There's a problem out there in idealand. It's a social problem, a political problem, and a gender problem. But more importantly it's an idea problem. Only 3% of all creative directors in the United States are women.

3%.

Where are all the Donna Drapers? Today we are talking with the founder of an organization that aims to change that percentage, Kat Gordon. The organization is called the 3% Conference, and we got some time with Kat to discuss this important issue.

SHOW NOTES:

• We begin with Kat explaining what the "3% problem" is, exactly, and what her "3% Conference" is doing about it.
• Kat describes a moment in time during a pitch at the agency she was working where the light bulb went off. She never forgot that moment. And it all led up to this movement she's started.
• Kat has a great way of convincing men why her movement matters. It's called the "Birthday Gift Test," and she explains that test in detail.
• We then get into specifics as to how the "3% problem" affects advertising agencies' work. She even gives a great example of work that was insightful, but executionally a disaster for women.
• Kat then helps us understand how we got here. Was it creative women having babies? Was it the good ole boy networks that can dominate agency life? Was it inertia? 
• We wrap up by discussing ways we can all help fix this problem. From small things to big things, including details on the next 3% Conference coming up in San Francisco this October (2013). 

BIO:

Kat Gordon is the founder and creative director of Maternal Instinct, an agency of creative problem solvers for marketing to moms. Kat is also the creator of a content/community startup called The 3% Conference. Started as a passion project to spotlight a huge business opportunity in advertising -- the lack of female creative leadership and its impact on connecting with an overwhelmingly female marketplace -- the 3% Conference has grown exponentially since its 2012 launch. Prior to that she was a writer at agency, Hal Riney and Anderson Lembke.