At the 2016 Matrix Awards, hosted this week by the New York Women In Communications Institute, eight exceptional women were honoured for their work.
As each received their reward, they took to the dais to deliver an inspiration message to women who are starting out their journeys in the communications industry.
Here’s an abridged version of what they had to say. Click on the honouree’s names to watch their speeches in full.
LIZ KAPLOW
Kaplow Communications
“Do what makes you happy.”
First to speak was Liz Kaplow, the “accidental entrepreneur” who founded PR agency Kaplow Communications, which helps major brands such as Target and Skype reach widescale markets with a human touch.
Kaplow told the audience of her journey from inquisitive child who learnt the importance of doing what makes you happy, to become one of the most influential women in her field.
Her ultimate point was clear: the power of connection is key. A faceless company cannot be a successful company.
LINDA BOFF
GE
“Take the passionate, not the practical step forward.”
Linda Boff worked in museums, finance, and PR agencies before arriving at GE, where she is currently Chief Marketing Officer.
In her speech, Boff champions the importance of being willing to make up what happens next, rather than setting off blindly towards a goal. She reminds us, as she has reminded herself, to always be inventive and have a ‘challenger mindset’, two elements that have helped GE continually evolve and redefine.
She compares the 124 year-old company to a startup in the way it embraces the new, and with minds like hers it’s clear how that has worked so well.
CAROL HAMILTON
L’Oreal
“Because I’m worth it.”
When Carol Hamilton first heard her company’s tagline, penned when she was only starting out in the business, it resounded with her to the point where she had to stop her work.
Known best as an executive for L’Oreal, Hamilton is also a keen philanthropist, something she reminds us of as she discusses her vehement objection to the notion that beauty is superficial.
In her mind, beauty takes many forms, but all culminate into one thing: happiness. That’s what it’s all about.
MELLODY HOBSON
Ariel Investments
“Be unapologetically original.”
Mellody Hobson – President of Ariel Investments, Chairperson for Dreamworks Animation, and Director of The Estée Lauder Companies and Starbucks – took a lighter approach to her speech.
She reminded everyone in the room of what brought them all together, what made them all alike: “We’ve all danced to music by Prince”.
Hobson recalls how she and husband George Lucas invited Prince to perform at their wedding in 2013. As the artist played like he was in front of a packed-out crowd at Maddison Square Garden, Hobson was reminded of the motto by which she lives: “Be unapologetically original”.
NANCY DUBUC
CNN Presenter
“We are stronger together.”
CNN presenter and special correspondent Nancy Dubuc turned to boating analogies to help emerging women overcome their journey in the industry, whether through calm or tumultuous waters.
Her tips?
- Learn to capsize – failure is an important step to success.
- Learn to adapt – but find your north star so that you stay on course.
- Persevere – no matter the issue, clear skies are just ahead.
- Always remember that we are stronger together. Working as a team, we can compensate, and overcome.
NANCY GIBBS
TIME
“Tell human stories.”
“In this room are some of the most potent women to communicate anything, anywhere, at any time in history,” said Nancy Gibbs, the first ever female manager for TIME.
She emphasises the importance of regarding people as people regardless of difference, and that the power of story has the ability to revolutionise the world as we know it.
JANICE MIN
The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard
“Embrace your quirk.”
As one of two women of colour being honoured at the awards, The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group’s Janice Min knows what it’s like to be different.
She urges the audience not to fight their quirk, that defect that lends them to greatness. It is good to feel weird, because it’s what sets us apart from the norm.
LENA DUNHAM
Girls
“Embrace intergenerational connection.”
The last of the honourees, Lena Dunham of television’s Girls fame, was introduced by feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who compared her to Oprah, Stendahl, and Orson Welles.
Dunham, as the youngest of the eight women, revealed that she had not prepared a speech as she felt the experience of listening to the other award winners would be transformative. She exclaimed her happiness at being able to lead change in the discussion of feminism at this important time in history, and used her relationship with Steinem to highlight the importance of intergenerational connection in enlightening the path to equality.
You can watch all the speeches here.