"The biological clock should be ticking for a few more years".
Danielle Knecht-Lanz, CEO and co-founder of Ruf Lanz, is the fifth leader from the Swiss advertising industry to answer our questions on gender issues.
Werbewoche: Why aren't there more women in the executive ranks of the communications industry?
Danielle Knecht-Lanz: This is a general phenomenon. The advertising industry behaves like many other industries. Women are underrepresented.
How many women work in your agency and how many men?
At the moment, the proportion is about fifty-fifty. Without us having aimed for this.
Does your agency have equal pay?
Yes, of course. We pay according to performance, not sex.
Suppose your agency introduces a women's quota. What do you think of that?
Quotas are being discussed for the management level. Not necessary for us. Markus is clearly a man, I'm a woman. It works out well.
What would have to change to make it easier for women to reconcile family and career?
The biological clock would have to tick a few years longer.
If you were a man - would you be in a different position today?
I don't think so. Personality and talent are more important than gender in our industry.
What can men do better - in relation to your professional environment?
Marching along at the Sechseläuten in tights.
Why are there more advertisers of the year than advertisers of the year?
This is the logical consequence of the fact that there are fewer women than men in top positions. Perhaps also because there are more "silent creators" among women than among men.
Which professional colleague has impressed you the most in her career so far?
That's Martin Suter, although he doesn't fit 100 percent into the scheme of your question.
Have you - in relation to your professional career - ever had negative experiences that you would not have had as a man?
No. In fact, as a woman, I feel I get preferential treatment.
What advice do you have for young women who want to enter this industry and reach your position in the medium to long term?
Talent, willingness to perform, ability to deal with conflict, and leadership.
Do you recommend that young women enter your industry?
In the case of the above quartet, yes.
Published so far:
Morning: Gaby Zimmerli, at the time of first publication Ogilvy & Mather
This article is from the "Women's Issue" of the Advertising Week (8/2018, May 4, 2018).
Editors: Ann-Kathrin Kübler, Thomas Häusermann
