Emily Jordan-Wilson | Feral Reps Founder on Advertising's Hidden Duty of Care

Content warning: This episode discusses sexual assault and may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.In Episode Three of Season Three of The emPOWER Breakfast Podcast, Founder and Host Athene Parker is joined by Emily Jordan-Wilson, Founder of Feral Reps, for perhaps one of our most impactful conversations so far.Emily has spent her career at the heart of advertising's new business and production community, building relationships across the creative industries. Today, through Feral Reps, she champions independent production companies, post houses, editing and music companies while advocating for stronger leadership, healthier workplace cultures and better safeguarding for those entering the industry.When Emily joined The emPOWER Breakfast live, she challenged the advertising industry to rethink one of its longest-standing assumptions: that relationship-building should come at any personal cost.Emily reflects on her childhood, her route into advertising, the resilience that has carried her throughout her career and the life-changing experience of sexual assault while travelling for work that ultimately became the catalyst for her determination to create meaningful change.This conversation explores the culture of networking, entertainment and relationship-building that has long been woven into the fabric of the advertising and production industries. Rather than focusing solely on what happened, it asks a bigger question:What responsibility do organisations have for the wellbeing and safety of their people?Further reading:June 2026 Employer Bulletinhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-bulletin-june-2026/june-2026-issue-of-the-employer-bulletinEmployment Rights Act 2025: Strengthening Protections for Whistleblowershttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695fc7f1714f11cb497765eb/strengthening-protections-for-whistleblowers-factsheet.pdfFrom clearer leadership and expectations to practical safeguarding measures, Emily and Athene discuss the practical changes every leader can make to create environments where people feel safe to speak up.Together, Athene and Emily explore:Leadership and duty of careWorkplace culture in advertising and productionSexual harassment and safeguarding at workNew business, networking and client entertainmentWomen's safety in the workplacePsychological safety and wellbeingBuilding healthier industry culturesResilience, purpose and post-traumatic growthFounding Feral RepsLeading change through lived experienceThis is a conversation about culture. About leadership. And about the extraordinary impact one person can have when they choose to share their story so that others may never have to experience the same.🎧 Listen to the Emily Jordan-Wilson Spotify PlaylistTrack 1 – Down to the River to Pray – Alison KraussTrack 2 – Sorry – Justin BieberTrack 3 – Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The MachineTrack 4 – I'm Still Standing – Elton JohnTrack 5 – Focus Is Power – Self Esteem and Unwritten – Natasha BeddingfieldEmily Jordan-Wilson, Emily Jordan Wilson, Feral Reps, FeralReps, advertising industry, advertising production, production companies, new business, business development, women in advertising, workplace culture, workplace safety, psychological safety, safeguarding, sexual harassment, duty of care, networking culture, client entertainment, founder story, resilience, trauma-informed leadership, post-traumatic growth, advertising leadership, creative industries, employee wellbeing, The emPOWER Breakfast, Athene ParkerPlease Follow & SubscribeIf this conversation resonated please follow, rate and review The emPOWER Breakfast Podcast. Every Subscription, Rating and Share helps more people discover these conversations.You will be supporting our mission to create healthier more compassionate leadership across the creative industries, Thank you SO much for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.