Women In Media’s Lauren Quaintance Calls Time On Inequality: “Women Are Already More Likely To Be Laid Off Than Men”

Photographed by Dominic Loneragan. Please Credit Dominic Loneragan.
B&T Magazine
Edited by B&T Magazine



Storyation’s head of content, Lauren Quaintance, believes there is no excuse for gender-based inequities to continue to exist, especially in a “privileged industry” like the media.

During this year’s B&T Women in Media Awards, presented by Are Media, we’ll be recognising exceptional people who have achieved success in their professional arenas, celebrating their invaluable contribution to their industry through leadership, innovation and courage.

Among the very best in her field and a story of no bull sh*t success, Quaintance recently took the time to chat with B&T, revealing why the media needs to continue to push for true equity—a struggle that she believes could fly under the radar during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The simple answer is that there are decades of inequity that we still need to address, whether that’s about pay equity, or about women having equal access to opportunities within the industry,” Quaintance says.

“We’re in an industry where we have all of the tools, and we’re incredibly privileged.

“We’re educated, we know how to communicate—there really is no excuse that we shouldn’t be able to solve some of these issues in this particular industry … why can’t we have this conversation in a way that actually affects change?”

And while the COVID-19 slowdown could afford an upside for women—with companies embracing work-from-anywhere philosophies—it may magnify these existing inequalities, Quaintance says.

The risk, she says, is that business priorities will see diversity and inclusion “slip off the radar”.

“This is an inequality that has been with us for many decades, despite women having the same level of education, and often coming out of university with the same qualifications as men,” Quaintance tells B&T.

“But often by the time they’re 35, they have slipped behind men in terms of pay and access to senior positions. So, I think that there’s obviously room for more courage when you consider the enormity of what we still have to address.”

Quaintance believes ad-land and the broader media industry needs to have tough conversations that remain visible about how it will support women through the pandemic.

“Women are already more likely to be laid off than men, and many of them are in part-time work, which is more vulnerable.”

Quaintance, who picked up the B&T Women in Media award for ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2018, believes there is room for ad-land’s leadership to be more courageous—a quality she says comes from “making decisions from the heart”—pointing to her role-model Jacinda Ardern.

“She is someone who really represents a style of empathetic leadership that we could all learn from,” Quaintance says.

When asked how she has been most courageous in her life, Quaintance responds: “Your female readers will relate to this, but I would say childbirth.”

“I think that certainly the second time, if you haven’t had a great experience the first time, there is this enormous leap of faith—it demands a certain kind of resilience and courage to do it,” she says.

“It’s an act of love to do that—to knowingly put yourself in a situation you know is going to be painful and uncomfortable, and challenging in so many ways.

“But to do that again a second time, I think that’s a great act of love that women can give their families, in a way.”

Bravery, on the other hand, looks like having the guts to turn-over to the next phase of your career.

“I know that I was brave when I launched this agency [Storyation] when I had a 10-day-old baby in 2013, with no idea whether we would make any money, or whether we’d be out on the street in a few months,” Quaintance says.

“That was probably the bravest moment in my career.”

It’s very clear that Quaintance back herself, and it’s a quality, she says, that comes from being a Kiwi.

“I have an innate desire to do better, to push further and to strive towards something, and I’ve been thinking about what that is, and why that is.

“And I guess some of it I put down to actually growing up in New Zealand.

“New Zealand is a very small place that has produced a disproportionate number of people who have changed the world in some way, and anyone who knows anything about evolutionary biology knows that change happens on the edge—and New Zealand is a place, even more so than Australia, that’s on the edge.

“It’s a place where people are compelled to push themselves into to try new things. I think in some small way I’ve been influenced by that.

“I grew up, until I was 14, in New Zealand thinking that I could do whatever I put my mind to—and I’ve really taken that mindset with me in my career,” Quaintance says.

Don’t be shy, be proud of your achievements and enter B&T’s Women In Media! Submit your entry here.

You can also buy tickets to the event here, which will be held on Wednesday 28 October 2020, at Doltone House (Jones Bay Wharf).

