Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – She Speaks Power, Naga DDB Tribal’s initiative focused on women empowerment, teamed up with female-owned café Little Cup to host a a 5K Pink Run to raise awareness and support for breast cancer. With each kilometer completed, participants contributed donations toward the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), underscoring She Speaks Power’s commitment to making a positive social impact. 

The event aligns with She Speaks Power’s mission to support female entrepreneurs. Since its inception, She Speaks Power has championed female-led businesses, notably through its Impact Mentorship Program, which connects female entrepreneurs with resources and mentorship. 

The run was led by Naga DDB’s own strategist Nadja van der Drift and and creative director Benedict Tan, who, alongside team members, guided participants along a scenic route through Bukit Damansara. The event not only fostered awareness for breast cancer but also served as an opportunity for the Naga DDB community to come together for a cause that affects many. 

The event was supported by sponsors including Canopy, Home Soy, Munchy’s and Himalaya Sports, with all proceeds directed to NCSM to further their mission to support those affected by breast cancer. 

Farrah Harith McPherson, chief growth officer at Naga DDB, said, “Naga DDB and She Speaks Power are committed to initiatives that bring our agency together to support a cause. We believe in championing community well-being, and this event provided a unique way for our team to contribute meaningfully. Our goal is to create an impact that goes beyond business by inspiring and empowering those around us.” 

New Zealand – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for its commemoration, the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ has partnered with the youth poets of Māori, the indigenous group of New Zealand, to share a message of body positivity.

The poet group Ngā Hinepūkōrero tackles a barrier to mammograms that are not often discussed – body shame and embarrassment.

In partnership with creative agency Colenso BBDO, the campaign centers around the poem ‘Ahi Kā’ performed by the group which is a protest poem that calls on women to love their bodies the same way New Zealand’s first women did.

With embarrassment often cited as a reason women avoid mammograms, and Māori women among the most at risk but least screened for breast cancer, the campaign seeks an important role to play.

Ngā Hinepūkōrero shared that they are thrilled to be part of a national campaign that encourages women to honor their whakapapa by loving their breasts and getting a mammogram.

Whakapapa is a fundamental principle in Māori culture, where reciting their whakapapa meant proclaiming their Māori identity, and recognizes one’s connection to a wider context and to land.

“The way wāhine Māori feel about our bodies has changed throughout generations. From our ancestors’ respect for their bodies, to our grandmothers’ feelings of shame and unacceptance, to the current generation’s reclamation of te ao Māori attitudes towards the body, and the love that comes from that,” the group said.

The message “Honor your whakapapa by loving your breasts. Get a mammogram.” is shared through print and film featuring breast cancer survivors. The poem has been brought to life through illustrations by designer Atarangi Anderson and animation by creative studio Creature Post.

The campaign launched 3 October with a 30” film and has rolled out across TV, OOH, and online.