‘One day isn’t enough’: CEO Jess Savage on Int’l Women’s Day

• March 8, 2022
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By Jessica Savage, CEO

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International Women’s Day is a good reminder that not all environments are created equal and there is still work to be done – at home and globally.

To begin, are we respecting others in an inclusive way? Are we aware and actively setting aside our bias to be better colleagues, mentors, and friends? Are we listening actively? Are we intentionally including many and diverse voices of not only women but anyone in support of equitable opportunity? And are we appropriately recognizing the strong community of people that helped us come to these realizations and take meaningful action?

One day of recognition is lovely but one day of focus isn’t enough. There are still small steps and big leaps needed to achieve equality – no matter the industry, place or space.

In my world, I am constantly looking to ensure we’re creating a workplace where people of all life experiences can thrive. A culture where we recognize the achievements of everyone, regardless of gender, age or title. It takes work, focus and lots of conversation with those willing to march forward to better solutions. Daily, our team strives to be a good example for our peers, teams, and children – our girls, our boys, and our nonbinary kin – about how to be inclusive, caring and support one another, today and for all days ahead.

At our agencies, team values are centred around bold, innovative, always-on thinking, and our talent represents that. But it’s also talent with a heart. For real inclusivity, every teammate should feel like there is space for their voice, space for them to grow, to step back for a moment if needed, to pivot if desired, no matter where they are in their life or career.

As expectations outside the office change, so are we, reflecting the needs of the next generation. We’re proud to offer industry-leading benefits for our employees, from gender affirmation care and fertility treatment supports, to access to mental health benefits and new supports for parents.

We’re proud to say that our senior leadership team is made up of more supportive, ever-evolving women than ever before, and the men across our teams are an integral part of fostering North’s lively, equitable and collaborative culture.

Today and tomorrow, and the rest of the year, let’s celebrate women – at work, at home, in our campaigns – because recognition and representation matter. Beyond visibility, we’ll remain dedicated to providing support that has a real impact on the lives of our colleagues and the people that matter to them.