If you had a collective of Super Women by your side, what help would you ask for? This was the question that Are Media’s Jane Huxley asked more than 800 incredible attendees at B&T’s Women in Media awards in August this year.
Last week on B&T’s Superwomen Series we spoke with Power List inductees Sian Whitnall and Maria Grivas, as well as a representative from Are Media, Leisa Williams about asserting authority, gaining respect and making the industry better. To view last week’s instalment click here.
The women of the Australian media, marketing and advertising spoke out loudly, sharing their biggest fears and doubts. So, now, in partnership with Are Media, B&T has called upon our legion of superwomen – that’s our winners and the Women in Media Power List inductees – to guide this generation of women through some of the industry’s most consistent problems.
This week, we tackle gender gap questions with Social Media winner Shivani Maharaj and Power List champion Dee Madigan.
What does it take to stand tall in a room that wasn’t built for you?
Shivani Maharaj: For me, it’s knowledge. Knowledge is power. It gives you confidence when others might question your right to be there. I’m exhausted from being judged for my gender instead of my talent.
Dee Madigan: Don’t waste energy trying to fit in. You won’t, no matter how hard you try. You have to change the room.
How do I survive and succeed in male-dominated spaces?
SM: I’m often exhausted from being judged for my gender before my talent — but I’ve learned to focus on what really matters: the work. Great work shapes brands, builds trust, and moves culture forward. When the work speaks, it cuts through bias and noise.
DM: Be better and work harder (which sucks) but then make it easier for the next generation of women by mentoring and promoting women so they don’t have to work harder or be better than the blokes.
How do I step into my worth and build the courage to demand equal pay and fair representation?
SM: Working in an industry that’s still largely male-dominated, I’ve had to back myself — sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly. That means knowing my worth and having the courage to protect it. I’ve actually asked for my pay to be audited twice at WPP, and both times, HR confirmed that I’m paid on par with my male counterparts. That kind of transparency shouldn’t be exceptional — it should be expected. For me, standing tall isn’t about taking up space for the sake of it. It’s about ensuring that talent, creativity, and leadership are recognised without gendered lenses. Because when women thrive (especially a brown woman), the entire industry becomes stronger, braver, and more human.
DM: Ask yourself, ‘Am I at least as good as my male counterparts?’. If the answer is yes, ask the same question to your boss.
