Stephen Waddington’s Post

My latest #PR book review looks at an important addition to the body of academic works on PR: Women’s Work in Public Relations, edited by Liz Bridgen and Sarah Williams and published on the Wadds Inc. site by Stephen Waddington . I’ve also added a few personal reflections to this one. Big thanks to everyone who gives it a whirl! Check it out in the link below: https://lnkd.in/e54pNmDe

Is your communications approach gender-smart? The latest Climate-KIC article related to their gender mainstreaming campaign is out now 📣 Climate change and gender inequality are intertwined – and communications relating to these issues must be as representative as possible. Discrimination and unconscious gender bias have led to women and minority genders being underrepresented in the corporate world – and the percentage of women in senior positions shrinks as they climb each step of the corporate ladder. This article outlines the importance of gender-inclusive or gender-smart communications and how it intersects with climate issues, including insights from Stefanie Behrendt and Carolyne Kirabo ⬇ I really enjoyed working on this campaign as it sits at the intersection of two of my interests: climate change and feminism. If you need support on similar campaigns, let me know! https://lnkd.in/eEEZ5kdQ #climateinnovation #gendermainstreaming #genderinequality

Happy International Women’s Month! Glad to represent FleishmanHillard Manila and celebrate women in the public relations industry in this interview with ABS-CBN News Channel Market Edge in their Remarkable Women segment. Women have come a long way in the PR industry. We’ve transformed and dominated the space where we’re given different opportunities to excel and be part of campaigns that influence people. But did you know that half of the women working in PR and communications in Asia Pacific have experienced ageism, while 56% have experienced gender discrimination? Despite this sad fact, there are still successful organizations that value the capabilities of women in the workforce. I am extremely blessed and proud to be part of FleishmanHillard who believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but key drivers of innovation and business success. FleishmanHillard is on a mission to be the most inclusive agency in the world and it fosters an environment where women, and indeed all team members regardless of age, race, and backgrounds, can thrive and achieve their full potential. I also talked about some of the misconceptions about female PR practitioners. We are often portrayed in movies or series as people who just send out press releases and organize glamorous events or parties with the media, influencers and celebrities, when in fact, there is so much work we put into strategizing and building brands’ reputation and this ultimately helps drive their long-term success. #publicrelations #publicrelationsagency #communications #media #internationalwomensmonth #iwd2024 #ANCRemarkableWomen

In the workplace, job progress depends on one’s ability to communicate ideas convincingly and clearly. Developing public speaking abilities is an effective strategy for women to dismantle obstacles, dispel myths, and make their voices heard at work. Women who can express themselves clearly become invaluable members of their teams, encouraging a diversity of perspectives and creative thinking. 🔗 To read more about the importance of public speaking abilities and how they can help women overcome obstacles and make their voices heard, read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dF8VHYwU #womensupport #supportwomen #womenempowerment #publicspeaking #confidentwomen #empoweringwomen

Women, if you want to be a great partner, communication is crucial. It's not just about saying "We need to talk." It means sharing messages clearly and listening carefully. Good communication helps you both understand and respond to each other better. Remember.. Good COMMUNICATION! 😉 More of this at https://lnkd.in/exVhEnq4

I am SO shocked and deeply enraged, that so-called feminist organizations can engage in the most unfair and unprofessional recruitment process. A few months ago I applied for a consultancy role with this organization working on the intersection of women's rights and climate justice. I was invited to a first-round interview at 5 am my timezone meanwhile in the TOR it was mentioned that the candidate would be expected to work around the Costa Rica timezone, which is very close to mine. I asked for more flexibility and the best they could give was 6 am because they work with different partners around the world and they needed them to be present in the call. During the interview, I was asked about my expectations and I clearly specified I wouldn't accept to be asked to wake up at 4 am to jump on calls and I was assured that won't be the case. I then had to provide three professional references and do a 1h 30 minutes written test. Just to let you picture how time-consuming this process has been. I was then sent a link for a second interview (without consulting me) with the executive directors and was told: "I'm sorry about the time, but as you can understand the directors' schedules are very tight and this was the time they were able to coincide." DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THEY EXPECTED ME TO BE ON THAT INTERVIEW???? 3 AM!!!!!!!!! 3 am, an interview at 3 am. The utmost disregard was shown for my time, well-being, and professional boundaries. This process is not only unfair and unprofessional but also deeply disrespectful. This highlights an imbalance in power dynamics, contradicting feminist principles of equality. Additionally, the lack of transparency in scheduling and failure to prioritize my needs demonstrate a failure to uphold feminist values of autonomy and respect. Organizations claiming to advocate for feminist principles must demonstrate genuine commitment to those values in all aspects of their operations, including recruitment processes.

Many supposedly feminist organizations, and rights orgs that state that they uphold feminist values are in fact spaces that exist in the service of the patriarchy. They follow very cis-heteronormative (and consequently very phallocentric if I may say so, misogynist, ableist, transphobic and sometimes outright racist) approaches to leadership and management. Whenever I would have tried to challenge things and function with an actual critical intersectional feminist ethos in certain past roles, the backlash, hostility and wrath I received were beyond staggering. The functional dynamics of such spaces form a major part of my ongoing book project 'Feminism in the age of fascism' (also the topic of my recent #IWD2024 guest lecture at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) . If friends and colleagues in the feminist, SRHR, SOGIESC, climate justice and other related spaces would like to share harrowing experiences in confidence (and even if we have never met) you are most welcome to get in touch. More power to the exemplary Yasmina Benslimane for calling out these problematic hiring practices and planning dynamics.

I have seen how developing executive communications skills has helped my clients to stand out as professional women. Would you like to develop your executive communication skills? Send me a message! #womeninleadership #interviewpreparations #executivecommunicationskills

📊 Men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100%. One reason could be that women often only apply for higher positions where men are seen as having an advantage, especially if the job posting is generic. Here are some steps you can take to overcome these challenges: ☑ Apply for roles even if you don't meet every qualification. ☑ Try to seek companies with clear, objective job postings focusing on skills. ☑ Build connections and actively seek opportunities to grow your career. All industries should seek qualified female candidates instead of waiting for them to apply. 💡Understanding these differences can help men and women in leadership and hiring roles make more inclusive and informed decisions when recruiting and promoting talent. 📧📱Contact our team today! #tuesdayforwomen #printingindustry #packagingindustry #hiringnow #recruitmentagency

ColorComm: 5 Key Takeaways From The Conference Celebrating Women Of Color In Communications