What does it mean to you to lead with legacy in mind?
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
By Tianna Mamalick
I didn’t start my career with legacy in mind, but over time I realized that’s exactly what I was building. Leading with legacy means thinking of the next generation and ensuring women feel supported as they chase their dreams.
For me, legacy isn’t about accolades or titles. It’s about what you leave behind in people and how you make them feel, what you teach them, and what they go on to create because of your influence.
Growing up, I loved to talk—a lot. It looked like confidence, but it often hid my fear of being invisible or not being enough unless I was doing something. I tied my worth to my contribution. As I’ve grown, those fears have softened but never fully disappeared. I still talk as much as I did as a child, but I’ve learned some big lessons along the way.
I know what it feels like when that support isn’t there. I lost my younger brother because he didn’t feel seen or supported and that changed everything for me. My mission now is deeply personal. I don’t want anyone to feel alone in the spaces they’re trying to grow in.
As a mom, that mission has only deepened. I think a lot about the world my son will grow up in and who he’ll turn to for support. I want him to see women in leadership, women in tech, women who speak their minds and lift others while they do it. That’s an important part of my legacy too.
That’s why I started SMB Marketing (a marketing agency built to support women as they grow their businesses). This business is my legacy, the employees I train are my legacy. I don’t just support women; I hire them. One of our core values is growth through learning. We focus on on-the-job training and prioritize ongoing education. Each quarter, the team recommends a course or topic they want to explore.
We all vote, and once chosen, that course becomes available to everyone.This is one of my core values because It’s something I always wanted from a job.
My legacy is to ensure women have the opportunity to follow their passions and feel truly supported.
The next generation of women is coming up stronger and more self-assured. But we still need support (support to apply for the position we want, to charge what we’re worth, and to take up space unapologetically). My passion lies in search marketing, specifically SEO, and I’m here to support the next generation of women who want to learn it.
While SEO knowledge is more accessible than ever, we’re living in a trust recession. My goal is to train as many women as I can to understand SEO and to understand where this industry is going in the future. One of the best parts of my day is sharing my passion with people excited to learn it. I truly hope the excitement I feel doing my job rubs off on as many people as possible.
I want women to truly understand their marketing. To feel empowered to hire the right contractors, to know what they’re paying for, and to confidently apply for their next opportunity.
Too many people skip the part where they explain what they’re doing to those who genuinely want to learn. I won’t. My goal is to always remember that.
Having more women in power (and women who feel safe and confident taking up space and speaking their truth) will make this world more inclusive and better for all of us. If you’re stepping into a position of power, don’t forget where you came from. Power isn’t about being above others. It’s about having greater influence and the ability to support more people.
Your legacy doesn’t begin when you retire. It starts when you pause to support someone a few steps behind you. That’s where your real impact shines.
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