FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York Women in Communications Launches Inaugural PIVOT Development Grants
New Self-Directed Grants to Be Awarded to Female Professionals Changing Careers
NEW YORK, November 19, 2019 – Today, New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) announced the launch of PIVOT Development Grants, a new initiative dedicated to providing self-directed grants to female professionals as they seek to evolve their careers. The initiative, which will award its first round of grants in January 2020, aims to provide greater access to the developmental resources for women in communications careers as they navigate workplace transitions.
With sectors facing unprecedented transformation driven by changing business models and technology, more female communications professionals are looking to change course in their careers than ever before. In a recent survey of NYWICI members across backgrounds and demographics, nearly half of women in the communications field expressed that they were looking to change career trajectories over the next 12-18 months.
- Respondents expressed their decision to change course was driven by a desire for advancement, with over 21% of women expressing lack of upward mobility in their current role as their motivation for pursuing a new professional track.
- Other factors driving women seeking change included the pressures of ageism in the workplace, organizational restructuring at their company or the impact of broader industry shifts.
- Despite programs like employer-provided tuition assistance, more than one third of women said they were funding further educational development personally (29%) or through loans (6%).
By putting resources in the hands of and at the direction of the grant recipients, PIVOT will allow women across the communications disciplines – from advertising to marketing to public relations – to direct the awarded grants towards the workshops, conferences and other developmental resources they choose to assist them as they build towards the next phase in their career.
The PIVOT Development Grants are part of NYWICI’s long-standing commitment to supporting women in communications at every point of their careers dating back to its founding in 1929. Since 2000, the organization has awarded over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to students and professionals.
“At a moment where more women in our industry are looking to control the narrative of their careers, NYWICI’s mission is more relevant than ever,” said Judith Harrison, President of New York Women in Communications and Senior Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Weber Shandwick. “We are proud to launch The PIVOT Development Grants and to provide an innovative new development approach that allows women to access the specific professional resources and opportunities they need to navigate their next phase.”
The inaugural grants awarded through PIVOT will be underwritten by Nielsen Global Media, a NYWICI Corporate Member. The application process will open on November 19th, 2019 and grant recipients will be announced in January 2020. Interested candidates can find the application form at https://nywici.org/pivot-grants/.
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYWICI
About NYWICI
New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), founded in 1929, is a not-for-profit organization of over 2,000 communications professionals dedicated to promoting the highest standards throughout the industry and to providing education and leadership for the next generation. NYWICI’s mission is to support women at all levels of their communications careers and to help define the future of communications and stay ahead of the industry’s ever-changing landscape. The organization’s membership encompasses senior executives and other experienced communicators from a wide range of enterprises, as well as young professionals and students. NYWICI empowers women across communications disciplines to reach their full potential by promoting their professional growth, inspiring them to achieve and share their successes and helping them navigate the evolving and converging world of communications.
Contact:
Emily Brochstein at (212) 297-2126 or ebrochstein@kellencompany.com
# # #