As part of our commitment to inclusion across the full spectrum of diversity, and as an employer of choice, AKQA desires to be a leading creative and professional services firm for the attraction, promotion and retention of women and other under-represented groups. We recognise that a series of actions needs to be taken to advance equality and actively address any issues faced that may hinder development. Through a series of company-wide, industry and recruitment initiatives, we are ensuring a greater pipeline of female talent at all levels, while also hiring and promoting more women into senior positions. This work to actively highlight women role models and encourage our people to progress into leadership roles is ongoing, and includes the stories below.
Sam Sterling, who has been leading our Shanghai team, has been promoted to managing director for the Greater China and Japan region. Sam has been with AKQA for 18 months, and is excited to draw upon these two progressive and culturally interesting markets to continue to deliver value for our clients. Read about Sam’s vision for the region on Campaign Asia.
AKQA marked International Women’s Day with a host of initiatives and opportunities for employees and clients reflecting the theme of this year’s campaign, Balance for Better.
AKQA Group Creative Director Michelle Lassman hosted a Q&A session with Syracuse University about AKQA’s global student competition, Future Lions. Michelle answered questions from students, already working on and finessing their ideas for the 2019 competition.
Now with monthly lunchtime meet-ups, the Women for Woman (W4W) group invites volunteer hosts to select a topic and facilitate conversation from there.
Woke & Wonderful is AKQA’s initiative devoted to addressing diversity and inclusion in the Portland studio. Designed and led by the people who work there, Woke & Wonderful is driven by a simple belief: that great ideas come from diverse people and diverse perspectives.
Recognising that a series of actions need to be taken to advance equality and actively address issues, AKQA participated in the 2018 Women in Technology Australia conference in Sydney. AKQA Melbourne Principal Architect, Lindsay Lim, took the stage to share her insights on developer problem-solving methodologies.
This September, Executive Customer Experience director from Melbourne, Tracy Brown is featured in the August/September issue of Marketing Magazine – The Simplicity Issue.
AKQA is pleased to announce that Kanika Chandra, Technical Delivery Manager from our Gurgaon studio, has been nominated for WPP Stella India Chapter.
AKQA Portland, in collaboration with local group Ladies’ Night PDX, presented “So You Think You Want To Get Into UX?” – an interactive event created by AKQA Senior UX Designer Aimée Reed in New York.
AKQA Managing Director of the Shanghai studio Sam Sterling joined the team and clients in Melbourne and Sydney to share insights on how the future of retail is coming to life in China.
The Empower conference, organised by Women in Sport will both identify and help to solve the causes of inequality. The conference will also harness the latest insights, social innovation and best practice evidence to provide solutions.
Lisa will oversee the project management department and join the Atlanta leadership team. Lisa has more than two decades’ experience having worked with clients across multiple industries, from infant care and consumer goods, to telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.