In honor and recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, the women of #TeamGatesman welcomed leaders from across a variety of industries for an engaging discussion on leadership, hardship and lessons learned along the way. This was the agency’s second annual IWD celebration. 

The hybrid event kicked off with a virtual discussion with Geena Davis, Two-Time Academy Award-Winning Actor and Founder and Chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. 

Geena’s longtime passion for empowering women stems from her acting career and her experience as a mom. After playing iconic leading ladies in films like “Thelma & Louise,” and “A League of Their Own,” it was clear that the world craved more bold, brave female characters on screen. As a mom, she was shocked by the lack of female characters in the TV programs her young daughter was watching, which led her to create the Geena Davis Institute. Over the past 20 years, Geena and the Institute have championed equitable representation of onscreen entertainment and media by advocating for content that accurately reflects the world’s diverse population.

Beth Thompson, VP, Director of PR & Social Media interviews Geena Davis. Link to virtual interview. 

Gatesman’s work with the Institute on social media, content strategy and content creation inspired this year’s IWD event, with the Institute’s mantra, “If she can see it, she can be it,” serving as the theme for the in-person panel on female leadership in the workplace.  

Shannon Baker, President, Gatesman, served as the moderator for the discussion featuring:

  • Carly Barton, SVP, PNC Private Bank
  • Rachael Heisler, City of Pittsburgh Controller
  • Linda Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, United Way of Southwestern Pa.
  • Liz Majetic, Regional Vice President - North America, SAP
  • Danielle Parson, Founder & CEO, Professional Women’s Network
Panelists from Gatesman’s International Women’s Day Celebration (Left to Right): Rachel Heisler, Liz Majetic, Shannon Baker (moderator), Linda Jones, Danielle Parson and Carly Barton

Panelists shared impactful thoughts on successful communication and mentorship in the workplace, the importance of taking up space and knowing how to advocate for yourself and other women, and charting your own path as a female professional.  

“As women we can do a better job of helping, supporting and championing each other to build even greater success and representation in the workplace and the c-suite. This event is about sharing, inspiring and connecting,” said Shannon Baker, President, Gatesman. “Encouraging women to share their stories and unite in our shared experiences makes us all stronger and it benefits us all. By talking about both the successes and the challenges that have shaped who we are, we show each other that nobody is alone in their experiences, and that anything and everything is possible.”

With 70 percent female representation in its c-suite, Gatesman takes pride in providing platforms for female empowerment, including this year’s IWD panel discussion. 

The women of Gatesman are passionate about empowering female leaders, and look forward to continued projects, conversations and events that shine a light on this important work.  

Link to photo album. 

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‍About Gatesman:

With offices in Pittsburgh and Chicago, Gatesman offers expertise in strategy/branding, advertising, public relations, social media, digital and analytics. Gatesman is a partner in AMIN Worldwide, an alliance of over 50 independent marketing agencies, and IPREX, a global communications network. Gatesman acquired Quest Fore in 2014 and Noble Communications in 2017.

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