Fri Forjindam, Chief Development Officer at Mycotoo, discusses pay disparity in creative fields, the importance of leveraging unique experiences, and Mycotoo's approach to equal pay and billing in the entertainment industry.
Equal billing and voice between creative and producerial leads is crucial to uphold responsible business practices and ensure fair compensation in the entertainment industry.
Creating an inclusive workplace requires questioning the status quo, challenging systems that perpetuate inequality, and continuous self-reflection and improvement as organizations.
Deep dives
Supporting Diversity and Equal Pay in the Entertainment Industry
In this podcast episode, the guest, Free Forgen Dam, discusses the importance of supporting diversity and equal pay in the entertainment industry. She emphasizes the need for equal billing and voice between creative and producerial leads, ensuring that creativity does not trump responsible business practices. Free also highlights the responsibility the industry has to challenge and change harmful norms, such as discriminating based on appearance. She shares insights from her own experiences, including working at a restaurant where model-like appearances were required for employment. Free encourages value stacking, acknowledging the unique experiences and perspectives that each individual brings to the table. She believes that this approach can lead to more audacious requests for fair compensation and opportunities. She also mentions the importance of aligning with partners and organizations that share the belief in creating transformative and inclusive entertainment experiences. Free discusses the growth of her company, My Co-2, and the opening of their indoor entertainment offering called Dig It, which focuses on STEM-based constructive play for children. She concludes by giving a shout-out to Talia Blue, a champion for pay equality and a friend who excels in recognizing individuals' potential and advocating for them.
Questioning the Status Quo and Creating Inclusive Workspaces
Another key point in this podcast episode is the importance of questioning the status quo and creating inclusive workspaces. The guest highlights how companies often portray themselves as diverse and equitable, but this may not align with the experiences of all employees. She shares an example from an HR seminar where an employee expressed feeling scared and out of place due to the difference between the company's messaging and their personal experience. This highlights the potential exclusivity of efforts to create an inclusive workforce. The guest discusses the importance of speaking up and challenging systems that perpetuate inequality. She also emphasizes the need for continuous self-reflection and improvement as organizations, even if they believe they have been doing the work. The guest mentions the Me Too movement as a catalyst for change and emphasizes that companies should strive for fair pay and equal opportunities for all. She acknowledges that creating this change requires collaboration among multiple leaders and organizations within the industry.
The Power of Recognizing Value and Negotiating Fair Compensation
The podcast episode also explores the power of recognizing one's value and negotiating fair compensation. The guest reflects on her journey, starting as a paralegal assistant and eventually becoming a leader at My Co-2. She recalls moments where she witnessed unfair treatment based on appearance and the need for creative and producerial leads to have equal billing and voice. She emphasizes the importance of valuing unique experiences, skills, and perspectives as factors in compensation discussions. The guest shares her approach of finding moments of differentiation and showcasing her value in problem-solving and creative thinking. She encourages others to recognize their own value and the potential they bring to the table. The guest also discusses the role of confidence and self-advocacy in compensation negotiations, emphasizing the need to be informed and willing to ask questions and seek advice.
Supporting the Next Generation and Building Inclusive Cultures
The final key point in this podcast episode is the importance of supporting the next generation and building inclusive cultures. The guest highlights the responsibility to create cultures where people feel seen, have upward mobility, and can grow within the organization. She discusses the need to challenge historical norms and promote inclusivity based on gender, race, and background. The guest shares how her company, My Co-2, strives to be a diverse and equal partnership where value is given to skills, experience, and unique backgrounds. She emphasizes the importance of reflecting on the impact of one's actions and decisions on the next person in line, aiming to create opportunities for women, immigrants, and mothers in addition to providing value to the industry as a whole. The guest also mentions current projects at My Co-2, such as the opening of Dig It, an indoor entertainment experience for children focused on fostering STEM learning through play.
Kaitlyn Knopp talks with Fri Forjindam about her career in the entertainment industry—first as an actor, and now as Chief Development Officer at Mycotoo, an entertainment development company. Topics include:
Pay disparity in the creative fields, and the impact of #MeToo
The importance of "value stacking," and how we can leverage our unique experiences
Mycotoo's unique approach to the intersection of business and creativity, and how it creates a system for equal pay and equal billing
To learn more about Mycotoo's projects visit Mycotoo.
Pequity is the leader in intelligent compensation software founded on the principles of fair pay and opportunity for all. To learn more visit Pequity.
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