In an industry defined by innovation, speed, and constant transformation, one thing has remained surprisingly difficult to scale: community.
Advance Women was created to change that.
What began as a simple idea – to create a space where women across advertising, media, and technology could connect meaningfully – has quickly grown into one of the most energising communities in the marketing ecosystem. In less than two years, Advance Women has evolved from a Slack channel and a single gathering into a growing platform that brings together leaders from brands, agencies, publishers, and technology companies.
The mission is straightforward: support, elevate, and connect women at every stage of their careers. The community was founded by industry leaders Sophia Westrich, Priti Powell, and Hollis Guerra, who shared a common observation about the industries they work in. While advertising and technology have made meaningful progress on representation, many women still lack the networks where real career momentum often begins.
Access to the right network remains one of the most powerful accelerators of professional growth.
Careers rarely develop in isolation. Behind nearly every milestone is a group of people who shared knowledge, offered perspective, introduced opportunities, or encouraged someone to think differently at the right moment. When those connections are intentional and supportive, they become an invisible infrastructure that helps people grow faster and navigate complex decisions with greater confidence.
That philosophy sits at the centre of Advance Women.
The goal was never to create another formal conference or panel series. Instead, the founders set out to build a global community where women could show up authentically, build real relationships, and support one another in ways that meaningfully advance their careers.
When professionals have the opportunity to exchange experiences across companies and roles, the benefits compound quickly. People gain perspective earlier in their careers, make stronger decisions, and develop the confidence required to lead. Just as important, the environment encourages candid conversations about challenges, from leadership dynamics to career transitions, that are rarely discussed in more traditional industry settings.
The return on that kind of community often appears in subtle but powerful ways: stronger leaders, more resilient teams, and networks of people who actively create opportunities for one another.
The industry’s response has been swift.
Advance Women’s inaugural gathering during Advertising Week New York in 2024 filled almost immediately, bringing together senior executives, rising leaders, and entrepreneurs from across the advertising and media landscape. That early momentum quickly expanded.
Within its first year, Advance Women convened leaders at four of the industry’s most influential moments: New York for its first tentpole event, Miami during the POSSIBLE Conference, the south of France during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and again in New York for its “Unmuted” gathering later that fall.
Across those events, hundreds of women from dozens of cities, states, and countries came together from across the marketing ecosystem. What stood out wasn’t just attendance. It was the tone.
The gatherings were intentionally designed to move beyond performative networking and toward something more meaningful: candid conversations, shared experiences, and the kind of professional relationships that continue long after the event itself ends.
That early momentum signalled something important. The industry wasn’t simply looking for another event series. It was looking for community.
Representation matters across the entire innovation pipeline, from developers and product managers to marketing leaders, researchers, and executive teams. Diverse perspectives help ensure that the problems being identified, the solutions being built, and the way they are brought to market reflect the realities of the people they serve.
In industries built on understanding human behaviour, leadership teams benefit from varied viewpoints. Teams with different experiences tend to ask better questions, identify blind spots earlier, and ultimately create stronger solutions.
Advance Women’s work is grounded in that belief. As the community continues to expand in 2026, its focus remains on bringing women and allies together to exchange ideas, build trusted relationships, and create new pathways to leadership across marketing, media, and technology.
Because when community becomes part of an industry’s infrastructure, opportunity expands—and the next generation of leaders rises faster. Stay tuned for what’s next…starting next month at POSSIBLE in Miami and together at Cannes. If you’re interested in learning more, attending one of our events or joining our community, please reach out to hollis@advancewomenofficial.com.
