To mark International Women’s Month, Seedtag brought together a powerhouse group of industry leaders for a special episode of The Pub Way Podcast hosted by Tina Iannacchino, VP of Publisher Partnerships North America at Seedtag. She was joined for a dynamic conversation that brought forward honest, bold, and deeply human insights from women who are shaping the future of advertising and media.
This special panel featured:
- Jackelyn Keller, CMO at Comscore
- Natasha Byrne, Global Business Lead at Omnicom Media Group
- Samantha Skey, CEO at SHEMedia
- Luisa Izquierdo, CHRO at Seedtag
With this year’s International Women’s Day theme Accelerate Action as a guide, they explored leadership, representation, and the tangible steps needed to create more inclusive, impactful environments.
- From Imposter Syndrome to Imposter Awareness.
- Redefining What Leadership Looks Like.
- Why Context Matters In Advertising and Leadership.
- Taking Action That Moves the Needle.
- What Comes Next.
From Imposter Syndrome to Imposter Awareness
“I kept saying, ‘What if I’m not good at what I do?’” said Natasha Byrne, reflecting on a major career shift. “Even at my level, I had that imposter syndrome.”
But what many women label as internal insecurity is often a reaction to external dynamics. Samantha Skey challenged the very term: “Imposter syndrome was created by the patriarchy. It’s not that we’re broken, it’s that we’re made to feel like we don’t belong.”
Jackelyn Keller added, “We need to change the stories we tell ourselves. Instead of saying, ‘I’m quitting smoking,’ say, ‘I’m not a smoker.’ That shift in identity and self-talk is powerful.”
Across the board, the takeaway was clear: what we call self-doubt is often a response to environments that haven’t been built with us in mind. Changing the narrative starts with recognizing that - and speaking up anyway.
Redefining What Leadership Looks Like
“I was the only woman in the room and the youngest,” said Luisa Izquierdo, recalling her early years as an HR director. “I had to coach and guide people decades older than me. What helped was preparation. That’s how I built my confidence.”
For others, it was about redefining the qualities often negatively labeled as ‘feminine.’
“In the beginning, I thought empathy and emotion made me weak,” said Natasha Byrne. “Now, I see them as my superpowers.”
And leadership doesn’t just show up in boardrooms. Jackelyn Keller shared a moment of pride when her young daughter challenged her school’s curriculum for reinforcing outdated gender roles. “She raised her hand and said, ‘We don’t read that in my family.’ She changed the book for the whole class.”
These stories highlight how leadership today is rooted in authenticity, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to challenge the status quo, whether that’s in the workplace or the classroom.
Why Context Matters In Advertising and Leadership
Throughout the episode, the panel returned to a shared belief: that the future of advertising, and leadership, is personal.
Luisa Izquierdo emphasized the need to encourage women to take risks and aim higher, saying, “We raise the bar for ourselves constantly. It’s painful to see brilliant women still doubting their worth.”
And when discussing the evolution of advertising, personalization and relevance took center stage. But not at the expense of empathy or privacy.
The message? Advertising doesn’t need to follow users around. It can meet them where they are through meaningful, real-time context. That’s where contextual advertising has a role to play: making relevance possible without sacrificing respect.
Taking Action That Moves the Needle
Our panelists did not just reflect on challenges but also shared the concrete actions that can help change the system.
Samantha Skey spoke about the importance of transparency, explaining how her company reports compensation by gender and race and creates space for open conversations on topics that are often overlooked, like caregiving. “There’s power in visibility,” she said. “We can’t fix what we don’t acknowledge.”
Jackelyn Keller emphasized the value of starting before everything is perfect. “Let’s treat change like a product roadmap. Build the MVP, launch it, learn from it,” she said. “Progress doesn’t need to be perfect - it just needs to keep moving.”
The message across the board was clear: meaningful change doesn’t happen in one sweeping moment. It’s built through everyday decisions, intentional policies, and a willingness to speak up and show up, even (or maybe especially) when it’s uncomfortable.
What Comes After Women's History Month
This conversation offered a forward-looking view of what leadership can and should look like in today’s advertising world. Whether it was calling out outdated systems, rethinking how we support women at every life stage, or encouraging the next generation to lead with confidence, reinforcing that change starts with action, not intention.
At Seedtag, we’re committed to building the kind of workplace and advertising ecosystem where inclusion, authenticity, and context drive every decision. Because real relevance isn’t just about what people are watching or reading but about who they are, what they value, and how they want to be seen.
Want to discover the full conversation? Tune in to this special episode of The Pub Way Podcast and explore how women in advertising and media are leading change from the inside out.
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