Creative agency Smyle has launched a new leadership and career accelerator programme titled ‘This Way Up’ for all employees who identity as female and non-binary.*
The initiative comes from a recognition of the existing gaps in leadership roles for women within the creative and experiential industry and the urgency to address these disparities.
This Way Up is run in partnership with AllBright Alliance, a global collective of businesses and thought-leaders committed to “creating unlimited possibilities for women’s careers through data and insights, development of leadership skills and a focus on gender equity.”
Approximately 29 Smyle female and non-binary employees will participate in the Career Accelerator course, designed to enhance career opportunities and teach leadership skills.
‘This Way Up’ emerged from Smyle’s Springboard initiative, which encourages employees to pitch “groundbreaking ideas” to directors at the agency. Suggested by Smyle’s strategist Sophie Hulf (pictured), who then worked in collaboration with Smyle’s executive design director Emma Gardner, to embark on a partnership with AllBright Alliance.
Gardner said: “Every application confirmed that we’re moving in the right direction. Good luck to all the women involved; you’re the first of many more to come, paving the way for the many women who will follow. I can’t wait to see the ripple effect of This Way Up across the industry.”
Keith O’Loughlin, CEO, Smyle, added: “This is not just a programme. It’s a testament to our commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity. We believe in empowering our female and non-binary talent.”
This Way Up will run two cohorts, one starting September 2023 and the second in January 2024.
While the programme is currently only open to Smyle employees who identity as female and non-binary (due to its current employee demographic), a Smyle spokesperson said that “the agency would adapt the programme, and have an open approach that also serves other gender identities as the programme evolves.”
