As creatives and community experts, International Women’s Day is an incredibly powerful day where we can work with brands to create content and start conversations that create a meaningful difference.
That said, it can also raise fears of dreaded “female-focused” content that jars with both the brand and the IWD message.
When we looked at this year’s IWD theme “Give to Gain” one thing that immediately struck was the need to forge gender equality through abundant giving, encouraging a mindset of generosity and collaboration. When we organise and support women through programmes, institutions and opportunities that really lift women up.
What better way to delve further into this idea than ask our very own all-female leadership team on who lifted them up…
Ashley Cooksley
CEO, Social Element
Who believed in this girl?
My mother and my grandmother were 2 of the strongest women I’ve ever known, and they were strong in very different ways. I always say they were born ahead of their time. They encouraged me to speak up, travel, befriend people from all walks of life, and never use the word ‘bored’
Who helped you thrive?
I have a supportive partner who isn’t threatened by being married to a successful woman, and continually lifts me up. I’ve also had key mentors, both men and women, and am surrounded daily by extremely smart, funny, talented women at work and in my daily life (friends, gym, leadership groups)
How can we better empower women?
I think the biggest gift you can give to other women and girls is to show them by example that women can be smart and successful without shrinking. That speaking up, taking up space, and being bold can seem impossible at times, but will ultimately lead you to success.
Which social communities lift you up?
I love thriftfluencers, especially cara_wengen_co, and following female athletes like abbywambach and her podcast welcometotheparty. I also spend too much time scrolling through crafting, fashion, and cute animal reels.
Linn Frost
Chief Growth & Innovation Officer
Who believed in this girl?
My mum and brother have always believed in me and are my biggest champions.
Who helped you thrive?
So many people. The person who got me on the ladder and my first job at Ogilvy Sara Hurst is an absolute legend.
How can we better empower women?
Give women the space and the funding to reshape and rule the world. If women were allowed to lead unapologetically, it would be a better place!
Which social communities lift you up?
Unlikeable women by Amy Kean. She provides a space for women to be inspired and encouraged to be badass! with no apology.
Victoria Hoyle
Global Head of Social Intelligence
Who believed in this girl?
My mother, need I say more?
Who helped you thrive?
One of my first bosses. She gave me my first leadership role & shaped who I am today as a leader.
How can we better empower women?
We can empower each other by leading with openness and empathy – it’s not a soft skill, it’s a superpower.
Which social communities lift you up?
@DataButMakeItFashion – because everyone needs social intelligence on the latest JW Anderson collection.
Amy Shahandeh
VP, Global Project Management and Operations
Who believed in this girl?
My mom was the first to believe in me, teaching me that being smart and kind is not a contradiction and that I could chase big dreams without shrinking who I am.
Who helped you thrive?
Throughout my career managing Fortune 500 brands while raising three kids, it was my husband and the mentors who championed my ambition and trusted me with bold opportunities who truly helped me thrive.
How can we better empower women?
We empower women by pulling up more chairs, speaking their names in rooms of opportunity, and proving every day that when one of us wins, we all win.
Which social communities lift you up?
Communities like Chief lift me up. Spaces where ambitious women leaders show up authentically, share generously, and actively open doors for one another.
Shannon Helm
Head of Client Services, NA
Who believed in this girl?
My Dad – a strong, hardworking and sensitive soul who led by example and taught me that if you work hard and be kind, everything will work out.
Who helped you thrive?
There’s been so many, but Jane Kosstrin stands out as a creative force and a fearless trailblazer in her field. She shows up unapologetically as herself, no matter the room, and I always admired that about her.
How can we better empower women?
Let’s celebrate the power of our individuality and remember that (gasp!) sharing our emotions and intuition can be just as crucial as our intelligence in achieving success. When we feel free to express ourselves and are supported along the way, it’s truly transformative!
Which social communities lift you up?
I love to garden so flowers oftentimes fill my feed. I follow a lot of women-owned accounts that remind me that business can also be beautiful!
Mary Malone
Head of Client Services, Europe
Who believed in this girl?
My parents always believed in me. I grew up as the only girl with three brothers, and there was never anything but support and encouragement for anything I put my mind to!
Who helped you thrive?
I have been incredibly lucky to have had several managers who mentored me and continuously pushed me out of my comfort zone throughout my career. While that has sometimes made me very uncomfortable (especially early on in my career), it has meant I have thrived in all sorts of crazy and challenging situations.
