DOM Celebrates International Women’s Day (Updated for 2021)

Walk into any modern office; you’ll hopefully notice quite a bit more diversity among the workforce compared to just a few decades ago. DOM has always prided itself (whether on International Women’s Day, or any other day ending in ‘y’) on hiring talented individuals while encouraging an environment that allows our employees to grow professionally and personally.

This year, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day because, without the hard work and dedication of our female employees, DOM would not be the Advertising and SEO agency it is today.

What Exactly is International Women’s Day?

As a commemoration of the women’s rights movement, every year people across the world recognize International Women’s Day on March 8th. In some countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, International Women’s Day is seen as an equivalent to Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

It wasn’t always an international holiday. National Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1909 in honor of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions. After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8th became a national holiday. Eventually, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) in 1975 and soon after asked member states to observe the holiday.

We strive to create a welcoming environment for everyone on our team and encourage them to explore all of their talents. We provide many opportunities, which allow them to try new things outside of their normal roles. In keeping with the spirit this year’s IWD celebrations, here’s a look at a few of the women from different roles and tenures who shape DOM.

Nikki Powley

Director of Operations

DOM Hire Date: 2015

I was excited to join the DOM team as a Search Marketing Associate because I was ready to focus my career on digital marketing after many years of experience with a mix of traditional and digital tactics.

The agency culture was also a highlight for me. We’re a group of creative and dedicated marketers who shine in our open-minded and collaborative office. Plus, dogs in the office is a definite bonus.

To this day, I’m still excited about working with DOM. Yes, I enjoy coming to work in the morning; it really is a thing.

Our mission as a company includes a lot of growth, and the idea of growth applies not only to our clients but also to our team and our communities. I’ve moved from a Search Marketing Associate to Director of Operations. There’s been a lot that’s gone into that transition, but I’ve also been given the ability to explore my career strengths and the opportunity to use those strengths to best support our growing online marketing agency.

Nikki’s Advice To Future & Fellow Women on International Women’s Day:

• Support don’t suffocate: There is simply no time for pettiness and other general drama. I’ve always liked this sentiment “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” – Unknown
• Be Curious: The world changes daily. Always be ready to learn and don’t be afraid to ask why. Then have the courage to voice your opinion.
• Pay Your Dues: It’s great being able to set strategy or delegate how to run a promotion, but make sure you “do it” too. Not only will you learn things like the fact that a cotton candy machine sounds really fun until you’re covered head to toe in sticky, sugar fluff for 3 hours, and you can’t shape them onto the paper stick to save your life. You’ll also learn the process from beginning to end (including all the bumps along the way), and people notice – they notice your hard work and your dedication to seeing an idea succeed.

Stephanie Mahnken

Sr. Client Success Manager

DOM Hire Date: 2013

In the summer of 2013, I stumbled upon an opening for a Search Marketing Associate at Direct Online Marketing. This was an entry-level position that didn’t require a ton of marketing experience but promised it was real marketing work. Armed with a ton of customer service skills, I took the leap and applied.

I was contacted for an interview where I met some of the staff and completed some marketing exercises. I can promise you those exercises were proof that my marketing skills had some room to grow.

While I was unsure of myself after the interview process, I felt a connection to the staff and that the company was a good culture fit for me. I eventually received a job offer at DOM — the company from which I will one day retire.

It’s now been almost seven years since my first day, and I have grown in ways that I didn’t think were possible. On day one I was given the opportunity to learn as much as I could, and I continue to do so on a daily basis as a Senior SEO team member. DOM provides an atmosphere that encourages creativity, camaraderie, and overall success.

I have attended conferences and training that have not only improved my work life but my personal life as well. Since growth is the primary goal of the company, we’ve encountered many changes during my years at DOM. One of which is providing employees the opportunity to fill roles or perform work that truly interests us.

For me, recruitment has always been an interest and is something that I not only believe I am good at but enjoy. It’s hard to describe what it means to be working with a company that has given me the opportunity to embrace recruitment as part of my role.

Working at DOM as a female, in my opinion, is absolutely no different than working here as a male. I truly believe that all employees, regardless of sex, get the same opportunities and perks. My voice is heard, respected, and valued; and for that, I am truly grateful as we hear far too often about the opposite.

It’s simple — hard work is expected, respected, and rewarded.

Stephanie’s Advice & Quotes For International Women’s Day:

• When you stumble, make it part of the dance! No one is perfect, and we all stumble. We believe in a “Culture of Failure” – learn from your mistakes and move on.
  • “A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.” – Simon Sinek
• A woman is one who walks in her own footsteps rather than following the direction shown by the crowd. Know your strengths and weaknesses and make them work to your benefit!
  • “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Blanche Ostrander

Office Manager

DOM Hire Date: 2012

As the eldest employee here (both in seniority and age) I have had the privilege of watching DOM grow into the highly successful agency it is today.  One reason for this success, I believe, is that the company recognizes that people over 50 can be a valuable asset to a growing company and doesn’t have to depend entirely on younger, less experienced candidates.

I’m a 30-year retiree of a major steel company.  While there, I worked in engineering, sales, metallurgy and quality control, accounting, information services, and lastly as a pipefitter doing plant maintenance during a 10-month labor dispute. After many years, I decided to leave the steel industry and accept my next position as a Training Manager for a worldwide computer training company. From there, I worked as Assistant to the President and CEO of a local research and development laboratory.

When I came to DOM, it was my job to invoice clients and pay the bills, which was supposed to be a 10-12 hour per week job — that didn’t last long.

