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Empowering Women in Advertising: Female Leaders Share Advice

Every March, International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month mark an opportunity to celebrate the many notable achievements of women and explore how we can come together to accelerate women’s equality. 

Here at Index, we believe that supporting each other matters, and work every day to break the bias and empower women. These initiatives include leadership education and training opportunities, development sessions around allyship and diversity, our Women in Engineering and the Women’s Network affinity groups, and involvement in groups like the Women In Programmatic Network. We’re committed to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of our organisation so that everyone can be their authentic selves.

It is just as important to activate change in our broader community and support all women in the advertising, marketing, and tech industries. We recognise that diverse perspectives strengthen our community. Together, we can uplift and empower women to help tackle gender bias. 

With that in mind, we turned to a few of the impressive and accomplished women in advertising that we work with on a daily basis to learn from their experiences. Here, these successful women each pass on their best piece of advice to inspire other women in the industry.

Ilda Jamison, managing director for ANZ at Quantcast

“Our industry changes every day so stay curious—never stop learning or investing in your personal development.  Then go out and share your knowledge with others. It takes a special tribe and village to accomplish all we do at the pace we do it. Always back yourself! Promote your big and small ideas and say yes to new things. Tackle all your projects head-on with passion, poise, and ownership. And have fun doing it!”

Suzie Cardwell, general manager of client product and strategy at NewsCorp Australia

“Listen carefully, ask lots of questions, and get lots of diverse input. Once you’ve got all the information, be decisive and back yourself. Throughout it all, maintain your sense of humour—laughing about it always beats the alternative!”

Yun Yip, general manager at Foxcatcher

“Surround yourself with people who empower and inspire you. Rather than envy their success, study it. Ultimately, realise that their pathway can be a guide to your success, but your journey is one that is unique and right for you.”

We pride ourselves on fostering an environment where everyone feels connected and supported. Interested in joining our team? Visit our careers page to view our open opportunities.

Simone Payne-Powell

Simone Payne-Powell

Director, people

Simone Payne - Powell is director, people and the diversity lead at Index Exchange. With over 20 years of experience working in various global tech companies, her focus has always been on ensuring that all employees can be their authentic selves and truly feel like they belong at work—her passion for DE&I has empowered companies to be able to do this. When she is not working, Simone loves to paint and has completed several commissions, as well as spending time with her neurodiverse son, Scott.

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