Breaking the Bias and Leading with Purpose
Written by: Paula Cuerquis, Senior Associate, Growth
Today, March 8, 2022, all across the world, people are celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD)—a global celebration honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s theme for IWD is centered around "breaking the bias" and creating a gender-equal world free of prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination.
At Razorfish Health, we are committed to a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive view of the world. Listening and creating opportunities for individuals to share their perspectives is a critical part to our learning mindset. In honor of IWD, I had the opportunity to sit down with 3 amazing individuals who shared their unique experiences navigating a career in pharma, health care, and marketing. This interview features Rasheedah Chester, Strategist; Kelley Cox, Director, Growth; and Sam Arabolu, SVP, Social Strategy.
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1. How long have you been in the industry, and why did you choose to pursue a career in advertising/marketing?
RC: I recently graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s in advertising and a minor in digital trends and analytics. I’ve been in the advertising industry for about 6 months now, and I chose to pursue a career in advertising because I admired the work I saw from my favorite brands and thought that it was something I could see myself doing on a day-to-day basis.
KC: I have been working in advertising and marketing, both on the agency side and client side, for over 10 years. I chose this field because I wanted to make commercials. I would watch these mini movies, and my mind would start whirling on how they made it. What did that take? How do they captivate the watcher? Was it really raining that day, or did they manufacture the rain? That curiosity led to a fascination with how advertisers can tell a story so compelling that it makes people loyal to a product.
SA: In college, I was interested in Consumer Behavior and Psychology, which led to me looking for marketing research jobs. I have been in the industry for over 15 years, and understanding the why and how people make decisions still fascinates me—because it’s not an A to B, it’s not always logical, and more importantly, we (as marketers) can predict and guide what those decisions are!
2. In the past few years alone, we’ve seen a huge growth and uptick in conversation with movements like #MeToo and Time’s Up. What progress have you seen, are you looking forward to, or are you most excited for?
RC: I am most excited to see more women supporting women. The media has a way of dividing us, but, as we’ve seen with movements like #MeToo and Time’s Up, there is power behind a unified front.
KC: I have loved seeing women become more visible and vocal members of the workforce. My generation saw a shift from women unconsciously being less assertive and more demure to women owning their expertise and not shying away from sharing it. It has been empowering to “come of age” in my career at a time when women are encouraged to actively participate in the work, and I have been fortunate to have more senior women that helped me grow.
SA: I’m excited when I hear men say, “Well we can’t just say anything anymore; we have to watch what we say now,” because yes! Duh! Women, queer folk, and people of color have had to watch what they say and do for decades. I’m glad some people finally understand that—and are experiencing that in their own lives. That, to me, is progress. And while progress has to be slow, I’m so proud of the companies and institutions making commitments to advance the progress they’re making. It’s hard, but it doesn’t have to be that hard.
3. What has your experience in the industry been like as a woman?
RC: I am proud to be a part of an agency that supports me every step of the way and has resources to help me advance in my career. I feel supported by both my male and female colleagues, which is a great feeling to have as a junior-level employee.
KC: I’ve experienced uncomfortable moments where I’ve needed to stand up for myself in the face of microaggressors, and that can be a scary stand to make. But I have also been fortunate to be able to surround myself with really strong females—not just in the workplace, but also in life. They have, either directly through feedback or indirectly by leading through example, shown me what strength and confidence looks like. They’ve inspired me to be better every day and to continue to stand up for myself.
SA: There are plenty of examples of uncomfortable comments and behaviors that I wish I had known how to address as they were happening. Thankfully, now there are resources and tools that can help us address those types of situations. Personally, I’ve been very fortunate to work closely with strong female leaders and supportive men during my 10 years in Publicis. My male managers and peers have always been respectful and gone the extra mile to call out bad behavior. That proactive attitude is what we need more of and should be the standard.
4. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias. What does that mean to you? How do you break the bias in the workplace?
RC: What came to mind is all the negative stereotypes and perceptions that come with being a woman of color. One way that I continuously break the bias in the workplace is staying true to myself and not feeling the need to talk a certain way or present a certain image of myself in order to meet “typical societal standards.” Staying true to myself has helped me settle into my role, ensure that my voice and opinion are heard, and understand where I fit in at the agency and where I can be of support for my peers.
KC: I have always been more of a nurturing type, which can be perceived as a weakness for women. I’ve had to learn how to embrace my confidence and know that I can be assertive and speak my mind while still having empathy and genuinely caring about the person across from me. Confidence and empathy are not mutually exclusive.
SA: To me, breaking the bias means calling out microaggressions. It means educating individuals and speaking up against ignorance. However, true progress is holding everyone accountable for making sure they are “woke”—that everyone is doing the work and not just a small group of individuals tasked with raising red flags and keeping everyone else in check.
5. What is one piece of advice that you would give to women who are starting their careers in advertising?
RC: Never forget why you are in the position you’re in, and always remember that you’re your own person. Don’t be afraid to stand up and make sure your opinion is valued and respected in the workplace.
KC: Be willing to do the work. It can be hard to start at the bottom of any field, but there is so much to learn. Start exercising your ability to understand the bigger picture. Don’t just do the task in front of you, understand why it’s important to the business, your client, your team. The more work you put into understanding the full business, and the needs of the people who make that business work, the more successful and confident you will be.
SA: There’s so much I could say, but I think the best piece of advice I can share with anyone starting their career is to be curious! Ask questions on anything, and the right organization and the right co-workers will and should be eager to answer without judgement.
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If you are interested in joining the RFH team, check out our open roles. We know you are not your resume; we understand you are not your work, and we respect that you are so much more than a job description. You are you. So come be you and do you with us.