Three Things Every Working Woman Needs To Do
As co-founder of SheSays in Melbourne, I speak to fabulous women working in media and marketing all the time about their career dreams and aspirations.
We’re in an industry filled with ambitious women who are very good at what they do, yet I hear over and over about the barriers that are holding us back.
Through these many discussions and my own experience, I strongly believe that there are three things that women can commit to do that will help us in one important part of the journey to gender equality – to help ensure that having children is never a stop sign, at worst it’s only a ‘pause’, in a career path.
First and foremost, women need to take ultimate responsibility for driving this change. There are many men who support gender equality, and so they should, but we need to recognise that the power lies within women to get there.
How can we “take responsibility” for such a huge task? For one thing, support your female colleagues. Make it a point to identify which women within your organisation need to be supported, and take it upon yourself to be the person to do so. Help them, be their advocate both in and outside of their presence, encourage them.
Support every woman who works hard and has something to offer. Don’t undermine them. Don’t bitch about them. Let’s help each other instead.
Secondly, be accountable.
Be the worker that no boss wants to lose – ever. What are the big picture goals of your boss, and your company, and how can you help achieve them? No matter what your role, make yourself indispensable. Truly. Be the person that everyone wants to work with, wants to have working for them, and wants to work for.
Be the living, breathing proof that employing women benefits business.
Give your boss and your colleagues reason to trust you. This means delivering on what you say you will. Don’t ever palm tasks off to your colleagues unnecessarily. The people you work with need to know that you are making a valuable contribution, and this will come through if you care about your work and deliver what you promise.
Be prepared to put in the hard yards at times (and this doesn’t mean working 80 hour weeks, rather, accept that there are going to be times when everyone needs to do more than usual to get the job done. Whether you have a family or not). Show the decision makers in your business how committed you are – and importantly, show yourself just how amazing you can be when you put your mind to it.
Finally, flexibility. If women want workplaces to be flexible, we need to be flexible in the first place. When I first went on maternity leave, I had my return all figured out, with childcare planned upon working three days a week. Three months before my return, my boss offered me an amazing new role but on the condition that he would need me at least four days a week. Through a bit of discussion and compromise on both sides, I now work four days that are two hours shorter than a standard work day. We could only get to this agreement because we were both willing to be flexible and so far it’s working out great.
For me, being flexible is also about understanding that work nowadays isn’t contained to our office hours. I have no problem whatsoever with logging on after hours to get the job done. But in return I expect my employer to understand when I have to race off suddenly to pick my son up from childcare when he’s sick.
So, there it is. Take responsibility for driving change. Be accountable in everything you do. And be willing to be flexible.
I’m the best example I know of the impact that acting on these three things can do. I lived them for a decade and I truly believe this has shaped the positivity around my experience with taking maternity leave and returning to work in a job that I love, that challenges me and that has allowed me to progress, not stagnate.
Reading this over, it’s clear to me that these points don’t apply exclusively to women. They’re just as important for men who want to be successful. And that fact is just another step in the right direction to achieving equality.
Jane Hutton is co-founder of SheSays Melbourne and Communications Director at Dentsu Aegis Network.
Latest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.