UK Ad Industry Leaders Reflect on How to Turn Anger Into Action Against Harassment

With the renewed conversation in recent days around prevailing sexism and harassment in the ad industry, it can be understandable to feel like nothing has changed—and that there's little optimism for improvement in the future. Stories of widespread harassment have once again come to the fore, thanks to Zoe Scaman’s searing exposé of both her own horrific encounters over the course of her career and similar tales shared anonymously by other women in the industry. As the that widely shared piece continued to reverberate throughout the week, Adweek approached Scaman's peers in the U.K. advertising community to offer their perspectives on how the industry can move forward in a way that could truly drive systemic harassment out of the field for good. Few men, even of those who shared their support for Scaman's essay in social media, were willing to speak for this piece, with some saying they had no relevant experience to offer and others saying they didn't want to take focus away from the women who are victimized by harassment. Some simply didn't want to be associated with the topic. Below are viewpoints from nine professionals in prominent positions in companies from a varied spectrum, advertising, technology and communications and what they felt after reading both Scaman's piece and the stories it has elicited from others. Jackie Stevenson, founding partner and CEO of The Brooklyn Brothers and WACL President "These stories are all too prevalent in our industry, we must face up to this issue. At WACL [Women in Advertising and Communications Leadership], we put all our support behind TimeTo and NABS, who are working so hard to eradicate this behavior. If your company is signed up as one of TimeTo's 283 Endorsers, we say to complete the training, support your people and let's work together to make this a thing of the past. If you have not yet signed sign up now and show your stance." Natasha Chetiyawardana, founder and creative partner, Bow & Arrow, part of Accenture Interactive "We must end the talent drain at midlife for women. If women don’t see other women in leadership positions that they feel inspired to emulate, the status quo on gender bias in the workplace will remain. The difficulty of being a leader and a parent, combined with the death by a thousand cuts that many women face in the workplace, makes leadership a prize that’s not worth having if it comes at the expense of everything else. And, as Zoe says, this has an even bigger impact on women of color. We need to enable, promote and nurture women at work right across the creative industries." Niki Grant, search director, The Kite Factory "I would love to say it surprised me, but unfortunately, it doesn’t; it just makes me feel I’ve gotten off lightly with my own experiences. There is undoubtedly an ‘old boys club’ within the industry, however I have high hopes for the new wave of talent hitting the world of business. The frat-boy mentality will be bred out of the gene pool eventually but in the meantime, allies are key in addressing peers when they exhibit symptoms of this gender terrorism. Even a 'dude, that’s not OK' goes a long way when it’s voiced by someone of the same ilk." Stephanie Nicolaides, director of marketing and strategic operations, Twenty First Century Brand "It’s undeniable that there is still much work to do, but if we can all own and channel the renewed outrage and energy into meaningful action and change, the future will be more optimistic. In order to dismantle systemic misogyny, there needs to be a consistent commitment to un-learning, introspection and action, and it needs to become a bigger business priority than any client project." Julian Douglas, VCCP vice-chairman and IPA president "The widespread sexual harassment, misogyny and bullying which has been revealed in Zoe’s piece is abhorrent and, in many cases, criminal. A truly shocking series of accounts to read. This is not just a time for words. While the perpetrators must take personal responsibility for their actions, the industry must also play its part in helping to end this deplorable behavior for good. The industry’s #timeTo initiative, offering training, support, a Code and toolkit, and the IPA [Institute of Practitioners in Advertising] Code of Best Practice on Dignity at Work exists for this very reason, and I urge everyone to put these invaluable resources into action. By doing this, and by calling out inexcusable behavior, we can help to ensure a safer, more supportive working environment for everyone." Melanie Welsh, founding partner, Strat House "Sadly, there's nothing surprising in the testimonials and anecdotes that are shared. Far too many of them are recognizable and familiar. "Zoe catalogs obvious acts of aggression, as well as the impact of 'microaggressions'—brief, frequent indignities and a daily onslaught of seemingly small expressions of prejudice, each hard to challenge on its own because of its 'trivial' nature. It's the work equivalent of being in an abusive relationship and is hugely damaging to mental health. "My co-founder, Rachel, and I have worked in businesses, and with people, who sound remarkably similar to those Zoe lists. They didn't limit their aggression to women—it was everyone who didn't fit the ‘template.' We left and set up our own business. Strat House now offers a safe haven for people who would simply like to do good work for sane, progressive clients. I thank Zoe and everyone she spoke with for doing this. That, for me, is the way to create the world I'd like my sons to live in. Mordecai, global innovation leader "It has always been put to me that I need to manage misogyny. Being able to play along and not think it a big deal has been highlighted in reviews as proof I am a leader ready for more responsibility. The fact that as a woman leader in this industry I have to pander to anyone’s personal missteps and unwarranted advances is insulting to the work, organization and genuine strength of leadership. For too long, misogyny has rested at the mantle of the creative industry. Men have set a low standard for professionalism and productivity but when women challenge it, they are rebelling. It’s your patriarchy, and I’m showing up to work in spite of it." Sarah Taylor, client partner, FutureFactor "When I read Zoe Scaman’s article, the most surprising thing was that all of this still needs to be said. But our industry is great at hiding behind well-articulated initiatives while changing absolutely nothing about the way we behave. I read it feeling like I was looking back at my own experiences through someone else's voice. Things that happened to me personally weren't just a matter for HR, they were a matter for the police. Yet I was told not to make a fuss. Women are still being told not to make a fuss. This will only end when we achieve a critical mass of equality—and that is a depressingly long way off." Sue Higgs, joint executive creative director, Dentsu Mcgarrybowen "The most shocking thing about Zoe’s powerful piece is just how familiar it is. Anger-inducing, soul-destroying, but familiar. These events are only too common. I’ve been victim to many myself, as have many women, and men, I know. "Yet nothing gets done. The perpetrators hide in plain sight, get promoted and pretend to be advocates and allies. "Empathetic leadership goes some way, but to eradicate this, we need to get to the roots of the weeds, dig them out and plant new. Sadly, things only seem to change when the financials are at stake, so I advocate a system that assesses the wealth of an agency based on the health of the employees." For those in the U.K.: If you, or anyone you know, has been affected by sexual harassment, contact NABS' completely confidential Advice Line on 0800 707 6607, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 'No More': This Declaration, Written by Women in Advertising, Puts All Harassers on Notice