MARCH 2023: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Contents
1.
THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: FALLING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
PIC Chair Jacqui DeBique researches “the father of PR” and finds plenty of unsung women of PR.
2.
3X3+1: CHEERS TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Find inspiration on empowering women in 3 questions for a bonus 4 PIC members: Meredith Adolph; Linda Andross, ABC, MC; Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow; and Nathalie Noël.
3.
PIC PERSONALITY: MEET SARAH MANLEY ROBERTSON, ABC
Sarah Manley Robertson, ABC, spent 26 years in corporate settings “operating in a patriarchal system that teaches women how to suppress their natural strengths.“ She tells Brent Artemchuk why she took a break from corporate life.
1.
The Independent View: Falling down the rabbit hole
By Jacqui DeBique
My hope for this March issue of The Buzz was to write a profound account of women in communications and PR based on a review of the literature.
I assumed the body of literature was minimal. Instead, I found a great deal of research on the subject. My foray resulted in Red Car Syndrome, also known as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. You know what I mean – you notice one thing and suddenly notice more of this thing that has actually always been there. And it all started when I Googled, “the father of PR.”
Google confirmed what I had learned back in my days of PR school, that Edward Bernays was the man. But, to paraphrase an age-old expression, beside that man was Doris E. Fleischman (1891-1980).
I dug deeper and found Fleischman’s epitaph, that of a writer, feminist activist and public relations executive. She was Bernays’s first hire, and later on his wife, and together they worked on a wide range of campaigns. The Institute for Public Relations describes one of her key accomplishments as “getting press coverage for the NAACP convention in Atlanta” in 1920, held for the first time below the Mason-Dixon line (the division between slave states to the south and free states to the north). Discussion of the repercussions Fleischman faced for this groundbreaking work is for another time.
Along with Fleischman, the International Public Relations Network (yes, another find!) also cites Leone Baxter and Betsy Ann Plank as “women that lead the way in public relations.” And they cite Plank as the “first lady of public relations.” One claim to fame is that from 1960 to1973, she was the executive vice-president and treasurer of the PR firm started by Daniel J. Edelman (yes, that Edelman).
But wait. Enter Zelda Popkin. She and husband Louis opened their PR firm in 1918, a year or two before the Bernayses. Her legacy “in the highly competitive and male-dominated public relations business” is captured in grandson Jeremy Popkin’s biography “Zelda Popkin: The Life and Times of an American Jewish Woman Writer.”
Sigh. So, it’s Women’s History Month, and I’m down the rabbit hole of historic context just as my social media feed fills with a plethora of eloquent reflections on the current state of women in the industry. It has been breathtaking to read insights on and tributes to women trailblazing and leading across the intersectionality of roles they occupy.
Throughout my 20+ years in this industry, I have worked in comms teams where women have predominated, including being in boss roles. And of course I know women who are agency owners and others who are thriving as indies. But, I have also made many assumptions, debunked by this excerpt from the March 2021 research report by the organization Women in Public Relations in North America:
“Although the PR industry in North America is highly feminized with a 64% female workforce, only 59% of managers are women (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). The masculine work patterns that underpin other workplaces are also prevalent in PR, with long working hours, unattainable work-life balance and difficult and unequal career progression.”
Other stats from the Women in PR website cite as few as 16% of women are at the boardroom table, only 12% earn over US $150,000 per year, and, sadly, just 18% have confidence in climbing the career ladder. (Source: https://womeninpr.com/about.)
And then we come full circle with this quote from “Women in Modern Public Relations: The Evolution of Public Relations in America” by Jayah Waters of the historic devaluation of the accomplishments of women:
“Bernays referred to Fleischman as his associate in his 1952 book titled Public Relations. He received most of the credit for the firm’s accomplishments and failed to acknowledge Fleischman, who was instrumental in providing support for most of the firm’s projects by implementing innovative campaigns, providing organized structure and constructive criticism to Bernays’ embellished rhetoric (Henry, 1998).”
It’s been 103 years since Fleischman’s pioneering work securing media coverage for the NAACP convention. And while there is evidence that we still have miles to go, in this issue, we see how five women, PIC members, are forging their path by coaching and mentoring, training and authoring, sharing and learning, speaking out and speaking up, branching out and moving on.
Like this issue? Scroll to the end and click “appreciate.” Have a thought about the future of women in communication and PR? Follow us on social media and comment, or email me at toronto-sig@iabc.com. I’d love to hear from you.
2.
