A foreword from our CEO, Kate O’Loughlin | “Women’s History Month is a moment to celebrate progress, and to recognise the work still ahead. At SuperAwesome, I’m continually inspired by the women who are redefining what leadership in tech looks like, and I’m happy to introduce just a few of them over the coming weeks in a series of blog posts for WHM. By sharing their stories, we want to encourage young women considering careers in technology to know this: your perspective matters, your voice belongs here, and your leadership is needed. The next generation of innovators is watching. Let’s show them what’s possible.“

This Women’s History Month, we’re shining a light on some of the amazing female leaders at SuperAwesome, including Hannah Grant, one of our Senior Product Managers. Hannah joined SuperAwesome over 6 years ago and brings a unique ability to balance technical vision with customer understanding, which has resulted in groundbreaking product developments for the youth-digital marketing ecosystem, launching data platforms from the ground up into market-leading efforts. Hannah was honoured as an Emerging Technology Leader in the 2025 Women in Media & Ad Tech Awards for her incredible work.

Can you describe your role at SuperAwesome?

I’m a Senior Product Manager responsible for our Awesome Intelligence product. Owning the product means setting its vision, defining the strategy, and shaping the roadmap – all while ensuring alignment with wider company goals and objectives.

A core part of my role is driving innovation by embedding data and insights into everything we do. I work cross-functionally with a wide range of teams to deeply understand customer problems, both internal and external, and translate those insights into clear product direction.

From there, I partner closely with our development teams to design and deliver impactful solutions and collaborate with Product Marketing to ensure we successfully bring those solutions to market. My role sits at the intersection of strategy, customer understanding, and execution, turning insights into meaningful products that deliver real value.

The 2026 theme highlights that when women thrive, everyone rises. How do you use collaboration to work through problems that might otherwise seem impossible to tackle alone?

One of my favourite things about SuperAwesome is the powerhouse women I have the privilege of collaborating with every day. Building products that are not only commercially viable but also aligned with our mission to build a better internet for kids and teens can feel ambitious – and at times, overwhelming.

What makes it achievable is collaboration. The teams I work with, particularly the women, bring diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and a shared sense of purpose. Together, we break down big, complex challenges into incremental improvements, focusing on solving one meaningful problem at a time.

That collective energy, resilience, and clarity of purpose make even the most intimidating goals feel possible. When we support and challenge each other, we don’t just build better products – we build momentum.

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

Early in my career, I learned that advocacy doesn’t always come from where you expect it. While International Women’s Day rightly celebrates women supporting women, one of my most influential advocates was actually a male mentor in my first role out of university.

He recognised strengths in me that I hadn’t yet fully seen in myself. He believed that Product Management would suit my skill set and actively advocated for me to move into that role in a highly male-dominated company. At the time, I felt like an imposter. I questioned whether I was ready. But he didn’t. He not only championed the move but also ensured I had the resources, exposure, and support I needed to succeed.

Perhaps most importantly, he trusted me. He trusted me to make decisions, to contribute to strategy, and to lead – and he made it clear that failing fast was part of learning, not something to fear. That permission to take risks and grow without the pressure of perfection was transformative.

I don’t know if I would be where I am today without that sponsorship. It reinforced for me how powerful it is when someone uses their position to open doors for others – and it’s something I now try to pay forward in my own leadership.

Has someone ever given you an opportunity you didn’t feel fully ready for, and what happened when you took it?

Yes definitely but I genuinely enjoy new challenges and stepping outside of my comfort zone. Growth rarely happens when you feel completely ready and comfortable – it happens when you stretch yourself. So I’ve learned to back myself, to seek out challenges, and to keep raising my hand even when the path isn’t immediately clear.

Those experiences have reinforced an important mindset for me: you don’t wait until you feel 100% ready. You prepare, you step forward, and you grow into the opportunity. 

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

Working in Product Development as the only female can sometimes feel isolating. Being the only woman in the room means there aren’t always people who naturally share your perspective or experience. Over time, I’ve learned the importance of building connections beyond my immediate team. I’ve leaned into relationships with female peers in other departments, and that support network has been invaluable. Not only has it helped me feel less isolated, but it’s also broadened my understanding of the business and expanded my influence across the organisation.

Another challenge I’ve faced is feeling unheard – like my voice or opinions carried less weight than those of my male peers. For a while, that experience made me harder and more guarded. I built walls to protect myself. But over time, I’ve realised that the qualities I was trying to suppress – empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence – are actually some of my greatest strengths as a Product Manager.

Leaning into empathy has allowed me to better understand our users, our customers, and my team. It’s helped me build products that genuinely solve problems and create meaningful impact. Instead of trying to fit into a mould, I’ve learned to lead authentically – and that authenticity has become one of my biggest advantages.

What’s one work goal of yours for 2026? How do you plan to achieve it?

2026 will be a big and different year for me – I’ll be welcoming my first child and stepping away from work for a period of time. That shift naturally brings some uncertainty, but it’s also given me a new perspective on leadership and impact.

My goal is to build a clear, ambitious vision and roadmap that continues to drive the business forward while I’m away. I want to leave strong strategic foundations, clear priorities, and empowered teams who feel confident carrying the momentum.

For me, success in 2026 isn’t about being present for every decision – it’s about building something resilient and sustainable. If the product and team continue to thrive in my absence, I’ll know I’ve done my job well.

If you could give one bit of advice to the next generation of female leaders, what would it be?

Speak up when you have something to say.

You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room to be the most impactful. But when you can add value to a conversation, have the confidence to contribute. Your perspective is valid, your experience matters, and your insight deserves space.

Often, the people speaking with the most authority aren’t the ones with the most knowledge – they’re simply the most confident. Don’t let volume intimidate you into silence. Trust that you likely know more than you think.

Confidence doesn’t have to mean speaking all the time. It can mean speaking when it counts!