something unknown for fear of failing. The mentorship and support of trusted colleagues has been invaluable in helping me take calculated risks and open myself up to opportunities that took me beyond my comfort zone, but ultimately helped me learn to trust myself."

Q: Which woman inspired you most along your career path? 

“To me, the most inspiring women are the ones who openly support other women, haven’t compromised who they are, or tried to suppress their female qualities in order to succeed – particularly those working in a so-called ‘man’s world’ like banking. “

“We don’t have to compete with one another or behave like men to get ahead; companies that embrace and optimize the different strengths that any individual brings – whatever their gender, background or orientation - will always be the ones that stay in front.”

Q: What advice would you give to young women in the industry?

“Seek out role models and advocates as early as you can – male or female – that can help you define your own personal brand.  Choose someone whose approach you admire or whose values resonate with you and emulate the behaviors that make them successful.  Even if you don’t know where you want to be in ten years’ time, you can start to work on developing your presence and learning how to make a positive and lasting impact.”
 

 

 


Claire Koeneman,
General Manager, EVP,
Corporate Comms,
H+K Strategies Chicago

Q: What advice would you give to young women in the industry?

“First, you have to focus on making clients happy since that is the best way to build a reputation. Second, you should be very persistent in landing new clients and generating revenues because these are the lifeblood of our industry.
Third, take on challenges outside of your comfort zone. For example, say ‘yes’ to running a national client, say ‘yes’ to running a P&L, say ‘yes’ to joining a crisis team.”

“You will own the knowledge you get from these experiences and show that you are not risk adverse.  You also have to be tough as no one achieves success without overcoming significant professional and personal obstacles.
Finally, seek out and connect with senior female executives whom you respect as having a mentor is a key factor in getting ahead in this industry.
 

 

Meredith Marks,
General Counsel,
H+K Strategies Austin

 

Q: Which woman inspired you most along your career path?

“My mom has been my biggest inspiration throughout my career. She worked harder than anyone I know. She is second to none in her industry. She taught me to follow my instincts, always dress the part, and to never quit.

 

 


Sconaid McGeachin
 President & CEO,
H+K Strategies India,
Middle East, Africa and
Turkey

Q: How do you feel the role of women in the industry has changed throughout your career?

“We are fortunate in the PR and communications industry that women are very much accepted and indeed in many offices around our network it is easier to recruit women as there's more available strong female talent.  In the fast growing emerging markets, many women have taken the lead in setting up their own PR agencies and it's excellent to see the growth in female entrepreneurs in the PR industry.”

Q: What advice would you give to young women in the industry? 

“Be yourself.  In some industry sectors, women have to behave differently to succeed.  In the PR industry, the ability to multi task, be excellent organizers, have strong empathy, listening and interpersonal skills are all prerequisites for being a trusted adviser and excellent PR leader.”
 

 

 
 


Devon Spurgeon,
EVP, Corporate Comms
H+K Strategies NYC

Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced on your path to success and how did you overcome it?

“When I arrived at The Washington Post as a 23 year-old news assistant, I was completely terrified and my confidence melted away. Suddenly, I found myself questioning whether I was actually capable of the kind of success I wanted. My fear of failure, of not being able to do what was asked of me - or worse, to take initiative and fail - was almost paralyzing. My mantra became 'I can't.' Fortunately, I had a boss who refused to accept my fears as real. Very early on in my career, he told me that he was tired of me putting limits on myself. I realized almost immediately I was tired of it too.”

“I learned that my points of differentiation are actually my strengths. I stopped hiding the things that made me different and started to embrace them. My differences became the fuel for my fearlessness."

Q: What advice would you give to women in the industry?

“I believe the fundamental challenge women face is this: Unless you come from a background where you are assured success, it can be easy to assume that it's impossible for you to make an impact or become successful. I believe that's not the case. Embracing your true self, learning to face your fears, and surrounding yourself with likeminded people is an unbiased path to success, available to all.”
 

 

 

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