As a woman leader, I’m well aware that there’s still much work to be done in achieving true diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the region. It’s true that for women to gain equal footing, policies and practices need to evolve across all levels, but we must also acknowledge that meaningful diversity in leadership takes years to achieve and even longer to measure results effectively.
Rather than reiterate the obvious, that DE&I policies are crucial and have been proven to positively impact everything from talent acquisition to company performance, I want to focus on something that doesn’t get talked about enough; the strength of women leaders in our industry and the pivotal role they play in driving progress.
And this is not just about recognising the women who’ve risen to the top, but also the men who’ve supported and championed them along the way. Most importantly, when these opportunities do present themselves, it’s time for us, as women in the industry, to step up and claim our place.
I look around today and see so many inspiring women leading agencies, running global campaigns, and influencing the creative direction of some of the world’s biggest brands. And they aren’t the exception anymore— they’re becoming the norm.
‘We as women also play a crucial role in advancing DE&I’
This didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of hard work, persistence, and, yes, a cultural shift in how we perceive leadership. Today, it’s not uncommon to see women at the helm, and that’s something we should be incredibly proud of.
But what’s even more encouraging is that many men in this industry have been instrumental in supporting that shift. They’ve actively championed women, not because it’s trendy, but because they recognise talent when they see it. They’ve opened doors, provided mentorship, supported initiatives for women in leadership and given women in the industry the room to grow and excel. This is something that deserves more recognition.
In fact, I’ve had the privilege of working with many men who have pushed me to take on more responsibility, who’ve opened doors for me, and who’ve mentored me as I climbed the ranks. We need to give credit where it’s due. There are men out there who are allies in this journey, and they deserve recognition for their role in promoting and supporting women within their organisations.
That said, we as women also play a crucial role in advancing DE&I. It’s not just about being given opportunities, it’s about taking them too. Too often, I see women hesitating when promotions are on the table. We second-guess ourselves, wondering if we meet every criterion or if we can handle the additional responsibility.
Meanwhile, our male counterparts often don’t hesitate — they go for it, whether they feel 100 per cent prepared or not. And that’s where we can learn a valuable lesson.
‘Creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive’
We need to stop holding back. It’s time to step up and put ourselves forward, even when it feels uncomfortable and when we fear we’re not ready. Opportunities don’t always come knocking and we have to be willing to seek them out and seize them when they arise.
I know stepping up is easier said than done, and I too have doubted my own skills and qualities many times in my career, but it’s a muscle we have to build.
The more we push ourselves to step into the spotlight, the more we’ll see women at the forefront of leadership roles. And once we’re there, we have a duty to advocate for the next generation of talent.
We need to advocate for the women and men on our teams, giving them the same support and encouragement that we expect from our own leaders. This isn’t just about lifting ourselves up; it’s about creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of gender.
I do see the future as bright and one where both women and men can lead and innovate together. The DE&I journey is ongoing, but let’s not forget to celebrate the progress we have made, the women leaders who inspire us and the men who continue to support. Let’s claim our place and together move the industry forward.
By Kamille Marchant, Festival Director, Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativity
