If You Dream It, You Can Do It: Celebrating International Women’s Day with Gretel & Abbey

At 80/20 Digital, providing equal opportunities for all employees and challenging everyone to be the best they can be is at the core of our business ethos.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, 80/20’s Digital’s leading ladies, Gretel and Abbey, share their workplace experiences through the female lens and give their top tips on challenging adversity, chasing your dreams and finding success no matter what your goals are in life.

Digital Marketing Specialist, Gretel Phillips

As an established marketing professional, avid traveller and mother, I’ve had to juggle a lot of passions in life, and it’s not always easy to manage. From my digital marketing role to my personal pursuits such as travel, playing guitar, painting and writing poetry, I never stop looking for ways to share my passion and grow. Here are my three tips for success and staying true to yourself throughout your career.

Always communicate honestly  

Being a Digital Marketer, the ability to communicate effectively & honestly with clients is invaluable, but sometimes it can be difficult to do. What you say, why you say it, and how you say it is important no matter what job you do. I don’t shy away from tough conversations, especially when I am passionate, backed by data, and confident it will achieve the desired results. Be honest and speak with confidence and conviction.

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable

Being vulnerable is a strength and an integral part of being creative. I need to show my true authentic self and not be afraid of judgement from others. Speak up when you don’t know the answer and reach out for help when you need it.

Trust the data

Aim to be data-driven. If the data proves me wrong, I accept it immediately and never hold onto something due to a personal preference if the data says otherwise! It is all about trusting the evidence. I am just one person, and I can’t possibly know it all. Marketing is all about testing & measuring to find out the formula for success and trusting the data applies to all areas of life. Research and find the correct information; never assume.

Content & SEO Specialist, Abbey Faulkner

Having worked in many male-dominated industries, I’ve had to come out of my introverted shell and put on my confidence pants to prove to myself and those around me that I have a lot to offer. I suffered from a lot of self-doubts and was afraid to fail. Did I succeed every time? Not at all! But now, I firmly believe the only way to fail is by giving up.

There have been many challenges on the journey, particularly entering the corporate environment at the age of 17,  but it’s helped me find my passion and settle into a workplace that values who I am and the work I do. Now at 22, I have the career progression, support and flexibility I need to achieve what I want at work and in my personal life. Here are my three tips.

Keep learning

Learning should be ongoing, even if you’re a qualified professional. This doesn’t have to mean doing a course. It could just be browsing LinkedIn to see what others in your industry are discussing or just asking more questions!

Work to live, don’t live to work

You’ve no doubt heard the sentiment ‘the more you work, the more successful you’ll be,’ but I would have to disagree. Even if you love your job, burnout is real, so strive for balance.

Walk the dog, have brunch with a friend,  take annual leave to go on a well-earned holiday and have hobbies that aren’t work-related. This will allow you to be more present, focused and fulfilled at work and home. As women, we often feel like we need to be busy all the time to prove ourselves, but sometimes, sitting back and letting your batteries recharge is the most productive thing you can do.

Don’t settle for mediocre

Job parameters are no longer confined to what they were 20 years ago; you don’t have to stick to one job doing the same thing for 40 hours a week for the rest of your life.

I fused my love for media, writing and marketing into a role where I can be a stay-at-home cat mum while having a fantastic career. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or search for a job that suits your aspirations and lifestyle. You absolutely CAN do what you want, how you want, when you want and where you want.