Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Baker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Heather. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My first exposure to marketing was as an admin at Compaq Computers right before the merger with HP. I loved everything about marketing and product management, so that’s where I focused after my time at Compaq ended. I went from a Marketing Admin to Sales & Marketing Coordinator to Product Manager to Marketing Manager through a variety of industries including legal, animal health and personal finance.
Today, I also consult with small businesses who are wanting to take their marketing efforts to the next level and build full customer journey funnels. I also volunteer in the WordPress community, speaking at meetups and WordCamps, and mentoring other professionals.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
About five years ago, I had an executive tell me that I wasn’t good enough for an internal promotion. He blamed it on my lack of an MBA, however, there were male colleagues with the same education who he encouraged for the promotion. I remember being so determined to get that promotion because I knew I was the best person for the job. He agreed to offer me the position, but as an “Associate” level because of my lack of graduate degree. Well, never tell me I’m not good enough. I enrolled in the MBA program at Western Governors University (an online MBA program where you work at your own pace) and got my degree in nine months. I’ll never forget the feeling when I walked into that executive’s office and showed him my diploma… and then handed him my resignation letter.
Never let anyone tell you that you aren’t just as good, if not better, than the men you work with. You have every right to have a seat at the table and be a part of the conversation. You’re going to have to work hard, don’t expect success to be handed to you just because you show up. But don’t be afraid, or ashamed, of your success when you achieve it.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I love to see my clients achieve their dreams. And use all of my knowledge and tools to help them get there. Whether it’s analytics, content, social, anything digital marketing related, I can help make it not so overwhelming and time-consuming for small businesses.
I especially love digging into analytics and finding answers and solutions in the data that maybe people have overlooked. It also helps give you insight into what your customers want and what your website or product is solving (or not solving) for them.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Female leadership has definitely come a long, long way since I started in marketing almost 20 years ago. Now, it’s not uncommon to have a woman on the board or the leadership team who is more than just a token representative. I think the biggest barrier today is changing mindsets about what a powerful woman really is and is not.
A powerful female leader doesn’t have to be a threat to men in leadership. The two can work hand in hand if both accept the other as equals. I’ve had plenty of resistance from male leaders as a result of cultural expectations or generational prejudice. But I’ve yet to have someone still question my relevance and value after finishing a project with me. Sometimes you’ve just got to dig in and show ’em what you’re made of.
I’ve found that building relationships do more to open mindsets than hard-charging aggressiveness. Some walls take longer to tear down, but they are more easily toppled with strategic cracks than by ramming into them like a bull.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://heatherandthedogs.com/
- Email: heatherandthedogs@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherandthedogs/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherthedogs
Image Credit:
Heather Baker, Christina Hawkins, @dtlvartwalk
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