International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March every year to recognise the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. It is a time to reflect on progress made as well as work that still needs to be done. This year’s theme, “Embracing Equity,” highlights the need for gender equality in all aspects of life.
As a woman-owned and women-led agency, Sinclair celebrates the progress made towards gender equality and positions itself as a strong advocate for its importance in the public relations and communications industry. We do this because we firmly believe in providing equal opportunities and breaking down barriers that hinder women’s growth in the workplace.
For a long time now, the PR and communications industry has been perceived as woman-dominated. On paper, this bears a semblance of truth – somewhere between 60-70% of the international PR workforce is made up of women. While there is much to be said about the why behind these numbers, the fact remains that women continue to face challenges of discrimination and bias in our industry. According to PRWeek UK, Campaign Asia and Global Women in PR:
○ There continues to be a wide pay gap between men and women at major PR firms, with women in the United Kingdom taking home 15.5% less on average.
○ Almost half of the women working in PR and communications in Asia-Pacific have experienced ageism, while 56% have experienced gender discrimination.
○ Gender equality in the boardroom remains elusive: 64% of PR women work in companies with a male-dominated board, despite 79% of PR professionals believing that having women in the boardroom helps improve working practices and the creativity of companies. Only 9% of PR professionals have a board is made up of mostly, or all women.
These figures highlight the need for agencies to continue to take action to promote gender equality and create a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. Collectively, as an industry of PR and communications professionals, we must create a culture wherein all individuals are respected and supported regardless of gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, race or ethnicity.
At Sinclair, we have always been committed to putting people first and creating a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion. Our values of Empathy, Agility, Courage, and Integrity guide us in everything we do, and we believe that these values are critical to our success as a company. We recognise that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but key drivers of innovation and business success. We foster an environment where women, and indeed all team members, can thrive and achieve their full potential. We are committed to career advancement and growth opportunities, promoting work-life balance and supporting women’s health and wellbeing.
As the Founder and CEO of Sinclair, I am proud our agency is a member of the WEConnect International network, a global organisation that connects and empowers women-owned businesses around the world and helps address inequalities through corporate supply chains. It’s an important initiative to drive change and encourage businesses to take ownership of their full impact on gender equality. Through our membership, we are able to stand tall with likeminded businesses.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible achievements of women worldwide and the progress made towards gender equality. At the same time, we recognise that much work still needs to be done. We must continue to challenge gender stereotypes, promote women’s leadership and representation in all areas of society, and create a culture of respect and equality for all.
As we move forward, let us remember that achieving gender equality requires the commitment and action of everyone – all genders, all ages, from all backgrounds and walks of life. I truly believe that Asia-Pacific’s PR and communications industry can lead in driving social change and creating a more equitable society; let us #EmbraceEquity and work together to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Kiri Sinclair
