Sanford Area Growth Alliance’s Post

As promised - Here are my top five ads that have done an excellent job representing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) : 1. Procter & Gamble's "The Talk" (https://lnkd.in/gSNwVEZc) This ad explores the conversations Black parents have with their children about racial prejudice and how to navigate it. By bringing these intimate moments to light, the ad promotes awareness and understanding of the lived experiences of Black families. 2. Nike's "Equality" Campaign (https://lnkd.in/gD__SPyM) - they did get it right so far and I know currently it could be a controversial choice... but hey I loved working on this brand so ... Nike's campaign showcases a diverse range of athletes and promotes the idea that everyone should be treated equally, both on and off the field. With strong imagery and a powerful message, the campaign emphasizes that everyone, regardless of race or gender, has the right to equal treatment and respect. 3. Pantene's "My Hair Won't Be Silenced" (https://lnkd.in/grRRU_kw) This Pantene ad celebrates Black hair and challenges stereotypes and discrimination that people with natural hair often face. By focusing on the beauty and versatility of Black hair, the ad promotes inclusion and encourages individuals to embrace their unique styles. 4. Gillette's "The Best Men Can Be" (https://lnkd.in/gp-kw7Nm) This Gillette ad tackles toxic masculinity and advocates for positive male role models. It represents diverse experiences of men and calls for them to hold each other accountable, promoting healthier attitudes towards masculinity and addressing issues like bullying, sexism, and harassment. 5. Coca-Cola's "Together is Beautiful" ( https://lnkd.in/gFDuRJXG) - such a different way to say it yet not make it ridiculous! Coca-Cola's ad celebrates diversity by showing people from various backgrounds and cultures coming together. It reflects a positive message of inclusion, demonstrating that unity and respect for diversity make the world a better place. These ads demonstrate a commitment to DEI by addressing real issues, celebrating diversity, and promoting equity and inclusion. They serve as excellent examples of how advertising can play a role in advancing social change and fostering a more inclusive society. What are your favorites! Keep 'em coming! #DEI

Want to talk about digital transformation in advertising? Come join me at the Procter & Gamble alumni global conference in Washington, D.C., Nov 2-5. I’ll be on a panel with my ex colleagues David Zapata from AB InBev and Rafael Lopez de Azua from Coty, and we’ll be discussing everything from digital media and retail media to AdTech, MarTech, CreativeTech, and the impact of GenAI. A few more reasons to join: 1️⃣ We expect 400+ alumni from around the world. 2️⃣ A great opportunity to (re)connect with old friends and/or make new professional connections, where nearly 10% of CEOs of companies that make up the S&P 500 are P&G alumni. 3️⃣ We’ll focus on how we can collectively be a “force for growth and a force for good” in light of all the current business and societal challenges in front of us. #advertising #media #tech Marc S. Pritchard, Kirti Singh, David Taylor, Murat Genc, Filippo Catalano, Benjamin Spiegel, Julie Eddleman, Mathilde Delhoume-Debreu, Gerry D'Angelo, Samuel Rueff, Eric Gregoire, Stewart Atkinson, Beatriz Elena A., Kaisy Mae O'Reilly, Alex Schellenberger, Fabrizio Freda, Ilaria Resta, Jim Stengel, Alexandra Vogler, Pete Blackshaw, Filippo Passerini, Andy Walter, Sylvie Moreau

Meet Dilpreet Kaur, a senior scientist here at Clorox. When Dilpreet first entered the field, her workplace expectations weren’t exactly met — yet. “As a scientist, I always thought I wanted to do research, and I tried the academia route, but it seemed a little slow-paced for me,” she says. With our launch timelines anywhere from three months to 24 months, Dilpreet believed consumer goods might be a better fit. “My friends use our products, my family uses our products, the doctors I go to use our products,” she says. “So, when I think about the work I do to change Clorox wipes for the better, I think about how many people are benefiting from that. Whether it's spending less time cleaning and more time hanging out with their kids, or they're making sure their patients are safe in that hospital room ... yeah, our work is important.” Her passion for science is evident both within her team and within her community. “I love that we can make science approachable,” she says. “I volunteer with Clorox and outside of Clorox on STEM initiatives, making sure people have access to science, technology, engineering and math. And I think we need to get out of the old routine of just having one picture of what engineers look like, 'cause engineers look like me, too.” 👉To make an impact like Dilpreet, check out our Careers page to learn about careers at Clorox: https://lnkd.in/eMUn2pC. #CloroxIsThePlace

