Exceptional Women Out West: Kat Gordon, founder, 3% Conference - a podcast by TheDrum

According to Kat Gordon, founder of the 3% Conference, she’s always been “used to being the only woman in the room.” Three brothers. Time at Sports Illustrated, PowerBar and other male-centric brands. Now, with her husband and two sons — the greatest gift she’s ever been given. A few years ago, as she puts it “the advertising world was just a little too male even for someone like me who is used to being the only chick in the room.”

This is where social change and a movement began — the annual 3% Conference, dedicated to championing creative female talent and leadership.

Though there has been improvement, with senior female creative leaders now making up about 11% of the industry, Gordon and the industry acknowledge there is still substantial progress to be made.

In our conversation, a number of topics are covered. Getting enough sleep (she’s a big fan and takes it seriously), non-conformity (she suggests a wonderful book by Adam Grant), avoiding the trap of popularity contests (counterproductive, she mentions) and the wisdom of Cindy Gallop (she’s a role model) are just a few morsels of a delicious dish of insight and a peek in to a more exciting future — something the world is ready for — that empowers everyone in the industry.

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