WACL Wisdom, 22nd November 2023
Nicola Kemp summarises the third WACL Wisdom event for those who could not make it.
The momentum of WACL Wisdom, hosted with grace and generosity by The Creative Salon’s Claire Beale and Sonoo Singh, is rooted in the generosity of the WACL leaders sharing their lived-experiences and learnings. Each story creates a ripple effect within the club. When you speak even though your voice is shaking, the impact twofold. Firstly it inspires other women to tell their stories. Secondly, those not yet ready to share feel less isolated through the realisation that they are not alone. Courage is contagious.
Coach, Speaker, Advisor, NED and Columnist Jan Gooding, summed up the impact of the evening in an email the following morning, where she explained: “No matter what each of us had experienced as our challenge – the universal response was to use our subsequent power and influence to create change.”
How the ripples of WACL Wisdom can contribute to broader change across the industry was front of mind. When it comes to achieving equality in the workplace the truth is the best weapon we have.
‘Later is never’
The power of that truth was front and centre as the magnetic WACL President Nishma Patel Robb kicked off the evening with a powerful reminder that all too often ‘later is never’. At a time when it’s so often easier to postpone everything to an after Robb underlined the power of embracing living in the moment. She explained: “You are never too anything, dressed too brightly, too loud, too opinionated, too anything.” A compelling reminder to take the time to really think about who you want to be, rather than allowing other people to define you.
‘Never give up’
Dawn Paine, CEO and Co-Founder of Aurora, underlined why she is one of the most compelling creative leaders in Britain, sharing a brutally honest story of the power of resilience. The joy and impact she has unleashed as a founder is a powerful reminder that our careers are marathons, not sprints. Her ‘steely determination’ enabled her to double down and unleash her full potential as a founder. “My third chapter of work has been a massive journey of self-discovery,” she explained. “You can do anything at any point in your life. Liverpool headquartered Aurora has become one of the UK’s fastest growing agencies in the last 3 years. In true Scouse style, just never give up,” she added.
‘The answer is not always to find more resilience’
A thoughtful discussion between Liz Jones, Co-Founder of Conker and Becky Munday, Chief Executive of Mando underlined the power of WACL’s Wisdom to not just change the narrative for the women in the club; but successfully move the entire industry forward. WACL’s brilliant Menopause Policy, rooted in the trailblazing open-sourced Menopause policy spearheaded by Dark Horses CEO Melissa Robertson, offers the opportunity to level the playing field for older women in advertising. As Jones explained: “As women we think we aren’t coping, but the answer is not always to find more resilience.” Instead it is really important to recognise the reality of caring responsibilities facing the ‘sandwich generation’ of leaders, who are looking after both their children and their parents. While also recognising the medical symptoms of menopause may need a medical response such as HRT. Munday added: “My gift is to talk about it. There is no shame in being on HRT, but it is not easy to break the stigma.”
‘Find your North Star’
Inclusivity trailblazer Sam Phillips showed how the power of lived experience can positively impact the industry. Sharing her own experience of being a mother and a trailblazer in the diversity and inclusion space she urged the audience to talk about disability, sharing: ‘I will never leave the room without talking about disability and aiming to stir the audience to action, it is my North Star”. Notably Phillips’ work is not just about talk, but making tangible change. Having worked with brands such as Lloyds of London, the England & Wales Cricket Board, Cancer Research UK and serving as Omnicom’s first ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer, Phillips’ career underlines the power of communication through demonstration. She urged the audience to consider the mental load of mothers of disabled children. “I am one of the luckiest people I know. My children have opened up opportunities to me I never would have imagined,” she explained.
‘Create your own destiny.’
High Stakes Leadership Mentor and all round radiator Sally Henderson opened up on the power of stepping away from a successful business. If half of all art is knowing when to stop, for founders knowing when to call time on a business that you pour so much of yourself into is a difficult decision. She urged the audience to choose bold action over stale safety. “Make your own decisions and create your own destiny,” she explained.
‘We have to learn to love difference’
In a powerful talk to close the evening Jan Gooding shared the importance of accepting people as they are. “We have to learn to love difference, hatred is very dangerous,” she explained. ‘In the last decade, hatred towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex people has risen markedly’. According to data from the ONS hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation have risen by 112% in the last five years, while many crimes still remain unreported and unsaid.
As always there were brilliant questions from WACL members, reflecting a desire to ensure the learnings from WACL Wisdom travel beyond the realms of the club. As Sam Phillips explained: “When people show you who they are. Really listen. It helps move the world forward.”
With speakers sharing that the experience, while exposing and exhausting made them feel lighter. As Robb explained: “Vulnerability builds connection.”
The camaraderie, the openness and connection would not be possible without the dedication of the WACL Wisdom committee who made the night possible: Hanisha Kotecha, Gill Huber, Debra Sobel, Sam Phillips and Chloe Davies.
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