MediaCom Launches Glass Wall Network to Break Down Gender Equality Barriers

To push for greater gender equality in the media and marketing sector, MediaCom UK, alongside women industry leaders, has today launched a new steering committee for The Glass Wall Network. 

Inspired by the bestselling book - The Glass Wall, success strategies for women at work and businesses that mean business – The Glass Wall Network is a gender focused network open to all MediaCom employees and clients, as well as media owner partners. It holds a series of talks and inspiration sessions throughout the year covering topics such as confidence, belonging, networking and authenticity. 

The Glass Wall Steering Group will be led by a group of women leaders from across media, finance, film, retail and communications. High profile names including Michelle McEttrick, group brand director at Tesco, Katie McAlister, CMO at TUI Group, Michelle Spillane, marketing & brand director UK&I at Paddy Power Betfair, Nicola Jenkins, media & social data manager at Vauxhall and Shivani Uberoi, head of strategy at Sky have all put their weight behind the steering committee to drive forward the work of the Glass Wall Network. 

The Glass Wall Network and the newly-created steering committee will work to ensure organisations are building an environment where men and women are afforded equal rights, opportunities and support in the workplace. 

The first action of the Steering Committee has been to agree a manifesto. The manifesto commits to a number of goals, including ensuring companies involved in the Glass Wall Network have gender balanced candidate lists for senior roles and gender balanced interview panels for employing people; championing paternal schemes within organisations and sharing examples of men who have made use of them; and asking marketing and advertising partner companies for their gender breakdown across all teams, at all levels and functions, and to share their plans to improve any imbalance. 

Member of the committee and CMO at TUI Group, Katie McAlister, said: “There are still countless roadblocks that stand in the way of achieving gender equality in business. But as a group we are working hard to dismantle the inequalities and imbalances that hold back too many talented women in our industry. We must all – both men and women – commit to creating meaningful change, and I’m excited to be part of something that will help to empower women, to celebrate our contributions and to truly change our working lives.”

Committee member and media & social data manager at Vauxhall, Nicola Jenkins, said: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of an initiative that is pushing for real change in the industry. It’s about more than just talking about the gender imbalances that we’re facing; it’s about giving women at all levels the practical support that will empower them throughout their career. Achieving gender equality can only happen if we have an open, honest conversation on what needs to change, and groups like The Glass Wall Network to make that change a reality.”

MediaCom chief transformation officer and co-author of The Glass Wall book, Sue Unerman, continued: “Never mind the glass ceiling, in today’s workplace there is a glass wall. It’s more important than ever that we work with everyone across the business to smash down the barriers that keep women from achieving the career heights they deserve. By forming this steering committee, we can collaboratively do exactly that. By engaging with leaders from different industries and from all walks of life, we can share experiences and practical advice with one another on the easy-to-apply strategies that can make a real difference in creating a workplace that benefits everyone.”