Media Executives Put Greater Focus on Promoting and Retaining Diverse Talent

Those who hail from the Baby Boomer generation may well be the last segment of Americans who believe that securing a career means staying in one job or with one company until their retirement. 

But attitudes have since changed considerably, particularly due to advancements in technology including the internet, social media and the expansion of the economy which now represents participants and entities from nations worldwide. 

Recognizing these and other fundamental changes and their impact on the kinds of strategies and best practices that must be employed for businesses to succeed, more than 80 changemakers from the media, advertising and entertainment community will soon participate in a four-day event, Advancing Diversity Week, Sept. 20-23. 

The inaugural series of events will allow for provocative conversations about advocacy, activism, equity and belonging, culminating with the Advertising and Media Gen Z Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 23. 

The Town Hall will bring together new inductees from the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors with those currently in the early stages of their career in conversation about the future of the workplace. 

Advancing Diversity Week’s series of keynote addresses and provocative panel discussions will be hosted by MediaVillage.com, AdvancingDiversity.org and The Female Quotient [The FQ] featuring themes which include: D-E-I + Belonging!; Belonging + Retention; and Multicultural + Meaning. 

Other highlights from the week include a tribute to some of today’s most creative and advanced-thinking leaders from within the media industry. They will be joining previous inductees as new members of the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors – a recognition event that marks its fourth year. 

The 10 Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors inductees, who will be sharing their stories and responding to audience questions include: [4A’s] American Association of Advertising Agencies’ President and Chief Executive Officer Marla Kaplowitz; 4A’s Foundation’s Executive Vice President of Talent and Engagement Simon Fenwick; American Advertising Federation’s President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Pacheco; American Family Insurance’s Vice President and Head of Marketing Sherina Smith; Citi’s Interim Chief Marketing Officer Tina Davis; dentsu Americas’ Chief Diversity Officer Christena Pyle; Entertainment Studios’ Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Byron Allen; Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications’ Dean and Professor Gracie Lawson-Borders; MOBE / Marketing Opportunities in Business & Entertainment’s Founder Yvette Moyo; and The CW’s Executive Vice President of Development Gaye Hirsch. 

 

The History Behind Advancing Diversity Week 

The roots of the Advancing Diversity series can be traced to Jack Myers, recognized as the nation’s best-known practicing media ecologist and the founder of MediaVillage and AdvancingDiversity.org. 

Myers remains committed to a philosophy of industry innovation focused on growth and has built a leading consulting firm whose innovative approaches to strategic innovation have been adopted by more than 200 media, advertising and marketing clients. 

He said he hopes the multi-day gathering will allow a bevy of unapologetic conversations in service to truth and meaning while sparking a new way forward for the media industry – something which he believes is essential if businesses in his industry hope to both survive and thrive. 

“Over the last two decades, advertising has expanded beyond our perception to include media, technology, social media, gaming and both regulatory and workforce issues,” he said. “Media has underperformed in almost every aspect of building a diverse workforce and increasing retention rates. It’s estimated that 70 to 80 percent of young team members leave the industry within the first year. We cannot hope to sustain ourselves in the global market if we don’t improve.” 

“Industry has long talked about diversity but it hasn’t walked the walk. The growing number of companies and leaders who continue to join our partnership realize that diversity is best for the industry and the best practices which we collectively follow confirm that belief. But to build a workforce and environment in which a diverse workforce feels like they belong requires commitment.”

Myers points to the differences which exist between the behavior and expectations of young hires from year’s past to today. 

“Just a few decades ago, as young people came on board, they were focused on gaining experience and building their resume,” he said. “Then, most remained in their job for about two years.”

“Today that number has declined to a mere nine months while young workers today have shifted their focus to building their learning profile.”

“Another difference we’ve witnessed in our industry – in past generations young workers were rarely given a broader opportunity to learn every aspect of the business. They were routinely assigned to one task and received low pay. That no longer motivates young workers in today’s market.”

“We must shift the way we reach, teach and educate them. That requires businesses really investing in their young workers. But executives need proof that it’s profitable to make that commitment – it’s all about attaining the company’s desired rate of return,” Myers noted. 

For a complete agenda of speakers and events visit www.advancingdiveristy.org.