Beyond the glass ceiling: Making your career work for you

This article is based on Jamie Gier’s brilliant talk at the Product Marketing Summit in Seattle. As a PMA member, you can enjoy the complete recording here.

It was May 1980, and I was in third grade, riding my rad BMX bike down 20th Avenue in eastern Washington. Suddenly, a massive windstorm hit out of nowhere. Sand filled the air, and I could barely see, let alone keep it out of my mouth.

In my childhood panic, I thought, Oh my God, the zombie apocalypse is real, and it’s here! But as the air cleared, there were no zombies – just an eerie, dark sky. Something monumental had happened.

Mount St. Helens had erupted. The ash cloud shot 80,000 feet into the air, spreading across hundreds of miles and creating one of the largest volcanic events in U.S. history. The world was watching.

It was a defining moment for me, though I didn’t know it yet.

That summer, my sister and I came up with an idea. As we prepared for a family road trip from Washington to Iowa, we decided to take a bucket of volcanic ash with us.

At first, we just handed out vials of ash to curious strangers at rest stops. But then, we noticed something: people were fascinated by the story of the eruption. They wanted a piece of it. So, we started selling the vials for 10 cents each – enough to buy a candy bar! They were selling like hotcakes, and we soon realized we could probably sell them for as much as a quarter. By the time we reached Iowa, we had sold out.

It was an early lesson in marketing – one that taught me about supply and demand, storytelling, and the value of understanding your audience. That experience shaped how I approach challenges in my career and continues to guide me as a CMO.

In this article, I’ll share some of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way, including how to:

Overcome self-doubt and reframe your mindset,
Build a personal brand that reflects your unique strengths, and
Leverage product marketing skills to prepare for leadership roles.

Whether you’re looking to advance your career or simply better understand your own potential, I hope my story offers you some valuable insights.

From BMX bikes to the C-suite

The eruption of Mount St. Helens and those early lessons in product marketing stayed with me as I built my career. After I graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!), and worked my way up from product marketer to three-time Chief Marketing Officer.

Along the way, I got to work with enterprises like Microsoft, GE, and several startups backed by private equity and venture capital. I found my passion in fast-paced, high-growth environments, helping companies like DreamBox Learning and Edifecs scale and thrive. Now, as CMO of DexCare, a digital health company, I often reflect on the journey that got me here.

Now, you might be looking at the title of this article and thinking, What glass ceiling? She’s made it! That’s where this story really begins.

Confronting the glass ceiling

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been told about the glass ceiling. Before I’d even stepped into a professional setting, people were warning me about all the barriers I’d face as a woman. Maybe you’ve heard it too: Good luck breaking through that.

But I thought, I’ve faced challenges before – this won’t stop me. I grew up in a single-parent household in a small town. Small-town life teaches you grit. Add to that surviving a childhood disease that almost took my life, and I figured I was ready to smash through any barrier with confidence. Off I went.

About a decade into my career, I’d faced sexism, sure, but I’d also encountered plenty of meanness that transcended gender. On top of that, there was another challenge. The tech and healthcare industries are filled with brilliant people – doctors, scientists, engineers – and that brilliance can be intimidating.

As a marketer, I often felt like I had to justify my seat at the table, even though we’re the ones who turn great ideas into something the world can connect with. It’s a strange feeling, defending your value in an industry that thrives because of your work.

Reframing self-doubt into power

As I climbed the ladder, I started to realize the glass ceiling wasn’t just external – it was inside me. My self-doubt was holding me back more than anything else. I carried insecurities I hadn’t fully confronted: I’m a single mom; what will people think? I didn’t go to an Ivy League school – am I good enough? Do I have enough experience?

These thoughts were amplified with every step upward, forcing me to reflect on where they came from and how to overcome them. What I discovered was this: while I might have had some external critics, I was a much harsher critic than any of them. I was rejecting myself before anyone else even had a chance.

That realization changed everything. I needed to bet on myself, reframe the self-doubt that had been holding me back, and recognize the unique strengths I brought to the table. I began to see what I’d thought were weaknesses as strengths.

I might not have an MBE, but my time at GE – where I helped integrate two companies – gave me a crash course in business that no classroom could match.

I may be a small-town girl, but that gave me a special kind of determination that comes from not having access to some of the resources that my colleagues had access to growing up.

Being a single mom taught me resilience and superhuman multitasking skills. Coming from a fractured family instilled empathy and determination.

And yes, I’m in a male-dominated industry, but so what? My accomplishments speak for themselves.

This reframing didn’t happen overnight. It took deep reflection and learning the hard way. But once I realized that I could control the narrative I told myself, everything changed. Instead of letting doubt hold me back, I leaned into the power of my story. That shift wasn’t just pivotal – it was liberating.

Practical tips to break your own glass ceiling

Let me pause for a moment and ask you something: do you experience insecurities or self-doubt?

If your answer is no, I’d challenge you to think again. Everyone has insecurities, even the people we all admire. Sometimes those insecurities show up as self-doubt, and other times, they might mask themselves as arrogance or even narcissism, but they’re there.

What I want to share with you today are four practical tips I’ve used in my career to look beyond my own glass ceiling. These are lessons I’d give my younger self if I could, and they’re for you too. There are a couple of writing exercises, so grab a pen, and let’s dive in – your future self will thank you.

1. Halt the negative self-talk

First, you’ve got to stop – or at least minimize – that negative self-talk. It’s bad for your mental health, your confidence, and your well-being. Studies show that self-criticism can worsen stress, anxiety, and even depression. So, if for no other reason, work on quieting that inner critic for the sake of your health.

When that voice pipes up, try this simple phrase: Not today, my little protector. Recognize it for what it is – a defense mechanism trying to shield you from rejection. Acknowledge it, and then let it go.

Here are three more ways to help halt negative self-talk and replace it with something empowering: