Dickson has her hands on essentially every aspect of the ad sales space—from the technical conversions involved in ad insertion to keeping employee trainings up to date. She doesn’t settle for the status quo; she demands improvements not only from her team, but for herself as well. When it comes to inspiration, she doesn’t have to look far. “Early in my career, my mother shared with me that she had been fired for getting pregnant. It’s so easy to take for granted the opportunities we have today, but she reminded me that someone fought for me to have these opportunities and it’s my obligation to make sure I leave things better than I found them for the next generation,” she says.
What are your thoughts on the industry’s current response to the Me Too movement, and its treatment of men who have been accused of sexual harassing and/or assaulting women and men? Are there other steps you feel should be taken?
I believe our industry is taking this seriously and is working to address the issues. I personally find it sad that there are so many stories to be told and am glad this is something that we are beginning to discuss openly. As the mother of two daughters, I would like to think we can make the work environment a different place where this isn’t something my daughters need to face. We still have a long way to go. We need to have these conversations and become more proactive about the dialogue and education that needs to follow.
Do you see any potential backlash to the Me Too/Time’s Up movements?
I worry that there are a lot of good men who will be fearful about their relationships with women in the workplace when there is no cause. I would hate for men to hesitate when asked to be a mentor or sponsor. I would hate for women to not be asked to the table. Such reactions would be missing the point of this movement, which is aimed at creating an inclusive workplace for everyone. When an important national conversation such as this arises you often see a strong reaction which can have unintended consequences. I am hopeful that we all work together to not lose any of the progress that has been made.
Who is an inspirational woman you admire, and why?
I know it will sound cliché, but my mother is my inspiration. Early in my career, my mother shared with me that she had been fired for getting pregnant. It’s so easy to take for granted the opportunities we have today, but she reminded me that someone fought for me to have these opportunities and it’s my obligation to make sure I leave things better than I found them for the next generation. I remember that every day.
