International Women’s Day 2025 #ForAllWomenAndGirls

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The UN's 2025 International Women's Day theme is 'For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.'

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is a global call for action to unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind.

To celebrate, we asked some of the talented and inspiring women working across our global offices about how their careers empower them.

Covering a range of departments, from Creative to Paid Media and more, these are some of the women who make Hybrid tick, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them as friends and colleagues.

 

 

 

Dunya Can

Account Manager, Sydney

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What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

I’ve always appreciated Above The Line (ATL) brand campaigns that are creative, unique and forward-thinking. It’s really inspiring to see brands or agencies create smart and unexpected brand moments – whether it be collaborations, activations, creatives, or copy. When I was old enough to understand that it was all a part of marketing I wanted to be part of that process and creation.

 

What are some of the biggest learning curves you’ve faced in your career to date and how have you overcome them?

Learning to manage different personalities and having to adjust your approach to each individual in order to manage expectations – although it helps if you’re a people person!

In Australia, university education is seen as largely accessible with the HECS program, so I hadn’t ever really considered that it was something that needed to be “sold”. I quickly learnt that this was a very narrow view and part of my career journey at Hybrid included educating myself about higher education on a global scale.

 

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

Things aren’t always as stressful as you make them out to be. It’s great to have passion and want to achieve the best for yourself, your company and your clients, but it’s never worth your mental health.

There‘s so much content and education available online that’s free, use it to upskill in areas you’re not confident in. 

 

What’s a personal achievement in your career that you are most proud of?

Taking responsibility for UoA’s Brand and 150th-anniversary campaign. The campaign was worked on by the wider team but it was the first campaign of its size that I managed from start to finish. Creating the end of the campaign report and presenting all the great results to the client was a great moment. 

Sheng Ping Sooi

Media Specialist, Kuala Lumpur

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What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

I’ve always wanted a career with a real purpose — one that impacts people’s lives. That’s what drew me to higher education; it opens doors and transforms futures. Coming from a multicultural background, I’m fascinated by how different cultures think and communicate. Marketing allows me to bridge that gap, helping brands connect with their audiences in meaningful ways beyond just promotion. It’s about guiding people towards life-changing opportunities. 

 

What are some of the biggest learning curves you’ve faced in your career to date and how have you overcome them?

My background was actually in language learning and cognition, so when I stepped into marketing, I was essentially a blank canvas. I had to learn FAST — marketing theories, content pillars, and how everything fits together. One of the biggest learning curves was getting comfortable with being the “least experienced person in the room”, which is when you learn the most. As an introvert, I had to push myself to speak up and absorb insights from those around me. At the same time, I also learned to be confident: when you bring something to the table – own it. 

 

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

I’d tell her to love herself more and stop questioning if she is “good enough”. Be present, enjoy the learning process, and trust that everything is unfolding as it should. If something doesn’t happen the way you want, it’s always because something better is on the way. Sometimes, what you think you want isn’t actually what you need, and that’s okay. Stay open, stay ambitious, and be excited for what’s coming. The right opportunities are already on their way! You don’t have to chase them, just be ready when they arrive.

 

What’s a personal achievement in your career that you’re most proud of?

I’ve always been proud of both the big and little wins along the way. But if I had to pick one, it would probably be playing a part in extending our company to China. Of course, it was a team effort, but I’m proud of how I went from, again, being a blank canvas to who I am today. It allowed me to evolve from just focusing on content and marketing to also tapping into an entrepreneurial side of me that I didn’t even know existed. It’s been a journey of learning, growing, and figuring things out as I go. And honestly, I can’t wait to see where I’ll be in the next five years.

Gemma Hammond

Business Development Manager, Bristol

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What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

While working in my previous role, I felt like I wasn’t being rewarded for my efforts. Many of my friends were working within similar industries and it opened my eyes up to a career I’d not thought of before. I chose a career in Business Development because I saw it as an opportunity to challenge myself, grow professionally, and make a meaningful impact in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. As a woman, I believe Business Development offers me a platform where I can leverage my communication skills, empathy, and creativity to build strong relationships with clients. It’s an empowering field because it’s performance-driven, allowing me to directly influence my success through hard work and determination. I also love that Sales gives me the chance to break through stereotypes and contribute to an industry that thrives on diversity and different perspectives.

