Women in Global Marketing: Real Talk, No Mansplaining

 

 

The Global Marketers' Club gathered once more, this time to celebrate the strong women behind global brands.

We were joined by a fantastic panel of speakers:

  • Susan O'Brien - Chief Marketing Officer at Just Eat
  • Meher Mumtaz - Global Head of Brand Strategy at Western Union
  • Flavilla Fongang - MD, Brand Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, BBC Brand Advisor & Founder of TLA - Black Women in Tech
  • Vivien Ivanyi - Director Brand Management, Raffles Hotels & Resorts at Accor
  • Melissa Romo - Global Head, Social Media, Content & Customer Advocacy at Sage

It was an honest and inspiring talk, looking at how the marketing industry is doing with regards gender equality, but also how brands should market to women across different regions. The speakers shared some valuable advice and recounted their journeys as marketers and women in a male-dominated corporate world.

Here are our key takeaways from the Women in Global Marketing: Real Talk, No Mansplaining webinar, in case you missed it:

  1. When it comes to #MeToo and brands representing women, brands shouldn’t just create ‘femvertising’ to follow a trend. They have to do the work internally before they start sending out messaging. Change needs to start at the top, with fair representation in the board room.
  2. When representing women from around the world, the small details really do matter. Brands should look through a local lens to ensure that creative or messaging doesn’t subjugate the women in that culture, or fall into stereotypes.
  3. Thinking about progressing towards gender equality in the marketing industry, men and women in the leadership roles and HR teams need to use their position to take action. But also don’t underestimate your own power in bringing about change within your company and career. Tell your senior colleagues where you want to go in your career and what you need to help you succeed.
  4. Portray your confidence, be direct and ask for what you want, like that promotion, to change the atmosphere around you. When people underestimate you or see you as inexperienced, don’t see yourself as they see you.
  5. Closing the gender gap is actually good for business and the economy. And in our industry, helps to produce advertising that resonates better with our audiences.

To find out more and view upcoming events, join the Global Marketers' Club today.