Barbie Made News in 2025

During 2025, Barbie made news due to the brand's recognition of some inspiring women as well as holiday customs and colors. This post serves as a recap and a celebration.

But first, some HERstory. Mattel's Barbie has become one of the world's most popular dolls. Introduced in 1959, the Barbie doll owes its success to adapting to the ever-changing markets of various cultures and countries by launching Barbie dolls of shapes, colors, and sizes, and customization to the inhabitants of certain regions. Because Barbie has often been criticized for representing an unattainable beauty ideal for girls and women, the doll has evolved both in style and shape over the years.

The Barbie brand also honors pioneering women from throughout history. According to Mattel, "Barbie recognizes all female role models. The Inspiring Women Series pays tribute to the incredible heroines of their time; courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before."

Here are some interesting facts about Barbie. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Since her inception, she has had 200 different careers. Around the world, a Barbie doll is sold every three seconds, and March 9th is celebrated annually as National Barbie Day.

BARBIE SIGNATURE DOLL

According to the description, "Mattel was founded eight decades ago and has been empowering generations through play ever since. This Mattel 80th Anniversary Barbie doll celebrates the legacy of the iconic toymaker. Barbie doll looks red carpet-ready in a glittery gown accentuated by bow-like, tulle sleeves and a dramatic tulle bustle and train. Ruby pumps complement her dazzling look, while drop earrings with a golden "M" pay homage to the old-school Matty Mattel logo. Her blonde hair is piled high, with face-framing pieces that accentuate her bold lip. Adding to the deluxe details are black nails that peek out from sheer gloves. The Mattel 80th Anniversary Barbie doll is a fitting tribute to a legacy that has spanned decades and inspired children of all ages."

BARBIE CELEBRATES CLUELESS

According to Mattel, "Barbie celebrates the 30th anniversary of Clueless with the Cher Horowitz doll, perfect for collectors and film fanatics alike. The doll rocks her iconic sunshine-yellow plaid pleated skirt and matching blazer, paired with over-the-knee socks, and platform heels. With her mini white backpack, cell phone, and learner's permit in hand, Cher is the '90s it-girl, ready to cruise the streets of Beverly Hills with her bestie Dionne by her side.

Barbie also celebrates the 30th anniversary of Clueless with the Dionne Davenport doll. She gets major snaps for her chic black-and-white plaid ensemble, complete with her iconic top hat. She expertly accessorizes the look with black knee-high socks and black platform heels to match. With her cell phone in hand and bestie Cher on speed dial, Dionne is ready for whatever the day brings – playing matchmaker, hitting the mall, or making a buzz in Beverly Hills."

BARBIE AND THE SUPER BOWL

Barbie celebrated Super Bowl LIX with her officially licensed Chiefs and Eagles team gear. One Barbie supported the Chiefs, and another version supported the Eagles. Each wore a stylish sweatshirt with a logo paired with matching shorts and sneakers. A cheerful foam finger was also included.

BARBIE TRIBUTE COLLECTION - DEBBIE ALLEN

According to the Barbie website, "The Barbie Tribute Collection celebrates visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture. In October, a collectible Barbie doll was unveiled to honor Debbie Allen, an award-winning actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, director, producer, and author who rose to stardom despite facing many barriers. Her doll wears an outfit inspired her look from the hit series FAME. Her shimmery, off-shoulder top is cinched at the waist with a gold belt. Purple fringe pants and legwarmers complete this dance-ready ensemble. Her street-meets-dance look channels an aesthetic that is still iconic today! A multi-disciplinary artist with a prolific and illustrious career, one of her proudest achievements is the non-profit Debbie Allen Dance Academy she founded in 2001."

BARBIE INSPIRING WOMEN SERIES - VENUS WILLIAMS

As reported by the World Tennis Association, "Venus Williams' legendary push for equal prize money for women tennis players won't just be immortalized in tennis history books. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is being commemorated with a new Barbie doll in her likeness. The doll, which is part of Barbie's new Inspiring Women collection, features Williams in the outfit she wore at Wimbledon in 2007, the first year that the grass-court major offered equal prize money for men's and women's singles players. Williams won the tournament, and told USA Today ahead of the August 15 on-sale date for her doll, that it was a "huge moment" in her career, on and off the court. Venus worked with Mattel during the design process - and the doll wears accessories to match the ones Williams wore when she beat Marion Bartoli for the fourth of her five Wimbledon singles titles, including a green gem necklace, drop earrings, wristbands and visors, as well as Reebok sneakers."

Venus said, "To see that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly special. I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too."

BARBIE INSPIRING WOMEN SERIES - ELLEN OCHOA

According to CollectSpace, "As the first Hispanic woman to fly into space, Ellen Ochoa has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Now, she is joining an even more elite group of honorees: space travelers with their own Barbie doll. In September, Mattel revealed the "Barbie Inspiring Women Ellen Ochoa" doll. It's only the fifth time that the iconic fashion doll has honored a real-life space explorer and only the third such doll to be offered for sale to the public. The new Barbie is styled after Ochoa's appearance at the time of her first of four spaceflights in 1993, when she launched on the space shuttle Discovery as a mission specialist on the STS-56 crew. The doll is dressed in a simplified version of the bright orange advanced crew escape system (ACES) pressure suit that Ochoa wore on that flight (as evident by the mission patch), complete with gloves, boots and a helmet. As noted on the doll's packaging, Ochoa followed up her nearly 42 days in space by becoming the second woman and first Latina to be the director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in 2013. She retired five years later, concluding a 30-year career with the space agency."

Ochoa explained, "Before I became the first Hispanic woman in space, my journey in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] was fueled by a deep curiosity and a desire to explore the unknown That's why being honored by Barbie — a brand that inspires imagination and possibility — means so much to me. It's important to me to empower young people to bring their curiosity and personal viewpoint into whatever dreams they choose to pursue — just as I've aimed to do throughout my career. This partnership with Barbie feels like an exciting next step in that mission."

Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, said, "Barbie is honored to introduce Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and advocate for STEM education, as the latest addition to the Inspiring Women series. As a NASA trailblazer and advocate for women to pursue careers in STEM, we're truly over the moon to amplify her story. Together, we hope this Inspiring Women doll reminds the next generation that with courage, passion and determination, they can be anything they want because Ellen proves that even the sky isn't the limit."

