To celebrate International Women’s Day last Friday, DDB Group Aotearoa has launched the Phyllis Project to empower, inspire and nurture the female leaders of tomorrow.
The group-wide initiative, now in its fourth iteration, is welcoming the intake for 2024 and inviting 10 successful applicants to join a year-long programme which involves everything from an intensive offsite learning and inspiration course to mentoring, key speakers, a values session and how to manage imposter syndrome.
The programme is fittingly named after Phyllis Robinson, the first female copy chief in US history who joined DDB back in the Mad Men days. As well as creating award-winning work and leading other notable female copywriters and creators, Advertising Age magazine named the female trailblazer one of the 100 most influential figures in the history of advertising.
Liz Knox, Managing Director Group Operations at DDB Group Aotearoa, says the Phyllis Project was designed as a bridge between the Group’s graduate and more senior management programmes.
“We wanted to identify future female leaders early and put them on a pathway to leadership, giving them the confidence and tools to navigate career progression and the hurdles that gender bias and discrimination might present along the way,” Knox says.
“It not only recognises the Group’s future female leaders but is also creating connections that will live beyond DDB.”