Celebrating International Women’s Day

March 8, 2025, serves as our reminder to pause and celebrate the female advocates around the world who lead by example. We believe it’s essential to honor the unique perspectives and people who provide creative solutions, promote inclusive cultures, and champion diverse ideas. In honor of International Women's Day, we are acknowledging the female leaders at Lunne who have made incredible strides in their careers to be change agents in the market. By leaning into their authentic leadership styles, the women of Lunne model the critical balance of energy, strategy, empathy, passion, and action, strengthening our overall agency and staking our position as the Agency of Relationships. 

At Lunne, we’re proud to feature our female leaders. Let’s learn about some of the milestones and lessons they’ve experienced along their journeys and some key points they would share with their younger selves.  

It takes a team

“In my younger professional days, I said yes more often than maybe I should have. I didn’t take time to form an opinion or ask enough questions to make sure I understood what I was doing and why I was doing it. I often felt like I was feeling around in the dark, and if people asked what I thought, I didn’t know. Who cares what I think? As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to understand that most people are just making it up as they go, and my thought process and intelligence are as valid as the next person’s. It’s one thing to be easy to work with, but another to be so agreeable that you sell yourself short. Speak UP!”

-Shannon Lipp, VP, Client Services (Dayton)

“I’d tell younger me to stop trying to make yourself smaller or softer or sweeter or slower. My whole life—both personally and professionally—I’ve felt like my energy or presence was often too much and that I needed to shrink or soften to make others feel more comfortable. I talk fast, I walk loud, I can be intense. But passion is a good thing. A great thing actually. And it’s okay to be intimidating and intense. As long as you’re kind. Don’t waste time trying to shrink. Spend your time being big and smart and confident.”

-Megan Myers, VP, Creative Services (Columbus)

“For me, action is about honesty. Honesty with yourself and honesty with others. I may have started my education in the medical field, but through a series of honest conversations with myself, I never looked back after finding accounting courses and acted on my gut instincts. Be honest with yourself—and keep leaning into that. I remember going to interviews, and I was always underestimated. I don’t have the typical “accountant” personality (of course, I watch Bravo!), nor did a female precede me in these accounting roles. I’ve even been told, “You picked the right references,” when I simply provided my previous managers. At the end of it all, I would accept the role and relish in proving them wrong (that’s probably the strong Enneagram 3 in me!). No one will advocate for you better than you can advocate for yourself—something I want all young female leaders to remember. Be honest with yourself, and I bet you will find you are worthy, you deserve this, you worked hard for this, and you are capable.”

-Beth Combs, Director, Finance & Administration (Dayton)

“Early in my career, I was lucky to have multiple mentors. These mentors had a strong business sense as well as the ability to form great partnerships with associates, clients, and vendors. Through their example, I was able to see the importance of the connection that lies outside of a business transaction. Throughout my years in marketing, these partnerships have brought me friends, new opportunities, and some great lunches, but mostly, they have brought about some amazing collaboration. Regardless of relationship type, when we win, we win together, and when we struggle, we struggle together—making the relationship into a true partnership. I’m grateful to have learned this early in my career, and I have continued to pay it forward. It is not lost on me that now I work for Lunne, the Agency of Relationships (AOR). As a woman in the AOR, I am compelled to work every day to build the strongest relationships with my associates, clients, and vendors. It’s always valuable to have people by your side.”

-Andrea Hubler, Director, Marketing Strategy (Dayton)

“One of the greatest revelations I’ve had is realizing that the limitations I placed on myself, my goals, and my expectations weren’t rooted in reality. As a leader today, I would tell my younger self and other girls: never shy away from aiming higher and forging your own path. While there will always be challenges as a woman, don’t let them hold back your ambition. Embrace your voice, trust your instincts, and remember—leadership isn’t about fitting into a mold; it’s about breaking through barriers and creating your own journey.”

-Halee Mollette, Associate Director, Marketing Strategy (Dayton)

“I believe some of the best creative action happens when the work is rooted in authenticity—and not just our own. When the writer, designer, and project manager bring their own take to a project, that’s when some of the most elevated work comes to the surface. While there will always be times where structure and “fitting the bill” are necessary, when there are opportunities for authenticity to shine, that’s when the end product really shines.”

-Halle Watson, Associate Director, Marketing Strategy (Charlotte)

“To my past self, I would say, keep going!​ Be a sponge and learn all the things! There is always a lesson to learn, even in the most mundane tasks. Trust your gut and ​be gentle with yourself. We, as women, demonstrate incredible resilience in the face of adversity. Whether overcoming personal or societal challenges, ​our ability to bounce back from setbacks and continue pushing ​forward is inspiring. Develop that tough skin because it makes you stronger, and speak your truth because it creates respect amongst your peers. To my present self, trust your team! I had a female mentor in my life who trusted me and empowered me, and it spoke volumes for my confidence and ability to move into a leadership role. I took that philosophy and put the right people in the right seats to create a strong foundation for trust and transparency for our team. If you create space for people to think things through and ask questions when they need you, that’s where the magic happens. ​To my future self, pay it forward. W​ith 30+ years dedicated to ​the marketing industry in both B2B and B2C, mentoring and empowering others​ to ensure that ​their voices are heard and ​their talents are appreciated have helped accelerate action, and that ​ brings me joy.”

-Melissa Sass, Creative Director, Brand (Dayton)

“Build someone up. It’s advice from my late friend Caroline that has stuck with me since the beginning of my career. To move closer to gender equality, we must build people up—whether a coworker who has been treated unfairly or a neighbor struggling to start work again after motherhood. Offer your skills, your time, your network, your resources, or simply a shoulder to lean on. Small actions by many can lead to big changes for all. This is what International Women’s Day inspires me to do.”

-Allison Moon-Shope, Content Director (Dayton)

“Once I leaned into understanding that no one has all of the answers and we can only truly rise together, that’s when I started to watch myself progress in my career. Ask the questions for yourself, and ask the questions out loud for the others in the room who don’t have the courage yet to speak them. Then, be intentional with what you say and how you say it. Know that words and actions matter collectively. How you work on a project is sometimes more important than the project deliverable itself, and how you build up others in all the process means you’ll gain valuable, reciprocal relationships for the long haul. Also, as someone who has had her knees stepped on in order for someone else to advance, know your time is coming. Don’t let those people harden you. Let them sharpen you.”

-Emilyjo Levy, Agency Marketing Manager (Columbus)

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that gaining confidence in creative roles just takes time. I would love to tell my younger self—be patient, you’ll get there! It will take years (maybe decades) and lots of tears, wins and losses, lessons learned, exposure, and repetition. It’s a process, just like the work itself. So just keep doing it. Listen and learn everything you can. Find the people who value you, the people who inspire you, and the people who challenge you. You might feel like a fraud at first, but one day you’ll speak up in a meeting—and realize the voice in the room is your own.”

-Jen Hamilton, Art Director (Columbus)

Looking forward

Lunne is the Agency of Relationships and we value keeping it real, driving creativity, helping others, thinking it through, and getting results. Our team will continue to carve forward paths for our future female leaders.

Connect with one of our female leaders or learn more about our team here.