Wonder Women TV
We sat down to talk all things Wonder Women TV with Ria Hebden. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
What inspired you to create Wonder Women TV and what was that journey like?
I created Wonder Women TV as a way of championing the voices of diverse and talented women who work in Television and the Creative Industries to share how they got to where they are in their careers to inspire other women at mid-senior level and the next generation of future leaders. At the time, there was so few women in senior leadership positions who were being celebrated publically and very few discussions were taking place where these women shared how they overcame personal and professional challenges to become successful. It's been incredibly empowering to observe the rise in women celebrating eachother and sharing their stories, both good and bad over the past five years and I'd like to think that Wonder Women TV has been a part of that progression.
As a champion of female empowerment, do you think the industry is finally becoming more inclusive for women?
There's a transformational shift taking place globally which has been ignited by the rise of the MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements which has galvanised women to stand up and speak out against issues which stunt Women’s equality. The pandemic has also compounded these issues as we know women have been disproportionately affected having to juggle childcare and work from home. I do think as a result of all of this coming to the forefront, it's caused organisations to look deeply within and make changes to their leadership teams to make their businesses more inclusion for everyone.
As a mentor and previous mentee, what role do you think mentoring plays in career progression?
Mentoring is a vital strategic tool in progressing in one's career. It has the power to elevate someone significantly in their career, just by being able to talk to someone who is more experienced, connected and established who can impart their wisdom and catapult an individual on to a trajectory of adventure and success far beyond their imagination. I strongly believe everyone should have a mentor and if you work in senior leadership it is your duty to pay it forward to the next generation.
Can you tell us a little more about the Wonder Women mentoring programme?
Absolutely! We launched the year-long programme in January 2021 and have 17 incredible women who work in Television in a variety of roles, who are at middle management level on board, who are mentored by some of the best women in the business. This is an important focus of the programme as we know so many women leave the industry around the age of 35 and why should they?! With structured long-term support (the programme is 1 year in duration) they meet with their mentor on a 1-2-1 basis and take part in monthly masterclasses taught by executive coaches with their fellow mentees. The benefits of this approach are huge in that they receive tailor-made masterclasses to support their learning and development while also connecting them to the broader Wonder Women community.
We are huge fans of your monthly Wonder Women TV podcast; you have interviewed some truly phenomenal women. If you could interview anyone, who would be your ideal guest and why?
I'd love to speak to American film & TV Director, Ava Duverney. She's a real changemaker and I'm in awe of the stories that she gets to tell onscreen. She's created some powerful, provocative, heart-breaking work and it's really quite revolutionary. I really think Ava is part of a new wave of female directors and I'd love to talk to her more about her journey, challenges she's experienced and the legacy she wants to leave behind as what's she's already created is extraordinary.
Has becoming a mum changed the way you work at all?
Absolutely. When I first had my son, I worked as a publicist at Discovery Channel. I took a year off to be with him and changed my hours to work flexibly to spend more time with him while he was young. When I had my daughter in 2017, I'd left my career in publicity to establish myself as a TV Presenter and have been able to schedule my TV work around my young family.
Is there any advice you would give to any new industry mums who might be thinking about their return to work?
Yes, speak to other working parents in TV to hear how they manage it. Also speak to your line manager so they understand your needs and responsibilities. Join communities where members are parents too such as Media Parents, Telly Mums and Wonder Women and connect with other parents at your child's nursery or school to form genuine friendships, as you will become each other's support network.
This has been an incredibly strange and challenging year. How has it been for you?
It's honestly been like living through an episode of Black Mirror! While there is so much to be thankful for, not least our health and still being able to work when so many in our industry haven't. Being an extrovert, I thrive off being around people and so I've found it hard to not have that direct connection with people. Technology has been both a saviour and a nuisance as we've all become so hyper-connected. Now that the weather is perking up, I'm consciously making time to do more outside, offline and mindfully.
You have an incredibly rich and interesting career, what has been your biggest success?
Presenting Sunday Morning Live on BBC One was a huge success for me professionally, as it was my first TV show to front that was live every Sunday. I loved the variety of the show, with VT interviews that I'd film on location all over the UK mixed with the buzz of a live TV studio, was a great first experience.
Want to hear more about Wonder Women TV?
Go their website to find out more!
https://www.wonderwomentv.com/home