Burning Out Like Dying Stars: Why Agencies Need to Build More Supportive Work Environments for Women in Advertising

Women’s engagement is examined in an advertising agency setting as related to the agency’s leadership, culture, and workplace processes. Inductive analysis found that participants reported fluctuating levels of engagement over time, with the lowest levels of engagement cited during times of overwork or a lack of trust in the leadership team due to receding communication. The results demonstrate the key role agency culture and expectations plays in determining levels of workplace engagement, which is imperative for the recruitment and retention of talent in the advertising industry.