International Women’s Day – In Conversation with Coral Luck

Can you tell us about a female role model who has inspired you?

I’ve always found writers inspiring – especially those who use their stories to highlight issues.

I’m a huge fan of Malorie Blackman. She uses science fiction to explore social and ethical issues. Her young adult series, ‘Noughts and Crosses’ has become a classic in its own right, and is truly exceptional.  From the minute you pick up the book, you’re made to think about about prejudice in the world around you, and you start to think about other people’s experiences and what it’s like to walk in their shoes.

Another amazing author who I find inspiring is Louise O’Neill. Her books ‘Asking For It’, ‘Only Ever yours’ , ‘Surface Breaks’ and ‘Almost Love’ show us that issues surrounding gender, power and class are still just as relevant today.

What does this year’s International Women’s Day slogan, “Each for Equal”, mean to you?

I think it’s a really important message that transcends more than just gender. I hope it will bring more conversation surrounding the distinct forms of oppression faced by ethnic minority women and women lacking other privileges.  It shows that everyone, no matter race, sexuality, gender, disability, religion etc, deserves equal opportunities.

How can you help to create a gender equal world?

For me, I think education will play a huge part in creating an equal world.

We need to sit down and listen to people’s experiences – when I say listen, I truly mean listen. We need to try and understand what they’re saying and acknowledge their feelings. We need to stop retaliating defensively – as soon as you say, “not all men” or “not all women”, you’re minimising their experience and telling them it doesn’t matter.

There’s a lot of unconscious bias, which causes systematic and institutional discrimination. When we begin to question why we make that snap decision or judgement, and where it’s come from, we can learn and grow as people – this will then create a more equal world for everyone.

What advice would you give to women wanting to start out in the B2B marketing industry?

Always have an open mind. ‘Marketing’ is such a broad industry with so many different parts. Whether you’re working in PR, SEO, social media or creative, you should think about how you can help other departments and vice versa. Alongside this, you should always challenge yourself and soak up as much information as possible!

Are you feeling inspired?

Check out our Q&As with Olly Forrester, Mark Fones, Hannah Wester and Sarah Turpin!

Find out how we break boundaries and tell stories for businesses across the globe and get in touch at explore@wyattinternational.com or call 0121 454 8181.