Jesslyn Murray

If you're comfortable and confident with what you are talking about, speak up about that. Don't be afraid to voice your opinion. If someone in the room is saying something that you strongly feel is a poor direction to go, you are more valuable as an asset to them by actually speaking up and letting them know that they're wrong than trying to just pat them on the back and say good idea. I always speak up, and my customers do value that - I tell them I see why they're making this decision, but I don't believe it's the right path to go, and here's why, and I explain it to them instead of just padding them on their head. I want women to feel more like they have a voice because it's valuable, and not just because they're trying to sweet-talk their way up the corporate ladder.

The biggest challenge is the current state of the industry with AI and how it's being introduced. It's really been a disruptor. A lot of design ideation is getting replaced with AI, and even in marketing, it's automating a lot of different simple day-to-day marketing activities. Before, it used to be an issue that we would have to try and convince our customers that their design decision wasn't the right design decision because of X, Y, and Z, and we would consult them on that. Now it's like we're having to argue against AI - we understand you think this is the right way to go, but is really AI the best way to build your brand? Because it's gonna too closely align with what a lot of other people are going to be doing. I think that it could be an opportunity - I'm still on the fence. I'm determined to find a way to turn it into an asset rather than a disruptor. Being a woman is also a challenge, not so much in marketing, but in design.

I’m never going to compromise what I believe is right and kind to get ahead. I’m honest, and I care a lot about people. That matters to me more than success.