About nine years ago, after my second child, I tried to get back into the workforce as a client service director equivalent. I started in the industry very young so by the time I had kids I already had 10 years experience and had accelerated to this level. Easy I thought, I will go back to work and do this four days per week.
A couple of agencies - and I won’t name them today - looked at me confused and were dumbfounded by this request. They were happy to have me back but definitely not client facing and definitely not in this role. In fact one of them suggested I might want to try and come back at an account manager level and see how I go.
Eventually I did return - at Starcom and under the leadership of (then CEO) John Sintras, He asked me a simple question: “What makes you think that you can do this job in four days?” My response was: “Well, I could probably do it in three but I think the team will need me here for four, plus I have support and flexibility on that fifth day, so if you need me, I’ll be here.” It’s hard to believe that was nine years ago, I have been with the Publicis Media group ever since and I am very proud of the amount of women that now have this opportunity in our group and in the industry. We have come very far.
I was and still am determined that working mothers get a fair go in our industry, which still suffers from high turnover and inflexible working conditions. At Spark I have worked hard to foster a culture of work and life balance by continuing to provide conditions through Diversity in the Workplace initiatives, such as the ‘Spark Opportunity Program’, that attract more women back into senior roles.
At Spark, working mums enjoy flexible hours, mobile enabled technology, early finishes and the opportunity to work from home. This has resulted in more senior appointments at director level and a higher retention of women. Importantly, it's resulted in a change of attitude, the past stigma that was entrenched is fast disappearing. Today 70% of our leadership team at Publicis Media are women.
Back then International Women’s Day was nothing to me. In fact I did not believe in any of the ‘women’s only’ events and awards. I declined to participate because, in my opinion, by focusing on “just women” awards and events the industry was belittling us even more.
It’s only in recent years that a very smart lady spoke to me about the importance of these events and how our experience mentors other females who struggle with this today. This advice has stuck with me in the workplace and at home where I am raising three little women of my own.
Since then we celebrate this day, and others like it. This year at Spark Foundry each of our amazing ladies is receiving Thank You Hand Cream and a personalised message as appreciation for what they are juggle now and what they will have to juggle in the future to have the career they want.
By CEO at Spark Foundry Australia, Sue Squillace