How can we better empower women?
By giving women a seat at the table across all industries, with our diverse personalities, interests, experiences, and expertise – we help organisations and teams grow and develop in ways that complement men. Having an ’emotional woman’ on your Senior Leadership Team that’s not a weakness, that’s a strength.
Which social communities lift you up?
As a working mum of two young children, I find communities like Mother Pukka a welcome relief, allowing me to say “YES, this is so tough and I am absolutely exhausted!”. But also having a group of women on your team in the workplace who understand that? That is a game changer! That lifts me up!
Alice Cuffe
Head of Content
Who believed in this girl?
As two stifled creatives, my parents have always been insanely supportive of every twist and turn of my career, and my school English teacher Rooney Hall who helped me find my feet studying English again at university after running off to art college for a while.
Who helped you thrive?
My first managers in advertising who taught me how to turn my career in journalism into a new form of storytelling.
How can we better empower women?
Create space for women to thrive, whether through flexibility or by listening to the needs of those around you. Women are too often marked as difficult when they are really pushing harder and raising people up. We need to regard each other as powerful allies not competition.
Which social communities lift you up?
The Unicorn Union WhatsApp group is my saviour, allowing me to be able to listen and talk to other mothers in the creative side of ad land. I Shouldn’t Laugh but… podcast with Laura Smyth and Carmen Butcher.
Shahnaz Ahmed
Global Creative Director
Who believed in this girl? (parent, teacher, friend etc)
My dad always believed in my creativity from a young age, even when others didn’t think it could be a viable career path. And my mum believed in me having a great education, no matter the path I chose. That teamed with my Art and D&T teachers believing in me has resulted in a career I love today!
Who helped you thrive? (in your career)?
I have been lucky to have some of the best managers throughout my career. Many of them women, they taught me how to lead with steady compassion and firm boundaries, to lead with kindness without conditions and honest accountability.
How can we better empower women? (at work, creating space, open opportunities, etc)
Women as a whole are still the lowest paid demographic within the creative industry, with Black women followed by Asian women, being paid the least. We can better empower women by providing them with the value they are worth: paying them fairly.
Which social communities lift you up? (Ideally female-focused or led but not essential)
As I’ve entered my 40s, I’ve loved social communities led by the women of my childhood like Davina McCall’s @beginagain and Fearne Cotton’s @happyplaceofficial. They speak with guests that expand my network and understanding of what it means to be a woman today.
Shea Carter
Global VP, Social
Who believed in this girl?
I was fortunate to grow up with three parents who nurtured my curiosity and creativity and I never doubted that I could do whatever I put my mind to.
Who helped you thrive?
My husband has always been my biggest cheerleader and is the first person I bounce things off of when I need advice. His strengths complement mine, and I value his perspective. In order for me to thrive, my team has to thrive! I care deeply about team development, culture, and creating opportunities. A rising tide lifts all boats!
How can we better empower women?
We have a massive wage gap in the US. Establishing true pay equity, subsidized or free childcare, lower healthcare costs, and other social services that benefit women and working mothers will give women more freedom and opportunity to advance professionally.
Which social communities lift you up?
As a working mom, I am inspired by communities like @motherhoodforgood that are advocating for a better world for our kids. Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, and her willingness to try anything on social is such a treat. And I love @heatherkmcmahan, a talented comic and actress who is just so unabashedly herself.
Wendy Christie
Chief People Officer
Who believed in this girl?
My parents were always supportive (despite my dad telling my Maths teacher that it didn’t matter if I passed my Maths exams, as long as I could type), but someone else who stands out is my Chemistry teacher, Erika Watson, who spent lots of extra time supporting me after a long absence due to glandular fever in a crucial exam year. She made me feel worth the effort – and I got an A.
Who helped you thrive?
I have been incredibly fortunate to have been supported by several badass women bosses, who always encouraged me to believe in myself – shout-out to Anne Diack, Arlene Wszalek, Sheena Cresswell, Camille DeStempel, and Tamara Littleton.
How can we better empower women?
Make more of us leaders – we’re brilliant at it, and we’ll pull others up with us.
Which social communities lift you up?
I tend to dip in and out of social communities in favour of endless reels-sharing girlfriend group chats – that said, the Adult Bluey Fans Club is a bit of a guilty pleasure at the moment!