J. Walter Thompson Company announced
today the second year of its Helen Lansdowne Resor (HLR) Scholarship, a
pioneering international opportunity designed to support and promote talented,
creative, female advertising students.
Named after Helen Lansdowne Resor, the industry’s and J.
Walter Thompson’s first female copywriter, the HLR Scholarship aims to support
young women of diverse backgrounds from around the world who aspire to join the
creative ranks. The scholarship hopes to address a major challenge for the
global industry, where women, who make up 46.4% of the advertising industry,
comprise just 11% of the creative directors in the U.S. (3% Conference, 2014)
and 14% globally (The Advertising Society, 2014).
Last year’s scholarship recipient group, across South Asia,
North America, MEA, LATAM and Europe, included students from Miami Ad School
Europe, Pratt Institute and the American University of Sharjah.
Tamara Ingram, J. Walter Thompson Company’s Chief Executive
Officer, said of the scholarship, “I truly believe that diversity of spirit and
diversity of people produces a diversity of ideas that only help to fuel the
creative solutions we provide to our client partners. It’s fantastic that
something like the HLR Scholarship can help to create the kind of change we
want to see in the ad world.”
The HLR Scholarship will award five individual scholarships
up to $10,000. Additionally, each HLR Scholarship recipient will receive a paid
summer internship with a J. Walter Thompson office in her respective region, a
J. Walter Thompson mentor and a “first look” placement consideration upon
graduation.
“Helen Lansdowne Resor created brilliant, groundbreaking
work because she was a brilliant and groundbreaking creative. Her work has
shaped the way we make work today. There are likely so many more Helens in the
world waiting for their opportunity to break into the industry,” Matt
Eastwood, J. Walter Thompson Company’s Worldwide CCO, commented. “As a
seasoned creative who had lots of help and lots of mentorship early on, it’s
nice to pay it forward with a scholarship opportunity that gives young creative
talent a really phenomenal opportunity to break in and get ahead.”
Helen Lansdowne Resor began her pioneering half-century-long
career with J. Walter Thompson in 1908, and quickly became a guidepost to
female creatives of her generation as a champion for the advancement of women’s
rights both inside and outside the agency. During her tenure, J. Walter
Thompson was known as the “Women’s Agency,” where bright young female talents
had a chance to succeed. As a brilliant creative, working mother and icon in
advancing women’s rights, she overcame significant cultural barriers as a true
pioneer. She is also credited with some of the industry’s most innovative
historical advertising, including the use of celebrity testimonials through
endorsements from socialites, European royalty and other well-known women in
her work for Pond’s Cold Cream.
Established in partnership with the 4A’s during the agency’s
150th anniversary in 2014, the HLR Scholarship has been promoted at leading
industry events such as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity,
Spikes Asia and Advertising Week in New York City. It has also received
widespread international media attention from The New York Times, The Globe
and Mail, Campaign India and
more.
The scholarship is open to eligible students from select
schools globally. Find the list of eligible schools here.
Applications must be submitted here by May 15, 2016.