🌟 Honoring Mothers: Reflecting on Gender Equality 🌟 As we celebrate Mother's Day, I find myself reflecting on the invaluable lessons my own mother taught me about equality and respect. Raised by a single mother, I learned early on that domestic chores were not solely the responsibility of women but a shared duty among all family members. This upbringing instilled in me the importance of treating everyone with respect, regardless of gender, race, or any other factor. Entering the professional world at P&G, I carried these principles with me. Working alongside diverse teams with over 50% female representation, I believed I embodied the values of equality and inclusion. However, it wasn't until a MARC workshop in Panama, a few years ago I truly grasped the depth of gender inequality. In just a few minutes, the workshop opened my eyes to the privileges I, as a man, had unknowingly enjoyed and the daily challenges women face, both personally and professionally. It was a sobering realization that despite my awareness, I had been a passive supporter rather than an active advocate for change. Mother's Day serves as a poignant reminder that there is always more to learn and do in the pursuit of true equality. Awareness and support are essential, but they must be accompanied by action. Let's honor the mothers in our lives by committing to being not just passive supporters, but active allies in the fight for gender equality. Together, we can create a more inclusive world for all. Catalyst Inc. #MothersDay #GenderEquality #Inclusion #Allyship

Looking forward to talking about career development and faith next week! My career path has been quite the journey—from clinical therapist to writer to marketer. Each chapter prepared me for the next. Career development requires discernment. Driving my career through the lens of faith has been key. In your 20s and 30s, things can sometimes feel messy and uncertain. But with self-awareness, intentionality, and trust, you will find yourself exactly where you need to be. Focus on building your skills, finding what you enjoy, and identifying where you excel. My time as a therapist gave me the skills to understand people. My season as a writer refined my communication. These experiences seeded the skills necessary to merge into a path of brand building and marketing. Career development is really fun—you never know where the adventure will take you if you drive from a lens of faith and purpose rather than promotion and titles. Your work is part of a larger purpose. Finding ways to marry your skills and passions can lead to a significant impact beyond the office. See you June 5th! Register here: https://lnkd.in/esAbYEHt

At Eastman, happiness is more than just a feeling—it's a reflection of our empowered workforce! From pursuing passions to achieving milestones, or just spending time with the people that they love, there are a million things which brings a smile to our people at Eastman. We believe empowered employees are happy employees, and together, we're radiating positivity on this International Day of Happiness! Megha Sinha Koshal Aggarwal CA Priyanka Gupta Anuj Rana #Eastman #EastmanIndia #InternationalDayofHappiness #IamEastman

81% of women feel a heavier pressure to avoid failure than men do, as if one wrong move could define our entire career trajectory. But being afraid to fail, instead of recognising that mistakes happen to everyone (and that they are opportunities for reflection), sets unrealistic standards and leads to critical blind spots. Our latest campaign at McCann Paris for L'Oréal, the #WorthItResume, reframes setbacks as setups for success. And it reminded me of a time when I faced more failures than I could count: My first bachelor's degree, which was in law. Exam after exam, no strategy seemed to work (as you can see in the screenshot from 2018 below). Being a first-generation academic with little knowledge of navigating the university system certainly didn’t help, but looking back these failures signalled what I truly wanted — or didn’t want — to pursue. After two years of self-condemnation, I finally took the courage to switch from law school to art school. From this point on, I pursued my studies with a level of enthusiasm and passion I never experienced during my law studies. Repeatedly failing my classes in 2018 didn't mean I was a failure; it meant that it was time to seriously evaluate my direction and whether it aligned with my true aspirations. Resilience might be a buzzword on LinkedIn, but it’s been empowering to acknowledge my professional challenges in their full context and recognise failures for what they are — not the end of the world, but moments along our career that give us a chance to evaluate our current position and reflect on our future direction. #WorthItResume #LOrealParis

