What About the Women?
Tara McDonagh
Communications as Business Advisor Activist * Founder, Raise the Tide? * Advisor to Fortune 500 Communications & PR Teams *
Our field is dominated in numbers by women, but we don't dominate in number of leadership positions.
According to a 2019 report by KPMG and the Institute of Public Relations, the vast majority of CEO roles at top agencies are held by men (80%).
Keep in mind, at agencies, everyone working there knows what we do, how we do it, the impact, and the purpose. Everyone is on the same career track to move up and up until they reach the top at an agency.
So, why, in a field where there are a huge number of women to choose from, are the majority of CEO roles at top firms held by men?
Let's pause on that question for a second and shift to corporate world.
When we talk about the corporate world, we do see some Communications leadership roles for women. But, those leadership roles in Communications (ex. Head of Corporate Communications) rarely have a growth path to get to a Chief Communications Officer role.
There are Vice Presidents of Corporate Communications reading this right now who are advising C-Suite members. Directors who are advising Senior Vice Presidents.
And yet, they are not given the opportunity to join that C-Suite they advise as peers - and they are definitely not able to join them at a similar pay level. Why?
Most of us are ignoring the intersection of gender bias and our misunderstood and oversimplified field.
This intersection impacts us - individually, and in our field as a whole.
Bias exists. Sexism is still here, it's just sneakier than it used to be. It's so covert that we're often gaslit into believing it's not there ... and we WANT to believe that because it would be much easier if that were true.
Resist that gaslight.
I'm focused on elevating our field to critical business advisor status, everywhere. To do this, we must address gender bias coupled with our misunderstood and oversimplified field. I'm intent on calling it out, challenging it, and changing it - together.
The Raise the Tide? program exists for this very reason. We deal with this intersection of our misunderstood and oversimplified field and gender bias to elevate our field and the women in it. It's not about editing ourselves. You don't need to fundamentally change yourself in order to lead. You need to be allowed to lead as you are - imperfect but a leader all the same.
This is true inclusion.
Promotions, massive salary increases, equity awards and bonuses ... they're the norm in the Raise the Tide crew. More budget, more team, more respect ... that's what we set intentions for, that's what we work towards, and that's what we get.
We will not settle for less and be grateful for that less anymore.
We are deserving of more. And it's OK to say it out loud. It's important to say it.
Raise the Tide.
Episode Five What About the Women?
Women dominate the Communications field in numbers, but not in leadership roles. Why? Couple gender bias together with our misunderstood and oversimplified field and we have a fight on our hands.?
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In this episode of The Communication Business Advisor? Podcast, Tara McDonagh explains:
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Tara McDonagh is a Communications as Business Advisor? activist, advisor to Fortune 500 communications leaders and their teams, and Founder of Raise the Tide? for women in Comms. She helps Comms. teams elevate their reputations as critical advisors while elevating our profession and the people in it. Visit: www.taramcdonagh.com
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1 年YES to all this perspective and vision for change. Great work, Tara. Looking forward to listening to the episode.
Communications Leader | Thought Partner | Connection & Change Strategist
1 年This: Bias exists. Sexism is still here, it's just sneakier than it used to be. It's so covert that we're often gaslit into believing it's not there... I still see it. It takes different forms than it once did but it's still there.
Realtor Associate @ Next Trend Realty LLC | HAR REALTOR, IRS Tax Preparer
1 年Thanks for Sharing.
Great episode Tara, we are raising our voices high as the result of years of bias and abuse.