Tin Man and Oh My! agency founders wonder why the numbers don't add up when it comes to men and women in PR

If you’re reading this and you’re a PR or comms professional, you’re more likely to be a woman.

Two-thirds more likely, in fact, as the industry is female dominated overall.

But if you’re reading this and you’re a senior PR or comms professional, you’re two-thirds more likely to be a man.

Something’s not adding up here.

And so, this International Women’s Day, two multi-award-winning female agency founders have got together to talk through their experiences and advice, to help lay a path for all those women coming up through the ranks.

Mandy Sharp, CEO and founder of Tin Man Communications, and sister Jodie Woolfson, founder of Oh My! content agency, have produced a short film which explores the mindset of setting up and running a successful agency - and the micro-aggressions which sometimes have to be tackled on the way.

From stories of everyday sexism to learning how to listen to your gut, letting your team shine or stopping to celebrate the wins, the film teems with accessible advice for any female trying to get ahead.

The content is the latest initiative from Tin Man and Oh My! to support the industry’s rising female stars.

In 2022, Sharp set up Tin Women Collective, a female networking event. She is also a Women in PR mentor, helping young, diverse female talent take on senior leadership roles in the comms industry. Jodie is a regular judge within the content awards circuit and is continually looking out for bright female talent, ready to champion them in the production world.

Mandy Sharp said: “Our board at Tin Man is 80% female, and that’s unusual in the industry. Jodie’s leadership in the male-dominated production world is even more of a unicorn. But time and again, we find that we’re attracting women to our agencies who are interested in collaborating with a predominantly female-led team. Every day, we’re learning from and are inspired by all the females around us, in every position. So, it made sense to share our thoughts on what it’s taken for us to get to where we are, in the hope that we can support others to do the same.”