M&C Saatchi’s Rhonda Hiatt on breaking old models to become who she wanted to be

Ad Age is marking Women’s History Month with a series of contributions from guest essayists. Today, Rhonda Hiatt, global CEO of M&C Saatchi Consulting, writes about how women must navigate the delicate balance of being strong, decisive leaders while embracing empathy. Growing up in the ’80s, I was told “You can be anything you want to be!” While it was a very empowering perspective for a young girl, it’s a stark contrast to what my next 23 years in the workforce were actually like. Over the past two decades, the brand and marketing industry has seen a significant acceleration in the advancement of women. This progress has not come easily. As women, we still have to push for our seats at the table. We’re constantly proving that our leadership is not just valuable but essential. In 2014, a survey by the Peterson Institute for International Economics revealed that nearly 60% of companies worldwide had no female board members, and over 50% lacked female C-suite executives. Fewer than 5% had a female CEO. As the conversation around diversity and inclusion gained traction, women seized the moment—not just demanding a place but reshaping the table itself. Fast forward to 2023: Women held over 29% of senior-level positions in S&P 500 companies, including over 8% of CEO roles. Despite this progress, there is more work to be done. For too long, agency leadership has been a boys’ club, where women have had to work twice as hard to gain half the recognition. As a mid-level manager, I found myself often adapting to fit the mold of expectations and cultural requirements of the men around me. It wasn’t “I can be anything I wanted to be.” It was “I have to be everything the world wants me to be.” I empower my teams with the truth that there is always room at the leadership table. Progress doesn’t come from just being present but calls us to build respect and confidence while being a commercial leader. Success in brand-building has never been just about skill—it requires courage and endurance. Women must navigate the delicate balance of being strong, decisive leaders while embracing empathy, which is a superpower. The challenges of being a working mother in a high-stakes industry have only made this more complex. The pressure women face in fulfilling all of their roles requires a serious amount of grit and bravery, while sometimes having to put self-care and strong relationships with their partners aside. Despite these complexities, we are moving the world forward and breaking outdated molds. By staying bold, resilient and unapologetically ourselves, we are redefining success not just for women but for the future of business. When done right, it can lead to a world with more creativity—in thinking and in practice. This requires women to be fierce champions for women by inviting, empowering and supporting one another to authentically be anything they want to be. While it’s been a dynamic journey filled with endless lessons and mentors, I am who I wanted to be. I’ve also made younger Rhonda proud of who she’s become. More importantly, my hope is my daughter is proud of me as a woman and mother. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here

M&C Saatchi’s Rhonda Hiatt on breaking old models to become who she wanted to be

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