The More We Talk, The More We Change: Jade Watts
To mark International Women’s Day, AdForum is gathering opinions from women working in advertising and marketing communications. We asked women from a range of job roles both agency- and client-side, for their view of the state of the industry.
How would you describe the overall culture at your agency?
Mediahub is a really dynamic agency culture. We are a relentless group who believe in everything we do. We challenge everything, from industry norms to media measurement frameworks to conventional wisdom about people and culture - it’s part of our DNA. We’re also people-centric – we’re trying to bring the human side back to media.
In your opinion, what do you see as the biggest change in the advertising industry since women have begun to break the glass ceiling?
I believe that there’s less sexism, now and less of that related “boys club” mentality. Don’t get me wrong, both still exist in the industry, but the difference now is more people are recognizing and acknowledging these two things when they happen - even men themselves – and are calling them out and acting for change. And that’s a good thing. The more we talk about this openly, the more we bring both men and women in to lead the change and be accountable, the more things will change. It’s a slower change than we would like…but it counts.
Do you think that women still face challenges in our industry, and if so, what are they?
Absolutely.
Women are often held to different standards and expectations about what leadership or creativity looks like - we just are. This is even more true and complex when gender intersects with race, religion, ability, sexuality, and other traits. Every day, we need to work harder to break these standards and show that there are many different ways to be a leader, a colleague, a partner.
Life priorities continue to fiercely collide with those at work (i.e., family and work). While everyone deals with this, I think women often feel more pressure to be everything to everyone, and they are apologetic about it when we can’t. I think demands are high for women in our business, and expectations are higher.
How should we tackle an issue such equal opportunity?
First, keep talking about these issues and bring them into the light. Our first instinct can just be to keep going and try to act like everything is fine; it can be hard or even embarrassing to express the pressures we are under or to feel ilke a “sqeaky wheel” when an issue does arise that feels unfair or gendered, especially in a work environment. But the first step in solving a problem is to acklowledge that it exists; and to unabashedly tackle it together. Find like-minded allies of all genders to partner with and stand together to develop solution.
How did you find your way into the marketing communications industry and what professional achievement are you most proud of?
I knew I wanted to go into marketing ever since I took a marketing course in high school. Upon graduating from Ohio University, I applied to every single major New York City ad agency and got a call back from one hiring in Chicago. I thought, “I have never been to Chicago, but I have nothing to lose.” One day of interviews later, I was the new assistant media planner working on Kraft Foods.
I love what I do. I always have. What I am most proud of, though, is what we’ve built at Mediahub. We have gone from being thought of us a regional media player to beating out some of the industry’s biggest heavy-weights for new business outright, to winning back to back Media Agency of the Year honors, ultimately becoming a force in media to be reckoned with. It’s been an incredible journey and I’m so proud to be a part of it.
Who inspires you the most, either inside the industry or outside? Why?
All women inspire and energize me. Women who are working moms, women who are stay-at-home moms, women who are single moms. I am inspired daily by women who believe they can have it all and who make it work regardless of their circumstances.