🧠 When people ask me - what's the difference between Public Facing Impact (PFI) work and PR - here's one part of the answer: Your "public space" (define that beyond four walls!) should have impact that customers can see. ☕ I walked into a Starbucks in Pennsylvania this am and felt such immediate joy by what I saw. Vincent van Gogh inspired work from Theresa Todd's 1st graders from Neshaminy School District. (After I praised it, the. barista told me they hope to do it every month for different schools - that's PFI + using your space with impact!). 🎒 Just yesterday, Damien Huang posted about Cotopaxi ambassadors - who are committed .. "to a life of curiosity and adventure to do good in the world." That list gives me insights I didn't have about the humans supporting the brand and another reason I'm glad I chose my new bag! Have impact build into your Public Facing Impact work and help consumers understand the "why" behind the work, the product, the business. #innovation #publicrelations #publicfacingimpact #CommMom

Persistence. I recall as a young staffer at Wieden + Kennedy, hearing high-profile creatives answer the question, "what's the #1 trait to be successful in advertising?" Someone intelligent - in my memory it was Mark Fitzloff - said "Persistence." Because your favorite concept might get killed (or your first four favorites). So you'd better have the courage to make your 5th one the best idea yet. Get used to direct feedback. Be comfortable with it. Seek it out. Make yourself all-day tough. Many many times, we've unlocked our best work by dealing with a curveball. A concept that dies in pre-production. A pitch that goes into extra innings. Being asked to defend a beloved piece of business. All these moments are a chance to capitulate to the circumstance. Pack it in. Oh well, we tried. But when you know what Fitzloff and others know - you learn advertising is a game of persistence. Played out in the adult world of art and commerce. No silver bullets, only lead ones. So get back hammering. The best idea is almost always right on the other side of the bad news. Zambezi #TakeBiggerBites #Persistence

Canadian #advertising and #marketing, it’s your lucky day. This long weekend I am delighted to introduce you to Melanie Isaac Taitt. Melanie has been in marketing for over 20 years. She has worked for some of Canada’s—and the world’s—most iconic brands: Second Cup, 20th Century Fox, Maple Leaf Foods, Coca-Cola, and most recently Roots, where Melanie was Vice President of Marketing. A first-year Intro to Marketing course at York U drew Melanie to the industry. She tested her interest in a real-world setting at a Marketing internship job that very summer. “After that, I was sold,” says Melanie. As a creative person (Melanie is a lifelong gospel singer) who is also an analyst and problem solver, she loves that marketing allows her to bring her whole self to her day job.    The experience she treasures most from her marketing career? The opportunity to spotlight the work of Black changemakers like Révolutionnaire, Adidem Asterisks * and Benny Bing during her time at Roots (see video). "I got to do this not just during Black History Month, but throughout the year, and that was an experience I didn’t take lightly," Melanie says.   Like many black people in business, Melanie has faced bias, microaggressions, and racism.  She remembers an incident when a colleague called her ‘racist’ simply for hiring a man of colour. Melanie says it changed her for the worse and for the better. “It made me second guess my judgment for future new hires,” Melanie shares,  “but it also fortified my strength to address racial challenges.” While marketing has come a long way in driving diversity for businesses, Melanie feels it is still mostly external—seen in marketing campaigns. Like all strategic business imperatives, Melanie says, it must start inside and at the top. When diversity is authentically on the internal agenda, the employee base reflects it at all levels. “And if the voice of those employees is given value,” Melanie explains, “the benefit of diversity more naturally manifests through the work and radiates from the brand out into the marketplace.”   Melanie is on a much-needed career break. As she prepares for her next chapter as a senior marketing leader and brand advisor, she shares a lesson she learned years ago—that women are held to a high standard of expectation in order to earn their seat at the table in the business world; and that Black women are held to an even higher standard. “But,” says Melanie, “I have learned to know and stand firm in my worth, and in doing so I don’t just make sure I have a seat at the table. I take my seat at the head of it.” Amen to that Melanie. This #BHM 2024 profile was written by Gavin Barrett [ गैविन बैरिट ], CEO/CCO/Founder of Barrett and Welsh Inc and a co-founder of POCAM - People of Colour in Advertising & Marketing and the #MulticulturalMarketingAllianceofCanada.