Hello! Lovely to meet you!
Welcome friends! Lovely to have you here. So where exactly is "here"? And what on earth is a ThinkerBelle? "Here" is a blog space on all things that interest this little strategist, namely design, social media and technology. I like to think that "ThinkerBelle" (my strategist persona) lives at the intersection of these three domains. I hope you enjoy this space, please comment and don't be a stranger. I appreciate you being here. Follow me in the tweetverse if you like @thaz7.
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Pictured above, three of the smartest and loveliest in the biz, that I happened to be able to catch up with one awesome evening in London. Thanks @melex @patsmc @dddiana for your mugs. ;)
Gender equality and advertising…a story we’ve all heard (unfortunately) nearly ad nauseam. I wish it could be just *done* with already. We’ve heard many points and counter points, watched panels come and go where women are fiercely underrepresented, watched plenty of episodes of Mad Men and then the “IRL” experience of my (short) five years in the business I can confidently say, yes it’s still a problem.
Enter the past year or so, prominent figures in the industry like Edward Boches and Cindy Gallop, taking the problem on head on, and Farrah Bostic providing a “go-to” list for women to serve on speaker and judging panels (as well as potential mentors and beyond). Strong, incredibly smart women continue to lead agencies the way forward in an increasingly forward thinking industry. But we all look at the “main events” of our industry and it’s the same (albeit lovely) faces. Check out the hashtag #toomanywhitemen for some colorful debate at any time.
So why oh why does this persist? Many far more interesting, smart people have sounded in on it and I’ll add my two bits worth. It’s deeper than an awards show, it comes from the place of truly asserting and “joining the big boys table”(never forget your spot AT the table as Sheryl Sandberg so elegantly shared in her TED talk). There’s always an ounce of fear when it comes to stepping up in this way. The spotlight (which I hate to even use that term) is a hard one for many women. Humility is ESSENTIAL in this industry. Being kind, fun and humble is the only way to be–however this can’t be confused with quiet, meek and lacking confidence. Throughout college I took classes in gender equality in the workforce, completely fascinated by the double standard every woman faces when in any sort of position of power. The delicate balance between traditionally “feminine” qualities (generally being kind, lovely and maternal) and the way that can play in sharp contrast to what “wins” in the business world (strong, ball-busting ways). Err to far either way and no one will hear your voice.
There are ways forward. I believe very strongly in the idea of learning from other strong females (which is why it’s so important to be on these speaking and judging panels): mentorship and support is one of the most valuable things we can provide and be provided with. I feel incredibly blessed to have the MOST incredible women to look up to and share problems/stresses/ ideas/happy moments with (many of these amazing ladies to be found here and of course the owner of the list @melex) Awesome organizations like SheSays are standing up and the industry is listening. It’s not an easy or short road but we’re getting there. Would be incredible to see the “big award shows” (ahem, like the one we’re all just spinning off of now: rhymes with “mannes”) be completely fairly represented. Not because of us having to “push” it there, but because it was a natural fall out from the prominent figures rising to the top of agencies AND the spotlight.
If you have not seen this talk I mentioned earlier, sit yourself down immediately and watch:
