IWD podcast roundup: 5 women leaders to hear from

This International Women’s Day 2026, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE spoke to five women leaders from across industries to explore how they navigate the challenges of leadership while creating opportunities for others. From mentorship and sharing lessons learned along their journeys, to fostering workplaces where people feel seen and supported, each leader brings a unique perspective on what it means to lead as a woman in today’s professional world.

As part of the occasion, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE ran its "Women Who Lead" podcast series, spotlighting female leaders across the region. The series unpacked leadership journeys, hard-earned lessons, and what meaningful progress truly looks like across marketing, advertising, and communications. Through these conversations, listeners can hear the practical strategies, personal experiences, and guiding principles that shaped these leaders’ careers, while also learning how they created space for others to thrive.

Below, you can find all five podcast episodes, giving you easy access to their stories, advice, and perspectives on what it takes to lead as a woman today:

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1. Mutant's Lina Marican on embracing leadership despite self-doubt

Marican’s path into communications was not a straightforward one. Her early years were spent across global networks, which she described as a strong training ground, crediting the amazing bosses she had. Several years later, she decided to take a step into the independent agency world, where she eventually found her home at Mutant Communications.

Stepping into leadership, however, was not without hesitation. “When I was first asked to step up into the role, I actually said no. I told my boss I didn’t think I was ready,” she admitted. That self-doubt culminated in a defining moment, taking on a speaking opportunity with little notice. “In my mind I was thinking, I’m the youngest panellist, I’m female. What do I have to say? Will people listen?”

Read it here. 

2. Zora Health's Anna Haotanto rewrites women's health through entrepreneurship 

For Haotanto, entrepreneurship was not a linear leap, but a deliberate choice shaped by personal struggle and rigorous self reflection. After undergoing five surgeries in 2022 and navigating her own fertility journey years earlier, she began questioning why women’s health remained shrouded in stigma and confusion.

That frustration eventually evolved into Zora Health, now working with 128 clinic partners across 16 countries. However, Haotanto is candid about the realities of building a healthtech business. The past year, she admits, has been her toughest in a decade of founding the company. “There were many times I wondered, why am I here? But I can’t give up. I needed to see it through.”

Read it here. 

3. We Are Social's Naiyen Wang on building inclusive agencies

In line with the International Women’s Day theme of giving to gain, Wang believes leaders should create more pathways into the industry. She hopes agencies can look beyond linear CVs and “give people opportunities” even if their backgrounds are adjacent or unconventional.

While progress has been made, she believes more can be done to make workplaces truly inclusive, from practical support such as maternity facilities to ensuring fathers are equally empowered. “Men have a big role to play,” she says. “There’s a lot to be celebrated within our industry, and there’s a lot to be achieved.”

Read it here. 

4. Microsoft Advertising's Renee Stopps on carving a path in tech

Stopps joined Microsoft in 2016 and has spent close to a decade growing from account director to a regional leadership role that did not previously exist. she described it as “definitely not linear”. Reflecting on her path, Stopps shared that she never quite had it in mind a progression to move up from account director, to sales manager, and now regional leader.

Stepping into leadership in tech, however, came with its share of hesitation. For Stopps, confidence was not about having all the answers. “It’s not about having all the correct answers. It’s really about how you show up as a person," she said.

Read it here. 

5. Love, Bonito's Dione Song on redefining Asian fashion leadership 

When Song first joined the business more than eight years ago, she stepped into a founder-led environment as a marketer. That said, the transition from marketer to CEO has shaped her leadership style. “Being a marketer made me more conscious and intentional about how I present myself,” she said. “You learn how to read the room, tweak your narrative, and ensure the message lands.”

For Song, leadership ultimately comes down to creating the right environment. “If you can balance positivity with productivity, that’s the sweet spot,” she said.

Read it here.

Be part of #Content360 Singapore, 22–23 April 2026, where creativity and culture collide. Explore how AI-driven storytelling is shaping the future of content, gain practical insights, discover new tactics, and learn how the best in Asia are creating campaigns that truly resonate. 

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