Just 15% of European tech startups are female-founded. In SEO, leadership remains overwhelmingly male despite the industry evolving far beyond its technical roots. Sierra Six Media sits within that minority, with women leading across operations, client growth and creative as search becomes increasingly tied to brand, AI, UX and commercial strategy.

Founder Jade Bartholomew points to the impact of that structure internally, noting that her female leadership team brings a level of attention to detail and commercial awareness that is not always prioritized across the sector, and it retains clients.

Within SEO specifically, the gap is more pronounced than broader marketing figures suggest. Industry analysis suggests men still outnumber women across SEO, while progression from junior to senior positions remains slower for women.

A 2025 analysis of major SEO publications found that 64% of articles were written by men, while technical SEO content remains heavily male-dominated. 

Read more at: https://www.thedrum.com/industry-insight/most-seo-agencies-overpromise-the-minority-are-redefining-the-norm