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 #Diversity, #Equity, and #Inclusion (DE&I) are more than just buzzwords in the advertising industry. They are integral pillars that drive creativity, innovation, and authenticity in our messages. When brands out DE&I at the forefront of their strategy, they recognize their campaigns resonate with a diverse audience that reflects the world in which we live. At the International Advertising Association, we're committed to advancing DE&I as part of our core mission to guide the advertising and marketing industry. We understand that these principles are not about ‘ticking a box,’ rather they are about embracing diverse perspectives, ensuring equality in opportunity, and including all voices in the discussion. In a world where consumers are increasingly looking for brands that understand them, that represent them, and that speak to them – we believe diversity is not just a competitive advantage, it's a necessity. In order to make strides in DE&I, it's crucial we continue to learn, adapt, and grow. Through IAA Global's thought leadership, education initiatives, professional development programs, and networking opportunities, we strive to not only foster a more inclusive advertising industry but also to ensure that brands and marketers are equipped to effectively engage with their diverse customer base around the globe. Together, we can create an inclusive, empathetic platform where all voices are not just heard, but valued and utilized. And by doing so, we can elevate our campaigns, our brands and the global industry as a whole to new, unprecedented levels of success. IAA Members: Join our campaign and global mission:  Come One. Come All. #iaa #diversitymatters#inclusiveleadership DAGMARA SZULCE - IAA Global Managing Director.

It is so crystal clear on brand positioning by Dr. Marcus Collins about the 👟👟👟 brands in same niche but have different customer segments.

As Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advocate at The World Bank I am always interested in learning about what builds greater tolerance and respect in the work place. With 170 nationalities, the World Bank is one of the most diverse institutions in the world -- and this certainly makes it a rich and fun place to work! But our diversity can also lead to cultural misunderstandings and tensions. This week we celebrated Intercultural Week 2024 with a focus on Neuroscience and Cultural Intelligence in Navigating Emerging Global Crises. I joined an excellent session with Dr. Mai Nguyen of Culture Move on “From Survival to Thrival: How does the Brain deal with Cultural Differences?" Her main thesis is that to overcome differences we need to: 1/focus on similarities (shared values, concerns...), 2/focus on how differences can be presented in a neutral and objective way (avoiding inflammatory language often present in the media), and 3/focus on the individual (humanize numbers, listen empathetically...). All great reminders that we are more similar than we are different, and that we gain from recognizing what unites us rather than what divides us. As an illustration, Dr. Nguyen shared this Heineken ad "Worlds Apart" which says so much about how powerful and joyful we are when we connect across our differences. A good watch! https://lnkd.in/ekWhUXdd Many thanks to Edna Diez Ruihua Dong for a great event and for challenging us to think about ways to celebrate our diversity and make the most of our cultural richness. https://lnkd.in/e33UBa-h

We are delighted to spotlight a Brandtrust team member who relentlessly reminds us of what truly matters: Stephan Leman. Over the past 16 years, Stephan has partnered with many of the most iconic brands in the world to create brand strategies and experiences that result in deeper consumer connections and greater brand affinity. During his time at Brandtrust as Senior Director of Brand Ecosystem and Experience Strategy, he has expanded our horizons and taken us to new depths of understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Known by many as an easy-going jack of all trades with diversified interests, Stephan is a holistic change agent who strategically helps clients understand their deepest needs so that Brandtrust can collectively turn insights into impact throughout their organization. Today, we celebrate Stephan’s intellectual vigor and ocean-sized heart for the people around him. It is no secret that he is a magnetic human being who makes a real-life impact on us every day. Quick Facts About Stephan: • His Culture List: Stephan has always been a fan of the movie Field of Dreams – the story of chasing a vision amidst all odds and obstacles, having faith that the pain and effort is worth it, even when the outcome is unclear. • His Bucket Items: Attending the French Open, visiting Iceland and attending a Liverpool FC match in England (well, another match since he just checked this one off!). • Memorable Facts: Stephan was a collegiate tennis player. • One Human Truth He Lives By: “There is always more to the story.” Learn more about Brandtrust's 100% Human culture: https://ow.ly/rbcc50Q6uK4 #employeespotlight #brandtrust #humantruth #experiencestrategy

