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Women’s History Month is a chance to celebrate the women shaping the present — and at Paper Leaf, that impact is everywhere: in proposals, pixels, code, and the culture we build together.
We sat down with five women across Paper Leaf teams in business development, design, development, and project management and asked them the same five questions: What do you love about your work? What advice has stuck with you? What would you tell your younger self? Who inspires you? What are you most proud of?
Here’s what we learned.
Takeaways From Our Team
Love What You Do
Passion shows up differently for everyone. For Catherine, our Business Development Lead, it’s about digging into the challenges organizations are facing and figuring out how we can help. The mix of connection and problem-solving motivates her—and she values being able to show up as herself while doing it, regardless of the stereotypes that can exist in tech. The advice Catherine would give to her younger self, is to fast forward past caring what people think, and get straight to doing what you enjoy and are good at.
Take Up Space
Your perspective matters—don’t shrink yourself to fit others expectations. Mariam, one of our Designers, believes speaking up matters, even when it feels uncomfortable. Offering alternative ideas helps processes evolve and she always appreciates when people push the limits.
Trust Yourself
You don’t need all the answers to move forward. Siham, a Developer on our team, puts a lot of weight on trusting your instincts. People will always have opinions about where you should go next, but at the end of the day, you know yourself—and your path—best. Siham’s biggest inspiration is her future self.
Stay Curious
Mentors, leaders, and even your future self can teach you valuable lessons. Anne, our Design Director, often points out that the smartest people she knows are also the most comfortable saying ‘I don’t know — but I will find out.” Anne’s mom taught her that admitting what you don’t know is one the best things you can do to learn — humility combined with curiosity is something to look up to.
Lead with Confidence and Kindness
Strength doesn’t have to be loud. Lindsay, one of our Project Managers, has learned from some incredible women that leadership can be direct without being aggressive, be heard without shouting, garner respect without demanding it, and be kind without being taken less seriously.
Living Our Values Every Day
Women’s History Month is about celebrating the trailblazers and the women shaping the future. At Paper Leaf, that impact shows up in the way we approach our work: thoughtful problem-solving, curiosity that drives innovation, collaboration that multiplies strengths, and care that shapes both culture and outcomes. The voices of these five women — and all the incredible people at Paper Leaf — remind us that our work is stronger when we bring our full selves to the table. Their perspectives shape our projects, strengthen our teams, and guide how we show up for each other and our clients every single day.