What does it mean to you to be female and in the creative industries?
I think that the creative industries allow women greater freedoms than other industries. In industries that are more aggressive, like banking or government, there is this belief that women need to act more like men in order to be treated equally or to get ahead. Whereas the creative industries naturally lends itself to women and their inherent strengths: communication, collaboration, nurturing and supporting talent in others.These are the most vital aspects of the creative industry which is why most of the world's top producers, agents and stylists are women. Even the world's best male creatives - in particular photographers - have a strong woman who is their right hand, usually a stylist, without whom their ideas and vision wouldn't come to fruition. Models often tell me that they prefer to work with a female photographer, not because they don't feel comfortable with male photographers, but because the female photographers just 'get them'. Male photographers will try to make an image sexy, female photographers don't even need to try. There is an automatic connection. Women represent women's sexuality and power so breathtakingly and sensually and in ways that men never could. A photograph of a woman by a woman is always sexier than a photograph by a man, that connection just translates through the image. Even if the photograph is by a man but the stylist is a woman, it will still be sexier because the stylist influences the art direction, poses and ideas so that female creative energy still finds its way into the photograph.
Do you have words of wisdom for other women looking to break into the industry?
Never feel that you have to be anyone other than who you are. I have students who ask me, 'how can I be more of a fashion person?' And I remember feeling the same way when I was first starting out. And I tell them, don't try to be a fashion person, try to be a real person. People will tell you that you need to be a 'bitch' to get ahead because fashion is cut throat. I can tell you for a fact that some of the most successful people in fashion are the loveliest, kindest, most gentle people because they are in touch with who they are. They are comfortable with themselves. The people who are cut-throat are the people at the bottom of the ladder and they never move up the ladder because no-one wants to work with them. When I encounter people who are difficult - which is rare because I choose not to work with difficult people - I try to remember that people who are aggressive or defensive act this way because they are incredibly insecure deep down. So rather than meeting their aggression with my own aggression I try to be reassuring and kind to them to put them at ease, once they've relaxed a bit it's easier to complete the task that we need to do.
Who is your all time female creative icon?
I respect every woman that has made her name and gotten to the top as I know she has had to work so hard to get there. But my personal creative icon is Susie Babchick, a photographic agent who blows my mind with her insight, wisdom and ceaseless good-humour. She has spent the majority of her career working as agent and producer to some of the most original, successful and highly regarded fashion photographers in the world - most notably Corinne Day, the most successful female British fashion photographer of all time – she is also the photographer to have discovered and launched the career of Kate Moss. Susie was handpicked by Hollywood director Ridley Scott’s film and production agency to launch and create a photographic division at their agency in London. Susie is also a practicing Buddhist and she just knows how to handle any person or situation. When I have a problem I ask myself, what would Susie do? She just has the most amazing personality and energy and it lights up the room.
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