Friday I’m In Love: Impactful Women
A long, but surely incomplete list of the women who have inspired, guided, and shaped my career.
Today is International Women’s Day, so this week’s edition of FIIL is a tribute to the women who have had a huge impact on my professional life. I tried to avoid all the real important stuff, like my family… but some of them crept in anyway. Sorry about that.
I also need to add this disclaimer: I know I’ve forgotten some of you. I’m truly sorry. I tried to be comprehensive, but I’m getting old and my memory is already failing. Please be mad at me. Send me a text or a mean email. I’ll add you to the list. I promise it wasn’t intentional.
I’ve included links to many of their LinkedIn profiles. You know, in case you want to improve your life by knowing some of the same amazing women. I highly recommend it.
Caroline Schoneweis
My sophomore English teacher—didn’t laugh when I read my poems aloud in front of the class.
Ms. Morrow
My senior English teacher—introduced me to Ralph Ellison.
My Mom
Always reading, always learning, always telling me she loves me.
Amy
Because everything.
Kristin Steele
Gave me my first job—as a copywriter in the Fred Meyer Sales & Marketing department. I hated that job, but I’ll always owe a debt to Kristin.
Alexis Smith
A brilliant writer who took time to write thoughtful notes in the margins of my work during grad school.
Alexandra Fuller
Probably the most effective creative director I’ve ever worked with. She’s the gold standard in helping clients create emotional bonds with their customers, fans, and employees.
Pauline Ploquin
A true partner and deep thinker, she always believed in a better version of me, a better version of Struck, and a better version of the world.
Heather Holt-Lister
I’ve never seen anyone handle chaos with as much grace and thoughtfulness. When things get crazy, I honestly ask myself ‘What would HHL do?’
Lindsey Murphy
An absolute force of nature. Season 5 of Crazy Aunt Lindsey is gonna be amaaaaaaazzzziiiiiing.
Mara Zepeda
She changes the world every single day—and not in small ways.
Tera Hatfield
A fighter, survivor, explorer, dreamer, and designer. She makes the world more wonderful and exciting.
Shawna Harch
A powerful writer and a thoughtful human. Also, lets my daughter have play-dates with her dog, Watson.
Paige Hudson
One of the most energetic and impactful creatives I’ve ever known. She invigorates teams and smashes complacency.
Katherine Cochran
She’s just so #%@&ing strong and such an incredible mentor, ally, and leader.
Jessie White
A believer and a fashion icon, a design star and a true friend. She’s conquering the world and I’m so happy to say I knew her way back when.
Essie Nagler
She can do anything. I mean that. Anything. She’s unafraid and doesn’t tolerate any bs.
Hannah Carmody
One of the real ones. Hannah taught me how to really really laugh.
Jaclyn Stiller
An unmatched example of how strength and humility can co-exist. Also, the most fun person in any room.
Beth Lopez
One of those people I keep an eye on simply because seeing what she’s up to pushes me to be a better human.
Jennifer Hughes
My first pure strategic collaborator, a deep feeler, and a true comrade. She also lent me a George Saunders book. So, yeah.
Emily Kropp
Not just a sneaker inspiration, but also a star insight-seeker. She taught me that it’s okay to care about whatever the Teens™ are into.
Pati Goodell
Someday, I hope I’m brave like Pati.
Nadya Bratt
A wild-eyed designer who rejects any sort of classification. I want to be like her someday.
Joanna Papaleo
Watching Joanna evolve and develop has inspired me in more ways than she’ll ever know. Also, a great lunch date.
Regina Geltosky
Quiet strength is what I’ll always think about Regina. But that’s kind of silly because her voice is powerful and necessary. So, honestly, it’s just strength.
Stevie Meier
Fighting fires and digging foxholes with Stevie is an unparalleled experience in laughter, truth-telling, and hard-earned victory. I miss it.
Megan Pugmire
She asks all the right questions and then questions all the answers. She fights the good fight and I’m in constant awe of her power.
Lauren & Lee Gonzalez
It’s not cool to put two sisters on one line, but the day I met Lauren and Lee was a bit of a life-changer. They’re shaking up the hospitality industry and I wish they’d drag me along for the ride.
Summer Swainbank
This is embarrassing, but Summer once told me that she couldn’t give hugs to everyone after a meeting because she’d forgotten to put on deodorant. I think about that moment all the time because: 1. We need more people who are honest like Summer; and 2. I gave her a hug anyway because Summer is amazing.
Adrienne Ingoldt
The most fair and decisive client I’ve ever worked with. She’s tough—and that should always be seen as the highest compliment.
Alisa Olson
I mean, just wow. Alisa lives every moment as if she’s never getting it back. And she’s not. None of us are. But she’s the only one doing something about it.
Joanne O’Brien Rietta
She always reminds me of Tami Taylor—the coolest, the smartest, the strongest, and secretly the real star of a show that everyone else thinks is about men and football.
Leah Dietrich
This is how you balance deep, meaningful living with a career in advertising.
Lyn Christian
My first coach—and someone who forever changed my perspective in a thousand different ways. She also said that she thought I had “CEO potential” a long, long time ago. I still think she was probably wrong.
Lorraine Janeway
My most recent coach—and someone who dragged me out of a really dark place and into a weirder, more fascinating idea of work and life and quasi-Buddhist thoughts about floating around myself.
Janet Kestin & Nancy Vonk
Again, unfair to have them both on one line, but together, they’ve shaped and changed my ideas about creative leadership.
Kat Gordon
I’ve written about it over and over again, but Kat has changed my life and the way I see the world. Her impact is deep and everlasting.
Lauren Ohlsson
I watched Lauren navigate some of the stickiest and craziest situations while we worked together—and somehow, she emerged stronger and more impressive than before. She’s awesome.
Cassie Walker
Another fearless speaker of truth—and a woman who isn’t afraid to walk into a meeting with a burrito in hand and some hot sauce on her pants. (THAT IS A COMPLIMENT AND THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE.)
Andrea Armitage
Without her, I never would’ve worked with Jack in the Box. And that’s a big deal. Also, she just had a baby. CONGRATS!
Susan Findlay
No one cares about you more than Susan does.
Machel Devin
We fired a client and then had to live through the aftermath. She never lost faith and always believes that we’re capable of being better. We are.
Jenny McCallum
With some people, a general sense of disappointment can be frustrating. With Jenny, it always made me want to try a little harder. Like working extra to get an A in AP Chemistry or something. When Jenny approves, you know you’ve really done something.
Fran Naisbitt
There’s no one like Fran. Her commitment to solving (an impossible word, but still she’s committed) diversity, equity and inclusion at Struck is something that will push me forward forever. She’s also the best and sends me Spotify must-listens on the regular.
Kylie Kullack
A powerhouse. She understands that outcomes are more important than outputs, that results matter more than deliverables. I’m smarter for just having been in the room with her for so many years.
Tsilli Pines
Years ago, I asked Tsilli to lunch. She said yes. I told her that I wanted to be a Creative Mornings speaker. She told me to do something remarkable. I’m still working on it.
Jenn DePauw
You know how there are people who have an outsized impact on you despite the fact that you’ve spent a relatively small amount of time together? Yeah. That’s Jenn.
Colleen Hill
Robyn Reynolds
No one owns their quirks like Robyn. It’s something I think about all the time—her confidence, her self-assuredness, her Alaska-ness. Every time I see her, it’s like running into the person I wish I were.
Every Friday I share something I love. Usually, it’s a new infatuation. Occasionally, it’s something else. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks for the theme song, Phoebe Bridgers!
