To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re putting the spotlight on some of the most inspiring women in the creative industries on The Dots.
Over the rest of the week, we’ll be highlighting their work, thoughts on what it means to them to be in the creative industries, their inspirations, aspirations, iconic role models and sage words of advice.
Next up, we have Stephanie McClaren-Neckles, Co-founder at Let’s Be Brief, bridging the gap between culture and business for creative entrepreneurs.
What does it mean to you to be female and in the creative industries?
In regards to representation, it’s a very significant factor, given that as a woman, and a black woman, I am often the ‘double-minority’ in board meetings and at public speaking events. In such circumstances, my presence can take on additional connotations outside of my role. I’m particularly aware of the impact it can have on younger women, as seeing someone ‘like you’ can definitely impart a sense of confidence — ‘if you’ve done it, I can do it too’ type attitude.Outside of that, my approach has always been to ‘Do You’, so by definition I couldn’t do anything else. Being a woman is an influential factor, just as much as other facets of my make-up, like my tastes, insights and character.
Do you have words of wisdom for other women looking to break into the industry?
A remix of a well-known Napoleon Hill quote surmises my thoughts well: “Whatever the mind of [wo]man can conceive and believe, [she] can achieve.”Self-belief and confidence are such large proponents of success in any sphere of life. Cultivating an inherent belief in your talent and worth makes any challenge a surmountable task.
Who is your all time female creative icon?
Do I have to pick just one?! There have been/are so many awesome creative women! One of the most inspirational icons for me though, has to be Maya Angelou. Her talent was so immense that it couldn’t be contained within one discipline or sense of expression.Apart from her multitude of creative achievements within literature, dance, and film, Maya was a towering intellectual and ardent social activist. These qualities influenced her cultural output, which in turn influenced American culture and beyond. If I get to experience/achieve a fifth of what she did, I will have lived a very full life indeed.
Check The Dots, our blog, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for inspirational insight throughout the week.
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