Women’s Equality Day: celebrating and empowering the women of JK
At JK, more than 50% of our employees identify as women. And not only is one of our two co-founders female—so is our CEO. Equal opportunity is woven into our agency DNA. So today, we’re celebrating Women’s Equality Day by sharing a Q&A with some of the women driving our agency forward.
Meet our leading ladies.
Describe yourself in three words.
MARTHA: Tenacious, patient, resilient
KATIE: Optimistic, ambitious, reliable
CHRIS: Committed, sarcastic, tall
JENNIFER: Short, determined, pragmatic
COURTNEY: Dedicated, transparent, collaborative
As a woman, what challenges have you faced in your career?
MARTHA: Not being paid the same as a man for the same job, sexism in the workplace.
KATIE: I’m sure it’s not unique to only women, but imposter syndrome creeps in every now and then. It helps to remind myself that I’m qualified and experienced, reflect on past successes, and if that doesn’t do the trick, a conversation with a trusted colleague is always immensely helpful.
CHRIS: I’ve been fortunate to have good role models, and I haven’t felt disadvantaged in my career ambitions. But I have struggled with a tendency to sell myself short, which I think women may have a greater tendency to do than our male counterparts. As women, we should own our accomplishments and speak about them loudly and proudly!
JENNIFER: I have faced many challenges in my career. The first was being a full-time employee and full-time mom. There were very few employers at the time I started my career willing to extend the flexibility needed to do both. Next was pay equity and opportunity for career advancement. I combine these two issues because one most certainly influences the other. I have found that women are not always given the opportunity to advance in their career simply because they may have children. Without true advancement opportunities, a woman’s pay will not increase at the same rate as a male counterpart who is given significantly more opportunity for advancement. And last but not least, when a man makes demands of his employer for a pay increase or promotion, he is being assertive. When a female makes the same demands, she is being aggressive.
COURTNEY: I have definitely faced the glass ceiling a handful of times in my career, mainly because of the gender gap. It’s been frustrating at times but in the past five years of my career, all of my workplaces have been comprised of more than 50% women which is extremely encouraging. We have to continue to challenge the “boys club” and fight for a seat at the table.
What advice do you have for young women that are early on in their own careers?
MARTHA: Every young woman should read FaceBook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In. Know your worth, go forth with confidence, and be your own best advocate.
KATIE: The single best thing I’ve done throughout my career, and especially early-on, was finding amazing mentors—men or women! Once you come across someone in your field who you connect with, admire, and trust—and who is willing to have an open line of communication with you—nurture that relationship. This person (or people) will be an incredible source of advice and feedback, hopefully for many years to come.
CHRIS: Keep an open mind, seek out mentors who can guide and encourage you, and have confidence in your own abilities. If you don’t know how to do something, Google it or ask an expert. And remember, you can always change course—you may discover things you want to do or learn at 30 (or 40, or 50…) that you never even imagined at 20.
JENNIFER: Never stop setting goals for yourself. Never stop educating yourself. Never lose the desire to learn new skills even if those skills are not considered “part of your job.”
COURTNEY: Always trust your gut. Don’t be afraid to have a voice in any room, even if you’re surrounded by those senior to you. Hold yourself accountable, it’s okay to own your mistakes. Take risks and go outside your comfort zone.
If you could rename today’s holiday, what would it be?
MARTHA: It’s not just about equality—I’d call it Women Empowerment Day.
KATIE: National Give-All-The-Women-In-Your-Life Nachos (or whatever else they want) Day.
CHRIS: We Need More Women Leaders Day.
JENNIFER: I would rather see actual equality than suggest another name for this holiday and eliminate the need for it altogether.
COURTNEY: This is a tough one. “Allyship for Women in the Workplace.”
What are some moments in your career that you are most proud of?
MARTHA: Being responsible for the creative direction and vision for blue chip, global brands such as Revlon, AT&T, and Xerox; having the honor to take the helm at JK.
KATIE: Most recently, I’m very proud of co-hosting a series of live webinars for JK. It’s not something I would have necessarily volunteered for as it’s a bit outside of my comfort zone (or so I thought!), but I’m thankful for having a mentor who has confidence in my capabilities and encouraged me to embrace the opportunity. It was an invaluable experience and one that I’ll be proud to have on my professional resume for years to come.
CHRIS: Earning my master’s degree. Helping to write a municipal ordinance for all the towns in the NJ Pinelands (back in my environmental planning days). Embarking on a freelance copywriting career that eventually led to my current leadership position at JK. It’s been an interesting journey… and it’s far from over!
JENNIFER: My proudest moment in my career was earning my Bachelor’s degree, graduating with high honors, while working full time and raising four boys.
COURTNEY: The moments that I am most proud of are those that are celebrated as a team. It’s not about my accomplishments but OUR accomplishments. There is nothing sweeter than to see something that you have come up with as a group on paper whether an activation, an editorial shoot, a social campaign, etc. and then have it come to life and be shared with the world. It’s the greatest sense of achievement, and I have been lucky enough to have countless moments like these to relish in.
Who are the women in your life that inspire you and why?
MARTHA: My daughters inspire me every day to be the best version of myself. And Barbara Kaulius, our co-founder, who built a successful agency—and put her trust in me to help run it.
KATIE: So many!!! Most significantly, my mom and my sister. My mom for having worked her way up and through male dominated industries (e.g., UPS) and then for co-founding JK Design, all while simultaneously being the most present and dedicated parent to her three kids. And my sister, Jill, for creating a life that is not the ‘norm,’ but 100% authentically hers—whether she’s teaching pottery in Colorado or glacier hiking in Alaska. She is the most fearless AND coolest person I know. I’m beyond lucky to have both of them in my life—they inspire me daily!
CHRIS: My mother, who instilled in me the importance of education and self-sufficiency. My high school and college friends, who all have successful careers while remaining the smart, funny, compassionate people they’ve always been. And Sister Edith, my Honors English teacher who taught me the right way to write a research paper and never let me get away with anything (especially sloppy writing).
JENNIFER: I could give an obvious answer like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Her work and legacy has and will continue to inspire women for many generations. My inspiration is a little closer to home: my mother. We almost never saw eye to eye. I rebelled against her every chance I could. Growing up I would swear she was the devil incarnate. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized how strong of an influence she was on my life. It wasn’t anything that she said or did specifically. Her inner strength, heartfelt convictions, and closely held beliefs are the things that have inspired me the most. I can’t say I agreed with all of them but, no matter what, she never changed her core values in order to fit in with the crowd. This is my strongest inspiration—stay true to yourself.
COURTNEY: I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by a number of inspiring women. My mother first and foremost, as she is the most selfless and generous person I know. My stepmom who is the reason that I am a marketer and continues to push me and challenge me in my own career. She broke so many glass ceilings in her career I think it’s afforded me the opportunities I’m fortunate enough to have today. My peers throughout my agency career have pushed me and provided me with the constructive feedback that has helped me succeed in my own career path. Women inspiring women is what it’s all about.
