Johanna McDowell on bringing SA flair to the Women in Marketing Awards

Johanna McDowell, CEO of the Independent Agency Search and Selection company (IAS) and only SA representative on the UK-based Women in Marketing’s (WIM) advisory council for 2018.

Johanna McDowell’s name is well-known in the industry, as she counsels clients and agencies around expectations in the advertising and marketing process. That’s in her role as CEO of the IAS, a division of black-owned marketing services group, Mazole Holdings.

She’s also been on both the agency and client side of the fence, having built her career in both marketing and advertising since 1974, notably holding directorship in South Africa and British advertising agencies alike until she was appointed managing director of Grey Phillips Advertising in 1988.

With her wealth of understanding how things work here, it’s fitting that McDowell’s just added an excellent international accolade to her career, having been announced as the only representative of South Africa to be appointed on the UK-based Women in Marketing’s advisory council.

As the only South African woman to be appointed to the advisory council, she’ll be instrumental to the WIM Council in hosting the WIM Awards in South Africa in August this year, their eighth rendition and the first time outside the UK. Exciting times ahead!

But let’s back-track a little for the Women in Marketing back story….

Why WIM Awards matter

Women in Marketing CEO Ade Onilude founded WIM in 2004 in order to empower women to fulfil their potential within the marketing profession in particular. The WIM network was thus launched as a forum to educate, inspire, connect, share and recognise women in the marketing profession.

Happy #FollowFriday to Ade Onilude, CEO and Founder of Women In Marketing! Tireless champion for women, diversity and inclusion in the marketing world. With Ade on your side, you're bound to smash through any barriers �������� . . . #womeninmarketing #diversity #inclusion #equality #womenofcolour #representation #woc #peopleofcolour #poc #creativeindustry #ethnicminority #bame #empoweredwomen #marketing #advertising #adeonilude #ff #TOBfollows #TOBff

A post shared by The Other Box (@_theotherbox) on May 5, 2017 at 5:31am PDT

For example, last year marked the first time that the Awards expanded their scope to new categories and international entries. I myself was honoured, thrilled and excited to be shortlisted in the WIM Journalist of the Year Award category for my efforts in highlighting issues of inclusion, equality and diversity in the industry.

Bizcommunity's Leigh Andrews, only South African shortlisted for WIM awards

Bizcommunity.com  24 Oct 2017

Skipping back to 2018, Women in Marketing’s focus is on futurism, global culture and membership. Onilude says McDowell’s impressive background and knowledge of the industry, particularly in South Africa, will be a true asset as they further expand their community globally.

Here, McDowell shares a few quick insights into her involvement with Women in Marketing as well as their importance in this time of calling out inequality…

Firstly, congratulations! Explain your involvement with the Women in Marketing.
It is a great honour to have been asked to become a member of their advisory council. The council is a group of experienced and highly respected marketers and marketing communications people – men and women alike, who have demonstrated a commitment to marketing and to women during their careers – and act as a steering committee for WIM.

What makes the WIM Awards stand out from all the others out there, and why is that important in this time of calling out inequality?
The Women in Marketing awards are designed to acknowledge the contribution that women make across various aspects of the industry. There are no other awards for women like this in the world.

That’s for sure. What does your new role as the only SA representative to be appointed on the advisory council entail?
I’m not sure yet, but clearly, there will be matters of policy that we will need to debate and advise on. The role is non-executive.

I am looking forward to being part of this international team and to assisting WIM with their plans to host the 2018 WIM awards in South Africa in August this year!

Understandably so! What can we expect from the first Women in Marketing Awards in South Africa?
I’m hoping that we’ll get to see at least one South African woman win one of the awards, but for me:

the fact that WIM has decided to make South Africa the venue of choice for the first time the awards are being held outside of the UK is a real feather in South Africa’s cap.

I think we can expect a lot of excitement around this.

Especially if the UK version is anything to go by! Follow McDowell and Women in Marketing on Twitter for the latest updates.