Women Building the Future of Marketing Technology at Bonsai
This month, we’re spotlighting a few of the women at Bonsai. Here’s what they had to say about their work, their philosophy, and their advice for the next generation of leaders.
The future of marketing technology isn’t just being shaped by new algorithms, data models, and platforms. It’s being built by the people who ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and create tools that help businesses grow.
This month, we’re spotlighting a few of the women helping build that future at Bonsai. From engineering and growth to customer success, these leaders play a critical role in turning complex marketing data into actionable insight for the companies we work with.
Here’s what they had to say about their work, their philosophy, and their advice for the next generation of leaders.
Lydia Fern
Head of Product Engineering
For Lydia Fern, product engineering starts with one simple goal: translating real customer needs into meaningful technology.
She and her team are responsible for building the systems that power modern marketing measurement, ensuring that the tools marketers rely on actually help them make better decisions.
But for Lydia, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the direct impact those tools have on customers.
“There’s nothing better than releasing a feature and hearing a customer say, ‘This is exactly what we needed.’”
Her advice for anyone early in their career is surprisingly simple: embrace the work others might overlook.
“Leverage the grunt work. The detailed tasks often give you insights no one else sees.”
Those early experiences, she explains, often provide the clearest understanding of how systems work and where the biggest opportunities lie.
Bri McDowell
VP of Growth
Growth is often talked about as a set of tactics or channels. For Bri McDowell, it’s something deeper: understanding what actually drives a business forward.
Much of her work involves helping companies rethink how they evaluate their marketing performance and identify the levers that truly move the business.
“If you want things to change, something has to change.”
At Bonsai, Bri works closely with companies to uncover what’s really happening inside their marketing programs, helping teams understand whether their decisions are generating real growth or simply creating wasted spend.
Her leadership advice is direct and personal.
“Don’t edit yourself to fit the room. Be your authentic, unedited self.”
She believes authenticity and integrity are critical qualities for anyone stepping into leadership roles.
Allie
VP of Customer Success
Customer success has evolved far beyond traditional support roles, and Allie is at the forefront of that shift.
Her team works as a strategic partner to clients, helping them translate complex marketing data into meaningful business outcomes.
For Allie, the most rewarding moments come when customers begin to see clarity in their data and confidence in their decisions.
“We’re not just solving problems. We’re helping customers go from feeling overwhelmed to empowered.”
That transformation, she explains, is what makes the work so meaningful.
Her advice for women entering leadership roles is grounded in curiosity.
“Lead with curiosity. If you ask the right questions, you’ll usually find the best path forward.”
By focusing on the right questions and keeping the customer’s goals at the center of every strategy, she believes teams can create lasting impact.
Building the Future Together
Behind every platform, product release, and marketing insight is a team of people working to solve complex problems.
At Bonsai, leaders like Lydia, Bri, and Allie are helping shape the next generation of marketing technology by combining technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to customer success.
And as their advice makes clear, great leadership often starts with something simple: curiosity, authenticity, and a willingness to do the work that others might overlook.
