Do Your Part, Attend the Advertising Industry Diversity Conference
Adrants, along with Business Development Institute, is presenting the Advertising Industry Diversity Job Fair and Leadership Conference, an event that aims to tackle, head on, the hot issue of diversity in the advertising industry. With recent legal wranglings and diversity basically taking a back seat since, well, ever, we though it time to get a conversation going about what, if anything, the industry can do to address the topic.
The conference will take place Wednesday, November 8 from 8:30A to 5:30P at the NYU Helen & Martin Kimmel Center for University Life. The first half of the day will feature speakers and panels consisting of industry professional who are knowledgeable about the industry's diversity issues. The keynote will be given by Burrell Communications C0-CEO McGhee Williams. The second half of the day will be set up as an actual job fair where those interested in joining the advertising industry can speak with prospective employers.
How can you get involved? If you, as an individual, have strong feelings about this issue, you can participate by speaking at the event or simply showing up to hear what others have to say. If you, as an agency or brand organization, have strong feelings about this issue, you can participate as an event sponsor and/or exhibit at the event. If you, as a student or someone interested in advertising, want to consider working in the industry, you can come talk to people who work for ad agencies and brand organizations.
It's been swept under the carpet long enough. Do something. Get involved. Don't run like a chicken with its ass plucked clean. Check it all out here.
Topic: Agencies, Brands, Industry Events, Trends and Culture
Comments
I'm glad somebody's looking at this. As a convert from the world of engineering (where diversity is prevalent) to the world of sales and marketing, the lack of minority representation (especially in management) is quite discouraging. I believe this is true because engineering is more objective whereas marketing is more subjective, about convincing people internally as much as externally. Appearances matter for this reason and so the adv/mktg/sales industry is less inclined to give minorities a chance. Regardless of the ethics issues here, it's not advantageous to not pursue diversity as our society becomes more diverse. Plus, diversity of people leads to a better diversity of ideas.
I wish I could make it to the conference, but this post will just have to suffice.
Atul
www.thingsivenoticed.com
You Americans are just so funny - falling over yourselves being politically correct. The rest of the world is scratching its head at the way you deal with racial...oops, sorry, I mean 'diversity' issues (shall we call it 'reverse racism'?).
It's cool to see adrants doing something constructive about this. good job, guys. you're still in the minority, so to speak. and that's unfortunate.
Diversity? That would be nice. BUT
what advertising needs is a downsizing, a downsizing the likes of which American business has never seen. A bloated wasteful industry with too many disingenious people. Ha !