I'm going to be brutally honest with you. Building a woman-owned marketing agency has been the hardest, most rewarding, most terrifying thing I've ever done. And I wouldn't change a single second of it.
The Real Story Nobody Posts About
When people see The Mediatwist Group today — the clients, the campaigns, the results — they see the highlight reel. They don't see the nights I sat in my car in the parking lot, wondering if I was crazy for thinking I could pull this off.
They don't see the meetings where I was the only woman at the table and had to fight twice as hard to be heard.
They definitely don't see the first year, when Captain Kurtz and I were running on coffee, conviction, and not much else.
"The hardest part of building a woman-owned business isn't the business part. It's believing you deserve to be here."
What The Captain Kurtz Partnership Really Looks Like
Let me give you the real numbers. Women-owned businesses generate over $1.9 trillion in revenue annually. We're the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs in the country. And yet, we receive less than 3% of venture capital funding.
That gap? That's not a ceiling. That's a dare.
At Mediatwist, Captain Kurtz and I built something that proves what happens when you stop asking for permission and start building anyway.
The Lesson That Changed Everything
Early on, I made the mistake every new business owner makes — I tried to be everything to everyone. I said yes when I should have said no. I discounted my rates because someone told me "that's what agencies charge."
Then one day, a potential client said, "Can I speak to the person in charge?" while looking past me to the empty chair behind me.
That was the day I stopped shrinking.
"No one is going to hand you authority. You have to take it."
Why This Matters Beyond Mediatwist
Every time a woman builds a successful business, she creates a blueprint for the next woman. She proves it's possible. She changes what "leadership" looks like.
That's what drives me at Mediatwist every single day. Yes, we build incredible marketing campaigns. Yes, we help brands dominate their markets. But the reason I get up at 5 AM isn't just for the clients — it's for every woman watching who needs to see that this is possible.
What I'd Tell You If You Were Sitting Across From Me Right Now
Start before you're ready. Charge what you're worth. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision — and cut loose anyone who doesn't.
Find your Captain Kurtz — the partner who sees your potential and matches your ambition.
And when someone tells you it can't be done, smile. Because you're about to prove them wrong.
Aimee Lankford is the co-founder of The Mediatwist Group, a woman-co-owned marketing agency that helps brands dominate. Visit mediatwistgroup.com or follow @mediatwist.