BARBIE SIGNATURE LINE - STEVIE NICKS

According to the description, "Barbie celebrates Stevie Nicks, the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll and first woman to be inducted twice into the Hall of Fame - first with Fleetwood Mac, then as a solo artist. This Stevie Nicks doll -- the second in the Barbie Signature line -- is inspired by her famous look on the cover of Bella Donna, the 1981 album that launched her illustrious solo career. A woman taken by the wind, her iconic flowing white dress features a layered skirt, ruched bodice, and billowy sleeves that sweep the floor -- a hallmark of Stevie’s iconic bewitching boho style. She’s ready to groove on stage in her high-heeled boots, iconic top hat, and beaded earrings peeking through her long, golden waves. With a microphone accessory in hand, this songstress looks just like a white-winged dove."

FIRST BARBIE WITH TYPE-1 DIABETES

Mattel announced the debut of its the first Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in July. "This addition to the line enables more children to see themselves reflected in Barbie and encourages doll play that extends beyond a child's own lived experience, thereby fostering a greater sense of inclusion and empathy – all pillars of the Barbie brand's mission."

According to Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, "Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation. Barbie helps shape children's early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.”

The brand's press release explained, "To ensure the doll design truly captures the community, Barbie partnered with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization committed to accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. T1D is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all, leading to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and/or long-term complications. 

Barbie worked closely with Breakthrough T1D to accurately reflect the medical equipment for this condition and the doll's look:

* Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM): The doll wears a CGM on her arm to help manage her type 1 diabetes. CGMs are small, wearable devices that continuously measure a person’s blood-sugar levels.To keep her CGM in place, she uses heart-shaped medical tape – Barbie pink, of course – along with a phone that displays a CGM app to help track her blood sugar levels throughout the day.

* Insulin Pump: Barbie has an insulin pump, a small, wearable medical device that allows for automated insulin dosing as needed, attached to her waist.

* Blue Polka Dot Outfit: The doll wears a stylish polka dot top and matching skirt with ruffles. Both the color blue and circle print are nods to the global symbols that represent diabetes awareness.

* Purse: The doll comes with a pastel blue purse, perfect for Barbie to carry any essentials, such as type 1 diabetes supplies or snacks, when she's on the go.

The Barbie Fashionistas line features more than 175 looks across various skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashion styles, including a Blind Barbie doll, a Barbie doll with Down Syndrome, and a Barbie doll with Hearing Aids, among others. In 2020, Barbie kicked off a multi-year study with researchers at Cardiff University on the short-term and long-term benefits of doll play. It has been found that doll play serves an incredible purpose during key developmental stages, as it may help set children on a course for success by fostering empathy and developing social skills needed to excel, all while imagining their futures on an equal playing field."

DIWALI BARBIE

According to Mattel, "Celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Barbie doll wears her finest lehenga from Anita Dongre. The Indian couturier has built a global fashion empire with a mission to empower rural women artisans and sustain the exquisite craftsmanship of the country. Like every garment from Anita Dongre, this Midnight Bloom look is a labor of love and an exquisite work of art. This Moonlight Bloom look features a choli top, floral koti vest and lehenga skirt lush with dahlias, jasmine and Indian lotus, representing strength and beauty. The look is finished with golden shoes, bangles and earrings that dazzle by the light! Like every garment from Anita Dongre, the design is both a labor of love and an exquisite work of art." 

LUNAR NEW YEAR BARBIE

According to Mattel, "As the firecrackers ignite, Barbie steps into the Lunar New Year celebration in a lucky red qipao (which symbolizes empowerment and beauty). She steals the scene in this quintessential dress with a modern mermaid gown silhouette, traditional mandarin collar, meihua plum blossom prints, and sheer bell sleeves that flutter as she claps to a festive lion dance. Her dress features a plum blossom floral print, a flower that symbolizes prosperity and resilience, because it can bloom in the cold of winter. To complete her look, Chinese knots, a symbol of good fortune, appear at the collar and adorn her belt. Golden drop earrings, matching the knot color, are also meant to bring good luck. The doll was designed by Joyce Chen."  

According to Barbie doll designer Joyce Chen, "Being able to design the Lunar New Year Barbie series has felt really impactful for both me as a designer and to the consumer market that has always been yearning for more representation in the doll category. Growing up as an Asian American, I feel like it was rare to find toys or dolls that I could connect with. Being able to design the Lunar New Year dolls has been so meaningful for me because I can get in touch with and be inspired by my own culture. I also see how important it is for others when they have a doll that they can relate to. It makes me happy to create such a special Barbie for a holiday that is celebrated by many...I love seeing the continued growth of diversity and representation in dolls, and hope that one day every person in the world can find a doll they connect with."

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS BARBIE AND KEN

According to the description, "The Barbie Día De Muertos collection honors the festive holiday through a curated exploration of fashion that highlights the culture, rituals, and symbols often used during this day of remembrance. Barbie's gown is inspired by the marigold flower, that is traditionally used in Mexican culture to adorn the altars and graves of loved ones. Signifying a warm welcome to both the living and the deceased, these flowers bloom across the dress’s bodice and hem, as well as the crown that frames the doll’s striking calavera face paint. Her ruffled cream gown is trimmed in bright ribbon and scalloped gold lace. Sheer blouson sleeves are a delicate contrast to chunky drop earrings and stacked necklaces. Ken doll's suit is inspired by the marigold flower, that is traditionally used in Mexican culture to adorn the altars and graves of loved ones. Signifying a warm welcome to both the living and the deceased, these flowers sprawl in metallic gold trim down his vest and trouser legs. Bright marigolds bloom at his shirt cuffs, too."

WOMEN IN MUSIC CAREERS

During 2025, Barbie honored women in music with two dolls representing two important roles: musical artist and tour manager. The doll teamed up with Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keyes, her recording and mix engineer, Ann Mincieli, and their She Is The Music initiative to honor women who chose a career in the music industry. The 2025 Barbie Women in Music Career of the Year Set also aims to inspire the next generation of women who will the music industry's future creators.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

In early March, ahead of International Women's Day, Mattel announced eight new Barbies to celebrate the power of friendship. According to Mattel, "Women are more likely to achieve happiness and success if they have close and supportive friends. The dolls honoring this notion include U.S. Olympic gold medalists Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, British actresses and friends Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple, Australian Grand Slam tennis champions Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty, and Brazilian actress Paola Antonini and the real woman she portrayed in a T.V. series, Kelen Ferreira." Unfortunately, the dolls were created as one-of-a-kind for each of the women - and were not for sale.

BARBIE AND MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

According to the MoMA website, “Mattel has launched a new capsule collection in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), celebrating the fusion of design, creativity, and play. The limited-edition series includes Barbie, Hot Wheels, UNO, and more, each reimagined through the lens of modern art and the museum’s timeless influence on global design.

