Supporting women since 1923

Women in Advertising and Communications, Leadership (WACL) is a membership organisation whose purpose is to accelerate gender equality in the advertising and communications industries. Founded in 1923, our membership currently comprises nearly 300 senior women drawn from client organisations, agencies, media owners and trade bodies.

We are lucky enough to count many high-profile women such as Dame Carolyn McCall (CEO, ITV), Justine Roberts (Founder, Mumsnet) and Alessandra Bellini (CCO, Tesco PLC) among our members, as well as industry trailblazers like Carol Reay (the first woman to have her name on the door of an agency) and Barbara Nokes (the creative behind many of Levi’s most famous ads).

Making change happen

Our membership today reflects many of those at the forefront of progressive change, including Chaka Sobhani (CCO Leo Burnett), Selma Nicholls (Founder, Looks Like Me), Helen Normoyle (Founder, My Menopause Centre) and Nana Bempah (founder, POCC).

Why women’s leadership is important

Women leaders make powerful role models and not just for other women. Research suggests that if leaders were judged solely in terms of the traits that are most valued and effective, 70% of leaders would be female. But women are still woefully under-represented at the most senior levels in advertising and communications. By leading for change, we aim to improve female representation in key roles, address the industry’s persistent gender pay gap, create more inclusive cultures, and ultimately create more equitable and more productive workplaces for everyone.