Dive Brief:
- A speech given by IfWeRanTheWorld founder and former BBH chair Cindy Gallop, at last year's 92nd annual Art Directors Club Awards in Miami, pointed out what she called the "ridiculousness" of award juries still being predominately made up of white males.
- Inspired by Gallop's speech, ADC Executive Director Ignacio Oreamuno started the "Let's Make the Industry 50/50 Initiative," challenging all ad awards shows to make their juries more gender-equal.
- Some awards shows, like Clios, have already implemented 50/50 juries, while others like Cannes Lions are making plans to have equal juries in the future.
Dive Insight:
What Oreamuno has started is an excellent example of ways the ad industry can help level the playing field of a traditionally male-dominated industry. If juries continue to be predominantly compiled of white males, it makes it that much harder for a female ad executive to win awards to stand out. Agencies often look for jury experience when searching for creative executives, therefore the 50/50 initiative will hopefully domino into having more women in leadership roles.
