Inspiring Community & Inclusion: She Runs It + Pass the Mic

She Runs It is an organization that paves the way for women in the industry to access the tools needed to further their careers. By lifting female leaders with mentorship, networking, and advocacy, She Runs It opens the door to opportunity for the women at the top and for those following in their footsteps.

Jocelyn Hudak, Senior Director, Content and Digital Marketing sat down with Lisa Bull, Nadia McDowell, and Sue Bortone to discuss their roles in the Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee at She Runs It. Members of this committee are passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, focusing their time on building inspirational and action-forward opportunities for individuals looking to grow their networks, find a sense of belonging, and connect with diverse people. This conversation shined a light on how DE&I plays an important and impactful role.

Listen to the full interview and check out some key takeaways from the conversation highlighted below.

Get to know the incredible changemakers who strive to build community and connection every day.

Be willing to take constructive feedback.

Meet Lisa Bull, CMO, Partner at YOBO Spirit House, where she crafts insight-driven strategies for Fortune 500 brands to target B2B and B2C audiences. She also drives brand management across the funnel across digital, experiential, branded programming, shopper marketing, and more. Beyond her professional endeavors, Lisa actively supports women and emerging diverse executives, collaborating with organizations like She Runs It, FutureNow Media, Chief, Asians in Advertising, Asian American Collective, and GenHERation.

Highlight: “It was up to me to move forward and to do certain things. But at the end of it, I wound up getting this promotion and it was through this mentoring and coaching role that this person gave to me that allowed me to really change the course of my career and the trajectory of my career. Had I not had that, maybe I would have learned, but I would still maybe be in this hamster wheel of like, ‘Why not me? Why am I feeling stuck?’ So, I think sometimes it's also about being willing and open to take constructive feedback and not take that as some sort of personal knock to who you are, but really take it as valuable feedback and use it to implement some changes so that you can move forward." - Lisa Bull

Start networking early on.

Highlight: “I think the power of the network and meeting people is something great to start early on. I can say, sitting here 15 plus years later, the network I've built has been the network that has seen me through my highs and my lows within my career. And it's a wonderful feeling to know when you're going through a challenging time that you have a great group of people to reach out to… So, I really encourage you to start any way you can, but certainly even baby steps—going to an event and bringing a friend and kind of making a challenge at the onset of that event.” - Lisa Bull  

Confidence is important. 

Meet Nadia McDowell, Senior Director of Northeast Membership and Inclusive Programming at She Runs It where she oversees Northeast members and connects members of the organization driven to make an impact on their careers. Nadia oversees the inclusive programming aspects of She Runs It’s through her work with #Inclusive100 and the Northeast Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee as well as other organizational programs. She is passionate about building community and opportunities for women and also growth and enrichment through travel experiences.

Highlight: “I just really empower people to put themselves in situations—like we were just talking about networking earlier and going to events or joining committees, whatever it may be—to put yourselves in those positions that maybe you might feel uncomfortable with because it really leads to growth and it gives you confidence to do more. Confidence is so important. It's going to follow you through your whole career and your life. And if you really work on things that make you feel uncomfortable but are also allowing you to grow, I think it will really take you a long way.” - Nadia McDowell

Meet people and get involved. 

Highlight: “I think it's so important to join industry organizations because it gives you that leg up to be able to make connections with people in the industry. There are also a lot of people that feel uncomfortable networking or awkward around it, but the more you exercise that muscle of making sure you're in the room and you're talking to people, it becomes more and more comfortable. So, I really empower young professionals to get involved with industry organizations and meet people.” - Nadia McDowell 

Believe in yourself.

Meet Sue Bortone, Founder of Noble Talent Group, a recruitment firm on a mission to transform how creative, marketing, media, and production teams scale. Sue is a Forbes Contributor and Co-Chair of She Runs It's Northeast Mentoring Committee, where she brings a unique perspective shaped by a career across both agency and in-house roles. She launched Noble Talent Group to disrupt the traditional recruiting model—prioritizing transparency, affordability, and a people-first approach that supports both freelancers and full-time talent. 

Highlight: “One of the things that I hated while working at bigger firms was you always have to fit into the box of the rules. The contract has to fit in the rules. You have to do what's right for the business. And I think at the end of the day, it's doing what's right for people. And that's why I built Noble to do the right thing, to connect people, to make it affordable, to look out for the smaller firms and the little guys and help them grow where they need help. And so, I think it really just comes down to believing in your worth and believing in yourself and listening to your gut and not listening to the noise and the advice that doesn't feel like it aligns with who you are at the end of the day.” - Sue Bortone

Start small.

Highlight: “Starting small. That could be in person or even, if you're not at that point yet, there's so many LinkedIn groups that you can join. And they're a great platform to start… There's that conversation first. And then you can find somebody that either asks the question in the crowd or one of the panelists that you want to connect with, and then following up with them post-event. So, find those smaller opportunities, even if you're in a community that has a coworking space.” - Sue Bortone

By continuing to create opportunity for so many women, She Runs It and the Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee are redefining what inclusivity and belonging looks like—inspiring women of all ages and forging a new path for the ones following them on their journey. For more inspiring content like this, check out the Pass the Mic page. 

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