Being a Woman in a Mad Men World

Earlier this week, I presented what it was like being a Woman in a “Mad Men” World. Thank you M.A.D. School by Chatsworth Medi@rt Academy & Gwen Teng for hosting this session and thanks to everyone who attended.

Here are the key takeaways of what I discussed about being heard and “getting a seat at the table” for those who couldn’t attend. Something that I related to was the Mad Men TV show. I saw myself in one of the lead characters, Peggy. There was one episode I remembered ever so vividly. Don Draper had just received an award, and he was in the office with Peggy. Peggy was upset that Don didn’t give her a nod for her efforts on the project. After all, she was the copywriter who came up with the idea. I’ve felt like Peggy.

There were so many instances in my career that I felt like my voice needed to be heard. So I took things into my own hands.

#1 Stand out and don’t be ignored. You have to develop a thick skin and a “loud” voice to be heard. I never take no for an answer. You also need to know the right moment to speak up.

#2 Network, nurture allies and develop rapport with key players. It’s essential to find someone in your team or company that can be your support system. Especially at meetings, when you need someone to vote for your idea or have someone in your corner.

#3 Harness the power of being a fearless female! The key here is not to be afraid! There are so many times in my career when I attended meetings to just sit there. I had ideas bubbling in my head, but I didn’t dare say anything at the meeting. After the opportunity had passed, I wish I had spoken up. I missed a significant chance because I felt there were so many others (especially men) with ideas, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself and be seen as “stupid”. But I want to remind you that you have to be brave and put your ideas out there. Courage and confidence will manifest with practice and experience.

#4 Don’t lose yourself in the process and stay authentic. This is important especially when you are in a group of senior people. You may feel like you need to change your messaging to adapt to your audience. Yes, know your audience by all means, but never lose yourself or your identity. Deep down, you should still feel you’re authentic and what you’re saying is true to who you are!

This is something I have reiterated on several occasions, but I truly believe that you need to create opportunities for yourself as no one will hand them over to you!  As Shirley Chisholm said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”