Let it go?
Hello and welcome to issue 35 – our Women in Marketing and Communications special. Anaïs Nin said, “The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.” This edition is all about bringing people together, having a conversation and saying what needs to be said in order to make positive change happen. If you’re thinking it, then the chances are there are people around you thinking the same things too.
So much of what Womanthology is all about is communication, building relationships and networks. I’m a marketer myself but I’ve recently developed a great love of public relations. It is also about having the courage to share your story and your ideas with the world.
What better way to spread the word about the importance of women going out and making change happen than by going out and creating change myself? How amazing is it that today you can create your own platform to raise awareness of the issues that you’re passionate about and find others who feel the same way?
“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” Donald Trump
So Womanthology is built around communication. If the mass media isn’t reflecting your interests, hopes and dreams in the way you’d like, then make your own magazine. Don’t restrict the size of your ideas. I suspected I wasn’t the only person to feel like I couldn’t find the type of stories I wanted to read, told in the way I wanted and I was right.
So I’m not a journalist and I don’t pretend to be. I see it’s my role to gather together the women (and also the men) who have interesting and energising stories to share and present these in a consistent and accessible way. It’s always a joy to reach out to someone new to capture the essence of who they are and their story before sharing this in the hope of motivating someone else to keep on keeping on or push their personal boundaries.
So this edition should easy, right? Wrong! Maybe there’s extra pressure brought about by communicating on behalf of the communicators. I really felt the need to do them proud. We’ve been supported by CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing) who have a female President and CEO, along with a number of other women in senior leadership roles. The CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) has also supported us by putting forward some of its leading authorities on diversity and gender balance. Finally, but by no means least, we hear from some of our practitioners and entrepreneurs in the field. All in all, a marketing and communications dream team if ever there was one.
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey said that “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities,” and I believe this is true. We have dynamic women from across the marketing and communications sphere sharing their wisdom and experiences. We are without a doubt stronger together. In recent weeks it’s become increasingly apparent to me that diversity of thought, regardless of whether you’re a scientist or an engineer or a lawyer or a teacher is what creates solutions. Marketing and communications is no different. The smart money is on conversations that bring about inclusive solutions and bring everyone’s ideas to the table.
