National Geographic recently hosted award-winning actor and gender equality advocate Geena Davis during its “D&I Day” event, which included an executive panel discussion and celebration of 21CF’s Colleague Network & Resource Groups (CNRGs) expansion in Washington, D.C. The employee-led CNRGs, which are formed around shared identity, interests or pursuits, are supported by 21CF Global Inclusion and help advance the company’s rich and diverse culture and foster an environment where all colleagues can thrive.
Editorial Director of National Geographic Partners and Editor in Chief of National Geographic magazine Susan Goldberg and Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, kicked off D&I Day with a conversation about the importance of representation in media and entertainment industry. Davis highlighted the work of her research-based organization, which works within the industry to educate and engage writers, marketers and audiences on eliminating unconscious bias, challenging stereotypes, creating positive role models and scripting a wide variety of female personalities on-screen.
They discussed the organization’s GD-Inclusion Quotient, a tool used to collect statistical data on gender and race on-screen to help form specific sets of recommendations and solutions geared particularly towards the writers’ rooms. 21CF had also worked with the Institute earlier this year to quantify the previously-anecdotal “Scully Effect,” which theorized that the character of Agent Dana Scully on FOX’s “The X-Files” inspired a generation of young women to pursue careers in STEM and law enforcement.
The talk was followed by a lunchtime fair where colleagues across National Geographic and other 21CF businesses in D.C. met and mingled with representatives from CNRGs including APEX, Hola, Noir, Pride, Vets, Women@21CF and Women in Technology. The day culminated with an executive panel discussion with National Geographic Society Chief Marketing and Engagement Officer Emma Carrasco, Twentieth Century Fox TV CTO Alex Grimwade, National Geographic SVP Karen Greenfield and National Geographic magazine Managing Editor David Brindley; and was moderated by 21CF Global Inclusion SVP MyKhanh Shelton. The discussion and Q&A covered personal and professional stories of overcoming adversity, finding pride in personal identities and the significance of being able to support and mentor colleagues through their own hurdles and successes. Greenfield advised, “Find your mentor and be a mentor, and remember — we find solace in our communities, but we find success when we reach out across our communities.”
(L-R: Brindley, Grimwade, Carrasco, Greenfield and Shelton)
A version of this post originally appeared on the 21CF Social Impact blog.
