• by Lisa Singer , Staff Writer, April 28, 2022

Behind the Scenes with Kim Bartley

Former White Castle CMO Kim Bartley talks creating diversity of thought, the value of unisex mentoring and why everyone should sometimes have to prove themselves.  

I've had the opportunity to connect with and learn from executives of major brands at MediaPost's Insider Summits. In the process I've discovered some truly impressive women, and not only for the work they do but their stories behind the scenes. With Brand Insider: BTS, I get to pull back the curtain on some of the most influential women marketers as they talk about their path to success: the twists and turns, obstacles, inspirations and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

“I’d be in meetings and be the only woman in a meeting, and they'd be shouting phrases out at me and things that were inappropriate, and, I made a decision, I was going to rise above all that.” The “that” was the harassment she received from men she worked with early on in her career, and Kim Bartley certainly rose above it. The former White Castle CMO successfully advanced through the ranks at the quick service restaurant chain and now shares her learnings as an instructor at The Ohio State University. In this episode of Brand Insider: BTS, Kim talks with me about seizing opportunities, why life and career are about harmony not balance, and what she believes is the most important thing one can do as a leader. You can watch the video of the entire conversation here.