Why advertising must stop failing midlife women | Christiana Courtright | TEDxVUAmsterdam
In this TEDxVUAmsterdam talk, Christiana Courtright, Head of Digital Netherlands, explores the uncomfortable truth behind ageism in advertising and how it’s making midlife women feel invisible and undervalued.Through personal storytelling, surprising data, and sharp cultural insight, Christiana reveals how industries like beauty and fashion reduce vibrant women to one-dimensional clichés.This talk, however, is more than cultural critique; it’s personal. Because if advertising doesn't change its portrayal of midlife women soon, it might be too late for Christiana and for a generation of female advertisers who still have so much to offer.You’ll hear from the women advertising forgot, learn what they actually want from brands, and discover why confronting age bias isn’t just ethical, it could even add years to someone’s life.Timely, emotional, and quietly revolutionary, this is a rallying cry for a more inclusive portrayal of age in media, advertising, and society. Christiana Courtright is an award-winning brand and digital strategist who is the Head of Digital for Edelman Netherlands. With a background in journalism, she pivoted to advertising nine years ago, bringing an editorial mindset to brand storytelling and digital strategy for clients like KLM, Gucci Run, bonprix and PepsiCo.She passionately advocates for change and is on the leadership team for SheSays Amsterdam - a global community for women and allies. Since 2019, she has been campaigning against ageism in advertising, challenging outdated narratives and pushing for more inclusive representation in her industry. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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