Aloha from Los Angeles … well, Culver City.
What generally happens after the last day of Black History Month is predictable: we move on.
While it’s been heartening to see the agency community’s efforts during Black History Month, less than 30 days to celebrate and learn the stories about talent of color isn’t enough.
This week, we wrote about Derek Walker, an agency owner in Columbia, S.C. who is highlighting talent of color every day of the month on his social channels. He is imploring someone to steal his idea and make it a year-round effort.
What we’ve also learned from articles and contributions this month is that the agency and brand worlds continue to struggle with inclusion despite the many efforts and programs.
Trevor Robinson, the founder of Quiet Storm in London (and one of my favorite OBEs), shared why racism still happens in advertising today.
Corean Canty, chief operating officer of Goodway Group, got to the root of brands and authenticity related to black audiences.
Vann Graves, VCU Brandcenter’s executive director, shared his thoughts on how much more work brands have to do to create inclusive work environments and, by extension, better work.
Grey London CMO Sarah Jenkins connected brands and agencies—and their responsibility in doubling down on inclusion to get from just conversation to action.
Two MullenLowe executives laid out steps to spark diversity-centered change in agencies.
What struck me most about these points of view is the fact that these are leaders we don’t hear from very often. While I appreciate the chorus of voices we’ve heard from consistently over the years, it’s encouraging to hear from others. This isn’t about getting “ink,” it’s about a critical education and valuable insight to impart real change.
Painting a more comprehensive picture relies on the perspective of as many in the industry as possible. When more people share their wisdom and experiences (both good and bad), the more we can learn and move to action.
It’s also vital to be introduced to generations of talent.
It also means holding the industry to account.
It means bringing everyone together for the greater good of advertising and especially agencies.
Additionally, more success stories, especially how diverse teams result in better work and greater profit, can only point to the fact that those who choose not to make inclusion a priority will be left behind. Look no further than the likes of HP and the stories of leaders who are part of the I.D.E.A. initiative, and you’ll see why inclusion is a business imperative.
I have experience with this having worked in hip-hop radio for five years in Portland. We were a diverse crew across the board and were number one in ratings and revenue. Ebro Darden, now of Hot 97 and Beats 1, was the person who gave me my first legit shot. He took a chance on me and is largely responsible for my success today. (There's a much longer story to this, and I'm happy to share it with you.)
And, by the way, this all happened 20 years ago. Even back then, we knew that our success was a direct result of our diversity. It was a group of remarkable talent that came together for a common goal—and we all brought our own gifts to the equation. This experience was transformative and set the foundation for my worldview today.
But what is it going to take to keep building that momentum? In our minds, it starts with telling these stories every month of the year and not just February. So let’s work together to make it a reality.
In other news this week …
Brand safety is back to the top of the list as YouTube endures yet another controversy. The big question: can the platform ever be entirely safe for advertisers?
What’s next for the #MeToo movement? We caught up with Tarana Burke to learn about some new PSAs created by Deutsch and what the future holds.
An executive vice president of experiential agency BMF has sued the company alleging that its leadership violated several employment laws.
Some moves. Erin Matts landed as Hearts & Science’s new U.S. CEO, and Publicis Media elevated Lauren Hanrahan as its new CEO across Zenith, Moxy and MRY. And on the biz side, PepsiCo moved Gatorade digital marketing to TBWA\Chiat\Day L.A., and NBCUniversal Entertainment put its media planning and buying business into review.
A must-watch: Lindsay Rittenhouse tagged along with Nick Gardner to meet the teams that brought the Bud Light X GoT Super Bowl ad to life.
Another must-watch: All of the Brandweek: Challenger Brands keynotes are in one place … and they are a delight.
Have plans for International Women’s Day next month? We’d love to hear what you have on tap. I can be reached at doug dot zanger at adweek dot com.
We also invite you to read AgencySpy, our sister site, for more news and tidbits from the agency world. If you’re already an avid reader, thank you kindly for the support.
Have a wonderful weekend and, as always, we thank you for your support.
Warm Regards,
Doug Zanger
Senior Editor, Creativity + Agencies
