Phyllis Robinson was a remarkable woman. But in 1949, men stood in the spotlight. While Bill Bernbach is often credited for sparking the creative revolution, only some know Phyllis Robinson was the true influence behind so much of DDB’s iconic work for Orbach’s, Volkswagen and Polaroid.
As an extension of the highly-awarded “Highlight the Remarkable” campaign from Stabilo Boss and DDB Germany, DDB highlights Robinson, her legacy and her trailblazing spirit that lives through employees everywhere today.
Robinson was a pioneer, not just for women but for the creative advertising revolution that she helped ignite, changing the face of the industry forever. She was one of the founding employees of Doyle Dane Bernbach back in 1949, the agency’s first copy chief and the first female copy chief in the United States.
DDB Group Sydney CEO Sheryl Marjoram said: “This International Women’s Day, I’m thinking of the women who came before me like Phyllis Robinson, the women fearlessly paving the way as we speak, and the next generation of women for whom I hope the world is better.
“Holding men accountable to their role as allies is vital, which means they need to move from being in front to being alongside. I’m thankful for allies like my husband, who understands the difference between equity and equality. His investment and commitment to my journey has seen him change and sacrifice so I can be and have more.”
DDB global chief people officer Roisin Rooney said: “We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘Behind every great man is a great woman.’ Throughout history, women have been upstaged, their actions and successes overshadowed by the men that surround them. We’re proud to partner with Stabilo Boss, using the campaign concept created by DDB Group Germany, to highlight further Phyllis’ impact on not only DDB but the advertising industry today.”
DDB global chief diversity inclusion and equity officer Nikki Lamba said: “The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias so it’s fitting to highlight Phyllis today, someone who challenged the biases in the advertising industry and advocated for female talent. She was an important part of our network and continues to inspire a new generation of women today.”
Created by DDB Germany, the Stabilo Boss campaign has been widely celebrated with the initial campaign platform created in 2019 highlighting three remarkable women in NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, US First Lady Edith Wilson and Austrian-Sweden physicist Meitner.
The campaign is supported by a worldwide social campaign featuring the female leaders of the DDB network sharing what #BreakTheBias means to them.
