It’s time for all of us to look inward to our industry and begin the conversation about diversity and inclusion. In my experience, at most agencies and companies in Los Angeles, most creatives are white, a few are Asians, but only one or two, if not zero, are Black or brown people. And many leaders…
Juneteenth is as American as a slice of apple pie. Emancipation is in the DNA of our nation. Just as we celebrate the Fourth of July, Juneteenth symbolically marks the end of oppression for Black communities devastated by 400 years of slavery. This year marks the 155th annual celebration of Juneteenth in America, where currently,…
For months, the coronavirus pandemic sent shockwaves of fear and uncertainty throughout the consumer landscape. Out of necessity, many people adopted new buying habits and preferences during the lockdown; they gravitated toward ecommerce, curbside pickup and contactless delivery options. Now that the economy is reopening, one question looms large: How many of these temporary buying…
Over the past few months, optimists have focused on what we can all learn from the pandemic, including the health and economic crisis it has created. For the marketing and advertising industry, this crisis has served as a catalyst to hyper-focus agencies on what they do best, regardless of discipline: addressing a client’s business problems…
We have failed Black influencers in our network. If you aren’t a Black influencer marketing practitioner, you have, too. Brandi Wiley challenged us to use her words to own our failure, and we stand up to say: We purposely overlooked Black women because it was easier than to push back or educate a client. It…
At the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM), we strongly believe that every person–regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, religion, age or culture–should have equal rights, equal representation, opportunities, support, understanding, respect, consideration, voice and the ability to achieve their full potential. For more…
Think back to October–ages ago in the era of coronavirus and protests around racial justice. The pace of corporate change was already in overdrive, with technology and automation upending industries across the board. Against this backdrop, a research initiative began to better understand the massive shifts taking place within organizations. Most studies on transformation have…
I once had a client tell me they couldn’t cast a Black woman because their target was an “all-American girl.” I had a client refuse to cast a Black family because they didn’t want to “overcorrect.” I had a client tell me to turn an integrated campaign to help Black business owners into “a coloring…
McDonald’s posted a branded video ad naming seven Black individuals killed over the past several years at the hands of police and gun violence. The corporation also said it would donate to the National Urban League and the NAACP. Are consumers supposed to cheer for this or say they are lovin’ it? Why stop at…
We will not be moving forward with plans to advertise with Facebook. For context, we deactivated our corporate Facebook account last year, and we were looking to reactivate it specifically for the purpose of a retargeting campaign. Recent events have weighed heavily on us all, spurring us to think about how we can do more….
In the face of ongoing racial injustice in our country, many companies have been forced to acknowledge the racial inequity within their organizations, leadership teams and boards. As I have read various companies’ statements, what I keep thinking about is how we each can make a tangible impact on increasing diversity and inclusion within these…
When my daughter was just 7 years old, she asked me why the advertising she saw was so bad. Laughing, I told her it took hundreds of people and lots of meetings to make them so bad. Too young to understand my insider humor, she simply shrugged and continued watching TV. The reason for my…
Up until a few weeks ago, the 2020 election was going to be all about populism and its widespread influence on consumers’ attitudes and behaviors, from the ballot box to the supermarket. Then, of course, Covid-19 swept across the world. Before the crisis, it seemed as if the days of ruling from up high were…
To say it has been a tumultuous past week in the United States would be quite the understatement. The death of George Floyd and the blatant racism projected at Christian Cooper sparked outrage that unleashed pent-up frustration surrounding centuries of the mistreatment and abuse of Black lives in this country. Some courageous brands stepped up…
Diversity and inclusion, both as a part of your work environment and your marketing efforts, are no longer nice-to-haves. They’re not something you do to show how woke your company is. Instead, promoting a work environment where people feel comfortable presenting fresh and different viewpoints is not only good for employees, it’s good for business….
I have heard from several industry peers that while they are disturbed by recent events and supportive of change, they act on the principle that venture capital money should only be used for “direct business activities.” And this “business of business is business” point of view seems to be held widely, whether you run a…
I am the amalgamation of over 400 years of slavery, a single-parent household and a system that perpetually places me in inauspicious positions. I feel terrified. Will I be able to realize my dreams, aspirations and goals? Are my efforts in vain? These notions have never dominated my headspace as they have recently. When I…
Influencer marketing has experienced explosive growth in recent years. Previous projections had it estimated to become a $15 billion market by 2022, and that was before the rapid rise of TikTok and content creation under quarantine. However, alongside this growth have been increasingly bleak headlines: The influencer marketing bubble is set to burst, influence is…
Dear advertising and marketing graduates, Let’s just say it: This sucks. This is not how you were supposed to wrap up your college careers. No graduation parties, no graduation ceremonies and no jobs (or a lot fewer than there were). I often reference a book written by M. Scott Peck. It’s kind of the original…
At the height of rationing during World War II when many families were struggling to put a meal on the table, sales of lipstick spiked. More recently, as Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on the coast of Florida, there was a rush on Pop-Tarts and beer at local Walmarts. When forced to make tough decisions,…
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