Equal salaries and equal opportunities should be a must

Thais Frazão of Ogilvy Brazil speaks on breaking through barriers and Imposter Syndrome to occupy our deserved space

出自 India Fizer , AdForum

Ogilvy Brazil
广告/全方位服务/整合传播
São Paulo, 巴西
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Thais Frazão
Chief Strategy Officer Ogilvy Brazil
 

Visibility can go a long way in improving one's confidence. Thais Frazão, CSO of Ogilvy Brazil, proves that having a leader that is supportive and inclusive to all is crucial to improving diversity, equity and inclusion across all spectrums.

 

Can you tell us a bit about your role and your journey to arriving there?

I am CSO (Chief Strategy Officer) of Ogilvy Brazil and Latam. I’d started my career as a planner because in my first job interview for an account role, I heard that I was too curious and being a strategist would make good use of that! So, on my journey I've worked in: Publicis, JWT, Lowe and over the last 8 years I’ve been working at Ogilvy. I have experienced different eras of planning: more connected to research, to business, to creativity, to data… and was supported and inspired by amazing teams and leaders that shaped my career.

 

What barriers do women still face in our industry and how can we challenge them?

There are a lot, such as putting in a lot of energy to be listened to, occupying our deserved space, and having equal salaries. But there is one thing that for me is a real challenge: to build our own self confidence and authority. In general, women must fight against the "Imposter Syndrome" everyday to have a clear and correct self-perception.

 

How do you use your position to build equitable teams that are diverse and balanced?

Equal salaries and equal opportunities needs to be a must; we shouldn’t have to be discussing this anymore. I understand that both women and men can do amazing work; there is no difference on brands, or on categories, they both have the same brain. I also understand that more than having a diverse team, I need to be a leader that can embrace them, and be inclusive of all. I try hard to make them feel comfortable and confident to accommodate their different journeys, backgrounds and roles of their lives. I know that what works for me as a model may not suit others.

 

Who are your female advertising icons/role models and why?

I have worked and still work with amazing women that inspire me every moment. There are lots of names I could say here but, the important thing is that they all are very talented and gentle people first, committed to making a real impact through the work we do. For example, we have a new Global CEO – Devika Bulchandani. It is amazing to have such an inspiring leader. I don’t know if you had the chance to hear her speaking. If you haven't, I recommend the podcast episode called "The I Love You Leader." It is all about that.