InterComms Network

Fancy joining us on the management board of Outvertising? We have positions open now! We are an equal opportunities volunteer organisation and value diversity at Outvertising. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Plus it's a lovely bunch of people doing good things! https://lnkd.in/eKsMygsP

InterComms Network will shortly be re-opening its THRIVE mentoring scheme to mentors and mentees. If you are an LGBTQI+ person working in communications and would like to get involved, do follow InterComms' LinkedIn page to be the first to know: https://lnkd.in/ez4GNZrH

HUGE thanks to everyone who joined and to Zeno London for hosting us! The THRIVE 2025 Mentorship cohort will soon be live, keep your ?? peeled ??

Are you working or studying Public Relations, communications or a related subject? Are you from a?racially?underrepresented?or under-served community???Would you like to attend Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June this year and be mentored by industry professionals? Then read on: PRCA REEB has been?successful a limited number of Young Lion and Student passes through the?Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Equity Representation and Accessibility Programme.?We’re inviting applications from Young Lions and Students to join us at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity from Monday 16 June – Friday 20 June 2025. You will experience the Festival as a group with a full pass and week-long programme of activities including mentoring, content creation and networking.? To be considered for a Young Lions pass attendees need to be: Aged 30 or under (specifically, born on or after?20 June 1994) - proof of age will be required. Working in the Public Relations?and communications?industry or studying a related subject.? From a?racially?underrepresented?or under-served community. ?To be considered for a Student pass? full-time education and 23 or under (specifically, born on or after 20 June 2001).?Minimum age 18?A copy of your proof of age and your student ID/enrolment letter will be required. Studying a PR, communications or related subject. Travel and accommodation costs are not included, although we are actively seeking sponsorship to help cover some costs. To apply just complete this application and tell us why you’d like to attend.?https://lnkd.in/etmUWk_i ? Applications close Monday 24 March and successful applicants will be advised w/c 31 March. #LIONSERA Barbara Phillips, FPRCA Kamiqua Lake Effie Kanyua Ebony Gayle MCIPR dip CIPR Shashank Kumar

Our latest InterComms Network drinks reception is taking place next week. Whether you’re signed up to the mentoring scheme or you’d like to come along to expand your network among LGBT leaders in communications and public affairs – sign up below!

See you next week? Register for free to meet mentors and build your own network with other LGBTQ+ people across communications at Zeno London on Wednesday Link to register - https://lnkd.in/eekQfDW7

This week, our brilliant #WiPR committee member Angela Balakrishnan joined an #InternationalWomensDay PRCA panel alongside Mary Whenman Chart.PR FCIPR, MPRCA, Whitney Simon, Heather Blundell and Elizabeth Tomlin. They explored how, as PR and public affairs professionals, we can amplify underrepresented voices, challenge bias, and advocate for policies that support women's rights. Ange has kindly shared key outtakes from the panel, and you can watch the webinar recording in the link below. ?? ? ? Being a senior female leader is challenging. We are the ‘Goldilocks’ women – expected to play our identity juuuust right. Don’t be too much this (quiet/honest/emotional) or that (opinionated, demanding/cold). When you layer other aspects of diversity – race, age, sexuality- it’s a minefield to navigate who we can be.? ? ?Women are running on empty. Research finds that women consistently carry more mental and domestic load – whether caring or other life responsibilities. WIPR stats show two-thirds of senior women in PR have considered quitting their job due to burnout, and only 3% of women manage to completely ‘switch off’ at the end of the day. ? ? Missing women. There are not enough of us in leadership roles to challenge the status quo. Women make up almost two-thirds of the PR industry, yet less than half are in senior leadership roles. When you consider women from ethnically diverse backgrounds, that percentage plummets further. Put it simply – I'm the exception rather than the norm in our industry. And that’s got to change.? ? ? Workplace policies can make a big difference. Flexible working is a non-negotiable. Listening to your workforce and gathering data can help identify gaps so you can be intentional about your actions. But, as Heather Blundell said, policies are not enough – how they are taken up, role-modelled and ingrained in the culture are key. ? We need to rewrite what great leadership looks like. More visible examples of diverse effective leaders, challenging traditional standards, advocating for other traits, and recognising that multiple things can be true at the same time are needed. We can be assertive AND empathetic. Showing vulnerability still feels risky, but it should be a strength ?? Community is more vital than ever. We know it can be lonely in specific spaces or as your career progresses. There is strength in the number of women in the PR/Comms industry, helping to support each other and driving the change we want to see. I am proud to represent the Asian Comms Network as well as Women in PR; these networks help us to connect with others who have walked a similar path or share different experiences, support careers through mentoring and advocate for the issues we know stand in the way of women reaching leadership roles. #WomenSupportingWomen #WomeninPR #WiPR #FemaleLeadership

Join us for our THRIVE Mentorship Meetup - an evening of connection, learning, and support as we bring together mentors and mentees from across our industry-wide mentorship programme. Register for free here - https://lnkd.in/eekQfDW7

? Two weeks until Zeno London hosts the first InterComms Network mentor meet-up! Whether you are already a mentor/mentee, or want to hear more about the THRIVE Mentorship Scheme for LGBTQ+ people working in comms, sign up below. Questions? Drop Ethan Spibey ??? or me a message

An ask from us: This is a completely free LGBTQ+ mentorship scheme for anyone in, or wanting to get into, communications. Please do share it with your network, repost and tell colleagues - we want anyone and everyone to have the opportunity to see themselves as part of our brilliant industry ??