“We are introducing the idea of female capital, recognising the value that women bring to the world as women,” stated Rachel Pashley, the group planning director at J.Walter Thompson who pitched the series to the BBC.

J.Walter Thompson Entertainment was formed to “help our clients create stories that must be told. We work with brands and broadcasters to create long-form engaging content that moves beyond traditional advertising.”

The equal abilities of women is a story the company feels needs to be told. On February 20, its documentary series of four 60 minute episodes about the world’s most powerful women will go to air on the BBC. Her Story: The Female Revolution examines gender issues through interviews with inspirational women, ranging from well-known executives to local activists.

“Her Story is the definitive documentary and global perspective on where women are today. It is more than just a documentary about women’s progress; it is an audit of the staggering leaps women have made in an infinite number of ways,” J.Walter Thompson states on its website.

The first episode is narrated by BBC news presenter, Mishal Husain. Interviewees include Margot Wallstrom, the foreign minister of Sweden; Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Dalia Grybauskaite, the president of Lithuania; Michelle Bachelet, president of Chile; actress, Geena Davis; Laleh Seddigh, an Iranian race car driver; and 19 year old Balkissa Chaibou, who is fighting against child marriage in Niger.

The first episode, Leadership, will be followed by episodes on sexual politics, religion and work.

There are no brands involved, although J.Walter Thompson Entertainment has previously made films for bands like Shell and Macy’s. J.Walter Thompson and Films of Record are co-producers. Perhaps J.Walter Thompson is the brand. At some point very soon, an agency that champions true equality for women – within its ranks as well as well as outside them – will be held up as the agency of the future. And with women being 70% of purchasers, brands will have to see the value to them in such an agency. One day.

J.Walter Thompson is one agency that has been doing what it takes to understand what makes women tick and take note of their capabilities.

The series is also being used to put J. Walter Thompson at the front of the queue for long-form content for brands – a growing trend among marketers throughout the world.

Rachel Pashley noted, “We are kind of at a cultural tipping point at the moment. Increasingly, women are major breadwinners and major decision makers. Increasingly, our clients are women. To be the agency that best understands women both as a consumer and as a wealth creator puts us in a better position to be able to engage clients.”

J.Walter Thompson will own the rights to the series after BBC’s exclusivity period expires and the ad agency is already looking at ways to sell the content to streaming-video players like Netflix or Amazon.

This J.Walter Thompson’s manifesto on women:

This is the trailer for Her Story:

This is the behind the scenes video: