“The reality is, money is a boy’s club.” – Sallie Krawcheck, Co-Founder & CEO, Ellevest

You know what Sallie means … that underlying network of male camaraderie within the workplace. They promote from within the ranks, control access to professional advancement, and dole out or revoke power as they see fit.

But what if women put a new set of rules into play? What if we changed the game, once and for all?

The 3 Percent Movement

Enter The 3 Percent Movement. Until this wave of reform, only 3% of creative directors in the advertising industry were women — and even fewer were people of color. But contrary to its name, the 3 Percent Movement is shattering advertising’s glass roof by going beyond just 3%.

So what does that mean for us advertisers? It’s a clarion call to find the best people so we can make the best work so we can make a profit … and, ultimately, change the advertising landscape. By challenging the status quo and changing the ratio, the 3 Percent Movement has given agencies like Golin a clear road map of how to champion female creative talent and leadership. (The new Ad-women site also helps the cause.)

International Women’s Day 2019: #BalanceforBetter

Feeling unwelcome in meetings, business events, and networking opportunities is becoming the norm for women in an era when they are instead being encouraged to “Lean In.” It’s tough to climb the corporate ladder when the scales are off-balance and expectations remain unchanged.

That’s where International Women’s Day comes into play. Observed on March 8th, this day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.

We’re at a critical point in history: As a society, we have the power to stabilize the gender equality scales. The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements established that this is not a women’s issue — it’s a world issue. The advertising industry, every other professional industry, and society as a whole cannot move forward if we do not share the responsibility of shifting towards a gender-balanced world.

The 2019 #BalanceforBetter campaign doesn’t end on International Women’s Day. (March 8th is just the tip of the gender equality iceberg.) But it does start now, as you strike the #BalanceforBetter pose to signify that you are ready to make a positive difference for women everywhere.

Make International Women’s Day YOUR day by sharing your “hands out” balance pose and message to the world on social media with the hashtag #IWD2019. By using this strong call-to-action, you’re letting others know that you’re not only ready for change, but ready to #BalanceforBetter. On International Women’s Day 2019 and beyond, how will you #BalanceforBetter?