Women who lead: Mutant's Lina Marican on embracing leadership despite self-doubt

This month, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE is relaunching its Women Who Lead podcast series in conjunction with International Women’s Day, spotlighting female leaders across the region’s agency landscape. The series unpacks leadership journeys, hard-earned lessons, and what meaningful progress truly looks like across marketing, advertising, and communications.

The first episode features Lina Marican, regional managing director of Mutant Communications, as she reflects on leadership, imposter syndrome, and what this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to gain”, means to her.

Listen to the full conversation here on YouTube:

Marican’s path into communications was not a straightforward one. “I’ve always wanted to be a writer and a journalist,” she shared, before realising that shaping narratives behind the scenes appealed to her more. “When I started out with an internship, I realised that I much preferred shaping the stories, and hence my journey into public relations.”

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.

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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?”

The shift came when audience members approached her after. “They told me, ‘I really resonated with what you said,’ and that helped because then I was affirmed that what I said actually made good sense."

Marican believes leadership is inseparable from trust and flexibility, especially for women. At Mutant, hybrid working has long been the norm. “We trust all mutants (the agency's internal moniker) to do right by themselves, the team, and the clients as well,” she said, adding that empowerment leads to stronger outcomes. “There’s a lot more passion, and through empowering our team, they drive more great results because of it.”

This year’s International Women’s Day theme resonates deeply with her. “With every mentorship that I put my hand up for, I learn a lot as well,” she said. Through industry initiatives and mentorship programmes, Marican sees giving not as a one-way act, but a shared exchange. “I truly feel that when we empower people, grow them, and remove barriers, great work follows.”

Her advice to women grappling with imposter syndrome is simple, but hard-earned. “You just have to put yourself out there. With each opportunity, you really learn through that experience, and with that, you build confidence.”

Also catch the podcast on Spotify:

Tune into the rest of this conversation on your favourite podcast platforms, by searching up Marketing Connected. For all the visual people out there, we’ve got your back as well, with our vodcasts on YouTube.

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