As the collection’s centerpiece, the MoMA-inspired Barbie captures the essence of modern creativity — sleek lines, abstract color palettes, and fashion that echoes the harmony between art and individuality. Barbie's look feels at once timeless and contemporary, bridging childhood nostalgia with the sophistication of gallery-worthy design.

Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece “The Starry Night,” the doll transforms one of the world’s most iconic paintings into couture fashion. Barbie wears an exquisite evening gown in swirling shades of deep blue and turquoise, echoing the brushstrokes and rhythm of Van Gogh’s night sky. The fabric captures the motion and emotion of the artwork, while her sculpted blonde hair, accented with shimmering blue tones, mirrors the painting’s luminous energy. Every detail — from the fluid silhouette of the dress to the sculptural curls framing her face — pays homage to Van Gogh’s vision of light and movement.

BARBIE AND WICKED FOR GOOD

Mattel was one of numerous cobranding partners with the the second movie (in the two-movie franchise) that arrived in theaters in November directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. 

According to Mattel, "Love without limits with Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good Enchanting Glinda Fashion Doll! Just like in the film, this Glinda doll stuns in her true-to-movie premium gown with sparkly, multi-layer organza skirt, flutter shoulders and shimmery long sleeves. Her wand, tiara and heels pair beautifully with the removable outfit. Her long, blonde hair with gentle curls completes the legendary look."

And also according to Mattel, "It’s time to fly with Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good Thrillifying Elphaba Fashion Doll! Just like in the film, Elphaba stuns in her true-to-movie gown with textured, sparkly details and cape with frayed edges. Her broom, hat, Grimmerie and boots pair beautifully with the removable outfit. Her long, flowing braided hair completes the legendary look. The positively green witch dazzles in a true-to-movie premium gown and cape. No escape from Emerald City is complete without Elphaba doll’s accessories – her iconic broom, hat, boots, and Grimmerie." 

BARBIE YOU CREATE AWARD

Barbie You Create has been named a TIME Best Invention of 2025, chosen by TIME for innovations that are changing how we live. ​According to TIME, "With thousands of styling opportunities, each Barbie You Create kit comes with three diverse articulated body types, swappable heads, face-paint varieties, mix-and-match fashions with a universal fit, and premium wigs – all the makings for the most unique and customizable way to build, style, and pose with Barbie."

SHARE THIS: Barbie's line reinforces the brand's purpose to inspire the limitless potential in every girl. ~Mattel #BarbieInspires #YouCanBeAnything #DebbieLaskeysBlog

And lastly, save the date and swing by my blog on March 9th to celebrate National Barbie Day!

Image Credits: Mattel, MOMA/Mattel, and Mattel.

Let's Celebrate International Women's Day Today and Everyday!

 

Today, March 8th, is an important day on the equality calendar: it is International Women's Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. It also focuses attention on the women's rights movement, bringing attention to gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women's Day," the holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. The United Nations adopted International Women's Day as a global holiday in 1977.

To celebrate today's significance, I've taken a journey back over the last 16 years on my blog to highlight a variety of memorable comments shared on previous International Women's Day posts and during March to celebrate Women's History Month. I hope these comments and shareable quotes inspire you to celebrate women and women's achievements - and to advocate for equality everyday!

According to Susan Colantuono who has appeared on my blog four times over the years and was featured in last year's March 8th post, "The conversation on women's advancement needs to put greater pressure on managers to end the formal and informal policies, practices, and procedures that create barriers to women's advancement. It needs to shift to put pressure on managers to change their mindsets about women and men, leadership, and careers that disadvantage women and advantage men. We need to continue to prepare women to prepare for, ask for, and accept opportunities. We especially need to foster the acquisition of business, financial, and strategic acumen so more women are seen as partners in the workplace and viable candidates for advancement."

SHARE THIS: Managers (mostly men) create the glass ceiling, and we do women a disservice by calling on us to shatter it. ~Susan Colantuono #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

According to Hortense Le Gentil who appeared in last year's March 1st post, "The most effective human leaders are those who have successfully re-positioned their role from quarterback to coach. Their job is no longer to handle the ball and score points; it is to inspire and support the players to give the best of themselves and make sure they play as a team so together they can score points. In other words, leading requires different attributes and behaviors than managing."

SHARE THIS: As a leader, speak last to ensure everyone's voice is heard. ~@hortenseleg #LeadershipTip #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

I shared three personal branding tips from the 64th person and first female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in March 2022. A memorable quote of hers was, "There is a special place in hell for women who don't support other women." And you must read "Read My Pins, Stories from a Diplomat's Jewelry Box." Written by Albright, this book is a combination of storytelling, history lessons, and images of wearable art from all over the world.

Albright explained, "A foreign dignitary standing alongside me at a press conference would be happier to see a bright, shining sun attached to my jacket than a menacing wasp. I felt it worthwhile, moreover, to inject an element of humor and spice to the diplomatic routine. The world has had its share of power ties; the time seemed right for the mute elegance of pins with attitude. As my pins became more expressive and drew more comments, I had cause to reflect on the relationship between appearance and identity. To what extent, to adopt the old saying, do pins make the woman or, for that matter, the man? After all, the display of pins has never been confined to one gender. Medieval knights wore elaborate jeweled badges that defined their status and conferred a group identity...George Washington sometimes wore a spectacular diamond eagle that included no fewer than 198 stones...Finally, our armed forces also use pins – in the form of ribbons and medals – to convey messages about accomplishments, stature, and rank."

SHARE THIS: There is a special place in hell for women who don't support other women. ~Madeleine Albright #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

According to Amy Diehl, who has appeared on my blog three times over the years, "The business implications of keeping women out of leadership, technical, and other male-dominated roles are huge. The organization loses out, women lose out, and society loses out. Even if your business is already thriving, think of how much more successful it could be (profits, breakthroughs, and innovations) if women were equally represented and fully supported in all business units."

SHARE THIS: Think of how much more successful your biz could be if women were equally represented and fully supported. ~@amydiehl #EqualityForWomen #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Shannon Rohrer-Phillips appeared on my blog on January 23rd, 2022, to celebrate the importance of that date. On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States. Shannon has made it her life's mission to help women improve their leadership skills. According to Shannon, "I've always believed that effective work for women's equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion means we must learn how to compromise, show humility, listen, resist the temptation to be right, and find ways to connect around similarities. We are seeking progress, not perfection, on our path toward equality."

