George B. Thomas
Rather listen to this post?
.png)
You know those moments when a story snaps you awake and reminds you why our work matters? This is one of those. In this Women of HubSpot conversation, Meg Duffy shows us what it looks like to move from uncertainty to real impact, to take creative risks, and to lift others while building a meaningful career in the HubSpot ecosystem.
It is practical. It is human. And it lands right where we live every day—shipping projects, serving people, and choosing to flourish.
A Wiggly-Noodle Path With Purpose
Meg didn’t take a straight road. Education. Nonprofit arts at the Met. A startup teaching kids to code. Supporting women and nonbinary folks in tech. Career coaching. Then, becoming a visible face you’ve seen across HubSpot Academy. The throughline she names is simple and strong: make things that help people do their best work.
“I love making stuff that helps people do their best work.” — Meg Duffy
The early Meg was anxious about what she didn’t know. Today’s Meg shows up on camera, on stage, and in community because the work calls for it—and because reps build confidence.
Anxiety, Perfectionism, and the Internet’s Opinions
Publishing as a woman in tech can be a contact sport. Meg had to build a filter to separate noise from signal and to set healthy boundaries around feedback. She also reframed the creative discomfort that shows up every time we try something new.
“Creative work is inherently uncomfortable, and for me, that’s probably not going to change.” — Meg Duffy
That line right there is a compass. Discomfort isn’t a red flag; it is proof we’re pushing into new territory.
Real talk about execution. Meg poured herself into a course, then skipped the marketing. The result? Crickets. She owned it and adjusted. That same year, she ran two packed Academy Labs back-to-back at INBOUND.
Different stage, different stakes, same lesson: do the work, carry it across the line, and let the reps shape you. Trust, expertise, and readiness emerge when you prepare behind the scenes.
Empowerment in Practice: Trust People and Remove Friction
Meg’s definition of empowerment is action-forward. Hype the idea. Connect the human. Help them keep going. She learned early from a coach who customized support to the person, not the rulebook. At work, she thrives when managers trust her to execute and invite questions when needed. That sweet spot, high trust, clear ownership, produces brave work and better outcomes.
Looking Ahead With HubSpot: Customization, Community, and Curiosity
Meg lights up talking about the builders around her, Solutions Architects, Technical Consultants, DevRel pros, who help companies customize HubSpot to fit real business models and niche use cases. Her seat lets her learn from them, translate insights, and point more people to what’s possible.
Also, education and community remain the on-ramps. Start by learning, meeting people, and going deeper.
A Word to Women in Tech: Let Women Cook
Meg’s advice and ask are beautifully clear: give women trust, resources, and room to execute. Step back and watch the magic. When we do this, we don’t just fill roles, we unlock ripples of impact in teams, customers, and communities. And because you’ll ask: yes, Meg’s a distance runner who has finished all six World Marathon Majors. Attention, discipline, and long games are kind of her thing.
If you lead HubSpot work, Meg’s story is a mirror. Creative discomfort means you’re on the edge of progress. Shipping requires both ownership and community. Empowerment isn’t a slogan; it is trust, plus resources, plus runway. Put that combination in place, and your people, systems, and customers will flourish.
Reflect & Act
-
Where is creative discomfort telling you it is time to move?
-
What trust + resource + runway can you give one teammate this week?
-
What project needs marketing love to carry it across the line?
