Gender equality organization The 3%Movement has announced that global creative collective Forsman & Bodenfors has become the first and only agency to receive Global 3% Certification, further solidifying the collective’s commitment to fostering a collaborative, diverse and inclusive work environment around the world. Subsequently, all of Forsman & Bodenfors’ offices have received individual certification.
The 3% Certification is an independent and rigorous assessment system that supports companies in their effort to retain and promote women into leadership. During a vetting period spanning several months, The 3% Movement worked closely with Forsman & Bodenfors’ offices in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Shanghai, Singapore, Toronto, Montreal, and New York to unpack their policies, programs, systems, and the cultural intangibles around women and underrepresented talent in their workplaces. Based on the data provided, in-person interviews with employees, an anonymous employee survey, and external research, Forsman & Bodenfors was evaluated on three key pillars: Female Leadership, Workplace Equality and Culture, and
Equal Creative Opportunity.
“The 3% Movement is excited to announce its first-ever Global Certification, awarded to Forsman & Bodenfors. Spread out across three continents and five countries, each Forsman & Bodenfors office we certified was distinct in its unique strengths and capacities,” said Kat Gordon, founder of The 3% Movement. “Yet echoing throughout was a singular culture that values kindness, gender equity, collaboration and a creative team structure that ensures that everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. Forsman & Bodenfors’ world-class, inclusive creative work speaks volumes about the culture that created it.”
The recent work created across Forsman & Bodenfors’ global client roster was also assessed for its inclusion both in front and behind the camera. From Volvo’s “The E.V.A. Initiative” and SK-II’s “Timelines” to industry digital tool Grow Your Circle and Goldman Sachs’ “When a Woman Leads,” Forsman & Bodenfors’ efforts to create campaigns that are inclusive and representative of the markets they serve played an integral role in achieving global 3%
certification.
“In a sea of many shiny advertising awards, this one is different and feels particularly special. One of our eleven principles states, ‘We are a human workplace,’ which means that we are committed to creating and fostering a collaborative, equitable and inclusive work environment across the global collective,” said Michele Prota, global board member of talent, Forsman & Bodenfors. “Having all of our offices become 3% Certified is a big part of this effort. As we move forward, we’ll continue to celebrate and empower the richness of different ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives that leads to world-class work and makes a real change for our clients, careers, and society as a whole.”
“This is a recognition that really goes to all the people of the collective, for being open-minded, nice, honest and fun,” said Anna Qvennerstedt, copywriter and global executive chair, Forsman & Bodenfors. “A strong culture is built from hundreds of everyday interactions and it is a pure privilege to be part of this gang.”
In 2018, Forsman & Bodenfors’ co-headquarters in New York became one out of seven agencies to receive The 3% Certification in the United States. Earlier this year, the office also announced that it reached pay parity within its workforce.
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More