Audra Penny

I attribute my success first and foremost to God, as well as to the unwavering support of my family and friends. Their encouragement has given me the confidence to pursue opportunities, overcome challenges, and continue growing throughout my career and life.

Beyond my support system, I believe one of my greatest strengths that contributes to my success is an innate sense of curiosity and a constant desire to improve. I've always enjoyed learning, asking questions, and exploring new ways to grow—both personally and professionally. That mindset has pushed me to seek out opportunities that stretch my abilities rather than settling into what feels familiar.

As careers progress, it's natural to become comfortable, but I've learned that growth rarely happens in comfort. While routines can provide stability, they can also lead to complacency if we're not intentional about continuing to challenge ourselves. I've found that the moments I've stepped outside my comfort zone—whether by pursuing a new opportunity or taking on an unfamiliar project—have been the moments that shaped me the most.

I believe that if you're willing to embrace discomfort and remain curious, incredible things can happen. Growth often begins where certainty ends, and being open to the unknown has been one of the greatest drivers of my personal and professional success.

One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received was simple: don't be afraid to try something new.

Early in my career, I found myself in a role that I didn't allow me to grow anymore. It was beginning to burn me out, and a mentor encouraged me to take a step back and consider whether I was on the right path. That conversation changed the way I approached my career.

That’s when I joined Equitable, where I started in a call center and operational support role. Although I was grateful for the opportunity, knowing it gave me the chance to be at a larger organization, it didn't take long for that familiar feeling of burnout to return. After a few months, I realized I couldn't ignore the thought that there had to be something more aligned with my strengths, and interests.

Around that time, I came across Equitable's Emerging Leaders Program on the company intranet. The program was primarily designed for recent college graduates and offered participants the opportunity to rotate through three different areas of the business, gaining a broader understanding of how the company operated. Even though I wasn't a recent graduate and didn't fit the traditional profile, I applied anyway. My mindset was simple: the worst they could say was no. Newsflash: They didn't.

That decision became one of the most pivotal moments of my career. The Emerging Leaders Program opened doors I never imagined, expanded my perspective, and ultimately set me on the path that led me to where I am today.

That experience taught me an important lesson: you never know what can come from taking a chance. Sometimes it's applying for a job you don't meet every qualification for. Other times it's reaching out to someone you've never met on LinkedIn with a genuine question. A single conversation, application, or opportunity can evolve into a mentorship, a friendship, or even the next chapter of your career.

Technology has made taking those chances easier than ever. We have access to people, opportunities, and career paths that previous generations couldn't have gathered except through the newspaper ‘help wanted’ ads. The only thing standing between us and many of those possibilities is the willingness to put ourselves out there.

Rejection is part of growth. You may get told no. You may never hear back. But every time you take that chance, you're building confidence, creating opportunities, and investing in your own development. Personal and professional growth rarely happen inside your comfort zone.

So my advice is this: embrace uncertainty. Be willing to hear "no." Take the chance anyway. Because sometimes, the opportunity you're hesitant to pursue becomes the one that changes your life.

If I could give one piece of advice to younger women pursuing a career in marketing technology, it would be this: stay innately curious.

Technology is constantly evolving, whether you're working with Salesforce, HubSpot, Seismic, search engine optimization, social media, or emerging AI tools. The pace of change is rapid, and curiosity is what enables you to keep learning, adapting, and remaining relevant. Without that mindset, it's easy for your skills to become outdated.

Curiosity also creates opportunity. If you discover a technology or capability that genuinely interests you, don't wait for someone else to tell you to explore it. Learn about it, understand its potential, and look for ways it could solve problems within your organization. Some of the most rewarding career opportunities come from taking initiative and introducing new ideas that create value.

Equally important is maintaining an open mindset. There will inevitably be aspects of your role that you don't enjoy as much as others. For me, that has sometimes meant spending time analyzing data or working through SQL queries or HTML code. While those tasks may not always be my favorite, I've learned not to define my career by my current responsibilities because technology is constantly changing.

The rise of artificial intelligence is a perfect example. Tasks that once required significant manual effort are increasingly becoming automated, allowing professionals to spend more time on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. The role you have today may look very different a year from now, which is why it's important to remain flexible and embrace change rather than resist it.

Ultimately, curiosity and adaptability are what will set you apart. If you're willing to keep learning, remain open to new possibilities, and embrace whatever each day brings, you'll be well positioned to grow alongside the technology—and shape your own career in the process.

This is undoubtedly the easier of questions to answer: artificial intelligence (AI). The conversation around artificial intelligence reminds me of the saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure." In my industry, I've seen both ends of the spectrum. Some people are deeply skeptical, worried that AI will replace their jobs, while others have embraced it as an opportunity to work smarter and create more value.

I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle. AI is disruptive, and with disruption often comes uncertainty. It's a powerful technology that has the potential to reshape the way we work, making it both exciting and intimidating. But rather than resisting that change, I believe we should learn how to work alongside it.

Organizations across industries are increasingly integrating AI into their business processes, and for good reason. AI excels at handling repetitive, time-consuming tasks, allowing people to spend more time on the work that requires creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and strategic decision-making. Instead of replacing human ingenuity, AI has the potential to amplify it when used thoughtfully.

Change is rarely comfortable, but avoiding it doesn't stop it from happening. Staying informed about emerging technologies and understanding how AI is transforming the marketing technology landscape is becoming an essential part of remaining competitive in today's workforce.

My advice is to start small. Experiment with simple prompts to rewrite an email, summarize a document, brainstorm ideas, or organize your thoughts. Every interaction will help you build confidence. As your comfort level grows, so will your ability to recognize new ways AI can support your work.

The professionals who thrive won't necessarily be those who know everything about AI today—they'll be the ones who remain curious enough to keep learning. By embracing the technology instead of fearing it, you'll not only strengthen your own skills but also position yourself to help shape how AI is used within your organization.

Emotional intelligence is one of the qualities I value most, both personally and professionally. I know who I am, what I bring to the table, and the value I can contribute. That self-awareness gives me confidence—not because I believe I have all the answers, but because I trust my experience, my perspective, and my ability to continue learning.

Working in a the financial sector and technology field has traditionally been male-dominated, which has reinforced the importance of staying true to myself. I don't believe passion and emotional intelligence are weaknesses; I see them as strengths. I care deeply about my work, and when I believe a solution isn't feasible or a decision could create challenges, I'm willing to advocate for my perspective. At the same time, I've learned that how we communicate is just as important as what we communicate. It's important to express ideas with professionalism, empathy, and respect, ensuring that conversations remain collaborative even when opinions differ.

Over time, I've also learned to manage my emotions rather than let them manage me. Emotions are a natural part of being human, and I've found there's value in acknowledging them instead of suppressing them. If I'm frustrated or disappointed, I allow myself to recognize those feelings without letting them dictate my actions. That ability to pause, refocus, and return to difficult situations with a clear mind has made me a stronger teammate and a more effective professional.

Lastly, authenticity is the other primary principle that guides how I show up every day. I believe people do their best work when they feel comfortable bringing their genuine selves to the table. I've never wanted to fit into someone else's definition of what a leader should look or sound like. Instead, I strive to lead with integrity, speak honestly, and build trust through transparency and consistency.