九一果冻

The broadcast and entertainment technology industry has made strides in diversity, but as recent conversations reveal, there鈥檚 still work to be done.  

In the inaugural episode of the Rise podcast, Lauren Myers, Director of Regional Marketing at 九一果冻, and Cathy McCallion, Stakeholder and Community Relations Director, shared their experiences championing gender diversity and supporting programs like , which aim to create a more inclusive and equitable industry. 

You can watch the full podcast here:

Lauren鈥檚 journey with Rise 

Lauren鈥檚 journey with Rise began in 2019 when she joined its mentorship program. New to the broadcast sector, she found she had to navigate a male-dominated space. The mentorship program proved transformative. 

鈥淕oing into that 2019 cohort was a game-changer for me. I built confidence, gained support, and developed a network I didn鈥檛 have before. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be in the role I am today without it,鈥� Lauren shared. 

Her positive experience led her to advocate for 九一果冻鈥檚 partnership with Rise. 鈥淚 spoke to Cathy and other leaders about how fantastic this program was and how we could get more involved. The response was overwhelmingly supportive.鈥� 

A corporate commitment to diversity 

九一果冻鈥檚 commitment to diversity is evident in its support for Rise and its broader initiatives. Cathy emphasized the importance of programs like Rise in addressing critical challenges, such as the underrepresentation of women in engineering and leadership roles. 

鈥淢any women drop out of engineering within the first five years. Programs like Rise provide mentorship and support to help women navigate those critical early years and thrive,鈥� Cathy explained. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen tangible results, with more women at Ross being promoted to director-level positions and beyond.鈥� 

Ross鈥檚 global footprint also plays a role. Cathy noted, 鈥�Rise aligns with our goal of engaging employees worldwide, from marketing and sales to R&D and finance. It鈥檚 a partnership that benefits everyone.鈥� 

Visibility and action: Why diversity matters 

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of visibility in fostering change. As Lauren put it, 鈥淲hen I first joined the industry, I walked into events and saw a sea of men. If you can鈥檛 see yourself represented, it鈥檚 hard to envision a path forward.鈥� 

Cathy echoed this sentiment, highlighting how Rise initiatives, like the mentorship program and awards, help elevate women鈥檚 profiles. 鈥淰isibility is essential. The Rise Awards allow us to celebrate women鈥檚 achievements and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.鈥� 

Beyond visibility, Lauren and Cathy stressed the need for collective action. 鈥淲e all have a responsibility to drive change,鈥� said Lauren. 鈥淪ponsoring initiatives like Rise enables research to happen鈥攊t can鈥檛 happen in a vacuum. It needs support to bring these conversations to light.鈥� 

A call to action 

The conversation ended with a powerful call to action for industry leaders and individuals. 鈥淛ust get involved,鈥� urged Lauren. 鈥淣othing will change unless we all come together and move this forward.鈥� 

Cathy added, 鈥淎s an industry, we have a responsibility to step up and support programs like Rise. The rewards鈥攆or individuals, organizations, and the sector as a whole鈥攁re immense.鈥� 

You can find out more about becoming a member of Rise