The Blackhawk Digital Marketing team sat down together to discuss the role women play in our office – which is 65% women. Let’s start with our fearless leader and CEO, Jonathan.
Jonathan Windham – CEO
Q. What does it mean to you that Blackhawk is 50% female owned and over 65% female run?
A. I feel proud. The women I work with are creative, empathetic, disciplined, and hard working. Being in charge of a company with people like that would make anyone proud.
Q. You and your wife, Sarah, own Blackhawk together. Can you share what that commitment has been like for you and/or your marriage?
A. It’s been fun. It’s also been rewarding and has made our marriage stronger. Sarah has always supported my goals and dreams, but she hasn’t always had the chance to see them in action. With Sarah alongside me, I feel closer to her, I feel more deeply understood in a way I hadn’t before.
Q. As a dad of two young girls (11 and 9), how is a strong female presence at Blackhawk impacting them?
A. My goal has always been to show my girls how to think beyond limitations. I love that the female role models from Blackhawk show them how to do that in a variety of ways.
Most of our team IS NOT from Texas. Each lady has taken hold of their life and career, typically at a young age. My girls see what hard work and dedication means and I love that.
Q. What’s your favorite part about Blackhawk culture that’s driven by a strong female presence?
A. We are such a well-balanced company. Our ladies have made this company what it is today!
Jennifer Boudreau – Campaign Manager
Q. What is it like being part of a company that has over 65% female employment?
A. I love being a part of a company that focuses on gender equality.
Q. What’s your experience with female leadership?
A. I have worked with some very powerful women in my life, including my mom! I love girl power and supporting my fellow females.
Q. How has your experience with female leadership been more positive at Blackhawk?
A. The female leadership at Blackhawk has always been amazing. Sarah, one of our owners, does a great job of pushing female empowerment and is also the sweetest person ever!
Q. How has Blackhawk been an example of women supporting women?
A. At Blackhawk, girls truly support girls. We all work together and push each other to be the best we can be. There is never jealousy and everyone truly wants to see each person succeed.
Q. What’s your advice to other women who want to be in leadership or in a positive female work environment?
A. My advice to others who want a positive female work environment is to be the change you want to see! Always be kind and push others to succeed. Treat others the way you wish to be treated and always put yourself in the other persons shoes, because you never know what may be going on in their life. Finally, don’t ever put another person down, always encourage others ideas!
Karlee Proctor – Lead Designer
Q: How do you feel being part of a company that is over 65% female employment?
A: It feels empowering! But at the same time, it kind of goes unnoticed. Which isn’t a bad thing! It’s because none of us make a big deal about the women “getting shit done.” We just do it quietly and effectively like the strong independent females that we are.
Q: What’s your experience with female leadership?
A: To be honest, I came to the realization recently that out of my past 4 jobs I have had, I never once had a female boss. That needs to change.
Q: How has your experience with female leadership been more positive at Blackhawk?
A: We are all like minded, and want and believe in similar things. This contributes to not only a positive professional relationship, but also a positive personal relationship – which is pretty special.
Q: How has Blackhawk been an example of women supporting women?
A: It is really clear we are all on the same team here. We all celebrate each others victories and help each other get through the hard stuff.
Q: What’s your advice to other women who want to be in leadership or in a positive female work environment?
A: You take charge! Speak up, and be a good example. Positivity is contagious!
Anna Blake – Email Marketing and Automation Associate
Q: How do you feel being part of a company that is over 65% female employment?
A: I’m really grateful and proud. I appreciate so much that instead of fighting an uphill battle against implicit bias, we are able to focus on building healthy team relationships and culture based on respect and teamwork.
Q: What’s your experience with female leadership?
A: I’ve seen a tendency at past jobs for women to be in middle management, but very rarely in leadership positions. It took me to a while to realize that this was a result of bias against women. I’ve seen things very differently since.
Q: How has your experience with female leadership been more positive at Blackhawk?
A: As a woman, I feel like Blackhawk has my back. We’re all encouraged to step up and be leaders ourselves. Even though our company is small, and our CEO is a man, I’m confident that as Blackhawk grows, it will be full of female leaders.
Q: How has Blackhawk been an example of women supporting women?
A: We’re real with each other, and care. We celebrate wins together, and offer support when it’s not going well. I know that I have a whole team that I can lean on, have fun with, and talk to if I’m having a rough day.
Q: What’s your advice to other women who want to be in leadership or in a positive female work environment?
A: Don’t be afraid of failing. I’ve missed opportunities because I didn’t take a risk. I honestly think we all learn more from failure than from success.
Jordan Arendas – Client Success Manager
Q: How do you feel being part of a company that is over 65% female employment?
A: I feel lucky! To be able to work with such intelligent, funny, and all around kick ass women.
Q: What’s your experience with female leadership?
A: I’ve always been fortunate enough to experience female leadership starting with my single working mother, and 3 older sisters. I appreciate the way women communicate, in an open, respectful and caring way by putting our egos to the side to come to a resolution that works for the benefit of all.
Q: How has your experience with female leadership been more positive at Blackhawk?
A: The fact that the CEO is a male but has a company that is 65% female has all around been more positive. It shows he knows the values that we contribute. We need more men out there who back women by giving us the opportunity to take lead, and Blackhawk does that by hiring women in leadership roles.
Q: How has Blackhawk been an example of women supporting women?
A: We are friends! What better way to support other women than by befriending them, and caring about what transpires in not only their professional lives but personal lives as well.
Q: What’s your advice to other women who want to be in leadership or in a positive female work environment?
A: Be the courageous, fearless, and the amazing woman/person you are. Treat women (and all people for that matter) with respect, and be supportive by taking time to truly listen to what they have to say.
