Welcome to the Brief, The Media Leader’s round-up of media news.

The day highlighted the strength women have as leaders, along with the importance of supporting and championing women in the industry outside of London.

The IWD theme, ‘Give to Gain’, resonates strongly with the co-chair of Women of Havas. When women support women, we don’t just lift individuals, we strengthen the entire industry.

The 11th Adwanted Media Research Awards took place yesterday at London’s Banking Hall, with Global Media and Entertainment taking home four gongs.

Analysis by agency intelligence providers Agency by Agency has shown women occupy 57% of the lowest-paid roles highlighting entrenched barriers to progress and equality.

Just as a leader’s personal wealth trajectory offers a poor lens through which to judge national economic well-being, a marketer’s personal response offers a poor proxy for market response at scale, writes the MD of Media Futures Market.  

WACL and The Marketing Academy Foundation’s Lianre Robinson breaks down the latest IPA Census figures and what they mean for progress and regress within the advertising industry.

Sky Media has launched a comprehensive effectiveness databank called Norman that has revealed the levers to pull if you want to maximise effectiveness for addressable TV campaigns. Forecasting and inflight optimisation are key benefits.

The contraction comes amid a period of substantial consolidation of agency groups and supposed AI-driven cost-cutting efforts.

WACL’s campaigning co-chair offers practical steps to remove barriers, advance gender equality and create better workplaces for all.