Women advocacy in leadership matters. Even when it comes to the EU Commission.

The European Union is often regarded as a leader in progressive values, but the recent nominations for the European Commission reveal that there’s still much work to be done in advocating for women in leadership. Ursula von der Leyen , who made history in 2019 by establishing the first gender-balanced European Commission, has once again pushed for balanced representation. She asked each country to nominate both a man and a woman, except when the incumbent commissioner would be staying on. This did not bring the desired effect.

The current nominations show 18 men and 10 women, including von der Leyen herself, highlighting that the path to true gender equity remains challenging and ongoing. This begs the question: Are we growing tired of the push for gender equity? Has the initial momentum for advocating women in leadership started to wane?

The Need for Renewed Advocacy for Women

For years, there was a strong and sustained effort to balance gender representation. Yet, despite these efforts, there seems to be a fatigue surrounding the conversation on gender equity. Have we reached a point where people think these issues have been addressed and thus no longer require attention?

This growing indifference can be seen globally, where defensive anti-feminism movements are on the rise, and gender divisions are deepening on many critical issues. It’s a troubling trend that we cannot ignore. Acknowledging this fatigue and pushback is essential if we are to reignite the conversation around gender equity and ensure it remains a priority.?

Part of reigniting this conversation involves reflecting on our daily choices and how they impact gender equity. There are many ways to actively and mindfully support women, but it's not something we often think about. For instance, do you consider where you buy your coffee in the morning? Is it from a local, woman-owned café, or is it from a large chain like Starbucks? When companies purchase services or software, do they think about whether they’re choosing a small, woman-led business or a conglomerate??

To achieve true gender equity, we must actively advocate for women in all areas of life. We are committed to supporting and amplifying female voices, ensuring that women are represented, valued, and empowered.

Commitment to Empowering Women

As a women-led and women-owned communications agency, we understand that achieving gender balance requires more than just policy changes; it requires active, ongoing support for women in all sectors.?

The Savion Ray team is deeply committed to cultivating environments where women are heard and celebrated. Our initiatives, like the Women in Comms and Public Affairs Breakfast Chats, foster a nurturing space for women to connect, share experiences, and empower each other, breaking down barriers to advancement.

We continuously seek ways to create meaningful opportunities for women advocacy. Our 10-year anniversary celebration, themed ‘…For a Change,’ reflected our dedication to creating an environment where women can flourish. This theme captured our evolution and commitment to driving positive transformation, including the importance of supporting women at all levels of professional and public life.

Our drive extends beyond our internal initiatives; we believe in expanding our advocacy to support and amplify the efforts of others. When the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD) announced that resilience would be one of the central themes for their 2023 Summit, we jumped on this chance to expose the structural challenges of our industry that require women to cultivate layers of resilience throughout their careers, by spotlighting the stories of three incredible and very accomplished women in strategic comms.

By collaborating with Women Political Leaders (WPL) on projects like the Women Leaders Global Forum and the @Girl2Leader campaign, we have helped to elevate women’s roles in politics and inspire the next generation of women leaders. Through these partnerships, we aim to continue empowering women and fostering a more inclusive leadership landscape.

A Call for Mindful and Purposeful Support

Instead of just calling for more advocacy for women, we would like to call on mindful and purposeful support. This support must be woven into the fabric of our daily lives, decisions, and actions. Beyond just policies and initiatives, we can champion gender equity by being conscious of the choices we make as consumers, mentors, and leaders.

Consider the impact of choosing to buy from women-owned businesses, or dedicating time to mentor young women and girls. Are we teaching them to be financially literate and to negotiate with confidence? Are we recognizing the value of women-led enterprises and consciously choosing to invest in them?

These actions are about more than just advocacy—they're about integrating support for women into the very core of how we live and work. By doing so, we create a ripple effect that extends far beyond any single campaign or initiative, driving lasting and meaningful change in our communities and industries.