Movie magic, Mercedes, and managing a rebound 💪

Warning: There will be “Wicked” puns.

WHAT’S ON DECK

• Tell Me More: “Wicked” Defies Gravity... And the Odds for Women in Film

• Troublemaker Spotlight: Melody Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of Mercedes-Benz USA

• Dear FQ: How Do I Rebound After a Layoff?

• Poll the Pack: Do You Feel Respected by Leadership?

TELL ME MORE

Defying gravity… and the odds for women in film

“Wicked” shattered records with the biggest worldwide opening ever for a film based on a Broadway show. Not to mention, it’s also the 4th-biggest U.S. premiere of 2024! Why is this breaking news for the film industry? According to the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s 2023 study, only 30 of the 100 top-grossing films last year featured women or girls in lead or co-lead roles.

Dr. Stacy L. S. of the Annenberg Initiative noted, “These numbers are more than just a metric of how often girls and women are in protagonist roles. They represent the career opportunities offered to women in the film industry.”

The opportunity and platform that “Wicked” gave stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to inspire women in film is not lost on them. Erivo herself said in a recent New York Times interview that she didn’t even think she’d land the role.

As Erivo put it, “Historically, Black women have never really been seen for the role. If they have, they haven’t gotten the role, and if they do, they usually are the alternate or first cover… Characters like this don’t come along very often, they just don’t. So it’s a real privilege to be able to play these women.”

Feel like we’ve been here before? We have. In 2023, the blockbuster craze for “Barbie” sparked a wave of excitement and attention (and marketing spend!) for women in film. But it didn’t last long enough. Despite films like “Barbie” dominating the box office, the film industry continues to lag in offering women substantial roles.

The good news? It’s popular. “Wicked” brought in a global total of $164 million ticket sales on opening weekend, which includes $114 million in the U.S., making it the 64th highest-grossing opening weekend in U.S. history. Audiences clearly want more stories with women in leading roles. It’s not just 🎶for good 🎶, it’s good for business!

Here’s to Wicked, defying gravity, smashing glass ceilings, and proving that women in film deserve the spotlight—not just occasionally, but consistently. Together, we're unlimited 🎶. 

TROUBLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT

Melody Lee, Chief Marketing Officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, gets real with us

Have you heard of Melody Lee? The respected CMO at Mercedes kickstarted her career taking on a challenge most wouldn’t even consider. Early in her career, at an agency, Melody volunteered to dive headfirst into crisis communications, a niche that not many people were dying to tackle. So why did she do it? “I figured it would be like dog years. I would learn more in 6 hours than I would in 6 months [in another role].” This all-in, high-speed approach is representative of Melody’s career as a self-proclaimed “troublemaker,” as she progressed from the agency world to Director of Brand Marketing at Cadillac, to Vice President of Brand Development at Shiseido, to her current role at Mercedes. Take notes. **

FQ: What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?

ML: “Just try and be one of the boys.” I mean, I get it; when you are hustling in a male-dominated industry or environment, the instinct is to assimilate and fit in. But that diminishes what it is to be female in a male-dominated industry; it negates the unique qualities we, as women, bring. Better to be exactly who you are and bring it to the table with pride.

What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?

“When evaluating anything—an idea, piece of creative, etc.—ask yourself ‘Am I making this better, or am I making this different?’ before offering feedback.” My instinct early on was to be first, early, and loud. But as I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve had to measure the weight of my words. If my words don’t make something better, they’re better not said.

What was a “heartbeat moment” for you in your career?

Referring to her role representing the International Olympic Committee

In 2008, I was given a few hours to get on an airplane, not knowing when I’d return. That plane took me to Lausanne, Switzerland [Home of the International Olympic Committee Headquarters], where I ended up staying for three months, followed by one more month in Beijing, for the Olympic Games. It was a turning point in my career (at that time in crisis communications), and it was because I followed my heart, not my head.

You just received the marketing version of an Emmy award. Who are the three people you’re thanking that aren’t at your current gig?

1 and 2—My mom and dad, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1975 from Taiwan, with very little except a lot of faith and determination to give my brother and me a whole different world of opportunity.

3—My husband, Saul, who is infinitely smarter and better-liked than me, but who has repeatedly taken steps back in his career to relocate and care for our two boys so I can pursue my career.

Where have you caused trouble?

I’d define my entire time at Cadillac as causing trouble of some kind or the other. We worked so hard to make the iconic American brand cool again, but ruffled a lot of feathers along the way. From not showing a car in creative, to building one of the first brand spaces where you couldn’t buy a car, to moving headquarters from Detroit to New York, and launching the first automotive subscription business, the whole six years were wildly creative, disruptive, subversive, and troublesome to so many—and I’m proud of it.

DEAR FQ

Your burning career questions answered

Talia Bender of The Female Quotient weighs in:

We’re so sorry to hear this news, but we’re glad you reached out to The FQ. We’re here to support you, connect you, and help you navigate this transition.

1. Assess your finances

Take a realistic look at your financial situation. Can you afford to take time to find a role that aligns with your passion and career goals? Or do you need to prioritize finding a job quickly to cover immediate expenses? Knowing where you stand will help you plan your next steps.

2. Spend time mapping your strength and core skillsets

What work makes you feel energized and fulfilled? What kind of roles align with your expertise and long-term aspirations? Use this moment to define what you really want to be doing.

3. Leverage LinkedIn

Update your profile on LinkedIn to highlight your skills and accomplishments. Reach out to the people who you have connected with over the course of your career.

P.S. Remember, it’s important to nurture these relationships consistently so you are not only reaching out during times of panic or need.

4. Network

Check in-person events and conferences in your area and start scheduling IRL and/or virtual coffee chats. So many jobs today come through referrals and personal connections. It’s so important to dedicate time to this—these conversations can lead to unexpected opportunities.

5. Explore contract work

If a permanent role isn’t immediately available, consider contract work that fits your area of expertise. It’s a good way to get your foot in the door at a company and position yourself in the marketplace as active in a role.

You’re not in this alone—lean on your network and community. You’ve got this.

P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.

POLL THE PACK

Calling all managers and leaders! While it’s great that 90% of us feel we’re getting some respect at work, it pays to have more votes in the “always” camp.

According to Harvard Business Review, employees who feel respected are more grateful for—and loyal to—their firms, increasing productivity and decreasing turnover. On the flip side, the same HBR study found that 48% of employees who don’t feel respected deliberately reduce their effort at work.

If you’re in a leadership position, it pays to make sure everyone on your team feels respected for the unique skill set and individuality they bring to the company. By setting the example, your displays of respect can have a ripple effect, encouraging colleagues and other leaders to follow suit.

Next stop? Increased productivity, loyalty, and all around good vibes.

Our final thoughts today? As Glinda, we mean, Ariana Grande said, “In today’s culture, when there’s a constant erasure of nuance and humanness and feelings, it’s so important to remind people that change is possible.”

As the holidays approach, remind yourself that we’re all humans, capable of change, deserving of respect and a little magic…

🎶 We’re through with playing by the rules of someone else's game. 🎶 Let’s cause some good trouble, together.  

Xo

The FQ