A diverse marketing team pays, so implement them and stop talking about it!!

During the last couple of months I've seen and read the marketing industry discuss and debate the need for greater diversity in the industry and how that can happen.  More apprenticeships, talent programmes, positive discrimination etc etc. But yet some of these discussions have utilised rhetoric which in itself shows the industry still doesn't understand the problem.

In this week's Marketing Week it mentions people not coming through the established university route as one of the potential reasons for a lack of diversity (by the way I went to an established uni and know many who did too). Therefore making an assumption that there is a need to consider lowering the entry routes at graduate level  to compensate. Is that what we want for BME graduates to possibly be considered or even employed on a completely different standard/requirements to their white counterparts!?? Is affirmative action the solution .... I'm not sure. Although the industry does need to reconsider what the entry requirement is at this level, or even be more attractive to all.

However it's not just an issue for those entering the industry at graduate level, there is also a need to provide more opportunities for entry through apprenticeships as well as to develop and support existing BME marketeers to reach the top echelons. Many of my fellow BME  marketing counterparts have left organisations and set up their own businesses due to not being able to progress or the perception of a glass ceiling. Whether or not this was the case, the fact they didn't see anyone (or very few) that looked like them as a head of, director or chief marketing officer or equivalent may have been a contributing factor.

For those of you who don't work in marketing you may be asking why its necessary for organisations to have diverse marketing teams, middle management and senior leadership that is more representative of their audiences. Just think about the adverts that fail to include any ethnic representation although customers from these groups have effectively grown the business and remained loyal to it.  The adverts and campaigns that use stereotypical characters that you find patronising or even derogatory. Why we are still questioning (with astonishment) why make-up beauty brands do not sell their full product lines here in the UK (including full colour spectrum), but do in the States? We know black women spend significantly more money than white women on hair and beauty £ for £ so you would think it was a no brainer wouldn't you!!!!?? It's because they lack an understanding of particular segments of their (potential) market and diverse teams would help them not only be much more customer centric but also provide an opportunity to bring in new solutions, develop new products and lines open new markets etc. It's a win, win for all.

I'm glad that the industry is opening it's eyes to the problem. I just hope they realise - that like womens pay, and the fact that there a large number of women in the industry but yet men are most likely to be in senior positions - it's not just something to talk about for ages and not really do anything about. We need to put in steps through all levels to create a more diverse and better representative industry for all, and this problem is not just the marketing departments or agencies to solve. More diverse businesses and not just at entry level or in low skilled positions benefits us all!!

Need to be inspired Karen Blackett Chief Executive MediaCom  

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/11234164/Karen-Blackett-I-havent-been-openly-judged-on-gender-or-skin-colour-but-Im-sure-it-goes-on-behind-my-back.html

Image credit: The Telegraph online

Its been a while

So basically I haven't blogged for ages and the reason for this is that so much has been going on in my life. I haven't been able to take a minute to stop, think and blog. I've also been trying to be less opinionated lol which has meant that instead of always having something to say I've been keeping my pov to myself. But now I'm back and I'm going to do my best to keep up the momentum and get on with posting.

Since my last blog post I'm sure you've all been waiting to read this I've:

Continued on my fitness and exercise thang. I love it, the endorphins buzzing around my whole being after a jog or exercise class make me feel great. At the moment I'm trying to increase the length of my jogs (not quite fast enough for runs yet) and I've also cut down on the dance type cardio classes and focus on conditioning. I even have calluses. I'm definitely seeing results but I still have work to do my stomach could be more toned and I need to work on my back and arms.

Been getting my head stuck into interior design as I've been helping with a refurbishment project. Its been really interesting and fun - I now know where you can get really good deals for a new bathroom and how overpriced B&Q is!? Trade shops are so the way forward.

Falling in love with make up again - if you didn't know I previously trained as a make up artist, my clients included everyone from the BBC to a page 3 model and I did everything including bridal, editorial and fashion make up. I once even made up models for a fetish fashion show lol looking back that are a few stories to tell about that night. Anyway I've been stocking up on products, brushes and storage. I'm obsessed by Nars, am a regular Kiko shopper and use Micellar water all the time. I've also been looking into doing an Asian bridal make up course - just because.

These are the current things on my mind:

I'm kind of bored with the whole Lupita thing. She has become the poster child for all representations of black beauty that do not pertain to the traditional Americanised version of what a beautiful black woman looks like. What I find slightly ironic is that Lupita is now identified as another representative of another kind of beauty;  dark skinned, short hair - why aren't all forms of black beautiful celebrated especially as beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder?! Lupita is a fantastic actress lets focus and celebrate that.

I could do with at least a 5 minute break from seeing Lupita everywhere and anywhere - less is sometimes more. I do wonder if she has proven that a black face (and not a white person in dark make up) has no impact on magazine sales - if so I may just have to keep it zipped on this subject.

The Lean In 'Not bossy' campaign.  I get it bossy has negative connotations and is a word usually used to describe girls. Boys aren't bossy they are strong, determined and perhaps wilful, girls are bossy, strong willed and lil misses or madames. But you know what I like bossy girls and bossy boys I like characters who know what they want and who clearly state it. At times I even like it when a child is able to provide a good reason for why you should do something or why they aren't going to do it - doesn't mean its going to happen but they should be able to articulate their position and stand up for it. Because that's what life's about no one wants to admit it but usually lil miss bossy and lil mr headstrong are the type that get shit done. Maybe the campaign shouldn't be 'no to bossy' but 'I was bossy and look where I am now' with quotes from successful men and women. Do you agree did being called bossy as a girl stop you standing up to lead? If girls are sitting back in their late tweens and early teen years then we need to look at why and how we help both sexes to fulfill their potential. For some reason I believe that Michelle Obama, Oprah, Karen Brady etc where all bossy girls - maybe not so bad.

Feminism, intersectionality, black feminism,  the focus on hair or relationship status when discussing  black women. I could go on and will probably discuss these in more detail at some point but for now and because its my bed time - Later and guess who's back, guess who's back.