Vol 014 | May 27 2021

Welcome to the fourteenth volume of The Persistence, which rounds up female-focused reads to help you feel seen, save time and make sense of the world. Thanks for dropping in.

POWER

HOW TO NETWORK LIKE A TOTAL BOSS

Aside from those who pledged to cut their carbon footprint and ‘nail that banana bread recipe’, it probably serves none of us well to recall the New Year’s resolutions made at the dawn of 2020. I was reminded of mine this week, however, when I read an interview with two CEOs on the power of networking - because, yes, I inadvertently picked the most anti-social, job insecure year in living memory to try and broaden my professional network. Ho ho ho.

Now, as the world gingerly opens up and businesses seek to rectify the loss of female talent (c’mon, if we all manifest this to the universe, it has to happen, right?), networking feels more crucial than ever. Still as unpalatable as the warm white wine that used to be handed out with your name badge, of course, but crucial nonetheless. After all, Covid has cast a stark spotlight on the lack of diversity in positions of power. If that’s not the perfect cue to usher out those (im)patiently waiting in the wings, what is?

Still, even the most talented need a strategy to take centre stage. In We Aren’t Friends But I Would Do Anything For Her, Jennifer Tejada and Yvonne Wassenaar share both their boardroom game plans and their own journeys to the C-suite (and - credit where it’s due - high five to the male sponsors that championed them). But what I really loved about their advice was the no-nonsense definition of networking itself. Stripped of the mask of false friendship, they outline an unashamedly transactional, but no less supportive exchange that feels honest, unfussy and achievable. It’s a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous women-as-best-friends-and-business-partners narrative too, which has powered many incredible companies for sure, but also blurred the lines about what professional allyship has to involve. Getting a hand up the career ladder doesn’t have to lead to brunching together every weekend, Tejada and Wassenaar make clear. It’s about respect, not like-ability, however hard-wired that is for many women. And the only obligation you have after being helped to the top? To extend your hand to someone else of course. Sounds like a 2022 resolution waiting to happen...

RELATIONSHIPS

MIDLIFE MARRIAGE - A SURVIVAL GUIDE?

There are quite a few assumptions in Leading Ladies Leaving, which offers one writer’s theory on why many marriages break up in midlife. For a start, ‘marriage’ means straight, is assumed to have occurred young and include kids. And while some of the ideas aren’t exactly groundbreaking - and ‘case studies’ Melinda Gates and Mackenzie Bezos sure as hell aren’t your average divorcees - I think there are interesting reflection points, especially around equality, for any kind of relationship. Plus there’s this statistic that I hadn’t seen before; that 70% of divorces are initiated by women. Answers on a postcard…

EQUALITY

THE ART OF BEING A WOMAN

“We’ve become used to saying, ‘Here is an undiscovered old woman’ or, ‘Here is this young hot shot straight out of art school, but we don’t have a narrative for the less sexy, ‘Here is this great woman who’s been looking after her kids for 15 years and is now re-entering the art world.’”

If like me you’d casually thought that the art world might be a slightly more forgiving place to be a woman - all that creative, often unconventional thinking an’ all - then may I propose a little one-on-one time with this piece Why Do We Make It So Hard For Artist Moms To Flourish? While as the name suggests, it takes direct aim at the penalty paid by artists who happen to be mothers, it also raises a lot of interesting points that go beyond the clash with kids, like riffing on society’s obsession with young hot shots, and revealing the disheartening gender gap on gallery walls. Just 11% of art acquired by top museums between 2008 and 2018 for instance, was made by women. 11 sodding per cent. And if that’s not maddening enough, around 70% of art school graduates are female.

Kids aside, it also got me thinking about which professions, if any, truly embrace a late bloomer joining their ranks. The film and advertising industries have started making the teeniest of inroads in to their intersections of sexism and ageism, with attempts to increase visibility for older women (which in this instance we all know means, ooh, the bleak hinterlands post 32 years old). In sport, many female athletes are showing that they can and will defy expectations and continue to compete after maternity leave. But where are those industries that offer space and celebration of complete career switchers? Not a young prodigy or a retirement refusenik, but a middle-aged fresh starter, new to the game but raring to go (again). Beyond teaching and novel writing I struggled. Any ideas?

Not on her watch! Unpicking the axis of evil:

Ageism: Fed up with all those 30 under 30 lists that idolise the young and write off everyone else? So was marketing VP Anna Dalziel. “I realised as I turned 40 that we continue to recognise all the rising stars within our industry, but what about the established stars? We should feel proud of our journey and share our experience so others can learn from us.” So she launched the Forty Over Forty awards flying the flag for experienced talent in advertising, marketing and media, and currently taking nominations. Will more industries follow suit?

Sexism: Funding rounds are notoriously difficult for female founders, but here’s one way to confront sexist investors. Hit ‘em in the wallet. Joanna Griffiths, CEO of Knix Wear Inc, disqualified any investor who voiced concern at her pregnancy “even if they gave us the highest valuation.” If I tell you I found this story via the powerhouse that is Cindy Gallop, you might have an inkling how it worked out…

SHORTCUTS TO THE LONG READ

1.Samoa’s first female president was deliberately locked out of parliament on her first day. Nevertheless she persisted.

2. String up the sanitary towels, tomorrow is World Menstrual Hygiene Day - then bring your colleagues up to speed on your cycle with these period emojis on Slack…

3. So much to love in this big energy interview with US Soccer star and equal pay warrior Megan Rapinoe; attitude, ambition, and the clips of her kicking a ball about in Prada and Loewe are a joy.

Enjoyed this edition? Please help me spread the word by sharing with friends. And do tell me your thoughts on these stories, the state of the world or just what the hell’s for dinner tonight. TIA!

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