Each year, we dedicate the month of March to women in the form of Women’s History Month. It’s a time to call to mind all the sacrifice, bravery, and unbelievable achievements of those who came before us. A time to reflect on the work being done now, and the work still to come.
Here at ARM, we are fortunate to have so many amazing women working among us. And we’re even more fortunate to have so many women leading in different capacities. I spoke to 3 women working at the VP level about their experiences as women in the workplace.
Lindsay Smith, VP of Audio Insights, on if and how being a woman shaped her experience in the professional world:
- “I definitely think that being a woman has shaped my experience. When I first came into the professional world, it was generally taught that in order to be successful you had to be ruthless, unforgiving, a perfectionist, but you had to do it all without coming across as "bitchy". I battled sexism in the oil and gas industry where I was commonly mistaken for "the secretary" because I was young and a woman. When I worked in the beauty industry, it was even worse. The standards set for how we were supposed to act, look, dress were astronomical.
I will admit that for years, I was ruthless in my pursuits, and I was often unforgiving. I've definitely learned that that's not who I want to be and I have worked to unlearn those traits through gratitude, empathy, understanding, and forgiveness.”
Lisa Jacobs, VP of Media, on what traits have been instrumental to her success:
- The four traits/ characteristics that I believe have been instrumental in my success are: my general curiosity, work ethic, drive to improve, and attention to detail. For as long as I can remember I’ve had the mentality of “I’ll figure it out”, whether it was a puzzle, math problem, or science experiment I was going to get it (and I was not going to stop until I did).
his continued when I entered the workforce. I was curious about everything: how every business worked, DSPs, billing, creative, etc. As I started learning more and more, I wanted to help improve processes and execution, so I raised my hand and jumped in. Lastly, attention to detail has helped me present my work and thoughts in a succinct way (and of course make killer PowerPoints).
Patty Mertes, VP of Media, on how we can support and encourage young women in our industry
- As women leaders, we need to commit the time and energy to mentor and coach more women in the industry. We need to go beyond offering advice and use our influence to advocate for, empower, and elevate women early in their careers.
To the Woman I Was…
We asked each woman what advice she would give to her younger self. These are their answers:
Lindsay Smith: “Don't be so hard on yourself. Your gut is usually right. YOU ARE WORTHY!”
Lisa Jacobs: “Don’t listen to all the advice you receive. Be confident in who you are and listen to those you respect and who respect you.”
Patty Mertes: “I say this to my kids daily and so I would tell my younger self, believe you can, and you will. The only person that will stop you is you.”
Women who broke the sound barrier by Ari Diozon
Celebrate Women's History Month by jamming to women who inspired movements, smashed records, and changed music history.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Combining gospel soul with virtuosic electric guitar skill, she is hailed as The Godmother of Rock and Roll. Her fearless performances inspired Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and more.
Carole King
One of the most prolific and successful singer-songwriters of all time. She wrote 118 songs that have claimed spots on the Billboard Hot 100 for herself and artists like James Taylor and Barbra Streisand.
Aretha Franklin
Throughout her career, she used her musical success as a platform for civil rights and feminism. In the 60s, her contract included a clause that she would not perform for a segregated audience.
Suzi Quatro
When Joan Jett was growing up, she wanted to dress like Suzi Quatro. As a singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader, she kicked down the doors for other women in rock music.
Stevie Nicks
With her signature style and bewitching songwriting, she’s the only woman so far to be inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame two times. Once with Fleetwood Mac and again as a solo artist.
Ella Fitzgerald
In 1958, she was the first African American woman to win a Grammy. However, The First Lady of Song cemented her place among jazz greats for her unparalleled vocal range and improvisational skill.
Patti Smith
From music, poetry, plays, photography, and activism she’s dedicated her life to authentic artistic work. Often called The Punk Poet Laureate for bringing poetic flair to the proto-punk energy of the early 70s.
Dolly Parton
With more than 3,000 song credits, six decades of Top 20 songs, Dolly is an iconic singer-songwriter. She continues to build her legacy with charitable efforts in literacy, health sciences, and more.
Diana Ross
By 1993, Diana Ross had 70 charting singles in her career with The Supremes and as a solo artist. She’s the only female artist to have number one singles as a solo artist, duet, trio, and ensemble.
Billie Eilish
The first woman and second artist in history to sweep the Big Four at the Grammy Awards. At just 18 years old, she won Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