 

What are some of the biggest learning curves you’ve faced in your career to date and how have you overcome them?

As a woman working in Sales, I’ve faced challenges like assumptions about my ability to handle high-pressure situations or manage tough clients. To overcome these, I’ve focused on demonstrating my expertise, building trust with clients, and leveraging strengths like empathy and communication. I’ve also sought mentorship and built a strong professional network to stay confident and assertive, proving that success in Sales is about understanding customers and delivering value, not fitting into stereotypes.

 

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

You just need to go for it! If things don’t work out the first time around that’s okay. You can’t predict the twists and turns that your career will take so give it your best shot and follow your gut. 

 

What’s a personal achievement in your career that you’re most proud of?

Coming from a non-Sales background, at first, I was unsure if it was going to be the right move for me. But a year into my role, I was promoted to Business Development Manager! I can’t wait to see where my career goes next.

Anju Tripathi

Paid Media Executive, Kathmandu

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What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

While pursuing my Master’s degree, a professor introduced me to the true essence of advertising and marketing which inspired me to choose marketing as my major. Later, an internship at an ad agency gave me hands-on experience—navigating client needs, developing strategies, and crafting campaigns. Despite the challenges, I found excitement in the hustle and dynamic nature of digital marketing. That’s when I knew this was my path. Since then, I’ve been continuously learning, growing, and embracing every new opportunity—excited for all that’s still ahead!

 

What are some of the biggest learning curves you’ve faced in your career to date and how have you overcome them?

Starting my first role as a digital marketer during an incredibly busy period was a steep learning curve. With limited time for training and it being my first experience collaborating with an international team, communication and understanding processes were hurdles that were important to overcome. I had to quickly adapt to managing multiple open-ended tasks while navigating unfamiliar structures and expectations.   

To overcome this, I took the initiative—through research, pursuing digital marketing certifications and asking questions to build my knowledge. This experience taught me invaluable lessons in time management, effective communication, and patience—skills that continue to shape my career.

 

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

It’s okay to feel indecisive—career paths aren’t always clear from the start. Take the leap, try something, and trust that you’ll find your way. Don’t doubt your abilities. Every step, even the uncertain ones, is part of the journey. Start somewhere, and the rest will follow.

 

What’s a personal achievement in your career that you’re most proud of?

Learning my worth and growing into the confidence to own it—it’s my greatest achievement and the foundation of everything I do.

Amaris Kobolak

Creative Director, Philadelphia

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What inspired you to pursue a career in your field?

Art has always been a passion of mine – and with marketing, art is about so much more than how something looks, it’s about how it makes someone feel. But what made me truly realize I wanted to be a Creative Director was a moment I had a few years into my career. I realized all of my mentors, professors, and directors up until that point were men. The Creative industry isn’t something that is traditionally thought of as a male-dominated field, but I knew I wanted to break my own glass ceiling and bring the other talented women in my field with me.

 

What are some of the biggest learning curves you’ve faced in your career to date and how have you overcome them?

In my current position, we are essentially building a branch of a business within a business. Nobody is able to train you on business building, because it’s the first time anyone’s done it in this situation. I had to do a lot of learning, fast. Especially in the areas of media and finance. You’ve got to be comfortable with being uncomfortable – ask questions, admit not knowing everything, and be open to advice from everyone. You learn the most when you’re least expecting it.

 

If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?

I would give anything to talk to her! She was so anxious about the future. My best advice would be to just listen more, watch the world around you, and immerse yourself as much as possible. Learning through experience will take you far, fast. I would also tell her to trust her intuition – your gut never fails you. If you are working hard in a direction that makes you proud of yourself and fulfilled, something worthwhile is bound to come from it all.

 

What’s a personal achievement in your career that you’re most proud of?

For me, the small wins carry the most weight. Currently, the aspect of my career I carry closest to my heart is the culture we’ve created within the US Creative team. As I mentioned before, there’s no playbook for this sort of thing. Your environment, clients, projects, and people make business-building a unique experience each and every time. We’ve built a team that does a LOT of hard work and even more learning, but our culture is one of support, trust, and genuine care for each other. I think the energy truly is infectious and is what propels our growth and the awesome work we’re delivering.