Girls to the Front! Why We Need More Women in Creative Leadership Roles

For women leaders in today’s fast-paced creative world, success takes on many forms. Becoming a successful female leader in a creative and increasingly collaborative environment is more than satisfying client expectations, shattering glass ceilings, and achieving or ‌exceeding professional milestones.

Despite progress, the ‘success’ formula for women in advertising, marketing, design, and tech leadership remains more rigid than for men. Women in these roles still face many unique hurdles, from the gender pay gap to parental leave to biases about their ambition. 

Ready to empower the next generation of women leaders? Let’s dive into what the future holds for the trailblazing women driving industry-wide change.

Resilience, determination, toughness, pushing the boundaries: these are words women have heard millions of times, but they should be more than just inspirational ‘buzzwords.’ The most effective investments and approaches in women’s creative leadership require a dual-pronged strategy focused on increasing equity, providing support, fostering a sense of collective belonging, and ensuring that development opportunities equip more women creatives to embrace and recognize the challenges ahead of them. 

Women need to be the figureheads of initiatives and programs that support and develop like-minded creatives to forge similar paths, working towards end goals of fulfillment and inclusive spaces for all. Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a critical piece of the puzzle that allows women to embrace success and champion them across the creative sector. Women in positions of influence and direction with proper leadership qualities need to spearhead widespread change (from recruitment, onboarding, and immediate workplace adjustments to long-term professional development) by welcoming more ambitious girls to the creative space and encouraging their minds and confidence to flourish. 

With that in mind, let’s look at the pivotal keys to success for women in leadership positions, from fostering a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive space to encouraging more women to enter the creative sectors.

A robust and supportive network is one of the most powerful assets for women creatives in leadership. Connecting with others sharing similar aspirations and experiences can provide invaluable guidance, support, and inspiration for their path to leadership success. It also opens doors to potential opportunities, creative collaborations, and referrals.

Building a strong network as a female entrepreneur requires you to broaden your inner circle to professional third-party organizations, communities, and groups that align with your creative field and that champion you to achieve professional success as a leader. By extension, attending industry events, conferences, networking meetings, and talks are valuable for connecting with like-minded peers and potential mentors. 

Engaging with thought leaders and other women in similar creative spaces is also essential. Share your insights and ambitions as an individual—and with your wider team. Embrace any opportunity to mentor or sponsor another aspiring creative woman making strides in the space to support and foster more collective empowerment.

Confidence and authenticity are vital traits for creative women leaders, particularly in industries often dominated by male perspectives or demonstrably lacking in their efforts to attract and retain women. Technology is a prime example of an industry where creativity, confidence, and authenticity are encouraged. Still, the statistics on female representation pose questions about the industry’s efforts (with only 26% in IT and 35% in STEM employment across the U.S.).

That said, for those who have broken barriers in these male-dominated spaces, finding your voice and unapologetically asserting your unique vision, ideas, and values is crucial. Celebrating your achievements – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they may appear – and recognizing your strengths and talents is the bare minimum that you owe yourself. 

Where possible, surround yourself with people who encourage, empower, and uplift you rather than diminish your self-belief, criticize you, or nullify or discredit your achievements. Practice self-care regularly, prioritize your well-being, and stay true to your principles, as confidence stems from remaining steadfast physically and mentally. Exuding confidence in your creative leadership efforts will inspire others to follow a similar path while commanding the respect you deserve.

Women in leadership have a unique opportunity to foster a collective sense of belonging and inclusivity within their teams, organizations, and networks. Cultivating an environment where everyone—regardless of gender or identity—can feel heard and be themselves will allow you to unlock your team’s full potential and effectively use their strengths and perspectives.

Create inclusive hiring practices and reasonable amendments that promote diversity, fairness, and professional development. Lead by example in using inclusive language throughout your organization, both internal and external communications, and don’t be afraid to challenge biases. You can nurture other creative women by demonstrating inclusive leadership and fostering a sense of belonging. 

As we have seen over the years, the creative industries are constantly evolving, driven by cutting-edge technological advancements and changing customer preferences, whether women-led or not. Companies must stay ahead of the curve and retain that all-important competitive edge. 

Creative women should prioritize learning to grow and scale ahead of the competition. Investing in professional development opportunities for women, such as workshops, training, courses, accreditation, or industry certification programs, will encourage more signups. If more women and girls can see evidence of real-world success stories, it will provide much-needed reassurance if they strive to enter a competitive sector. 

Adaptability will also be vital. Constant awareness of emerging trends and technologies will also prove pivotal as your company’s creative niche(s) continue to evolve. Encourage new ideas and suggestions to be brought forward with no underlying fears of repercussions or reprimands. 

Despite progress, women (leaders or otherwise) still face systematic barriers and underrepresentation in key roles, earning around 84 cents per dollar that a man earns in an equivalent position. 

Advocating for change and creating more equitable and inclusive environments remains a high priority for those in a position of influence. Being vocal about the challenges and obstacles you face will help raise awareness and inspire meaningful conversations, which are vital for breaking down more barriers.

Take time to mentor more aspiring creative women, offering guidance and support to help them overcome barriers and achieve their goals. Hold yourself and your business accountable for implementing equitable policies and practices that align with your DEI values.

Advocating for equity will empower you and other creative women working for or with you in your creative environment. Even the slightest positive change is still worth celebrating.

It’s evident that the path to success for creative women leaders is rife with challenges and obstacles, but by embracing the steps outlined above, these will not feel so impossible. Remember, success is not a solitary pursuit; you can shape the future of your peers, partners, company, and sectors and inspire the next generation of creative talent.

Embrace your individualism, lead with empathy, and never stop pushing the boundaries of what’s ‘expected.’ A more vibrant and equitable creative space where women’s voices are celebrated and their contributions valued is closer than you might think.