And, if you’d like more information, head to this website.

Other key information 

On-time deadline: Friday 21 August 2020 (5pm AEST)

Late entries deadline: Friday 28 August 2020 (5pm AEST)

Shortlist announced: Wednesday 23 September 2020.

Thank you to all of our incredible sponsors for making the event possible! 




Latest News

It’s Friday Quiz Time Again!
  • Media

It’s Friday Quiz Time Again!

Take B&T's trivia quiz for your chance to win a $100 booze voucher and possible cirrhosis of a major internal organ.

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Big data technology and data science illustration. Data flow concept. Querying, analysing, visualizing complex information. Neural network for artificial intelligence. Data mining. Business analytics.
  • Marketing

SenateSHJ Launches New Trans-Tasman Practices

SenateSHJ has launched a new digital, data and insights capability designed to help clients tackle the growing complexity of communication challenges. SenateSHJ Digital, Data and Insights (DDI) will combine the firm’s existing Digital and Insights functions to create a Trans-Tasman capability focused on digital communication, and the generation and use of data to improve communication. […]

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile
  • Media

New BrandStory Format From Bonzai Allows 3x More Ad Space on Mobile

Creative technology platform Bonzai has announced the launch of BrandStory – a new premium mobile ad format. BrandStory offers triple the ad space and 2.8 times greater time in view than single scroll ad formats, addressing the surging demand from brands worldwide for more real estate to drive real results by seamlessly intertwining awareness, exploration […]

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7
  • Advertising

B&T’s Search For Australia’s Greatest Ad Heads To Channel 7

B&T went through the looking glass this morning, with editor-in-chief David Hovenden (above) appearing on Channel 7’s The Morning Show to get the general public involved in our search for Australia’s Greatest Ad. Hovenden chatted with Kylie Gillies and stand-in host Matt Doran about what makes a great ad and showcasing some of our favourites […]

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma
  • Opinion

Opinion: The Tall Planner’s Kate Smither On The DBA Dilemma

The science is not in question – smarter people than I, with far more data, have codified it. The logic is not up for grabs…it makes sense that creating mental shortcuts to your brand keeps you at the top of your mind. Lead image: Kate Smither – Owner, The Tall Planner I wouldn’t even take […]

Opinion

by B&T Magazine

B&T Magazine
African woman using a cellphone in an office alone
  • Marketing

Ortto & Tall Bob Partner To Deliver Better SMS & MMS For Australian & NZ Businesses

Two Australian-born technology providers have joined forces to bring more power and choice to marketers in Australia and New Zealand with mobile messaging that is more local, cost-effective, and integrated. It’s a partnership that sees two Australian software companies come together to deliver a world-class mobile-first solution for marketers building data-driven, personalised, omnichannel campaigns. While […]

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.
  • Media

Slew Of New Hires At Snap Inc.

Snap Inc. has announced a number of new recruits. B&T unaware if it positively impacted SEEK's share price.

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh
  • Technology

Reddit Gets Playful Brand Refresh

This will be of interest to any Reddit fans, graphic designers or lovers of an orange so bright it burns the retinas.

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market
  • Advertising

Zitcha & Broadsign Partner To Drive Global In-Store Retail Media Market

Zitcha and Broadsign have teamed up to integrate the Broadsign out-of-home (OOH) advertising platform with Zitcha’s retail media platform. The collaboration empowers retailers to maximise and monetise in-store digital display networks and enables advertising partners to easily view and book available in-store inventory and review campaign performance alongside the retailer’s other media channels. With the […]

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label
  • Marketing

Double Rainbouu & 7-Eleven Launch Exclusive Summer Fashion Label

Today, 7-Eleven has announced a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the popular Sydney-based anti-resort wear label Double Rainbouu. Dropping tomorrow, December 1, just in time for summer, this limited-edition capsule will infuse the fashion brand’s rebellious spirit with a distinctly iconic 7-Eleven flavour. The unisex collection features five must-have styles comprising two signature Hawaiian shirts, a peaked cap, a bucket hat […]