3x3+1: Cheers to International Women’s Day
By Sue Horner
This month, we celebrate International Women’s Day, a time to uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges and focus attention on women’s rights and gender equality. We’re expanding our usual conversation to ask three questions of four accomplished PIC members:
Meredith Adolph (she/her), content strategist and writer; Linda Andross, ABC, MC (she/her), managing partner/co-owner of APEX Public Relations; Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow (she/her) and founder of Inner Strength Communication; and Nathalie Noël (she/her), brand, communications and marketing strategist.
1. How do you empower other women?
Meredith: The ways I empower other women flow from the work I do. I often work with more junior members on a marketing team, and I see coaching and mentoring them as part of my role. I help them operate more strategically and efficiently, and they get better results and build professional confidence. Part of working with younger women is also helping them learn how to use their influence, and learn that they HAVE influence.
The senior leaders I work with are marketing or communications VPs, often female, who are sitting at a leadership table that is predominantly male. I help them ask better questions that serve the organization’s strategic interests and result in better conversations.
Linda: One way is by sharing whatever knowledge and context I have, and encouraging others to do so. If we don’t, how can we help other women get ahead, find new skills, make important connections? I have the good fortune to be at a place in my career where I get a seat at the table. It’s my responsibility to share that.
I also empower other women by keeping my promises. That allows others to take risks, knowing they have support.
Just being supportive without expecting anything is important, too. I set aside time to have coffee or meet with people looking for advice or information about the industry. I also think about others. I get invited to participate in panels, and I’m happy to do it. But I’m also happy to put someone else’s name forward.
Finally, just walking the talk. Being a positive role model to show other women how they can empower themselves by the actions I take and the words I use in both my work and personal life.
Priya: I empower women formally through A Leader Like Me, which I co-founded to focus on women of colour. We create courage and confidence through our Flight program, which offers training, coaching and mentoring. One of the things we teach is the importance of showing up and being visible. I try to make sure I’m visible so women of colour see leaders like them and see what’s possible. What’s also important is being able to lend a hand up.
Nathalie: I try to regularly amplify the expertise of women, especially in a work context. I don’t think it’s a stereotype to say that women are less likely than men to step to the front of the line, to speak the loudest. We have to encourage each other to do that, whether it’s by crediting what they say, recommending them or lifting up their work. I also encourage colleagues and friends to lead projects even if they aren’t sure they can or don’t think they are the right person.
2. How do you ensure your own voice is heard?
Meredith: When I was more junior in my career, it was hard for me to feel like my voice could be heard. So many times, I felt a conversation was rushing by and I didn’t have the assertiveness to raise my hand and say something.
I’ve been driving in Toronto traffic long enough to know you have to get your nose out there to merge. It’s the same with sharing a comment or asking a question. Don’t wait, just jump in – respectfully, of course. I’ll say, “I have a clarifying question.” Courage and leadership is required of people in this field, to not just take orders but to say yes or no, and “Here’s the most strategic and efficient way of achieving our goals.”
I’m deeply introverted, so making my voice heard always starts with active listening. I also pay attention to finding the allies I can call on for assistance. Building relationships has driven my success. In financial services, my best friend and enemy is Compliance. So guess who I have monthly conversations with? Compliance.
Linda: This took me a looong time, but I now have confidence in my own value and am comfortable showing it. When I was junior, I would watch and listen to what women I admired did or said and how they handled situations. I saw the need to take risks, and learn when things didn’t work. You think “our work will speak for ourselves,” but that’s not the case; you have to speak up. I also watch for opportunities for someone else on my team to speak.
Another way I get my voice heard is to ask a lot of questions. I’m not afraid to show I don’t know everything, and hope this helps others feel comfortable doing this as well.
Having your voice heard can also mean taking control. I’m a planner, so I always think through how I will handle a meeting, what I want to get out of it, or if I want to set the agenda.
Priya: It comes down to confidence and courage, believing in myself and believing I deserve it. Once you have that, you don’t really care what people think!
I build my own confidence by being visible. I’m out there speaking regularly and trying to lead conversations that drive change. I’ve co-authored a book, Building a Culture of Inclusivity, which you can preorder now before it’s out in June. I also call out when I see a lack of women or lack of diversity on panels. If we don’t point it out, this behaviour just continues.
Nathalie: I’m a lot more trusting of my voice and my instincts now than when I was younger, but I’m still working on this one!
