Food for Thought

What the Advertising Industry Can Do to Finally Create Gender Equality

''Gender equality has been a major topic of conversation at this year's 4A's Transformation conference. From the sessions on stage to discussions over drinks, equality seems to be on everyone's mind. So much so that Nancy Hill, president of the 4A's, added a last-minute panel Thursday morning with the goal of having an open, unplugged conversation about diversity.

Hill sat on the panel with Aaron Sherinian, chief communications and marketing officer of the United Nations Foundation; Madonna Badger, chief creative officer of agency Badger and Winters; and Shelley Zalis, CEO and founder of The Girls' Lounge.

The panelists all agreed that change isn't happening quickly enough. Zalis cited a recent study from McKinsey & Co. that showed gender parity in the C-suite will take 100 years at the rate we're going.

So what can the industry do to stamp out sexism and gender inequality?..''

by Katie Richards