1/22/2010
Posted by Steve Schildwachter, SVP, Group Management Director, Draftfcb Chicago
Diversity is critical to embracing the changes and challenges of modern marketing.
This past Monday was a good chance to think about diversity since we celebrate a U.S. holiday in remembrance of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist pastor and civil rights leader who personifies our country's struggle to establish equality for everyone in a very diverse society. You can read all about Rev. King on Wikipedia. Click here to see his most famous speech, "I Have A Dream."
The importance of diversity in society requires no explanation. Why is diversity important in marketing, then?
Marketing has an influence on society
Marketing and advertising have an influence on society: our messages, images, words and music set the trends rather than follow them. This is often lamentable but it is almost always powerful and we dare not misunderstand it. Hence we should consider diversity when we prepare something for public consumption. A very tangible action, for example, is to hire diverse on-camera talent.
Diversity is also important behind the camera and in the office. We are more likely to present diversity in our work if we have it in our workforce. Much has been written about the need for our employee roster to match the diversity in our society, and I share the commitment to making it happen.
Modern marketing demands diversity
Diversity in the workplace is even more important when one considers that marketing plans and tools themselves are more diverse than ever. In Ye Olde Marketing the planning process was relatively straightforward because we had only three TV networks and limited other media available. Today, of course, there are hundreds of tools and millions of ways to combine them. If you appreciate the diversity of it all, your mind will be open to new creative possibilities.
The same applies to human diversity, be it racial , social or economic. If you appreciate the diversity of the people around you, your mind will be open to new creative possibilities. Diversity is not only a moral imperative; it's an ingredient in business success.
Modern marketers value diversity
How do we achieve a more diverse workforce? There are numerous corporate, government and other programs available, which I won't try to catalog here. I only suggest that whenever the agency offers a course or workshop, take it -- and take it seriously. Many of these are high-quality, and it's never a waste of time to stop and challenge the way we think about our relationships with others.
This is akin to developing yourself as a Renaissance Practitioner -- someone who recognizes their own unique perspective but works hard to appreciate the perspective of others. Shouldn't we work just as hard to understand a colleague's life experience as we do their professional specialty?
My answer would be "Yes" -- and we must try to make a little bit of progress each day.
10/9/2009Posted by Nancy Murray, VP, Director of Procurement
Draftfcb held its third Small Business and Supplier Diversity Fair of the year this past Wednesday in our Chicago office, focusing on production services – Print, Digital, Broadcast. It was a first for the Chicago agency, and I’m happy to say, we had over 40 suppliers attending from the local Chicago area as well as some traveled from the East and West Coasts.
Each supplier was given an opportunity interview with senior members of our Chicago production teams and an opportunity to speak with other members of the Draftfcb leadership team.
We were also joined by a client partner who spoke about supplier diversity as “making room at the table.”
The response from the suppliers in attendance was extremely positive as was the response from our own people.
This is what our conferences are about – giving suppliers a chance to meet key decision makers at our agencies and when an opportunity comes, giving suppliers a chance to compete for the business. 10/5/2009Posted by Kathy Bucaro-Zobens, EVP, Executive Creative Director, Draftfcb Chicago
The ADCOLOR Award Show at the ANA convention last night was a spectacular event. In the majesty of the Arizona Biltmore, a majestic group of legendary professionals who have made diversity their professional and personal mission were honored.
People like:
- Earnest Bromley, the founder of Bromley Communications
- Gilbert Davila, VP-Global Diversity and MC Market Development Disney
- Edgar Sandoval, General Manager-North America Procter & Gamble
- Cristina Saralegui, A world famous journalist and talk show host for Univision. (She is referred to as the Latina Oprah.)
And of course, Draftfcb Chicago’s own Eduardo Dehesa-Conde, SVP/Group Creative Director. Although his own humility would prevent him from acknowledging this, he made such an impression on everyone in this crowd of over 400 people and all the other honorees, that when Cristina Saralegui accepted her All Star award, she even referred to Eduardo in her acceptance speech.
The first part of Eduardo’s speech was an entertaining and heartfelt message about some of his personal experiences in the U.S., delivered in his own engaging and self-deprecating way. This is how he closed:
“This is a tremendous honor, not only for me, but also for every person of diversity who believes that nothing is impossible. Thank you to the Adcolor organization for recognizing the importance of empowering diversity. Thank you to all honorees for making a positive difference and inspiring others to do the same. Thanks to those who left me with warm impressions and also to those who made things very difficult for me. Thanks to my clients and colleagues for inspiring me and making me a better professional and human being. Thanks to my family and those I love and love me back, for giving me support over the years and throughout my life explorations.
And thank you to Draftfcb for being an innovation catalyst across all segments and in all ways, and for not just saying and promising, but doing.”
Make sure to pick up today’s Advertising Age, which has a special supplement that highlights the honorees.
9/22/2009Posted by Nancy Murray, VP, Director of Procurement
As director of procurement at Draftfcb, I am honored to be part of the panel discussions and forums that are taking place during Advertising Week New York this week. I am especially anticipating the forum Draftfcb is sponsoring on Thursday, September 24, called "The New Dynamics of Diversity." The audience will be given the rare opportunity to hear directly from our CEO Laurence Boschetto, along with the Kraft CMO Mary Beth West and a luminary within the diverse supplier arena, Daisy Expósito of d expósito & partners.
Among the hot and pertinent topics that will be addressed by these industry visionaries: embracing the diversity reflected in our ever-changing world through the engagement of small, minority and woman-owned firms in business supply chains; educating agencies across the U.S. and globally about supplier diversity; and ways the industry supports and recognizes the government's agenda of promoting and mentoring small business as the backbone of our economy.
Although I'm new to the ad business, I’ve not heard of a forum like this that brings together an agency, one of its top clients and a broad spectrum of suppliers. This discussion should be one for the books – both informative and productive when it comes to forging new supplier relationships. 5/19/2009
Posted by Alex B. Wright, SVP, Director of CRM, Draftfcb New York.
“Advertising has the power to change hearts and minds,” said Neil Guiliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) last night at an event to announce the first annual Advertising Media Award, planned for September. With Draftfcb as one of the four main sponsors, GLAAD honored our client Levi’s for their vanguard perspectives, actions, and support of diversity within their organization and in their advertising. For example, Levi's was the first Fortune 500 company to extend benefits to domestic partners in 1992.
In attendance at the Alvin Ailey Theater space New York’s hip Hell’s Kitchen were fellow Draftfcb’ers from New York, as well as a few colleagues from Jack Morton. I spoke with GLAAD's head of development, who expressed how very appreciative he was with Draftfcb’s support and commitment.
Also receiving recognition was Wells Fargo, which showed a video of LGBT employees speaking about Well’s inclusive and open culture. Curious that as we’re in New York, both companies honored are based in San Francisco; it certainly is a reflection of that city’s progressive diversity policies.
After the brief speeches and presentations, the 250+ crowd enjoyed plenty of refreshments from the other sponsor: Absolut. In sum, the event was an appreciative recognition of companies that think forward in their own corporate culture, and how that is reflected in their advertising (e.g., Levi’s “Change” ads). Looking forward to seeing more clients win at future GLAAD Advertising Media Awards. |
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