One way to have what I think and feel heard is to try to say yes to things that scare me or make me uncomfortable. I’ve also learned with age and experience not to devalue my opinions, and I encourage others to realize they have good ideas and to share them. I’m not someone who likes to speak for the sake of speaking, but when I feel it’s important and that something needs to be said, I will.
Being able to concisely and clearly communicate in writing has often been the most effective way for me to get my voice heard, especially as an introvert. One of my early and excellent bosses taught me the importance of backing up my voice and ideas by putting them to paper and crafting a compelling case for support.
3. Do you have any female heroes?
Meredith: One is Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut. She’s from my hometown, Sault Ste. Marie, and her space shuttle flight made an impression when I was young. The older I get, the greater appreciation I have for the professional excellence and courage she needed to earn a spot on the flight.
Another is Jacinda Ardern, former prime minister of New Zealand. Her whole journey through that role has been so inspiring. Never mind the achievement of simply getting to that position, the effort and sacrifice she put in; to be in that role while having a baby? And then to see the way her leadership unfolded. When she knew it was time, she called it. I admire that.
Linda: I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of amazing women who always put other people first, including my first boss, Deborah Allen. This woman saw something in me and poured everything she knew into me. She was my touchstone, and to this day I always ask, “What would Deborah do?”
Priya: I love Oprah. I’ve always been a big fan, and part of it was being able to see a woman of colour being visible and leading various conversations. I also love Brené Brown and her podcasts and thinking. She’s always leading in terms of conversations about empathy in the workplace.
Nathalie: For some reason, I’m never comfortable with the “heroes” question, but I deeply respect and am grateful to all the people who came before me, ripping apart taboos, fighting for the rights of women and gender diverse people and saying, “Nope, we’re not doing it that way anymore.”
Thank you to Meredith, Linda, Priya and Nathalie for sharing your words of wisdom and inspiration with PIC. Here’s to continued progress for next International Women’s Day!
3.
PIC PERSONALITY: Meet Sarah Manley Robertson, ABC
by Brent Artemchuk
Sarah Manley Robertson, ABC (she/her) is the founder of Prospect Strategies, a corporate and executive communications advisory. Her work connects and engages stakeholders, closes trust gaps, elevates leadership and reputation and drives transformation. Through purposeful communications, she uncovers possibilities and creates capacity so leaders can pursue the prospects that represent the greatest chances of success for their businesses. Learn more about Sarah on LinkedIn or her website.
When did you launch your independent business and how did it come about?
I officially launched the business in October 2022 – and there’s a story behind it.
In the spring of 2022, I found myself feeling both accomplished and exhausted. I had more than two decades of successful strategic communications under my belt. I’d actively contributed to executive teams in highly regulated, matrixed environments for mid-sized to large organizations with global or national reach in the Greater Toronto Area, Halifax and the New York Metropolitan Tri-State area. I’d built and nurtured high-performing teams. I’d successfully tackled multiple corporate culture transformations, leadership transitions, organizational design changes, employee engagement programs and reputation-building initiatives in the face of major crises.
My son was entering his final year of high school, stressing about the courses that would underpin his career. I was acting as his coach, advising him to keep doors open, create options, create possibilities – because no one has just one career in them.
Then it struck me – I didn’t have just one career in me either! The communications and PR worlds are full of options. So, I decided to take a break from corporate life, recover, and figure out my next step. And, after lots of “What gives me energy?” and “What makes me unique?” self-reflection, I decided to join the indie world.
A significant part of figuring out my next step was taking the time to unbecome. That meant reconnecting with the authentic me. I spent 26 years in corporate settings operating in a patriarchal system that teaches women how to suppress their natural strengths and amplify other behaviors so they fit the mold of the successful men who came before them. And, while equity is much more than gender, gender inequity remains a real issue; one that needs to be addressed with real solutions.
I believe that communications professionals, indie or otherwise, sit in positions of influence. We have a responsibility to advise our clients that tangible and sustainable actions addressing systemic issues of inequality are required and that simple representation does not equal inclusion.
It’s my hope that we honour and lift up the women in our organizations on an ongoing basis, but International Women’s Day often gives us the reminder we need to bring greater awareness to our organizations and clients.
What do you enjoy most about being an indie?
It’s really two things:
First, the hunt. This stage is about meeting new people, learning new industries and environments. It’s also about the discovery conversations: asking tough questions to uncover the roots of why people are stuck, then exploring options. I love when the conversation goes from “We’re facing these issues” to “We can solve this together,” because this is the moment my potential client realizes the possibilities.
