News and Insights
Women’s History Month 2023 Spotlights
March 31, 2023
At FINN, we’re continuously inspired by the women at our agency across all levels. More than 70% of our agency and 60% of our leadership is made up of women. During Women’s History Month, we’ve showcased the voices of women at our agency and throughout history that innovate, lead with integrity and effect change.
Jasmine Hampton, Associate Vice President
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou, American author, poet and civil rights activist
Similar to Maya, I live by a very simple life rule: “Dress to impress because you never know who you will meet or where the day may take you.” I believe life is truly meant to be lived and celebrated with those most important to us.
Celia Jones, Global CMO
The prevailing blueprint for leadership is one of tenacity, force, showing no signs of weakness. But what I know for sure is this: The boldest act of leadership lies in simply showing up as yourself. The unique collection of expertise, experience, and emotions that only you bring to the role. The integrity you show matters. The influence you have matters. And the internal feelings you experience as a human being can give dimension, authenticity, and gravitas to your external show of strength.
Juliet Zhu, Senior Partner
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the men and women leaders and colleagues who recognized me based on my capabilities and potential, without the discrimination of race, gender, color nor nationality. I am still proud of the moment as the first Chinese who joined the London office 16 years ago and thankful for the openness and inclusiveness of the global manufacturing practice.
Shannon Riggs, Managing Partner
I wouldn’t be here today without my grandmother, Marjorie Brewer. She was fearless in her compassion, in her commitment to leaving the world better than she found it and in the strikingly subtle (and not so subtle) ways she inspired those around her that anything is possible with elbow grease, faith and community.
Zaria Pinchbeck, Managing Partner
For Women’s History Month, I would like to draw attention to the importance of investing in girls’ education globally. When we invest in girls’ secondary education not only does the lifetime earnings of girls increase but child marriage rates decline, child mortality rates fall, maternal mortality rates fall and national growth rates rise. Every girl globally should have the right to an education and not just access to school but to feeling safe in classrooms and supported to study the subjects and careers they choose.
“If we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.” – Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani female education activist and founder of the Malala Fund
Alty Falvey, Senior Account Executive
“Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered.” – Michelle Obama, the first Black First Lady of the U.S., author and activist
Bess Winston, Senior Partner
On the elevator ride to the top, it’s crucial to grab the hand of a younger female colleague and pull them up with you. That’s because, despite strides in gender equity, the workplace can be lonely for women, especially as you progress through executive ranks. And the view from the top is discouraging: In 2022, as noted by the advocacy organization 50/50 Women on Boards, women held a record 28% of board seats on the Russell 3000 index of publicly traded companies. But that’s hardly representative. It’s particularly troublesome because empirical evidence shows gender diversity on boards impacts ESG performance of companies—an area I care about deeply.
I’m acutely aware of the need to pay it forward in tribute to those women who were instrumental in my professional life and to ensure a level playing field for the next generation. The defining act of leadership and mentorship is not just about giving advice but giving a demonstrable hand up.
Natalie Terashima, Senior Partner
“Light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States, diplomat, pacifist and activist
Roosevelt was a trailblazer on so many levels. It’s inspiring that – particularly given the era and cultural environment at the time – she understood the importance of her position and how to use her platform for good. She was an outspoken advocate for women in the workplace, the equal civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans, and helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN. She was incredibly progressive and courageous for her time, and her opinions were not always popular. But she persisted in the pursuit of what she felt was right and in the service of others. Although she had the luxury of status, she didn’t take a back seat. She used it to speak out against injustices she saw in the world. I love this quote from her because it reminds us that even in the face of adversity or challenging or dark times, we all possess the power to create a “spark.” We can choose to focus on the bad, or we can choose to illuminate our path, to stand up for what we believe in, and be a source of brilliance, light and levity for others. I choose to light a candle.
Chantal Bowman-Boyles, Managing Partner
I wouldn’t be where I am today without Miss Carter, who taught me history at Castle Manor Upper School. Having managed to royally mess up my A levels, and scrape a place on a Biochemistry degree course, which I wasn’t sure about, Miss Carter told me, ‘Do what you love, you’ll never be bored, and it will give you time to decide what you want to do next’. I retook the A levels, studied history with another inspiration, Dr. Tim Hitchcock, and always held onto that thought. Do what you love.
Thank you, Miss Carter. And you Dr. Hitchcock. I’ll always appreciate your wisdom. I’ve been lucky enough to make a career out of doing something I love.
Marina Stenos, Senior Partner
“Remember that you are all people and all people are you.” – Joy Harjo, three-term U.S. Poet Laureate
Our connection to ourselves, one another and the world begins when we are in touch with our own unique identity. It is the place from which we tap into empathy, responsibility, respect and most importantly hope for making the world a better place. And, ironically, the more we know and celebrate ourselves, the more we connect to others.
Poets, like Harjo, have always lit the way for me by expressing the diversity of lived female experiences—the joyful and the painful, the simple and complicated—through language that illuminates and heightens the beautiful tapestry that is everyday life. It is the poet who carries the flame generation after generation, guiding and questioning, asking us to confront what it means to be human. Ultimately, that is the central purpose of all communication, no matter the medium.
Anne-Hélène Lagadeuc, Senior Vice President
“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.” ― Marie Curie (1867-1934) – Polish-born French physicist recognized as one of the greatest scientists of her time and twice a winner of the Nobel Prize
Jill Williams, Partner
I feel continually blessed to be surrounded by so many brave, talented and kind women at FINN who inspire me every day. This quote came to mind:
“Watching great people do what you love is a good way to start learning how to do it yourself.” ― Amy Poehler, American actor, comedian and writer
Jenny Lo, Managing Partner
I believe in leading in all directions, managing this delicate balance is an art. You lead in the front with insight and courage to deliver results and drive change; you also find yourself leading alongside with empathy and a growth mindset while everyone learns and makes progress; yet more often than not, you lead from behind with humility and quiet confidence to let the team shine.
Aviva Sapir, Senior Account Executive
The leaders that I admire most are those that have artfully mastered the balance of strength and determination with humility and understanding, know how to encourage others to constantly grow, treat everyone with respect, and are always looking to learn from those around them.
Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner
As a leader, my philosophy revolves around the concepts of empowerment and encouragement. I believe that a successful leader is one who empowers team members to reach their full potential and encourages them to take ownership of their work. This means creating an environment where individuals feel supported, challenged, and valued and are given the resources and autonomy they need to succeed.
Maintaining trust is also an essential aspect of leadership and success. Leaders must build and maintain trust with their team members by being honest, transparent, and reliable. Trust is built over time through consistent actions and behaviours that demonstrate integrity, respect, and empathy.
Leaders must take responsibility for their actions, avoid defensiveness and blame, and practice humility. Being humble does not mean being quiet or shying away from challenges. It means acknowledging one’s strengths and weaknesses, being open to feedback and recognizing the contributions of others.
Women leaders of today are tenacious and diverse. They bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table and their leadership styles reflect this diversity. As a leader, I believe in leveraging all my strengths and not minimizing them out of fear that others will be turned off or intimidated. I strive to be bold and decisive and let my voice be heard.
To sum up, my leadership philosophy is centered around empowerment, encouragement, trust, responsibility, humility, and inclusivity. By embodying these values and principles, I believe I can lead my team to success and create a positive and impactful work environment.