DDB Worldwide launches The Phyllis Project; DDB NZ’s Christie Cooper picked as a rising star
DDB Worldwide, part of Omnicom Group, has today announced the launch of “The Phyllis Project,” a new global creative initiative that is committed to increasing the number of female creative leaders in every region of the network in 2017.
The project is named after the legendary Phyllis Robinson, DDB Worldwide’s first copywriter – and the first female copy chief in U.S. history. Spearheaded by Amir Kassaei, chief creative officer of DDB Worldwide, The Phyllis Project recognises the significant role women played in igniting the creative revolution and the need for gender equality in our creative leadership today.
Says Kassaei: “Phyllis broke every rule and opened doors for many women (and men) who followed. She promoted an atmosphere of creative freedom, where people had the opportunity to take chances and make bold moves, where people listened to the opinions of others even when they were nothing like their own, and every idea was welcome and considered.”
In its inaugural year, The Phyllis Project has selected 12 rising female stars at DDB who are poised to be among the industry’s next generation of creative leaders for professional development.
The project consists of the following four key components:
· A customised global mentorship program and personalised career development plan by DDB Worldwide management
· Assignments on global pitches and client briefs for DDB Worldwide’s top global clients
· Invitations to attend prominent industry events, including the Cannes International Festival of Creativity
· Guaranteed enrollment in DDB Worldwide’s leadership training programs and customised seminars developed with external partner The 3% Movement – from workshops on media skills to making the successful transition from creative to creative leader
DDB NZ creative director Christie Cooper has been picked as one of the 12 rising stars.
Says Damon Stapleton, chief creative officer, DDB: “Creating more diversity in any way is the right thing to do. It’s a moral imperative and important in our industry but also, it makes our business better. A broader range of minds gives us a wider perspective and therefore better ideas.
“Christie is a prime example of someone who offers a different point of view, she’s incredibly talented and she has an incredible work ethic. What more could you ask for? She represents the best in our business and we’re not at all surprised that she’s one of the 12 in the world selected as part of this project.”
Says Cooper: “Juggling work and family has been my biggest struggle. It’s hard work being a mum with a job that can be very demanding on both my time and energy. I’m very lucky to have a partner who’s a great father and happy to be a stay-at-home dad. My creative partner, James Connor, is both incredibly supportive and exceptionally talented and working at DDB, the team, especially the management, are understanding and flexible.
“Many women in agencies don’t have this level of support and I think that’s one of the main reasons you don’t see a lot of female creative directors, executive creative directors or chief creative officers.”
Read Cooper’s full interview, here.
DDB Worldwide’s global creative council has selected women from 12 different offices in nine countries across the network, including: DDB Brazil, DDB Mudra Mumbai, DDB New Zealand, DDB Paris, DDB Düsseldorf, DDB Berlin, DDB South Africa, Alma DDB Miami, DDB Spain, Tribal Toronto, DDB New York and DDB Chicago.
Says Kassaei: “We take development of our next-generation talent rather seriously and have committed to ensuring that our top creative women around the world are offered all the opportunities they deserve to further their careers.”
10 Comments
Legend. Well done Christie.
Bit sexist
Go Christie! You’re an awesome role model and creative.
Sexist?
I think you might be confused about what this means.
There is inequality in the working world. Women are underrepresented in management positions, as well as a raft of other issues (like being paid 10-20% less for doing the exactly same job).
The point of the Phyllis Project is to give women opportunities to hopefully rectify a small part of this problem. Not so they are above men, so they can be equal to them.
Congratulations. Well deserved, and good on you for truthfully pointing out how hard the juggling act can be.
It’s definitely hard juggling work and family, and hats off to those who achieve it. But this is a real factor in the representation figures. It can’t always be blamed on bias assumed to be administered by men.
Not deliberate bias, but you don’t get away with centuries of enculturation overnight. And sadly, once you start popping kids out it is amazing how even the most open-minded relationships can revert to gendered roles. Which is why this project together with the example of Christie and her supportive partners (at home and work) are so important.
Congrats. Good initiative. Hopefully one that will also encourage the industry to accept young female talent as who they are, without expecting them to conform to the behavioural traits of young male creatives. That is a big hurdle, which discourages so many female juniors. It is not a deliberate bias, but nonetheless it is there, and it is a key reason why so many young females are leaving the industry after a year or two.
Awesome, Christie.
Losing young female creatives is something’ DDB are good at, but not quite as good as Colenso on that score. So yeah, pat yourselves on the back NZ.