This Women’s History Month, we’re shining a light on the incredible women who make up a big part of our senior leadership at SuperAwesome, including Emily Rowbotham, a Senior Business Development Manager. We are committed to a diverse workforce; however, the wider Tech industry still lags behind – according to a recent study by the Women Tech Network, women make up only 35% of the workforce, while the FTSE 100 has more CEOs named Andrew and Simon than female CEOs.

We sat down with Emily to talk about her role at SuperAwesome, the challenges she has faced as a female leader, and how she is advocating for the next generation. Emily has been with us for 6.5 years and has grown from a Sales Executive to a Senior Business Development Manager, who has been pivotal in shaping our Retail and Growth strategies over the years.

What inspired you to pursue a career in AdTech?

I sort of fell into digital marketing after running a blog at university, all when affiliate marketing/creators were starting to become more of a ‘thing’. Over the years, I’ve moved away from performance marketing and gravitated towards brand marketing; trying to find my ‘niche’ in a really diverse industry. Creativity is my joy, and working in our area of AdTech allows me to flex this muscle within a fast-paced industry, that’s always pushing the boundaries of what’s new!

Have there been people who advocated for or sponsored you in your career? How did they impact your journey?

I’ve had some great managers and mentors over the last few years – encouraging me to move in whichever direction enables me to do my best work. Whilst all my managers have been men, two things they’ve really helped me hone in on are encouraging me to think bigger (something I think can be hard for junior staff) and boosting my confidence in my ability – for example, public speaking at a keynote for the first time. If I’d had managers who weren’t as vocally supportive as they were, I think it would have taken me longer to get to where I am. Not everyone has the opportunity to have female leads be present in their career – myself being a good example. One thing I’ve relished in is when I’ve been in those situations, people like Lee Veitch, a Co-Founder of SuperAwesome, has helped use his own network to find external mentors to support my growth. Mentoring is something I’d highly encourage for everyone within their careers and something I’ve started myself to give back to juniors.

What are some challenges you have faced as a female leader, and how do you overcome them?

I’ve had a mixture of challenges; some are not so pleasant and, sadly still parts of the challenges that women face in any industry. I’ve overcome those by building strong relationships with those in my company around me, so that heaven forbid I reencounter it, I have a support network I can turn to. In less severe instances, maybe something more mundane like feeling like my opinion is being discounted for more vocal others, I’ve held my head high and continued. The trick is not letting it get to you; rise above it and show them why you’re the thought leader that you are.

How do you pay it forward to the next generation of female leaders? What advice or mentorship do you provide?

I’m part of Bloom UK, an organisation championing women in communications. There’s lots of different elements to it, with the goal being to champion women in all stages of their careers. It’s something I’ve really cherished as a way to give back to the industry and be a support for younger women through mentoring. There’s also a scheme for men to join as allies. I wish I knew about it years ago when I was a junior, and it also helps me flex muscles that I don’t necessarily get to cover in my day to day. It keeps me accountable for my own growth!

Finally, do you have any words of advice you would like to share with young women aspiring to become leaders in their respective fields?

Prioritise networking; this is where long term, you’ll gravitate towards like-minded people who’ll help champion and raise you up. 

Trust your gut—you have a vital voice and opinion; don’t shy away from sharing it.