SHARE THIS: We are seeking progress, not perfection, on our path toward equality. ~@srpllc1 #EqualityforWomen #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Michelle Redfern has appeared on my blog six times over the years. According to Michelle, "Men who are in leadership positions must do the following: (1) Do not assume they understand the lived experience of women in the workplace. THEY DO NOT. (2) Start listening to women. Ask women what works and what doesn't work in the workplace for them. Ask women what must be done more of and what must be done less of to make the workplace a better place for women and to help them advance. (3) Take action on the insights they have gained."

SHARE THIS: All leaders in an organization must consider closing the leadership gender gap as a business priority. ~Michelle Redfern #LeadershipTip #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Erika Andersen has appeared on my blog 12 times since 2011 (I'm incredibly grateful and always learn from her!), and in her Q&A on August 26th last year to celebrate Women's Equality Day, she wrote, "A lot of what holds us back as women at work is our own self-doubt, second-guessing, and concern about "the rules." A friend of mine, a skilled coach, used to say that the most effective approach was to be "confident but not cocky." And I believe this applies especially to women. Women who believe in themselves, their capabilities, and their ideas without being cocky (i.e., dismissive of others, unrealistically positive without having the facts, etc.) tend, in my experience, to have the most success in corporate environments. At the same time, it must be said that even the most confident, least cocky women will have a hard time succeeding in environments where the deck is stacked against them: where those in power refuse to open their ranks and share authority and responsibility with their female colleagues. So, it's also important for women who do have power, and powerful men who are their allies, to work to make sure their organizations are as fair and open as possible in their policies and culture."

When I asked Erika how Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor embodied effective leadership, she explained, "As the first woman on the Supreme Court, she focused on demonstrating that a woman could be as effective as a man in that role, and although she didn't draw attention to herself as a woman on a regular basis, she quietly and firmly stood up for herself when necessary. For example, two years after she joined the Court, The New York Times wrote an editorial that mentioned the "nine men" of the SCOTUS. She wrote a letter to the editor, reminding the newspaper that the Court was no longer composed only of men."

SHARE THIS: What does #WomensEqualityDay mean to me? An affirmation that we will continue to move toward a world where girls and women, no matter their circumstances, their ethnicity or religion, have the freedom to pursue and attain the professional and personal goals they desire. ~@ErikaAndersen #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

In his Proclamation on Women's History Month on March 1st, 2021, former President Joe Biden said, "Each year, Women's History Month offers an important opportunity for us to shine a light on the extraordinary legacy of trailblazing American women and girls who have built, shaped, and improved our Nation. Throughout American history, women and girls have made vital contributions, often in the face of discrimination and undue hardship. Courageous women marched for and won the right to vote, campaigned against injustice, shattered countless barriers, and expanded the possibilities of American life. Our history is also replete with examples of the unfailing bravery and grit of women in America, particularly in times of crisis and emergency...During Women's History Month, let us honor the accomplished and visionary women who have helped build our country, including those whose contributions have not been adequately recognized and celebrated. And let us pay tribute to the trailblazers from the recent and distant past for daring to envision a future for which no past precedent existed, and for building a Nation of endless possibilities for all of its women and girls."

In his Proclamation on Women's Equality Day on August 25th, 2022, former President Joe Biden said, "All Americans should have the opportunity to fully participate in society — no one's rights should be denied because of their gender...My Administration is committed to ensuring women are treated fairly in the workplace and have economic security. We will fight for pay equity, to end discrimination in the workplace, and to promote equitable access to good-paying jobs, particularly in sectors where women are underrepresented."

SHARE THIS: We stand on the shoulders of the women who came before us, women who had to fight for the rights that we now take for granted. ~Sheryl Sandberg #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Lastly, I wish to recognize my great-grandmother, Bertie Green, a civic leader and philanthropist in New York. She was married for 47 years, raised two children, and enjoyed the antics of her four granddaughters during her lifetime. But what stands out as inspiring today is that she was an active member of the women's suffrage movement in the years leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the world's largest women's patriotic service organization.

Many people are afraid to speak up and take a stand - especially in today's polarized political climate - so this type of bold action more than a century ago is incredibly impressive. Therefore, today, on International Women's Day, I applaud my great-grandmother and thank her for making it easier for women to stand up and make our voices heard.

SHARE THIS: If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. ~Shirley Chisholm #InternationalWomensDay #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Tania Cecconi via LinkedIn.

Read my post "2020 Was the Year of Women" (December 2020):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2020/12/2020-was-year-of-women.html

Read my post "Inspiring Reading for Women's Equality Day" (August 2022):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/08/inspiring-reading-as-we-approach-womens.html

Read President Joe Biden's 3/2/2021 Proclamation in full:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/01/a-proclamation-on-womens-history-month-2021/

Read President Joe Biden's 8/25/2022 Proclamation in full:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/08/25/a-proclamation-on-womens-equality-day-2022/

Marketing News of the Week: Oscars and More

Oscars, Oscars, and more Oscars. Sure, the little gold statue made news this week, but there was some other marketing news too.

OSCAR CEREMONIES
According to MarketingDive, "Disney Advertising sold out of advertising inventory for ABC’s Oscars telecast Sunday. The film awards show’s 96th ceremony attracted brands representing 17 categories, including apparel, automotive, consumer packaged goods, entertainment and healthcare. Airbnb, Dunkin’, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Southwest Airlines and Walmart were among some of the brands who advertised. Healthy demand is a sign that advertisers continue to value live programming, and the Oscars, specifically, for the event’s ability to reach young, affluent, and multicultural consumers, according to Disney."

The "Barbenheimer" cultural phenomenon, the term created for both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" that were released last summer was a boon to studios and theaters that are still trying to recover from the post-pandemic slump and convince consumers that making the trip to multiplexes is worth the extra costs over streaming at home.

And yet, back to the term BARBENHEIMER...when was the last time that a movie got a different name by competing against other movies? Not in recent memory. Score one for brand marketing. According to Reid Goldberg at Collider, "The Barbenheimer phenomenon has become a global sensation and proven that cross-promotion can benefit competing blockbusters." And also stimulate the economy.

Lastly, what do you think of the winners? Did you see all the films nomimated for best picture? Although I saw BARBIE, OPPENHEIMER, and WONKA, I have to admit that the films did not live up to all the hype.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March 8th was an important day on the equality calendar: International Women's Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. It also brings attention to the women’s rights movement, focusing attention on gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women’s Day," the holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. International Women’s Day was adopted as a global holiday by the United Nations in 1977.