Is it time for Cannes Lions to have a Multicultural Category? Like many of you, every year when I leave the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, I leave inspired. And since I’ve had the honor to a judge a few times in my career, I’m always challenged to do my part to move the industry forward. First, I would like to give credit where credit is due. Cannes Lions has done well when it comes to supporting and encouraging diversity and inclusion, especially for people of color. This year I saw more folks that looked like me strolling La Croisette than ever before. This is thanks in part to Inkwell founder, Adrianne Smith and the Cannes Do Initiative, and recently Peter Ukhurebor of BLK@ and Imani Laners’ The Impact of Color Cannes.  Kudos when it comes to agencies, brands and companies bringing in talent from the entertainment, music and sports industries respectively. But with all of that, I find it lacking in The Work itself. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we are celebrating? Having a dedicated multicultural category would go a long way to set the stage for more entries that have truly targeted multicultural creative, strategic consumer insights, PR, media, activations and data executions. This also applies to the opportunity for multicultural agencies, brands and media companies that unceremoniously contribute so much to the industry, to be seen on the world stage. Many Bronze, Silver, Gold and even Grand Prix Lions have been taken home that have borrowed, tapped into or have been influenced by trends that were created from multicultural communities. It’s past time to give multicultural the opportunity to get its flowers. Or better yet…it’s Lions. #CannesLions2024 #CannesLions #Creativity #CannesDo #BlackAtCannes

“We believe culture is bigger than what’s trending today” 🌎 Backslash is the cultural intelligence unit of TBWA, born from the belief that culture is the biggest opportunity and threat to businesses today. It’s no longer enough for brands to simply keep up with culture. To be truly future-proof, they have to help shape it. By understanding and anticipating cultural change, Backslash turns today’s stories into tomorrow’s opportunities. Their expertise is delivered through a range of bespoke products and services, including one-on-one brand consultations, category reports, quantified cultural analyses, documentaries, and more. Brands, find out more here 👇 https://backslash.com/ 

The most diverse and inclusive Cannes? This year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has been dialogued as the most inclusive in its history. It’s absolutely I mportant to celebrate and applaud the number of internal and external initiatives that have led to that conversation being had👏🏾 However, whether that statement is true or false, the optic shifts shouldn’t blindside us from the huge amount of work needed to include the world’s diverse reality across all facets of the media and advertising world. In front of camera, it’s easy to make a case that, for some groups, underrepresentation is a thing of the past. But when there’s still relative homogeneity in who’s involved in the decision making, narrative telling and data collection, misrepresentation becomes the important word to focus on. In my eyes, Cannes is a week of opportunity, serendipity and fosters an environment that allows typically guarded seniors to be human - it’s great. But as a microcosm of the industry at large, scratch beneath the surface and things need to (and will) improve. 🤨Where were all the young people? So many conversations about Gen-z with not much presence from that age demographic. As Ebinehita Iyere perfectly put, “we’re talking about them and making bold statements but they’re not here. And tbh this environment isn’t somewhere I’d think to bring the young people I work with.” 💰A disconnect between the millions spent to shmooze, wine and dine, whilst cuts are still being made across the board. Something that still doesn’t sit right with me. 👍Not enough disagreement. If Cannes is all about creative excellence, panels shouldn’t be designed to just be a nodding match with a ‘love what was said, let me build’ type of engagement. I think Damian Bradfield put it a lot better than that 😂 💡Too much talk about trends that the industry rather than the consumer sets. A couple of years ago it was the metaverse, this year everything was about AI. Things might come to the light, but let’s not force it. And let’s make sure these are convos actually being had on the ground rather than in our ivory towers. 🏛️Optics of diversity but not enough equitable and structural change. Still no accessibility ramp on a load of beaches 🤷🏾♂️ A big highlight of my week was this talk at Goals House which was a refreshing space away from the madness, talking all things disruption w/ Gail Gallie, Damian Bradfield, Leah Davis & Taso Du Val. Sorry but I’m really terrible at keeping up to date so Cannes posts for the week 😂

Our digital team asked me to reflect on the past 12 months at Cultural Comms. Moments of reflection can be few and far between when you’re running a company. This was a great exercise and a reminder of just how far we’ve come. #connectingwithculture #business #entrepreneurship #agencygrowth

As The Disruption® Company, TBWA profoundly believes in the transformative power of creativity as a driver of business growth. In this video, our new co-CEO shares her thoughts on the harmonious marriage of business and creativity, the need to be ‘obsessed by clients’, and she extends an invitation to embrace more inclusive values in the industry. Read all about it in the article below 👇 FR : https://lnkd.in/e7GQUGpj NL: https://lnkd.in/em9_MkfP #TBWA #Creativity #BusinessGrowth #Disruption

We use cultural movements to grow brands.   To create a swift movement, you need to align a brand with the purpose inherent within an appropriate idea on the rise in culture, and then fuel it with a series of levers that make that movement work hard for the brand – not because they have arbitraged it for their own benefit, but because they have genuinely added value. Because they have advanced the cultural fabric of NZ and Australia.   Do this and you gain the holy grail - unfair share of voice. That’s why we’re all about understanding culture—what’s changing and why. We're watchers, thinkers, and listeners. We’re not here to claim we started a trend; we're here to spot them, see where they lead and how they can be leveraged by adding benefit. There’s a methodology to the madness. Come find out what it is.