Lee Clow and Other TBWA Men Explain What It's Like to Be a Woman in Advertising

Lee Clow is among the male employees of the TBWA network who recite quotes from their female colleagues about working in the industry, in a film to mark International Women's Day (today, March 8).

They range from the self-critical ("I asked for a raise and immediately said I'd take less") to the shockingly sexist ("I was once told to come to a meeting just to look pretty") and the fact that the words are spoken by men succeeds in giving them a layer or irony and extra resonance.

The quotes were solicited via an anonymous global survey in which women in the industry were asked to voice some of the issues and injustices they have faced, or expect to face, throughout their advertising careers.

Today, TBWA regional offices around the globe are activating the campaign both in their offices and via social media with physical and digital posters and banners, and well as localized films. Other senior TBWA men, including Jean-Marie Dru and John Hunt, will feature in shorter social films.

It is part of a larger TBWA initiative, Project 2020, which was launched in summer 2015 as challenge to increase women in leadership roles across the TBWA network by 20% by the year 2020. The initiative is led by Erica Hoholick , president of TBWA/Media Arts Lab.