Women in the industry A type of sorority has emerged

This year 's theme for the UN International Women's Day is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. To mark the day, we spoke to women executives in the industry and asked for their observations on changes and developments towards greater equality and recognition

Valentine Lorant, founder of Paris-based production, distribution and consulting company Artemisa Entertainment

I think a lot has happened and a lot is still about to break through.

The industry is more open to voices coming from women. There is a lot of talent that has been hidden behind men and which now can shine independently.

After working for majors and big corporations like HBO, Paramount and Telefonica, where I was in charge of programming, I launched my production and distribution company Artemisa Entertainment. And now I am having meetings with Netflix, Antena 3, TVE, Movistar, Amazon, Disney and many other major players on a regular basis. I don't feel any disadvantages as a woman, or for being independent. It's a fantastic moment where talent is key and is heard, no matter the gender. This would have been impossible years ago.

That is also why Artemisa is focusing on great female talent and stories. And I believe it's the right moment to do so. It's time for female voices to resonate in the world.

I also notice that a type of sorority has emerged. During my career I have in the past worked a lot with other women who, instead of facilitating the path to others, made it as tough as they had it.

But when I joined HBO Europe in 2016 - which had a Nordic management - this changed totally. Culturally, this company was more inclined towards female management and women were very at ease transmitting knowledge and empowering women. This is a Nordic cultural trait - but I think this is becoming more common in France, Spain and other European territories as well. I think we are now more open to share opportunities, advice, experience and power between women. There's a real complicity emerging between women.

In our industry, the Miami-based Worldwide Audiovisual Women's Association is doing a great job. And the #MeToo movement has helped women and men to identify what is not acceptable - and now women are clearly expressing their limits.

Subtle sexist attitudes or abuse, which were just OK yesterday, are no longer acceptable. Times have changed, although a lot still needs to happen.

And it's only through dialogue that we can make women's empowerment a reality and that men may accept this new reality in harmony, without feeling threatened.

There's a real complicity emerging between women

Rebecca Edwards, vice-president, marketing and communications at Keshet International, the global production and distribution arm of Israeli media company Keshet Media Group

From my point of view, here in the UK, I've never felt there isn't anything I couldn't do within the TV industry because I'm a woman - I think it's historically been more progressive than many sectors.

And yes, I've definitely seen the environment change in the last three decades to see more women progress through the glass ceiling to higher - even the highest-level - positions. I'm lucky enough to work at a company led by a woman, the amazing Keren Shahar, supported by a leadership team that also includes women; and also to get to meet many other inspiring women in influential positions - either EP-ing, producing, running production or distribution companies, or commissioning.

However, I might not feel this way if I was a BAME woman - I think this is an area where the TV sector could do better, particularly at higher levels.

Because of my stage of life, I'm personally really interested and happy to see the conversation changing around the menopause and the peri-menopause. When I first started work, the impact was never acknowledged or discussed - either on the older women it affected, or on the wider workforce within which they worked. I read somewhere that every year 800,000 women drop out of the workforce here in the UK alone, because they struggle to manage their symptoms and their jobs. So, it is great see British companies - like Channel 4, for example - to be formally implementing menopause policies. I guess this is driven by the fact that there are more women in influential positions who are able make change like this happen, and to support women better in the future.

I'm not sure how things are progressing internationally in this area though. But I do know that being open and honest about my brain-fog - and other peri-menopause symptoms - with my colleagues while I experimented with various HRT medications, I'm now back on an even keel.

I'm happy to see the conversation changing around the menopause

Sunita Uchil is chief business officer at Zee Plus, the co-production and development arm of India's Zee Entertainment

I have been in the media business for 30 years now. In the last three decades, women have made strides in various fields of content development - we have more female writers, cinematographers, directors, actors, light and sound specialists, editors and more. TV and OTT especially have opened the hearts and minds of people across the country, in many ways, making them more progressive and allowing newer thoughts and trends to become a part of their daily lives. It is a wonderful time to be in the business - things have only been getting better and more inclusive.

These changes have happened slowly but surely. And the changes permeate not just the media industry, but society in general. The industry is but a reflection of the larger world we inhabit. We now see women paving their way across professions and industries, regardless of outdated conventions and norms that try to limit their aspirations.

How have these changes

LINK:	https://mipblog.com/2023/03/a-type-of-sorority-has-emerged-women/...
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