Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka
Cannes Lions has today announced Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, as the recipient of the 2019 Cannes LionHeart in recognition of her advocacy for women, human rights, and social justice throughout the world, and for her leadership of the industry-wide diversity initiative, The Unstereotype Alliance. Throughout her career, Phumzile has championed women’s rights through her involvement with projects and programmes devoted to education, women’s empowerment and gender equality and in 2018 was named by Apolitical as one of the most influential people in gender policy around the world. Her work spans the private sector, civil society and government. Her leadership of the Unstereotype Alliance recognises the power of partnerships to accelerate progress and her involvement has been pivotal to creating a space where industry leaders can set aside competition and unite for a common cause. As the powerhouse behind the initiative, which launched in 2017, she unites leaders to tackle the widespread prevalence of stereotypes that are often perpetuated through media and advertising content. Philip Thomas, Chairman of Cannes Lions said, “Phumzile’s passion and tireless work to improve the lives of women and children around the world and bring about social justice represents the true embodiment of the Cannes LionHeart Award. Through her work on the Unstereotype Alliance she has brought together leaders from business, technology and creative industries to consciously consider how individuals are in communications.” Introduced in 2014, the Cannes LionHeart is an honorary Award presented to a person or organisation that has harnessed their position to make a significant and positive difference to the world around us, with particular reference to those who work with brands and the advertising community. As Executive Director of UN Women, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka is driving the role of women in leadership, engaging men as allies, and ending discrimination and violence against women and girls through coalition and movement building among global leaders in public and private sectors, and with civil society.