In this episode of How They Scaled It, I sit down with Natalie Cantave, the co-founder of MKTG WMN—a thriving community designed to uplift women and nonbinary professionals in marketing. She shares how a chance conference meetup with her now co-founder sparked a movement, and how they’ve grown it into a mission-led, member-supported platform with real industry impact.

Along the way, Natalie opens up about scaling without selling out, navigating imposter syndrome, and choosing intentionality over hype. From launching a paid model rooted in inclusivity to hosting IRL events with partners like Wistia, her story is a masterclass in building community with heart and a no-BS mindset.

00:00:13 – Why values and no-BS culture were foundational

00:01:21 – How Natalie and Gabrielle met and bonded over shared challenges

00:03:14 – The catalyst moment during COVID

00:04:39 – Early career lessons and salary transparency

00:06:01 – Launching MKTG WMN and overcoming imposter syndrome

00:07:10 – Going from events to mentorship and in-person meetups

00:08:32 – When and why they transitioned to a paid model

00:10:22 – How the community responded to monetization

00:11:36 – Creating a support system across all marketing verticals

00:14:11 – Highlights from co-working events and CEO conversations

00:15:24 – What didn’t work (and how they pivoted)

00:17:13 – Black Marketers Meetup and meaningful impact

00:19:54 – Natalie’s past experience with partnerships

00:21:29 – How they landed Wistia and Goldcast as sponsors

00:25:04 – Why authenticity is central to their growth strategy

00:28:31 – Scaling slowly and resisting profit-over-values temptation

00:30:16 – Building mentorship programs during high-need times

00:33:26 – Advice for founders building community

00:36:40 – How newsletters and storytelling keep the brand human

00:39:12 – What the future holds: team-building, more events, and 10-year vision