The second is the space to give back. As an independent, I have full control over where I invest my energy. I’m free to plan my daily mix without needing approval – or fearing judgment – from The Boss. This means I have the time to focus on community building and can combine my client work with things such as speaking with students or doing volunteer work.
What don’t you like about being an indie?
The complete lack of infrastructure! It took me two days to set up my new laptop and file sharing. Hopefully, this one-time setup stuff is now behind me. I’m in this to help organizations solve problems and I’d rather focus on that than on administrative tasks. (Sometimes, I feel like a teenager hoping that jug of milk will magically appear in the fridge.)
What advice would you give someone new to independent life?
Surround yourself with cheerleaders – the people who keep you focused on abundance, opportunity and moving forward. Indie life is about leaning into positive energy and momentum, so I’m grateful to everyone who encourages me. My group of supporters includes my family and former colleagues, but also other independents who’ve generously shared experiences, tips and fumbles to help shorten my learning curve.
How long have you been an IABC and PIC member and what value do you get from your membership?
I joined IABC in 1996 and PIC in December 2022. The value? See above. It doesn’t get better than the sharing.
Last call: Get social, get your Problem Solved!
What problems or challenges is your small business facing – finding new clients? Designing a website on the cheap? Figuring out pricing? Whatever it is, talk it over with your supportive PIC pals.
We’re meeting for an evening of conversation and collaboration at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 at the Duke of Cornwall pub, 400 University Ave. (south of Dundas Street).
Submit a challenge in advance and/or raise it informally during the drop-in-style conversations that will take place throughout the evening. Feel free to circulate, chat and contribute as you wish. Put the PIC hive-mind to work on a problem you need to solve, and/or share your insights and showcase your expertise.
The consultations and collaboration are free; any drinks and snacks are on your own tab.
It’s not too late to sign up, but don’t wait! Register now and (if you like) submit a challenge.
On April 25, we’re sharing pricing secrets from the pros
Please save the evening of Tuesday, April 25 for our next professional development webinar, Pricing Secrets from the Pros. We’ll ask a panel of experienced independents about their approach to pricing their work. We’ll discuss various pricing dilemmas and the pros and cons of different approaches, and gather questions and insights from the audience. It will all take place on Zoom. Watch for more details and a registration link soon.
Changes to the PIC member list due March 29
As a PIC member, you can gain visibility on the PIC member list on the IABC/Toronto website. Send your updates to PIC’s Director of Membership, Maureen Hosein, ABC, at maureenhosein@yahoo.com, by Wednesday, March 29. For new profiles, send your:
- Name
- Company name
- City (to help us know who’s in our neighbourhood)
- Email address
- Telephone number (optional)
- Website and LinkedIn URLs
- Social media accounts, if any
- Business description (up to 80 words).
If you are already on the list, does your listing include your LinkedIn profile? Have you earned an OVATION, Silver Leaf or Gold Quill award you can brag about?
See you on social media!
Build and strengthen your connections, advance your business and network with other PIC members on social media. In case you missed them, recent posts shared on our social media channels include:
- Productivity tips from women who know how to get it all done, like “let go of perfectionism” and “Block 4-5 p.m. each Friday to tie up loose ends for the week.” By Allison Carter for PR Daily.
- Women’s History Month (March in the U.S.) is an opportunity for a discussion about what it’s like to be a woman in your organization, says Samantha Rideout. “Implement change like employee resource groups (ERGs), advancement and mentorship programs, or other diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) efforts that are broader than a single month.”
- For International Women's Day, CBC Music collected 50 powerful and inspiring quotes from musicians like Joni Mitchell, Buffy Ste. Marie, Jessie Reyez, Tanya Tagaq, Lizzo, Beyoncé and k.d. lang.
Who we are
Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) is a special interest group of IABC/Toronto. PIC’s mission is to support independent IABC/Toronto communicators through professional development, networking and marketing. The Buzz informs members about upcoming events, shares professional development tips from past meetings and keeps us connected.
IABC connects communicators from around the world with the insights, resources and people they need to drive their careers and their professions forward.
Editor: Sue Horner | Designer: Austine Fischer
Executive team
Chair: Jacqui DeBique | Past Chair: Arlene Amitirigala | Membership: Maureen Hosein, ABC | Marketing & Sponsorship: Brent Artemchuk | Communications & Social Media: Austine Fischer, Sue Horner | Programming: Catharine Heddle, Christopher Trotman