Esme Robinson is Director of Platform Solutions at Epsilon, where she leads adtech and martech consulting focused on product diversification and market-specific solutions. A member of the IAB Europe Retail Media working group, Esme shapes industry standards while mentoring a growing team, driving innovation and success across Epsilon’s platform solutions.
1. What is the biggest opportunity for women in your sector of the digital industry today?
Women have been fighting hard for a voice and real representation across all levels of the digital industry. While there is still progress to be made, we are now seeing incredible women in leadership roles who actively support others and lay a framework for us to continue that work. Take Simrat Sawhney, formerly of Meta and now our VP for Client Growth in Asia, she’s got a wealth of experience across different areas of the industry, in increasingly senior roles, and she has used this experience to become a personal growth and leadership coach, passing on not just knowledge but experience and advice, giving women at an earlier stage of their career the tools to grow and hopefully pass on that coaching themselves. This allows us to empower women as they enter and grow their careers in this industry, fostering a culture where women have real representation and a voice at every level.
2. What is the biggest challenge you face as a woman in the digital industry, and how are you overcoming it?
The industry has great opportunities and plenty of female leaders, but it’s still largely male-dominated – especially in senior roles. Being a younger woman in this space can sometimes make it challenging to feel confident in speaking up or stepping into leadership. When I moved into my current role just almost 4 years ago, I quickly began to lead meetings representing international needs with senior leadership from the US headquarters, which, largely male dominated, felt incredibly intimidating, despite the respect and engagement from all involved. What helped me grow confidence in these situations was both time and experience, but predominantly, mentorship from both managers and mentors. Working with a female mentor, who was a leader outside of my direct organisation gave me an opportunity to hear an unbiased and objective opinion, and work through some of the more personal feelings, not just work or skills related.
3. What three things could employers do to make the digital industry better for women?
Employers can make the digital industry more supportive of women in a few ways.
First, promoting both mentorship and reverse mentorship can be instrumental. Senior leaders have a lot to learn from women who are working through the early stages of their careers and understanding the day-to-day realities.
Second, encourage open dialogue consistently rather than only when there are significant issues in the world or industry. This creates a culture where personal experiences, both in and out of work, are shared more freely. Many a male colleague has been surprised when we’ve had these kinds of conversations.
Finally, employers need to actively support change at the senior level. Some people are in leadership positions for a long time, creating a ceiling. Creating new roles or paths for women to move into leadership helps ensure there is space for diverse voices at the highest levels.
4. Which support structures and organisations are most valuable to you as a woman in the digital industry?
Support networks are invaluable, and Women in Tech does an incredible job of creating a supportive environment. It organises events, encourages connections, and helps build a sense of community.
Within my own organisation, I feel supported too. Epsilon encourages support and empowers women to share experiences, knowledge, and skills with each other. It also creates opportunities for open feedback on any concerns, issues, or ideas.
5. What is the biggest misconception about women in the digital industry?
That it’s a constant battle! Nothing is perfect, and it probably won’t be for a long time, but we’ve come a long way, and my generation of women is in a pretty great position thanks to what people have made happen for us in the past. We’re now able to live up to that, continuing to prove our value without needing to make it solely about our gender.
