A recent article in the Drum showcased a database featured on “Where are all the boss ladies.” It highlights who the women are, where they are and the roles they play. The women range from founders, CEOs, partners, presidents to heads of creative, strategy, production and account services. It’s pretty damn impressive.
Malika Favre/bossladies.come
The list was started by Mara Lecocq, a freelance creative director. The project evolved from an Instagram account exploring her personal question, ‘What would it be like if I had a female boss?” Working with agency recruiters who focused on women in director-level positions the list evolved from Mara’s initial 10 to nearly 450. There is also a separate list for women of color – a truly brilliant addition.
Yet.
I’ve been digging around Red Books. I collected five years of data, with my co-author, Tony Deng. Here’s the skinny – in the industry’s own words. Globally there are only 23.5% women working in creative and women make up just 16.1% of those managing creative. In the U.S. the numbers aren’t a lot better. Here there only 26.1% women working in creative and just 17.5% of the people managing creative are women.
It’s Women’s History Month. Let’s celebrate our progress. Then let’s keep going.
Jean Grow
Grow Cultural Geography 