Karen is speaking on a panel at the Globe and Mail's Sales Conference at Arta Gallery in the Distillery District on the morning of Thursday, January 26 2017. The panel will discuss the challenges that face creative agencies in the changing market place.
Advertising's other dirty little secret.
I was between gigs awhile ago, bemoaning my fate to an ad titan over a glass of wine. I’d been told by many it was hopeless, and I’d almost accepted it as fact. After all, I intoned, “I am a woman of a certain age.” He snorted with laughter. “Yes you are. And that’s your greatest advantage. You have a network and wisdom — neither of which you had at 25, and both of which are priceless.”
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It's time to stop coddling toxic bosses
With veins popping out of his neck, eyes bulging, his face six inches from mine, he screamed at me. We were in the middle of a crowded four-star restaurant. Curious heads swivelled our way. A colleague across the table looked down in embarrassment.
This wasn’t the first time I’d been bullied by a boss, of course. I’d had one early in my career who used to quietly savage his staff with a sadistic smile, letting us know that we were all worthless, talentless worms, but he’d try to make something of us. Master of the verbal dagger, he’d gut you to elevate his own self-esteem. The creative department had a revolving door as a result.
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We have an estrogen imbalance
As I watched the parade of winners pick up their Lions in Cannes this year I was, once again, struck by the lack of women.
I’m afraid it’s official. Contagious and Razorfish presented a study showing that the number of women winning has dropped over the last 15 years.
Our business needs more estrogen. The vast majority of consumer purchase decisions are made by women – statistics put it at 85% – yet the work created to speak to us is made almost entirely by young men, and over 90% of their bosses are men. Only 3% of creative directors around the world are female.
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Are Mad Men mad at women?
“People need to tune up their sexism radar, just a notch.”
That’s Karen Howe. She was a little perturbed after hearing that when Canadians see a sexist ad, only 46% feel annoyed. And just 9% feel angry. What’s worse, some don’t even notice sexist undertones in ads at all.
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