This International Women's Day 2024, the team at Asia Market Entry reached out to the women in our network who are leaders in their various fields, ranging from AI to wine education. Supriya Jain is a Digital Marketing Leader at Novela Digital. Read on for her journey and her unique interpretation of the #IWD2024 Theme of Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.
In recognition of International Women's Day 2024 and its theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," we spoke to Supriya Jain, a Singapore-based digital marketing entrepreneur and founder of Novela Digital. Her journey from the world of technology to digital marketing shows the transformative power of leveraging one's strengths, having the right attitude and embracing change.
Leadership Journey in Digital Marketing and Tech
Supriya’s path to digital marketing was driven by her passion for technology and a desire to work in an industry that intersects with human psychology. Starting her career as a code developer, Supriya soon realised her calling lay in marketing, a field where she could blend her analytical skills with consumer insights. She began her marketing journey in the FMCG space at Unilever, followed by the move to Hong Kong, where she continued to pursue her passion in the marketing field despite the language barrier and cultural differences. One of Supriya’s early mentors was a well-respected industry leader, who shared her vision of marketing as a measurable, results-driven field. “I’ve been lucky to have had a lot of great mentors - both men and women - who have helped shape my career trajectory”.
Investing in Women
Aligned with the 2024 International Women's Day theme, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, Supriya advocates for backing women as an employer, especially those returning to work. She highlights this cohort’s ability to prioritise and deliver results. “I’ve often found that women who come back to work, do so with even more eagerness to learn and drive to succeed.” As an employer, Supriya is also a firm believer in the importance of flexibility. She has always focussed on delivery and encouraged her employees to work wherever and whenever as long as the deliverables are in order. Positive encouragement is also a critical facet of her management style. “My learning from personal experience is whenever you feel valued you give back more.”
Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities
Supriya’s leadership journey has not been without its challenges, yet she has turned these into opportunities for growth, both for herself and for other women in the industry. Her experience with biases in pricing negotiations as the lead consultant in her own firm shows the challenges women can face. “Surprisingly, when pitching for a project there can be a subtle hint of pricing the projects at a lower cost as it is a woman who they are negotiating with which I’ve always found astounding!” Supriya has overcome this through her strategic approach to her work, and her emphasis on the high quality of work leading to data driven marketing results.
Vision for the Future and Empowerment
Looking ahead, Supriya is committed to following her passion for data driven marketing and also supporting female talent. “Women are always humble about what they have achieved and showcase at best 60-90% of what they have achieved; giving encouragement when they’re talking about their career gives women confidence.” She advocates for creating support systems that enable women to thrive independently. Equitable remuneration, flexibility in working arrangements, and positive encouragement all being essential to paving the foundation of a successful career.
Supriya's message to young professionals and aspiring leaders is one of self-belief and perseverance. By focusing on their strengths and maintaining a long-term perspective, women can navigate their careers with confidence and determination. Her journey and initiatives not only serve as a blueprint for success in digital marketing and tech but also as a source of inspiration for women striving to succeed in these dynamic sectors.