MediaCom Exec Says “We Need To Stop Looking At The World Through A Man’s Eyes”
As you should very well know, our Women in Media Awards are fast approaching – in fact, they’re only a month away! To celebrate this wonderful fact, and to get you excited to celebrate the inspiring women in this industry, we’ve spoken to one of the most diverse companies we could think of.
An impressive 50 per cent of MediaCom’s executive leadership team is female – meaning the company knows a thing or two about women in senior leadership roles.
Which is what our Women in Media Awards are all about! B&T believes in the notion of: if she can see it, she can believe it and then she can be it. And these leading ladies at MediaCom sure are something to look up to.
Gemma Hunter (pictured below) is the global executive creative director of MediaCom, and head of MBA Australia, said balanced and diverse leadership is important to any organisation, no matter the size.
“We are an industry that communicate to people, all people. Diversity is us as a nation.
To create great communication campaigns that truly resonate and drive behaviour change and purchase intent we must understand who we are talking to and what motivates and drives them. The best way to do that is with people that can naturally understand their audience,” she said.
And Katherine Williams (pictured below), managing director of MediaCom Brisbane, added that “diversity needs to be supported by equality” in order for everyone’s voice to be heard.
“I want to look to a future of our industry where there are more senior female chairwomen and CEO’s, where our male and female senior leaders work in strong partnership to offer diverse opinions that drive our industry forward.
“And I want to see more diversity than just gender, because diverse perspectives are valuable, especially when supported by an open mind to dream big and take action,” she said.
And MediaCom is definitely a diverse company beyond gender – the company’s CEO, Willie Pang, frequently speaks on diversity, and was even a panellist at our very own Changing the Ratio in May.
Nicole Boyd (pictured below), MediaCom’s chief client officer, said that the company’s management team work so well together because they have a diverse team, and a diverse set of skills.
“No individual gender can deliver on this diversity as both males and females typically bring a different perspective to the conversation.
“There is research that suggests that gender diverse teams perform better. It supports a healthy working culture where people can motivate and support one another to perform at their highest level,” she said.
“Females are strongly represented in our industry however; the challenge is the balance within senior positions within organisations and particularly at executive levels.
“I don’t think the question is why diversity is important but how can the industry better understand and support female leadership. There is still too much looking at the world through a man’s eyes and not enough understanding of females and what they bring to business,” Boyd added.
Within MediaCom, there are a ton of initiatives that support female leadership, including flexible working hours and programs around mentoring, leadership skills and wellness.
Chief investment officer Nicole Turley (pictured below) said her favourite is a leadership program for women called Walk to Talk – which is especially important because according to Turley (and a few international studies) businesses with more women at the helm do better.
“There have been many studies around the world identifying business with more female leaders at the top are more profitable, are more innovative and have greater employee loyalty,” she said.
Williams added that more and more younger women could be leaders without the title or role.
“Leadership isn’t necessarily related to a title or job description, so young women starting out can exercise leadership traits in their everyday work – by extending the hand to help others around them, by showing vulnerability to ask for help themselves with a willingness to learn and grow, to enthusiastically accept opportunities, and by knowing their worth and being true to their word,” she said.
And Boyd echoed a similar statement, but said that “leadership is key, regardless of gender.”
“Over my last 14 years with MediaCom and being part of the national leadership team, we have always had gender balance,” she said.
And as for why women are vital in this industry? Hunter said the question barely needed to be asked any more.
“The fact that we need to ask that question shows that we are still not there in terms of equality and diversity,” she said.
“The question we should be asking is, why anyone who doesn’t understand how vital equality is to our industry still has a job.”
B&T‘s Women in Media Awards 2018 will be held on Friday 17 August 2018 at Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf. Grab early bird tickets to the event here and find all other info on the website.
Latest News
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.
Macca’s Marketing Director, Samantha McLeod On Big Mac Chant: “What Was Once Old Is Now Cool Again”
Macca's using the power of nostalgia in latest Big Mac campaign. Well, only for those who've ever eaten one sober.
World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
Oil's biopic to open Sydney Film Festival. Here's hoping Molly Meldrum will take his pants down at the premiere.
Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
The Brandies are, of course, a prestigious marketing gong and not the mystery tipple favoured by nannas everywhere.