Some brands stood out by their celebrations. Here are a couple:

(1) One example was Vermont Teddy Bear, who wrote in an email, "Today, and everyday, we celebrate all women including the hardworking team of fierce females behind our Teddy Bears and Stuffed Animals."

(2) Another example was the Los Angeles Dodgers, who shared on Twitter/X a quote from a co-owner and former tennis star Billie Jean King, "International Women's Day puts focus on women and the importance of women in all our lives. Let's focus on our contributions to society and do positive things for all women."

WOLVERINE and #WOMANMADE
Accoring to MarketingDive, "Boot maker Wolverine is kicking off Women's History Month with a purpose-driven campaign centered around gendered language that undermines inclusivity in the skilled trades, namely the absence of 'woman-made' in the dictionary alongside 'man-made.' The effort includes a Change.org petition that seeks to add 'women-made' to the Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, and Dictionary.com. Change.org petitions have remained a playful way for brands to draw attention to purpose-driven campaigns."

Lauren King, Director of Branding at Wolverine explained, "In addition to our goal of getting 'woman-made' added to the dictionary, we hope to inspire girls and women around the world to have the confidence to pursue any passion, especially within the skilled trades where women are drastically underrepresented."

Also, since statistics show that over half of American homes are sustained by women, yet they remain underrepresented in the skilled trades, Wolverine is partnering with Girls Garage, a design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youths ages 9-18, and donating $25,000 to the organization. Founded in 2013, Girls Garage is the first-ever design and building workshop for female-identifying youth in the United States.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credit: Pantone.

Change.org Petition by Wolverine:
https://www.change.org/p/add-woman-made-to-the-dictionary

Wolverine's Woman Made page:
https://www.wolverine.com/US/en/woman-made/

Celebrate International Women’s Day with Susan Colantuono

Over the last 15 years, thanks to social media, I have had the privilege of meeting inspiring marketing, branding, customer experience, leadership, and social media experts. One of these experts is Susan Colantuono, a leadership expert based in Rhode Island, who has graciously appeared on my blog several times and shared inspiring commentary about leadership and gender equality. Due to Susan's areas of expertise, she is an excellent choice to appear on my blog today.

Today, March 8th, is an important day on the equality calendar: it is International Women’s Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. It also brings attention to the women’s rights movement, focusing attention on gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women’s Day," the holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. International Women’s Day was adopted as a global holiday by the United Nations in 1977.

To recognize and celebrate today’s significance, I welcome Susan Colantuono back to my Blog. Highlights of our conversation about leadership and gender equality follow a brief introduction.

Susan Colantuono is the founder of Be Business Savvy. She is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and mentor/coach. She discovered, developed, and introduced to the world a definition of leadership and four keys that have transformed women’s leadership development and initiatives to close the leadership gender gap - including The Missing 33 percent of the career success equation for women. Her TED Talk entitled, "The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get" has nearly 4.5 million views.

QUESTION: Dictionary.com selected "woman" as its word of the year for 2022, because searches for the word doubled during 2022 when compared to previous years. During the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, she was asked, "Can you provide a definition for the word 'woman'?" She responded that she could not. During 2022, Roe vs. Wade was overturned and women began mass protests in Iran. As this marketing news showed, words matter. What are your thoughts about this word selection, especially today on International Women's Day?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: First of all, celebrating International Women’s Day is exponentially harder for us in the U.S. than it was two years ago. Like everyone else, I see through my worldview, and right now, my particular worldview has me furious at the Republican war on women in the U.S. As far as the definition of the word "woman," the politicization of it infuriates me.

That's why, if pushed, I would say that a woman is anyone for whom giving birth is a possibility and the decision to give birth or not should be a private decision between her and her doctor. I realize that I’m leaving out those who identify and experience the world as women, but do not have a womb. And leaving out women who are infertile. This illustrates the difficulty of attempting to define the word.

QUESTION: What do you think Susan B. Anthony would think about the current state of American politics, especially since the The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear former President Trump's appeal of a judicial decision barring him from Colorado's Republican primary ballot in advance of the 2024 presidential election?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: As you would guess from above, I'd say she’d be appalled. Misogyny (including disastrous media coverage) and Russian interference lost the election for Hillary Clinton in 2016. As a result, women's rights, voting rights, and democracy are all under siege.

I follow the legal proceedings closely. It's not lost on me that the twice impeached, 91 times indicted former president is not arguing his innocence on the D.C. charges. His legal maneuvering is all about delaying the trial. The insurrectionist has no business being on the ballot in any state. Don't get me started on the ethics issues with SCOTUS.

QUESTION: I wrote a blog post introducing 15 people from history and the modern era who would be MY guests at an amazing dinner party. Who would you invite to YOUR dinner party? No limit to the number of seats at your table!

(Read the full post at this link: https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/06/my-amazing-dinner-party-of-15.html)

SUSAN COLANTUONO: I'm chuckling because my preference for introversion means I would never set a dinner table for 15 guests! So, for my more intimate dinners I would invite:

Dinner 1 = 5 former F500 women CEOs including: Anne Mulcahy (Xerox), Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo), Ursula Burns (Xerox), Andrea Jung (Avon), and Denise Morrison (Campbell Soup).

Dinner 2 = 5 global business thought leaders: Ram Charan, Renee Mauborgne, Henry Mintzberg, Rita McGrath, and Daniela Amodei.

Dinner 3 = 5 historical women: Boudicca, Joan of Arc, Barbara Jordan, Sojourner Truth, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

I get chills just thinking about sharing a table with these 15 amazing people.

QUESTION: When I was in graduate school in the mid-1990’s, one of my tenured professors said to the class, "Women don’t belong in grad school. They belong at home in the kitchen." How would you have responded?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: If I were as quick on my feet as U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug, I'd have replied, "Yes, women do belong in the House...and also in the Senate" - not to mention in grad school as faculty and heading up graduate programs.

But, alas, I'm not, so I probably would have just stammered something like, "That’s your biased and unfounded opinion, and I'm not the first to prove you wrong."

QUESTION: Marilyn Loden coined the term "glass ceiling" when speaking on a panel at the 1978 Women’s Exposition in New York City. According to the Washington Post, “When her turn came to speak, she thought about how she had been tasked at her company to explore why more women weren’t entering management positions. She had gathered enough data that she felt confident that the problem extended beyond what her colleagues were wearing or saying. Loden explained, ‘It seemed to me there was an invisible barrier to advancement that people didn’t recognize, a glass ceiling.’” While it’s been more than 40 years, the problem persists. Many well-known women have used the term including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Aretha Franklin, and Oprah Winfrey. How do you think women can shatter the "glass ceiling?"

