On March 20th, Nickie Shobeiry, Isabelle Poirier and Ashley Ighorewo joined HerCampus Carleton and the Charlatan for an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion media panel. The women shared their experiences being women and women of colour in white, male dominated spaces and provided advice to Carleton students on how to kickstart their careers.
Simone Brown, the moderator for the event, and Hailey David organized the event and are both Equity Diversity and Inclusion Directors for the Charlatan and Her Campus Carleton, respectively.
The Panelist’s Backgrounds
Nickie Shobeiry is a Journalist for the Globe and Mail and a documentary director.
Isabelle Poirier is a design entreprenuer and Founder of the Ottawa Design Club which connects artists through events and zines.
Ashley Ighorewo is a journalist and the CEO of Freegxrl Media, a publication company dedicated to empowering and inspiring Black women.
How did you get into your field?
Nickie got into her field as she always loved storytelling, and did a lot of freelancing reaching out to different publications. She was led into the filmmaking space as journalism evolved, and she loves what she does.
Izzy got into her field by accident. She studied visual arts initially and thought she would be a teacher. After a field trip to a school, she hated it and switched to design. After many different careers, she made herself her own boss.
Ashley moved to Ottawa in 2015 and came to study journalism. She met a friend online who worked at CBC as a film critic who invited Ashley onto her segment and said he would put in a good word at Shifter magazine for Ashley.
Nickie, how did you successfully pitch underrepresented stories and protect their integrity?
Nickie said it’s all about “Getting them to be interested in that story.”
She goes to to her producers and editors and explaining the untapped market, the universal essence of the story. She recently pitched an Iranian signing competition series by explaining that it’s an untapped market that will get a lot of attention. It is a constant practice of protecting stories and sources through communication.
Ashley, online and in-person, how do you approach creating a safe space?
Ashley is extremely intentional with how she addresses her audience, and ensures they feel seen. She understands that many people are looking for relatability online. As a founder, a struggle has been making sure her message is clear; remembering why she is doing this helps her a lot.
She tries hard to make it known that her events are mainly curated by women. Further, being clear and having intention with everything she does is crucial.
Follow up. Why is it important to get the people who know the community and content?
Ashley said that as women, “A lot of the time we enter these rooms and we are second-guessed automatically”
Throughout this journey, it’s crucial to realize that not all women fit into the same box. There are women doing tons of different amazing things, and Ashley sees there is still a gap she wants to bridge.
Izzy, with Ottawa Design Club, your speakers share their personal stories. How do you go about creating a safe space to allow them to do that?
Izzy and her co-founder are both white straight women. “We told ourselves this would never be a political thing. We include everyone because we are genuinely curious and seeking unique stories,” she said.
It’s a lot about asking the right questions, and moderating the conversation, ensuring they feel heard. Asking a follow-up that proves you understand them helps a lot.
Izzy, as a graphic designer, how does that translate to those clients?
“I guess I’m a different breed of designer because I like to have a really good strategy behind the visual. I’ll ask deeper questions about their audience, and create a multi-layered story that is perceivable in many different ways,” she said.
Because of her visual arts background, she finds she is telling a story through her design, rather than marketing.
Nickie, when you are interviewing how do you go about making your interviewee safe and comfortable?
Nickie said that a lot of the culture reporting is more so emotional. If the editor allows, offering an extra nervous source a draft of the story is sometimes a good idea. Overall, allowing a person space is important. Allowing herself to stay still and have a professional line while still articulating that she is here to hear their story, and is not aiming to exploit their pain.
What are strategies when someone you are interviewing looks like you, or shares similar stories to you to someone who does not?
Nickie is always aware of what she moves through the world and her experience, and understanding her privileges is key. As a Middle Eastern from Iran, and says sometimes this made her feel like she knew everything. Over time, she realized her blind spots and became aware of her privileges. She knows there are some things that she just does not know, and depends on help from others for them. Knowing that if someone across the table looks like you, that does not mean that your lives are the same.
Can you share strategies that are necessary to separate tokenism and actual representative EDI work?
Izzy maintains honesty that if she did not know the answer, she would seek out the answer from someone who did know. Also, when facing criticism, reaching out to the critic and finding what they can do to be better.
Last year, during Black History Month, they did not have a Black speaker on stage. However, they decided to buy from a Black catering business for the event.
Now, with a more diverse team, it is easy to have open conversations and ask individuals about their opinions.
Ashley, with a team of all Black women, how do you separate tokenism and EDI work?
Ashley knows if someone is performative it is extra, and you can tell, she says. She tries to focus on realities, and if there is something she doesn’t know, she asks. Maintaining awareness of who she is catering to, and again, maintaining intention. “My favourite question is why.”
Each of you may also be used or weaponized as a token for companies. How do you assert yourself in an environment, that inherently makes you feel small:
“As a founder, as a Black woman who took a leap of faith and wanted to change the way media was consumed, it’s very hard,” Ashley said.
She stands her ground and reminds herself as she walks into these spaces that she is just someone who likes to tell stories.
“Hold onto your story, hold onto your why, remember why you started, and surround yourself with people who remind you that you are that girl.”
Ashley Ighorewo
Nickie agrees that knowing your why and knowing your intention is crucial. On a practical level, asking for the money that you are worth is important although it is difficult to ask for certain rates at times with imposter syndrome.
Remember that when you are coming up against someone who is making you feel small, you are a sane, clever, and proper human being. The thoughts you are having, were likely had by others, which makes things easier to manage. A sense of purpose also allows for a lot of advocating – not being afraid to advocate for yourself.
“Ask for what you’re worth, and advocate for yourself,” Nickie said.