Before I knew it, I was configuring and purchasing computers; evaluating and recommending software products; researching, installing, and managing a new VOIP phone system, managing employee benefit programs, helping with recruiting and hiring new employees, and whatever else the company needed to be done.

Women have made great strides since I joined the workforce.  More and more women are in management positions and are paid a fair wage. But we have a long way to go. I’m humbled and thrilled to be in the company of so many talented women at DOM as we celebrate International Women’s Day 2020!

Adriana Parra González

Digital Advertising Account Manager

DOM Hire Date: 2015

My first job at DOM was to translate existing copy from marketing materials and the DOM website into Spanish, and at the time I didn’t have much experience in digital marketing. I got to know both sides of the house at DOM, helping both the SEO and PPC teams.

I eventually took on more responsibility as a member of the PPC team. By relying on the experience of my fellow team members, I used my skills to expand DOM’s capabilities in helping clients grow their businesses in Latin America through digital advertising. During my time here, I had the honor of being involved with a major company rebrand.

In addition to working at DOM, I’m also finishing up my studies for my degree in digital media design. Because of my organizational skills and passion for team-building activities, I currently serve as DOM’s Director of Fun. If our team is having fun together, I probably have a hand in it.

As a Venezuelan woman, DOM has always been open to listening to my new ideas, encouraged me to grow professionally, and supported me to accomplish my personal goals. And to all the foreign women out there, I just hope you are working in a cool company just like mine!

Victoria Kurcyzn

Client Success Manager

DOM Hire Date: 2019

Before I joined the team at DOM, during the interview process, my first point-of-contact was Sr. Client Success Manager, Stephanie Mahnken. The call began with introductory small-talk, then the proverbial, “tell me a little bit about yourself” statement came next. “Well, I’m 36, I have two sons and a husband, so maybe that explains to you where I am in life right now!” I replied. We shared a laugh and Steph adroitly segued into why DOM is a great place for women (and people with families!) to work.

I’d conducted my own research into DOM before I spoke with Steph. My mission was to find a home with a company that values its culture; a place where I felt justified investing my time away from my family. I wasn’t looking to work for a women-led organization nor was I trying to find a workplace where women outnumbered men. What I craved was an environment where everyone’s ideas mattered – regardless of job title, seniority, or gender.

The first day of any new job can be difficult. Where do you fit in socially? How do you jump into ongoing projects gracefully? Does my opinion really matter yet? It takes time to find your groove. That time speeds up tremendously when you are surrounded by a team of incredibly intelligent and kind people (who happened to be mostly men). People (mostly men) who could totally nail a task all by themselves, but who see the value in leaning on others (even the new woman) to help get the job done.

So, what does this have to do with International Women’s Day? At DOM, we’ve fostered an inclusive workplace where everyone’s ideas are considered equally. It’s not just a great place for women, it’s a great place for people.

Does it matter that I’m a woman who works at DOM? And, does it matter how many women work at DOM? No. I like it that way. Being accepted and sought-after for your insights and your intrinsic qualities, regardless of gender, is empowering. It gives me hope that, at least at this office, we’ve achieved gender parity.

Dana Schumacher

Senior Digital Analyst

DOM Hire Date: 2020

While my tenure at Direct Online Marketing is still fresh, I already feel comfortable, challenged and rewarded as a Digital Marketing Account Manager here at DOM.

One thing I noticed immediately is how positive and dedicated the environment is at DOM. I know that I am surrounded by people who have a lot of knowledge that will enable me to grow professionally, as well as a great environment to do that growth in.

Collaborative and dedicated work culture is very important to me and I have certainly found that here alongside some incredibly creative and skilled marketers who are always here to help and have the desire to achieve. I look forward very much to my future here at DOM! Not only by playing a role in the growth of DOM, but also by growing professionally and personally!

Advice for Future and Fellow Women on International Women’s Day:

• Enable one another in your office to be successful and to grow. Helping others grow is a great leadership skill and their growth means your growth!
• A positive outlook goes a long way. There are always so many things to be grateful for – small and large, professionally and personally. Approaching each day with that mindset sets you up for a successful day.
• Network and build friendships with other women! You have so much to learn from one another. Don’t hesitate to reach out to others in the space for help, and be open and willing to have other women reach out to you. We all want to succeed, so let’s help each other get there!

Shruthi Nair

Digital Advertising Analyst

DOM Hire Date: 2021

It’s been less than a week since I started at DOM, and what a start I’ve had. The personal welcomes I received from everyone the company felt like the perfect antidote to the new employee jitters. The collaborative nature and team spirit I’ve experienced so far embody the perfect environment and culture for kicking off my professional career right out of college, especially a college in a foreign country. Being surrounded by such incredibly talented and brilliant minds has already been inspirational, and I’m really looking forward to my journey here at DOM.

Advice to fellow women:

The following has helped me at every stage of my life:

• Don’t stop sharing. Talk about your experiences and expertise with others, especially women looking to break into the industry. I have been very fortunate to have had the help of some extraordinary women, and it’s really helped me grow not just professionally but personally as well. Now I wish to do the same for others.
• Be passionate and don’t let the norms/society limit your potential. 
• Take smart risks — Sometimes it’s important to get out of the comfort zone and take smart risks. Trust your instincts and skills to pull it off. 

Closing Thoughts On International Women’s Day 2021

We’re excited to see how the female members of the DOM team will continue to progress professionally and grow our agency. As we celebrate the women at DOM, we also recognize the countless number of hardworking and talented women across the world.

At Direct Online Marketing, we strive to provide a working environment that’s productive, comfortable, and hopefully, inspiring for everyone. If you’re looking for a digital marketing job to help take your career to the next level, we are hiring. Check out our latest open positions.