SUSAN COLANTUONO: Let me be provocative here. Women can't shatter the "glass ceiling." But we CAN be prepared to capitalize on opportunities to rise above it and then change the dynamics that create it. But until we're above it, we can't shatter it. Managers (mostly men) create the glass ceiling, and we do women a disservice by calling on us to shatter it.

The conversation on women's advancement needs to put greater pressure on managers to end the formal and informal policies, practices and procedures that create barriers to women's advancement. It needs to shift to put pressure on managers to change their mindsets about women and men, leadership, and careers that disadvantage women and advantage men.

We need to continue to prepare women to prepare for, ask for, and accept opportunities. We especially need to foster the acquisition of business, financial, and strategic acumen so more women are seen as "partners in the business" and viable candidates for advancement.

SHARE THIS: Managers (mostly men) create the glass ceiling, and we do women a disservice by calling on us to shatter it. ~Susan Colantuono #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: We need to continue to prepare women to prepare for, ask for, and accept opportunities. ~Susan Colantuono #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author, wrote, "Great leaders don't do it alone...they get help." What does this quote mean to you?

SUSAN COLANTUONO: For women, asking for help is a double-edged sword. Some managers will see it as an indication of ineptitude (see mindsets above). So we often have to be careful how we ask. I advise women to make Courageous ASKs - requests that are straightforward and made from a position of strength.

That said, every successful man or woman has gotten where they are because other people helped them. The former CEO of Coke, Muhtar Kent, once said at a conference that "asking for help" was a success factor in his career. Anne Mulcahy as CEO of Xerox asked for help with financial acumen from someone in her Finance department.

Whether we lead as individual contributors, first line supervisors/team leads, managers at whatever level, or executives - none of us can do it alone and be successful!

My profound thanks to Susan for returning to my blog and sharing her inspiring thoughts!


Image Credit: Hudson Hintze via Unsplash.


Check out previous appearances by Susan here on my blog:

Why Mentorship Is Important (July 2023)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/07/why-mentorship-is-important.html

Do You Use Your Voice to Lift Up Women Leaders? (December 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/12/do-you-use-your-voice-to-lift-up-women.html

As We Celebrate 1920, Work Remains to See More Women in Top Leadership Roles (August 2021)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2021/08/as-we-celebrate-1920-work-remains-to.html

Connect with Susan at these links:
Website: https://bebusinesssavvy.com
Website: https://leadtosoar.network/landing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancolantuono/

Here's the link to Susan's TED talk:
"The Career Advice You Probably Didn't Get"
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_colantuono_the_career_advice_you_probably_didn_t_get

And the Transcript:
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_colantuono_the_career_advice_you_probably_didn_t_get/transcript

Marketing News of the Week: Packaging, No More Red Carpet, Barbie (Again), and More

This week, there were many news stories that impacted marketing messages and brand storytelling.

TOBLERONE
How important is packaging? In case you didn't think so, it turns out very important, especially if you create a product manufactured in Switzerland.

According to Food reporter Allen Foster of Denver, Colorado, "When someone mentions Toblerone, you immediately envision the iconic shape: a long triangular stick of chocolate packaged in a pale yellow wrapper and emblazoned with bold red print. It’s so recognizable that the candy often appears in TV and film...However, due to ​​the Swissness Act, which was approved on September 2, 2015, and went into effect on January 1, 2017, Toblerone must change its iconic packaging."

Foster explained that if a service or product does not originate in Switzerland, there are packaging and advertising restrictions. Since Mondelez International (an American multinational confectionery, food, holding and beverage and snack food company based in Chicago that markets Toblerone) has outsourced some of the production to Slovakia to save on costs, by law, Toblerone packaging can no longer feature words, phrases, or images that might lead consumers to believe that the product was manufactured in Switzerland.

While the new design of the Toblerone packaging has yet to be revealed, there are a few things that have been shared. The words “of Switzerland” are being replaced by the words “Established in Switzerland,” and the packaging will feature a mountain logo that continues to reference the chocolate’s iconic shape without being specific to the Matterhorn. Additionally, the Swiss flag will be removed from any versions of the packaging where it currently appears.

NO MORE RED CARPET AT THE OSCARS
The Academy Awards are coming, and with them, the famous red carpet where celebrities show off their extravagant fashion. But wait, what color carpet was installed outside The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California?

According to ABC7, "For the first time in six decades, Hollywood's biggest night is not rolling out the red carpet. The celebrated carpet will be a champagne color this year...The idea came from creative consultants." One explained, "We chose this beautiful sienna saffron color that evokes the sunset, because this is the sunset before the golden hour."

Actually, the champagne carpet probably was chosen to match the gold Oscar statuettes that winners receive.

BARBIE
On March 9, 1959, the Barbie doll made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. And the rest is history, or better stated, HERstory.

In 1956, the Ruth and Elliot Handlers took their two teenage children, Barbara and Ken, on a trip to Europe, and during the trip, they saw a doll that looked like an adult woman. This doll was much different from the baby dolls that most little girls played with back in America.

Ruth was inspired, and three years later, Mattel’s version of the adult doll, which she named after her daughter, debuted and became a big success. The Barbie doll also had a wardrobe of outfits that could be purchased separately. In 1960, the Handlers took their company, Mattel, public, and Barbie quickly became an icon, with a wardrobe and career options that mirrored women’s changing goals.

Ruth Handler said in a 1977 interview with The New York Times, “Every little girl needed a doll through which to project herself into her dream of her future. If she was going to do role-playing of what she would be like when she was 16 or 17, it was a little stupid to play with a doll that had a flat chest. So I gave the doll beautiful breasts. And Barbie kept pace with the times. During Camelot, she sported a Jacqueline Kennedy hairdo. During the 1970’s, her career choices and outfits begin to change to include a doctor, astronaut and veterinarian, among others. My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, a girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.”

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March is Women's History Month, or better stated, Women's HERstory Month, and March 8th is celebrated all over the world as International Women's Day. First recognized by the United Nations in 1975, the day has also been a major part of the women’s rights movement and helped to create conversations about gender biases.

The International Women’s Day website announced that this year’s theme was #EmbraceEquity: "a focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA." The website also highlighted the difference between equity and equality by explaining that the former means "creating an inclusive world, through acts like challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias, and embracing diversity. Another goal was to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren not enough."

Read more at: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/EquityEquality.

