#SayHisName: George Floyd
#AdlandCommits
Against a backdrop of uncertainty, the past few months have seen a global explosion of hate crimes targeting Black people. We have witnessed horrific images of African communities in China being subject to exclusion and violence; Black key workers in the UK exposed to high-risk situations and the physical assault of Belly Mujinga; in the US we have seen the violent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Breonna Taylor, as for many, is especially traumatic: her killers still haven’t been charged.
As a creative sector, what we do and who we represent has a profound impact on culture, yet systemic inequality continues in our industry. It has never been more important to show up as an industry and face up to our own challenges as leaders. We need to drive equity in our organisations, the people we hire, the way in which they are promoted and the work we produce.
It's time for deep structural change from within and to do the work.
Thank you to Natalie Narh - Creative & Vice Chair, Ogilvy Roots, and Amie Snow - Co Founder, Ogilvy Roots for the artwork.
Calling every CEO: step forward now
How did this letter come about? A WhatsApp, a working group, rounds of amends from a number of contributors, sharing and now 500+ sign ups, including Google, Pinterest, Spotify, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Channel4, ITV, WACL and many more. This is what transformation looks like.
Thank you to the writers: Michael Brown, Partner and Culture Director (first draft), UM, Heide Gardner, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, IPG, Lydia Amoah, Learning and Cross Culture Director, CE, Ete Davies, CEO, Engine Creative/Culture Heroes, the MediaForAll UK crew, Leila Fataar, Founder Platform 13, Sabrina Clarke-Okwubanego, co-founder, NicheOnDemand, Laura Mignott, Founder, D-Flash, Kai Lawson, Director of Community, WPP, Jake Dubbins, Media Bounty, and more.
Thank you to our sharers, Chris Kenna, Founder, Brand Advance, Jerry Daykin, Capability Director, Conscious Advertising Network, Nicola Kemp, Managing Editor, BITE, Creative Brief and the team at Campaign, The Drum, LBBOnline and The Voice. A special thank you, as ever, to the game-changer Karen Blackett OBE, WPP Country Manager and CEO Group M and Nancy Lengthorn, Head of D&I and Future Talent, WPP UK.
And a thank you to Elly Geyde and The Chesh who worked all weekend.
If you lead your company and your name isn't here, add it now.
Next steps with June Sarpong OBE
Today, we're hosting an open webinar for CEOs with June Sarpong OBE - Director, Creative Diversity at The BBC. We'll be tackling the steps in the letter and how we can translate these into real life, genuine action in our industry. This is where we can have a frank, open discussion about what our challenges are and how to move forwards with June Sarpong OBE, Head of Diversity, BBC Creative, Karen Blackett OBE, Aline Santos, Global Executive VP Marketing, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Xavier Rees, CEO, Havas London
This is your space to commit to action and a plan for the next 100 days.
How you treat your staff during a crisis could determine their loyalty to you when the dust settles. Inclusion is a powerful tool for staff engagement, particularly during COVID-19. We are taking a monthly pulse check to see what's happening in the industry. May's Inclusion Pulse has been fascinating (more to come next week).
Accelerate programme: invest in the next generation of multicultural leaders
'The Accelerate Programme has been life changing as well as career-changing for me.There is no doubt that there is a transformational force in store for the industry and it is most certainly us'. - Accelerate programme attendee, 2020
Now is the time toinvest in your multicultural talent. Now is the time todefine what the next generation of leadersin our sector will look like. Now is the time tocommit to real changefor the creative industry. Who will be your successors? And how are you shaping the industry?
Our applications for our second Accelerate cohort - beginning in autumn 2020 - are open now.
Boss your online self: Tuesday 30 June
Stand out in the world of online communications
Lydia Amoah - Learning & Cross-cultural Director, Creative Equals - and Dr Jamie McKeown - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - will launch a new 90-minute interactive workshop to refine and master your online communication.
They'll guide you on how to express yourself with impact. Most importantly, they'll teach you how to make your voice heard in remote meetings, articulate your message across all channels and increase your confidence to be successful.
You'll leave armed with the knowledge to:
- define the top ten principles of communication
- empower you to find your voice in the workplace
- increase your confidence to speak up effectively online
Join us, Tuesday, 30 June, 2-3:30pm.
Creative Equals recommends...
READ: The list of Anti-Racism Resources as part of the AdLand Commits pledge.
WATCH: 'This is why we're protesting' (BBC). Protesters in the US share their reasons for attending the #BlackLivesMatter movement across the country.
Thank you for being here,
The Creative Equals team