Breaking Barriers, Building Diversity Through Inclusion   


We are a quarter-way into the 21st century, yet the gender gap remains large. At the current pace, the World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that it will take another 134 years – five generations – for full gender parity to be achieved.


As we mark International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March, this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, underscores the urgency of advancing gender equality across all sectors. This is especially true of the public relations (PR) industry.


Despite women comprising the majority of the PR workforce – between 60% and 75% by some estimates – they occupy only about 30% to 40% of the leadership rungs. This highlights persistent systemic barriers. The WEF’s projection emphasises the urgent need for immediate and decisive action to dismantle obstacles hindering women’s progress in PR.


The gender gap in PR is often attributed to factors such as unconscious bias, lack of mentorship opportunities, and challenges with work-life balance. These issues not only impede individual career growth for women, but also affect the industry’s overall creativity and effectiveness when more than half of the workforce is not able to realise its full potential.


To better support the ‘Accelerate Action’ theme, the PR industry must quickly implement targeted strategies to promote gender equality. These can include:

  1. Leadership Development Programmes: Establish initiatives that identify and nurture female talent, providing defined pathways to leadership roles.
  1. Mentorship and Sponsorship: Encourage mentorship programmes pairing up-and-coming women professionals with seasoned leaders to foster guidance and career advancement.
  1. Policy Reforms: Implement family-friendly policies, such as flexible working hours and parental leave, to support work-life balance and retain female talent.
  1. Bias Awareness Training: Conduct regular workshops to raise awareness of and mitigate unconscious biases within the workplace.
  1. Equal Pay Audits: Regularly assess compensation structures to ensure equitable pay across genders.

 

What role can we all play?


Organisations must take proactive steps to create gender-equal environments. This includes setting measurable diversity targets, holding leadership accountable for progress, and fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives.


As individuals, we also play a crucial role by championing gender equality, proactively seeking out and facilitating mentorship opportunities, and challenging discrimination wherever we see it rear its ugly head.


The ‘Accelerate Action’ theme therefore serves as a wake-up call for the PR industry to collectively intensify our efforts toward gender equality. In doing so, our industry can not only bridge the gender gap faster, but also tap on the full potential of all genders to maximise our creativity and effectiveness as we continually evolve to embrace ever new ways of communicating.


At Priority Consultants, we are proud to have been championing gender equality for 40 years in our offices across South East Asia, India and Australia. Our Founder, Jane Prior, as a woman, has advocated and ensured several of our upwardly mobile colleagues have the skills and confidence to take on leadership roles. We continue to proactively look for ways to support their development and aspirations while leveraging opportunities to profile their expertise externally.


We believe that change starts from within. And we are proud to be a PR firm that walks the talk when it comes to gender equality.