If there was any doubt left that Fearless Girl was simply a prop for a global investment firm... well, just watch the commercial below, which is currently racking up awards at the Cannes Lions 64th International Festival of Creativity. Time to pop the champagne, Wall Street patriarchs!
According to AdWeek, McCann's Fearless Girl statue—which was created by sculptor Kristen Visbal, and placed on Wall Street by State Street Global Advisors (who now own her cast)—is "sweeping up" at the festival. The outlet notes how judges were impressed that "it had such immediate global impact through such an incredibly simple and inspired execution."
Judge Wendy Clark noted how it "elegantly captures women’s journeys and our path to empowerment," before digging into how it has benefited the male-run company:
Clark also cited the business results for State Street, including a 374 percent increase in the size of the so-called SHE fund—State Street’s SSGA Gender Diversity Index, which tracks the performance of U.S. companies that are leaders in advancing women through gender diversity on their boards and in senior leadership positions.
It's worth noting that State Street continues to have a gender diversity problem of its own.
