This year’s Women’s History Month holds a special place in our hearts at Intesa Communications Group as we reflect on the remarkable achievements of women throughout history and celebrate a pivotal moment in our own story.
As a women-owned, award-winning, San Diego-based public relations, crisis communications and government affairs firm, we recently achieved a significant milestone – certification as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The nearly year-long WBE process recognizes that Intesa meets California’s rigorous certification standards for diverse suppliers.
But beyond certification, we view this milestone as a testament to the leadership and dedication of Intesa’s leadership, Founding Partner Margie Newman Tsay and Partner Maddy Kilkenny, in fostering an inclusive and holistically person-focused environment within our industries.
Trailblazing Women in PR
Although PR, as a profession, is currently dominated by women (about 75% of the workforce), it hasn’t always been this way. Many women blazed a trail before us, like Doris Fleischman, a Jewish American suffrage leader and the woman behind Edward Bernay, who is widely considered the founding father of PR. Doris was followed by Betsy Ann Plank, known as the First Lady of public relations, and Inez Y. Kaiser, the first African American woman to own a PR firm with national clients,
While it’s exciting that females are prevalent in PR today, they only represent 30% of C-suite executives. Even more jarring: the number of agencies owned by women (like Intesa) is so small it is difficult to even quantify. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, we might be waiting 130 years for gender parity for women across four dimensions: economic opportunity, education, health and political leadership. But here at Intesa, we’re not into waiting; we’re into doing.
Intesa’s Purposeful Culture
At Intesa, Margie and Maddy have cultivated a purposefully distinctive culture, fostering an environment where we not only work diligently but also embrace a balanced approach that values both professional excellence and personal well-being. With an ethos of working hard and playing hard, they prioritize making time and space for the individuals who matter most to us—all while staying fully present in the moment. Leading by example, Margie and Maddy extend their commitment beyond the workplace, actively contributing to our communities through their service on some of San Diego County’s most influential nonprofit and civic boards. Their leadership extends to the team, where they empower women with the confidence, skills, and opportunities necessary for personal and professional growth. This holistic approach underscores our dedication to creating a workplace that thrives on both individual and collective success.
Early Years and the Entrepreneurial Spirit
It all started more than 12 years ago when Margie arrived in San Diego from Nashville with a new baby on her hip, which she shared in a recent interview:
“At the time, most PR agency owners in town were male. A couple of them even suggested I call them when I was ready for a stable job. One guy in particular would often say at networking events, ‘How’s that little business you’re running?’ Was it patronizing? Yes, of course. But, it fueled my effusively-optimistic, entrepreneurial fire.”
In 2016 the firm expanded when Maddy joined Margie as a partner and co-owner to build Intesa’s government relations practice from the ground up. This endeavor was particularly notable given the underrepresentation of women in this sector, with only 35% of registered lobbyists being female in 2024. Today, they’ve grown the team to eight full-time PR and government relations pros bringing decades of expertise as they do their best work for people and causes they believe in.
Investing in Workplace Culture
Both Margie and Maddy are steadfast advocates for fostering and maintaining a workplace culture centered around prioritizing the well-being of their employees and embracing the ethos of ‘humans-first’. They recognize the intrinsic value of attending to the holistic needs of all team members, irrespective of gender. From the generous, unlimited PTO policy, amazing work/life balance, great health benefits and 401K match, to annual team retreats and handwritten notes of appreciation, Margie and Maddy are fully invested in the Intesa team who are, in turn, fully invested in Intesa and its clients.
Every Day is a Celebration at Intesa
Every day at Intesa is a celebration of our team’s collective spirit, thriving on collaboration, diverse skills, and perspectives. Our commitment to pushing boundaries directly translates into delivering our best work for our clients, ensuring innovative solutions and strategies grounded in our varied viewpoints and expertise. That’s something to celebrate, not only during Women’s History Month, but year-round.