How to speak up in an industry that rewards silence

Writer Elaine Hering on practical tools for creatives to challenge bias, navigate hierarchy, and make their voices heard.

For this month’s Reflections – a series of conversations aimed at developing our toolbox beyond creativity – we discuss self-advocacy and rethinking how we view silence.

Speaking up in a professional environment can feel intimidating, anxiety-inducing, and high-risk. Oftentimes, it doesn't feel worth the hassle, and thus unresolved problems become part of the fabric of our daily lives at work. However, it's crucial to remember that this is a skill that all of us can teach ourselves to improve at.

Elaine Hering wrote a book about just that. In Unlearning Silence, she draws from her background in communication, collaboration and conflict management – having worked as a Managing Partner of Triad Consulting Group and a Lecturer in Law at Harvard Law School, specialising in dispute resolution, mediation, and negotiation. She challenges the idea that speaking up is just about being louder – it’s about being heard in systems that often dismiss certain voices.

For fashion designers navigating an industry built on hierarchy, subjectivity and exclusivity, her work highlights how structural biases shape who gets visibility and influence. Hering emphasises that real change comes not just from individual confidence but from reshaping the systems that silence people, whether through leadership, workplace culture, or industry norms. For designers, the takeaway is clear: advocating for your work isn’t just about personal boldness but about recognising and challenging the invisible barriers that determine whose creativity gets championed.

Elaine, your work offers valuable insights for professionals in many fields, but what unique challenges do you see in the creative industry?

One big thing that strikes me about creative industries versus others is subjectivity. What is considered ‘creative’ or ‘novel’ is subjective, which amplifies biases. Decisions about whose work is valuable are based on personal judgment rather than clear metrics, like in finance.