Empowering wisdom: Highlights from inaugural Top Women in Marketing Awards

Last year, Ragan and PR Daily launched the Top Women in Marketing Awards to honor and acknowledge the many accomplishments of trailblazing women marketers who continue to elevate the industry with their many successes. The support and encouragement in the room last October, as we celebrated these women, proved just why events like this are so powerful.

Sue Dietrich, marketing director at Stanley Brand and one of the marketing honorees, gave some advice to her younger self during the event:

“Say yes to opportunities that come to you. Say yes to life. Say yes to people, invite them into your world. And at the same time, don’t burn bridges. You never know, in this industry in particular, when those people are going to come back around.”

[RELATED: Do you know a Top Woman in Marketing? Are you one yourself? Nominate by March 15]

To continue honoring these accomplished women, we’ve rounded up a group of the most inspiring acceptance speeches from the awards. As honorees accepted their awards, they answered one of these questions:

• What is the title of your autobiography?
• What is the happiest moment in your life?
• What is one thing you wish you could tell your younger self?

Take a look at these uplifting moments from the inaugural class of Top Women in Marketing and don’t forget to check out the profiles of all the Top Women honorees.

Do you know someone who should be honored as a Top Women in Marketing? The call for entries for the 2024 Top Women in Marketing Awards is open now. Deadline is March 15, 2024 to entry.

Vanessa Mbonu, vice president of Digital Marketing and Communications for the NAACP, is thankful for all the countless opportunities to succeed, fail and learn.

Beril Gutierrez, director of Social Media & Content at Discover The Palm Beaches, discusses the obstacles she has gotten through and what advice she’d give her younger self.

April Augustine, director of Marketing at “Gaming Laboratories International, reminds her younger self that she deserves to be in every room she’s invited to.

Aliah Davis-McHenry, executive Director of Global Corporate Marketing and Creative at Bristol Myers Squibb, explains the personal meaning behind her awards dress and why it propels her forward as a marketer.

Sue Dietrich, marketing director at Stanley Brand, tells her younger self to say “Yes.” (And no, she can’t get you that sold-out Stanley Cup.)

Sharifah Niles-Lane, SVP and head of Enterprise Social Media and Content Strategy at Citizens, titles her autobiography and shares its connection to her family.

Are you a communications or HR professional? You may also want to check out Ragan’s Top Women in Communications Awards and Top Women in HR Awards.