To read more inspiring posts about International Women's Day and Women's Equality, check out the following links on my blog:

Celebrate International Women's Day with a Convo with Nadine Epstein
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/03/celebrate-international-womens-day-with.html

Tips to Create Gender Equality in Your Workplace
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/tips-to-create-gender-equality-in-your.html

Good Leadership Is NOT Defined By Your Gender
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/good-leadership-is-not-defined-by-gender.html

Personal Branding Tips from Madeleine Albright
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/personal-branding-tips-from-madeleine.html

Three Books to Celebrate Women's Equality Day
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/08/three-books-to-celebrate-womens.html

Is Your Brand Ready for International Women's Day
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/is-your-brand-ready-for-international.html

What other marketing news stood out to you this week?

What will be the marketing buzz next week? Tune in to read all about it.


Image Credits: Mattel, Yahoo Finance, and Toblerone.

Celebrate International Women’s Day with a Convo with Nadine Epstein

Today, March 8, is an important day on the equality calendar: it is International Women’s Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. It also brings attention to the women’s rights movement, focusing attention on gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as “Women’s Day,” the holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. International Women’s Day was adopted as a global holiday by the United Nations in 1977. The theme for 2023 is #BreaktheBias. The campaign asks that you cross your arms in solidarity to call out gender bias, discrimination, and stereotyping.

To recognize and celebrate today’s significance, I welcome Nadine Epstein to my Blog. We discussed leadership and gender equality, and highlights follow a brief introduction.

Award-winning journalist Nadine Epstein is editor-in-chief and CEO of Moment Magazine, founder and executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Creative Change, founder of the Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative for reporters, and founder and editor of Moment Books. She has written and edited books including RBG’s Brave and Brilliant Women: 33 Jewish Women to Inspire Everyone; Elie Wiesel: An Extraordinary Life and Legacy; and more. Her articles and op-eds have been published in a wide range of publications including the Washington Post, Smithsonian, Newsweek, and The New York Times. Nadine speaks internationally about antisemitism and other issues pertinent to the global Jewish community as well as gender equality.

QUESTION: I wrote a recent blog post introducing 15 people, from history and the modern era, who would be MY guests at an amazing dinner party. Who would you invite to YOUR dinner party? No limit to the number of seats at your table!

(Read the full post at this link: https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/06/my-amazing-dinner-party-of-15.html)

NADINE EPSTEIN: Here are the guests at my dinner table:
(1)    Ernestine Rose
(2)    Lillian Wald
(3)    Florence Prag Kahn
(4)    Eleanor Roosevelt
(5)    Harriet Tubman
(6)    Deborah – from the Old Testament in the Bible
(7)    Salome Alexandra
(8)    Senator Elizabeth Warren
(9)    Pauli Murray
(10) My late mom Ruth Epstein so she can meet everyone

QUESTION: Can you share how RBG chose the women included in your book, RBG’S BRAVE AND BRILLIANT WOMEN?

NADINE EPSTEIN: One day, I was sitting in RBG’s chambers, and we selected about 150 women and then narrowed the list down. I was surprised that she started with biblical women from Exodus and Deborah. We ended up with women who meant the most to her, and a few who I thought needed to be included. We each learned about the other’s inspiring women! It was very difficult to choose only 33!

(For more details about the book’s selection process, read this post at the link below:
https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/so-many-brave-and-brilliant-jewish-women-so-little-time)

QUESTION: A portion of the proceeds from your book, RBG’S BRAVE AND BRILLIANT WOMEN goes to the Role Model Project, “designed to help young people find inspirational role models and established in the memory of RBG.” What do you think RBG would tell college graduates in these difficult and challenging covid pandemic days about finding role models?

NADINE EPSTEIN: The stories of great women sustained Justice Ginsburg during challenging times. She wanted to share these women’s stories so that they could sustain and inspire others. We don’t stop evolving until we die. And all of us need many role models. When we stumble upon someone who has traits that we admire, we need to identity them and incorporate those traits into ourselves.

QUESTION: When I was in graduate school in the mid-1990’s, one of my tenured professors said to the class, “Women don’t belong in grad school. They belong at home in the kitchen.” How would you have responded?

NADINE EPSTEIN: I would have told him that he was nuts! I knew firsthand, because my mom was a great leader, and she had absolutely no interest in cooking. Back then, however, I would have said it more politely than I might say it today.

QUESTION: Susan Colantuono (@SusanColantuono on Twitter) wrote, “If women aren’t proportionately represented throughout your organization, you aren’t facing a women’s issue, you’re facing a talent development issue with business implications.” What do you think about that statement?

NADINE EPSTEIN: Women are good at consensus-building, strategic thinking, avoiding testeronic competition – and they are necessary leaders in all fields. One amazing woman in the book is Muriel Siebert. She was the first women to push her way into the ultimate men’s club, the New York Stock Exchange. She brought her values to the business world, and they were visionary.

QUESTION: Lastly, one of my favorite leadership quotes is from author and consultant Mark Herbert (@NewParadigmer on Twitter): “Leadership doesn't require you to be the smartest person in the room. It requires you to block and tackle for others.” What does this quote mean to you?

NADINE EPSTEIN: To me, the goal is to create a place of collaboration, where all employees feel safe to brainstorm. No leader owns all the good ideas.

SHARE THIS: No leader owns all the good ideas. ~@NadineEpsteinDC #LeadershipTip #EmployeeExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My thanks to Nadine for sharing her insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Note: An overview of Nadine’s book with RBG was featured in a post celebrating last year’s Women’s Equality Day on my blog – check it out at this link:
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/08/three-books-to-celebrate-womens.html

Note: This quote from last year’s post on my blog on International Women’s Day featured Michelle Redfern – I invite you to share on Twitter.

SHARE THIS: All leaders in an organization must consider closing the leadership gender gap as a business priority. ~@RedfernMichelle #LeadershipTip #EmployeeExperence #EmployerBranding #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: Gradienta via Unsplash.

Connect with Nadine at these links:
Twitter: @NadineEpsteinDC
Twitter: @MomentMagazine
Facebook: /momentmag
Instagram: @Moment_Mag
Website: www.MomentMag.com
Book: https://nadineepstein.com/rbgbookpage-2

Top Ten Marketing Highlights of 2022

With 2022 now history, it's time for my annual “Top 10” marketing highlights post – incredible that this is my 13th post featuring annual marketing highlights.

What do you remember from the 2022 marketing reel? What stood out as marketing innovation, and what will go down in history that was as memorable as Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl ad? Without further ado, let’s get to it!

