Being a woman in advertising

Of all the wonderful things I learned, the kindness and generosity I experienced from every single agency and person I came across in NYC, I made one observation that got me thinking about what it will be like to work in advertising (or likely any field) as a woman. More often than it should, it happens that a young woman will ask a question or make a comment to a man in advertising, and he will respond (generously and thoughtfully) to whichever MAN is standing nearest to her. Obviously this isn’t the rule, but it happened enough to make me think. Women have to fight that much harder to be taken seriously, to get their ideas heard, despite representing something like 70% of consumers. Looking around Allen and seeing all my incredibly talented, intelligent and deserving female peers, I’m hopeful that we will be able to flip who’s on top in the advertising world. 

Lina Rode