3 Agency Interns Have a Plan to Get More Women Into Google's Image Results for 'CEO'

Search for “CEO” on Google Images, and you’ll find only a handful of the first 100 results include female faces. Of those, one is a stock photo and another is … CEO Barbie.

A 2015 study by CNNMoney found that 14.2 percent of leadership positions in the S&P 500 are held by women, and according to nonprofit Catalyst, only 4 percent of top companies are currently led by female chief executives.

To help change Google’s own male-dominated portrayal of CEOs, three aspiring agency professionals working their way through BBH’s internship program, The Barn, want to change that fact with the help of some strategic SEO magic.

read more

Google Just Made One of the Most Compelling Ads Yet About Gender Transition

Transgender issues have been front-page news all summer, though brands have clearly had a hard time knowing what their role should be in the conversation. But now Google—one of the world’s most powerfully visible corporate LGBT advocates—is out with a new spot for Pride Month that tells the deeply poignant story of a transgender man and the small business that helped him during his transition.

The first half of the spot below focuses on Jake, who was born female but identified as male from a young age. The second half introduces City Gym in Kansas City, Mo., which has given Jake a place where he can feel comfortable getting to know his changing body and find support for him and his friends. (Another gym’s tagline, “No judgments,” would be much more apt at this place.)

It’s a wonderfully made spot. The story is skillfully and evocatively told, and never feels exploitative. The inclusion of YouTube videos in which Jake shows his transition are particularly resonant in describing his journey (and yes, Google’s ongoing behind-the-scenes role in it).

It’s also unapologetic about the business tie-in—the spot promotes the Google My Business tools for small businesses—which is a good thing, as it doesn’t feign disinterested altruism and presents a very tangible case for supporting LGBT-friendly businesses.

Google has done meaningful work in this space for years. Once again, it’s leading by example.



Book Review Byline Tally Shows Gender Disparity

In its annual count of male and female bylines in book reviews, magazines and literary journals, VIDA, a women’s literary organization, revealed that in 2013, the publications still largely favored men over women.