With a nod and thank you to David Letterman for the format, here's my list:

NUMBER 10: Roe vs. Wade, the landmark piece of legislation that made access to an abortion a federal right in the United States, was overturned by the United States Supreme Court. The decision dismantled 50 years of legal protection and paved the way for individual states to curtail or ban abortion rights. This will impact all sorts of promotions and future elections. (June 24, 2022)

NUMBER 9: Two amazing firsts by inspiring African-American women.

*First African-American woman became an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court: Ketanji Brown Jackson. (She was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden on February 25, 2022; confirmed by the United States Senate on April 7, 2022; and sworn into office on June 30, 2022.)

*First African-American woman was elected Mayor of Los Angeles: Karen Bass. (Defeated Rick Caruso in November 8 election and inaugurated December 12, 2022.)

NUMBER 8: TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres ended her 19-year run of hosting a successful daily talk show. (Final episode aired on May 26, 2022.)

NUMBER 7: Major league baseball celebrated the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and breaking the color line in baseball. In recognition of this historic event, on “Jackie Robinson Day,” all players wore Jackie’s number “42” on their uniforms. (April 15, 2022)

NUMBER 6: The United States Mint unveiled its American Women Quarters Program, beginning in 2022 and continuing until 2025. The five quarters issued in 2022 featured: astronaut Sally Ride, poet and author Maya Angelou, Native American activist Wilma Mankiller, educator and suffragist Nina Otero-Warren, and Chinese-American movie star Anna May Wong.

NUMBER 5: In honor of International Women’s Day and the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, the theme park dressed Minnie Mouse in a pantsuit instead of her timeless red and white polka dot dress. Minnie wore a blue polka dot pantsuit designed by Stella McCartney, and in true marketing fashion, a limited-edition Minnie Mouse t-shirt was available online and at Stella’s stores. (March 2022)

NUMBER 4: Russia invaded Ukraine. While there does not seem to be a diplomatic or military end in sight, many brands stopped doing business in Russia, and some raised money for the Ukraine. North Carolina’s Mythic Brewing, Texas’ Palindrome Beer, Pittsburgh’s Bash Brew, and Spain’s Island Brew Mallorca used a “Make Peace Not War,” a customizable peace-sign label to raise funds for Ukraine relief efforts. Apple, Chanel, Prada, McDonalds, and Starbucks closed stores and restaurants in Russia. FedEx halted deliveries to Russia. ExxonMobil exited operations in Russia. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Levi Strauss & Co., Samsung, Netflix, and Tik-Tok suspended operations in Russia. Car companies including Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen stopped shipping vehicles to Russia. Hollywood studios including Disney, Paramount Pictures, Sony Corp., and Universal Pictures halted or postponed the release of movies in Russia. (On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014.)

NUMBER 3: Social media platform Twitter began to unravel following Elon Musk’s purchase in October. Several haphazard decisions to change the platform were made as well as a majority of staff were fired or let go. As a result, many users migrated to other platforms, and one specifically, Mastodon, added millions of users in a short period of time. In addition, many brands stopped advertising on Twitter. (The acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk began on April 14, 2022, and concluded on October 27, 2022.)

NUMBER 2: The founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, who previously expressed his reluctance at amassing wealth, gave away his company to help fight climate change. He explained, “We’re making Earth our only shareholder.” The outdoor apparel company is now in the hands of a trust and a nonprofit organization, and all future profits will be donated to fight climate change. (September 2022)

And NUMBER 1 on my 2022 Marketing Highlights List:

Drum roll please...

NUMBER 1: Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee during the summer of 2022, and then sadly, she passed away at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female monarch in history, according to the BBC. This led to her eldest son Prince Charles becoming King Charles III, and his eldest son Prince William becoming the Prince of Wales. While all are predominantly ceremonial roles, the monarch still appears on all forms of postage and currency throughout the British Commonwealth which includes 54 countries around the world. So, consider the costs in changing from the likeness of the Queen to the likeness of the King – plus all the promotional items created as a result of the transition.

According to Charles Scarlett-Smith, Director of Brand Finance Canada, “When we’re thinking about Queen Elizabeth II’s brand, we really are being synonymous with the royal family and the monarchy. That brand alone ranks among the most valuable in the world. For a rough value comparison, putting the royal family’s impact up to a similar list of major corporate brands, the monarchy would rank fourth in the world, behind Google, Apple, and Amazon.”

And finally, to quote Camilla, the Queen Consort, “Queen Elizabeth II carved her own role as a solitary woman on a world stage dominated by men.”

What would you add to this list? Here's to 2023 and another year of marketing highlights. Happy New Year!


Image Credits: Ellen DeGeneres TV show, DisneylandParis, Walkers shortbread cookies, US Mint, and Major League Baseball.

In Celebration of International Women’s Day

 

Today is a special day. On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day around the world. 

According to the United Nations, “Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence, a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made.”

International Women’s Day grew out of the labor moment to become a recognized annual day by the United Nations. The seeds were planted in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, and the right to vote. 

The idea for the day to become internationally recognized was suggested in 1910 by Clara Zetkin. First celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, the United Nations made the day official in 1975. Each year, the President of the United States issues an official proclamation.

To quote Sheryl Sandberg, “We stand on the shoulders of the women who came before us, women who had to fight for the rights that we now take for granted.”

From President Joe Biden's Proclamation dated March 1, 2021, “During Women’s History Month, let us honor the accomplished and visionary women who have helped build our country, including those whose contributions have not been adequately recognized and celebrated. And let us pay tribute to the trailblazers from the recent and distant past for daring to envision a future for which no past precedent existed, and for building a Nation of endless possibilities for all of its women and girls.”

I wish to recognize my great-grandmother on this important day. Bertie Green was a civic leader and philanthropist in New York. She was married for 47 years, raised two children, and enjoyed the antics of her four granddaughters.

But what stands out as inspiring today is that she was an active member of the women’s suffrage movement in the years leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization.

Many people are afraid to speak up and take a stand in today’s era, so this type of bold action a little over a century ago is incredibly impressive. So, today, on International Women’s Day, I applaud my great-grandmother and thank her and those she marched with to make today a little bit easier for women to stand up and make their voices heard.

FOR MORE INSPIRATION:

Read President Joe Biden’s Proclamation in full:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/01/a-proclamation-on-womens-history-month-2021/

Read “2020 Was the Year of Women!”
https://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2020/12/2020-was-year-of-women.html

Read “That’s What She Said: Wise Words from Influential Women” by Kimothy Joy
https://www.kimothyjoy.com/the-book


Image Credit: Debbie Laskey and UN Women.