I am a female creative. This has been my journey.
FIRST
It was 2005, and Neil French rocked my world by saying there weren’t more female creative directors because after a while they usually “wimp out and go suckle something”. He was terminated as Worldwide Creative Director of WPP, but I didn’t think that solved the real issue.
So, I threw myself into creating a space dedicated to the cause of more female creatives. A couple of fellow female creatives and I posted everything from work that was done by female creatives, to interviews with successful female leaders, to articles that discuss ways for women to be more successful.
Covered by Creativity, Adweek & AdAge
Recipient of Advertising Women of New York's “Hope for the Future” Award
THEN
The life of Junior Copywriter took hold, and I had tons of questions.
So I created a forum for answering those questions with some of the best female creatives in the world. I was fortunate to have great mentors like Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk who took me, and the many question-askers under their wing.
A killer list of mentors including Joyce King Thomas, Judy John, Nancy Vonk, Janet Kestin, Kara Goodrich and Helen Pak.
AND THEN
I spent years with my head down. Convinced that the ‘female creatives in advertising’ thing wasn’t really a problem. We just needed more women to hunker down, and make it through the gauntlets of ACD, CD, GCD, then ECD, then CCO. I was convinced that would be how I would change it all.
NOW
As GCD at 72andSunny, I looked around at all of the amazing women who were looking at me to be their advocate. So I went to the 3% Conference. And I started a mentoring program at 72. And I created Beehive Breakfasts as forum for the female creatives get together and dream up actions to help solve problems.
And I’ve promised myself that if nothing else, I will keep trying to find new solutions.
No more head down.
Head up.