About the Guest:

Shaz Edmondston: At the time of recording, Shaz Edmondston is the Group Creative Director at M&C Saatchi, Australia, a celebrated advertising agency. With years of experience in the industry, Shaz has a proven track record of excellence, having risen through the ranks in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her career journey spans various roles from junior art director to her current leadership position, and she is known for her trailblazing work in championing women's rights and promoting gender equality within her organization and the advertising industry at large.

Key Takeaways:

Gender Representation Struggles: Current statistics reveal that only 22% of CEOs and 35% of key management roles in Australia are held by women, indicating a significant gender gap.

Inclusive Policies Lead to Change: The shift from maternity to parental leave is highlighted as a critical step towards gender equality, making a profound societal impact beyond just the advertising industry.

Cultural Shift: There is a noticeable and positive cultural shift happening within the advertising industry, driven by progressive policies and inclusive company cultures.

Mentorship and Role Models: Initiatives metioned in pod like FEMM&C and The Aunties provide crucial support and inspiration for women in the industry, demonstrating the value of a strong network.

Overcoming Discrimination: Shaz shares strategies for handling sexist comments and discriminatory practices, emphasizing the importance of resilience and self-worth.

Notable Quotes:

"Guys are naturally more combative in the way that they talk to each other...when you've got that debate, they have opinions, and they're happy to fight about their opinions."

"You can’t make them want what you want...you can also...I'm glad that I didn't plateau and say, 'Okay, I'm going to settle.'"

"The expectation that you have to stay at home or that you're going to leave, again, a transient, they think you're going to not be there. So don't invest in someone who's just going to leave."

"It's having babies, right? The expectation that you have to stay at home or that you're going to leave…any role that requires care is filled by a woman."

"Don't let anybody tell you how you've got to do it."

Resources:

Cindy Gallop: Learn more about her work here.

FEMM&C: Support and networking initiative for women at M&C Saatchi.

The Aunties: A program providing mentorship and support for women in the advertising industry.

Click here to contact Janet & Amelia or ask them a question or click here to contact the She Wasn't Born Yesterday team!

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a former M&C Saatchi advertising creative and Dr Amelia Haines, a sexual and relationship therapist, who have written Australia’s first book on empty nest syndrome called Empty Next.

Visit Empty Nest Chicks for more resources, click here for their book, or join the discussion on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

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