Hoda Castleton

Hi Jennifer!

For your book:

When I joined Ci Web Group in March 2024 I was coming from a corporate job as a Senior Digital Project Manager. What drew me here wasn't the title or the paycheck, it was the chance to work for a woman-owned company, built by someone who actually wanted her people to have a voice. That someone is Jennifer Bagley.

I didn't realize at the time how much her leadership would change me.

This company has never stood still, and that's on Jennifer. Working here is a bit like building an airplane while it's already in the air, fast, constantly shifting, occasionally exhausting. But it's also proof that she means it when she asks, "What's next?" instead of assuming things will stay the same.

When the restructuring happened, I know it was hard on a lot of people. From where I sat, though, it never felt unfair. It felt like Jennifer making the tough calls to protect the company's future. If I were in her seat, I think I would've made a lot of the same decisions. That didn't make it painless, but it made me trust her more.

My role has changed more times than I can count, and I've noticed Jennifer has a habit of pushing people into situations before they feel ready for them. At the time it can feel like a lot. Looking back, it's made me better at my job, and it's taught me that growth rarely looks the way you expect.

It taught me something personal, too. I've always liked having the answers on my own. Watching how Jennifer leads showed me that real strength sometimes looks like asking for help, or trusting the people around you. That's changed how I show up for my own team.

I remember when she moved us into Vibin. I was terrified, genuinely unsure if I could learn it, let alone get good at it. But she'd already decided this was where we needed to go, and she was right. Now I spend hours in it building things I'm proud of.

Then there was the spring of 2026, when I watched Jennifer speak at an event in San Diego. I already believed in the company, but watching her in front of a room full of people showed me something else: this wasn't just someone running a business. It was someone who genuinely cared about helping an entire industry through a hard, uncertain shift. I left more convinced than ever.

The biggest difference between this job and anywhere else I've worked comes down to her. Under Jennifer, my ideas actually matter. We don't always have the answers, and we don't always get it right the first time. But there's something rewarding about working for someone who keeps adapting instead of standing still—and who expects that same willingness from the rest of us.

If you asked me what it's like to work for Jennifer Bagley, I'd tell you to get comfortable with change, because there's a lot of it. I'd tell you that you'll probably find strengths you didn't know you had, because she has a way of seeing your potential before you do.

This chapter of my career means a lot to me, and most of that comes down to her. She challenged me, humbled me, and pushed me further than I thought I could go. None of us know exactly what's next, but I know this: Jennifer's still willing to evolve, and that's exactly why I still believe in what she's building.