The Fred Hollows Foundation Appoints Ardent For PR
Yes, we all like to have a joke at PR's expense. But sometimes it does important work, like this.
AI, eCommerce & Marketing Specialists Are In Increased Demand By Businesses, New Data From Fiverr Shows
Has your philosophy & anthropology degree left you with nothing but a huge HECS debt? Here's what you should've studied.
Perth’s First 3D Anamorphic Billboard Arrives Courtesy Of oOh!media
Do you love a buzzword? Now you can add anamorphic to the list as it relates to billboards, not a colleague's ears.
MasterChef Australia & Crown Resorts Launch Unique Dining Experience With ALUMNI
A pop-up restaurant staffed by MasterChef contestants! That's fine dining prices for first-year apprentice chef cuisine!
Amanda Laing Announces Resignation From Foxtel Group
Foxtel's chief commercial & content officer heads for the exits. Read nice things the bosses said about her right here.
The Lost Letters From Our Diggers: News Corp Unveils ANZAC Day Special
It's nice when brands respectfully acknowledge ANZAC Day.
Howatson+Company Acquires Akkomplice
Large indie acquires a slightly smaller indie. Much like a shark eating a tuna, just with less thrashing and blood.
Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Again
In good news for the sale of picture library biscuit photos, Google continues to tease over the end of cookies.
Education A Low Priority For Aussies More Concerned With Cost Of Living Forethought Study Reveals
Study finds Aussies cutting back on education due to cost of living. Booze & Uber Eats sales remain largely unaffected.
“I’m Still The Same Person That I Was”: Rikki Stern Says “Fucc It” To Cancer Stereotypes
B&T always happy to promote the anti-cancer cause. Even brands that massively overdo it with the hot pink.
The Unapproved Climate Certification Allegedly Causing Mass Greenwashing
Are you left flummoxed in the canned tuna & free range eggs aisle? Just wait till this green certification gets up.
TV Ratings (22/04/2024): Fans Mock “Over The Top” Reaction To New MasterChef Judges
MasterChef returns for its 2024 season. B&T stands by putting peppercorns in Gravox & no one will be any the wiser.
Dentsu Restructure: Muddle, Harvey & Johnston Take Leadership Baton As Bass & Yurisich Exit
A large broom has swept through Dentsu's local ops this morning, taking with it some big names & the air con's cobwebs.
Industry Shares Trends Shaping The Industry This International Creators Day
B&T's asking adland creators to reveal their top trends. And it's not good news for your Jenny Kee cardigan collection.
Mable Extends HOYTS Sensory Screenings Partnership
Mable has extended its HOYTS sensory screening partnership. Vigorously defends its two-star Oppenheimer review.
Orphan Launches ‘They Need Our Help. We Need Yours’ For Children’s Cancer Institute
Anything to do with childhood cancers has B&T's 110% support. That said, we do ignore the red meat & alcohol warnings.
Smile Team Orthodontics & Keep Left Collaborate On Smile-Inducing Campaign
As parents would attest, given the cost of orthodontics you'd expect this campaign to be a lavish production indeed.
Opinion: How Video Calls Neglect Learning Diversity
Need an excuse to duck out of a video call this arvo? Show this to your boss.
DoubleVerify Achieves First-Of-Its-Kind Responsible AI Certification From TrustArc
DoubleVerify receives responsible AI certification. However, not its robotic vacuum that's been seen menacing the cat.
Smile For A Good Cause: The Social Media Campaign Giving Back To The Community
Are you known as the office Austin Powers? More for you teeth than shagability? Get snappy new fangs with this news.
Elon Musk Mocks Albo After ESafety Wins Court Injunction Against X
Albo's 2024 from hell continues - Rabbitohs in crisis, down in the polls and now feuding with world's richest man.
Real Estate Developer In Hot Water Over “Sexually Exploitative” OOH Campaign
Real estate agents again tops in the 'least trusted profession' polls, nudging used car salesmen & ad creatives.
Epsilon’s Shane Hanby: Post-Cookie Era Relies On “Teamwork” Between Brands, Marketers & Tech
This pro predicts more "teamwork" in a post-cookie era. Which spells bad news for the uncooperative or plain stubborn.