For International Women's Day, we heard from Amplifi's Global team
Amplifi is Dentsu Aegis Network's media innovation & investment arm, driving exceptional media value for our clients through a powerful combination of investment and media strategies.
What advice would you give to people in the early part of their career in our industry?
I would encourage people to build their own networks. Be humble as no one knows everything in life. Listen to other people’s point of view and surround yourself with different minded individuals.
Ant McDonagh, Commercial Technology Director
What does #EachforEqual mean to you?’
To me #EachforEqual means we should be equal in our opportunities. It DOES NOT mean we should all be treated the same, because that means following an outdated business model which is heavily patriarchal. Instead, we should explore and encourage each other to celebrate our differences, and frequently question the norms we so readily accept as ‘professional’, ‘corporate’ and above all ‘traditional’. Challenging ourselves is what enables evolution. We cannot expect change if we try to fit diversity into an old-fashioned system.
Rebecca Early, Personal Assistant
What do you think is the most important things companies can do to ensure we are winning and keeping diverse talent?
I think one of the most crucial things to ensure gender diversity and equality, certainly at higher levels in the organisation is to support women who are returning to work following maternity, this can be an incredibly challenging time and the right support structures and flexible working polices can go along way to helping.
However, equally as important is encouraging more men to take shared parental leave and make it the norm… the more men we see doing this, the more it becomes accepted. It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to take it when I had my son.
Jon Waite, Senior GMP Director
What does #EachforEqual mean to you?
Treating everyone with same level of respect and kindness that you would want to receive back regardless of demographic. Ensuring you have a workforce that believes they all have equal opportunity to succeed in their careers, and that they actually do!
Jess Jones, Graduate Executive
What advice would you give to people in the early part of their career in our industry?
Test and learn! Engage in as many things as (physically) possible, these are formative years and the more you see and experience the more equipped you'll be to find the right thing for you! There are plenty of options, just keep your eye open.
Balázs Kaposi, Global Head of Investment
What advice would you give to people in the early part of their career in our industry?
Speak up and ask questions. The sooner you understand a topic, the sooner you can give your advice, guidance and opinion, enabling you to be involved in more “senior conversations”.
Say no. People in the early part of their career mistakenly think experience is being able to do everything for everyone, however, experience is when you are able to manage your own time which means declining certain requests and prioritising those most important.
Emily Maskell, Senior Investment Manager
What do you think is the most important things companies can do to ensure we are winning and keeping diverse talent?
Companies need to have a 50% representation of women in all leadership positions – it needs to be top down. Companies should make a public commitment about how they will achieve these and report them every quarter within their earnings report.
James Banks, GMP Director
What does #EachforEqual mean to you?
#EachforEqual means embracing our individualities by understanding the role that intersectionality plays in accessibility to opportunities. My pose is different because I have Functional Movement Disorder which means I’m unable get into the pose though I’m still participating to collaborate. It also represents my cultural background because despite the abuse, especially towards women playing a significant role in causing the disability, the beautiful, vibrant, community aspects are also a part of who I am.
Krupa Howlett, Global Senior Campaign Manager
What advice would you give to people in the early part of their career in our industry?
Take time to understand exactly what you value at work and then write those values down. The world of work is changing and careers are much more ‘squiggly’ than they used to be – increasingly, traditional career paths are becoming things of the past. Knowing what you value from a role can help you enormously when you’re first starting out (and perhaps) moving around roles.
Do you enjoy constantly learning? Is working in a team a non-negotiable for you? Does project-based work suit you best? Ask yourself what you value and you might be surprised with some of your answers!
Ed Hetherington, Uplift Manager