Advancing Diversity Podcast from MediaVillage

Since Opening Day back in early April, the expectations have been sky high for both the New York Mets and New York Yankees for what they would achieve in the 2022 season. A lot of positives can be taken away from the year, like the Mets winning over 100 games in the regular season and the Yankees being the only team to have multiple players hit more than 30 home runs (including Aaron Judge breaking the American League home run record). However, it's hard to celebrate all they have achieved when neither team was able to pull it together during the playoffs, especially with out their seasons ended. The Mets failed to make it out of the Wild Card series, while the Yankees got swept by the same team that has ripped their hearts out for years now in the Houston Astros. Yankees fan Justin Paura is joined by Mets fan Justin DeVellis as the two air out their grievances with the decisions made by both their teams and breakdown what the future looks like for the organizations. Who will the Mets be able to bring back for 2023? Have we seen the last of Aaron Judge in pinstripes? All this and more, including a preview of the World Series that starts Friday night between the Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies.

In this episode of The Pool we take a journey in the trenches of finance and media with Stan Herriott, VP, Finance Hearst Television. Stan explains his career journey, why finance and operations are essential to understanding and growing a media business. Diversity efforts within finance/operations are still under-explored and Stan discusses why this is so important and represents a critical opportunity for the media industry.

In this conversation, Philip spends time with Angela Cannon of UP Entertainment as they explore her lengthy and celebrated career in media from her earliest inspirations to her current SVP role. Along the way they cover how despite the lack of representation Angela was able to find a home in the industry and how diversity has evolved while still facing challenges. She talks about the importance of shepherding a legacy brand while also building for the future with new talent and fresh perspectives. All the while maintaining a commitment to support and mentor new talent in the industry.

In this conversation, Philip talks to Nicklpass CEO Sumorwuo Zaza detailing his career in media through the start of Nicklpass. They detail Zaza's earliest days growing up with politically active parents and how that impacted the lens through which he saw media and particularly journalism. Zaza's describes his life as a tapestry and he brings that perspective to solving some of the nagging and systemic media challenges including how to secure subscribers, ensure quality journalism and deliver a high impact experience for readers. All the while navigating the complex world of startups and fundraising and the cultural significance of delivering on diverse voices and perspectives.

VMLY&R's Chief Integration Officer Myron King has has an enviable career in advertising. He has endeavored to take the role of Chief Integration Officer to new levels while maintaining a commitment to providing client value. In this conversation, Myron and Philip discuss his myriad leadership stops in the industry, the evolution of his current role and what it means for VMLY&R's growth strategy and what motivates his commitment to building an inclusive and culture first environment.

In this episode, Philip spends time with Kenetta Bailey, SVP Clear Channel Outdoor. They discuss Bailey's long and multifaceted career that has included some of the largest and most renowned names in consumer products, entertainment and marketing. They uncover a host of valuable insights including why being fearless matters in making career choices, how the advertising business has shifted and why there is such an incredible opportunity in the OOH vertical.

In this episode of The Pool, Phil spends time with W+K's Global Director of Culture + Operations Jai Tedeschi. They discuss, Jai's journey from London to the US and how she frames culture through an international lens. She also shares more about her career path and what made it possible to be successful in an industry that still trends toward the conventional rather than the unconventional.

In this conversation, Phil spends time with Tangie Murray, of the 4A's Foundation, to discuss her wide ranging career both in advertising and arts philanthropy, and how in her current role everything comes together. As SVP of the 4A's Foundation, which advocates for and connects multicultural talent to the marketing industry by fostering a culture of curiosity, creativity and craft to fuel a more ​equitable future for the industry, Tangie shares how her success in navigating disparate worlds hinged on her cultural fluency and ability to build community. 

In this conversation, Philip spends time with NPR's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager, Whitney Maddox. Whitney shares how her unique professional and academic background prepared her to step into NPR and what she has learned and accomplished after one year in the role.

In this conversation Sylvester “Sly” Phifer details his new role as Vice President, Self Service Platform Sales at Disney Advertising and the building and launch of the Hulu Ad Manager product. They discuss the importance of this new product, what is means for underrepresented owned businesses and how automation provides value to customers and agencies.

Philip and Melissa are back together and this time they are bringing AspireTV Life with them. Melissa shares the rationale behind the launch of AspireTV Life and how the brand extension delivers on their brand promise while also breaking new ground for their growing audience.

In this conversation Philip spends time with dentsu's Mark Prince discussing his role leading the Economic Empowerment practice. They discuss why dentsu has chosen to lead the charge on changing the way supplier diversity is tackled and why that matters to the larger ecosystem of Black vendors.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip spends time with Vevo's Pierre Coleman, Director, West Coast Sales and Arthur Dansby, Manager of Ad Operations talking about Vevo's cross-platform product Afro Pulse. They discuss the unique offering of Afro Pulse, including the origin story behind the ad product, how it supports to Black artists and what the future holds.

In this conversation Philip spends time with USA Today's Nichelle Smith as she makes the case for the power of journalism to tell important stories exploring the multitude of the Black experience. Nichelle shares her own career journey and explains why USA Today is uniquely positioned to take on the challenge of engaging with Black audiences.

In this conversation Philip spends time with Effectv's John-Marcus Phillips parsing his career in product design and how he uses his unique background to deliver for clients while striking a balance between the purely technical and creative.

In this conversation, Philip spends time with Lukeisha Paul, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion U.S, GroupM. They explore Lukeisha's career and how an act of faith led to her raising her hand and assuming her new role and responsibilities as the Head of DEI, GroupM. Tracing Lukeshia's career provides a roadmap for how to create a committed DEI program while dealing with a myriad of business and societal challenges. Lukeisha shares her best practices and outlook for the new year as diversity and corporate culture remain at the top of the business agenda.

In this conversation Davianne Harris, Chief Client Officer and Head of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice shares her perspective on how Sparks & Honey uses their cultural intelligence platform to add value to clients DEI journey, how equity became a foundational value for the organization and what the future of the industry needs in order to be more inclusive.

In this conversation, Walter Geer details his driving commitment to ensure that the advertising industry live up to its commitment and potential by making its ranks truly diverse. They discuss his perspective on what is and what isn't working and what advertising should be focused on if they want to make a lasting change.

The notion that a conventional career path exists is quickly becoming extinct. If it were ever “true” it has only been true for a privileged few. In this conversation, Philip and Ericka discuss her anything but conventional career path and the lessons she has learned from the cutting edge of the music business through leadership roles in advertising and marketing. Ericka gives a masterclass on navigating entrenched barriers while championing for diversity and inclusion across the board.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Ci Ci Holloway, Chief People & Diversity Officer, leading Intersection's HR and Facilities teams. Together they discuss, how organizations across industries can leverage a diverse workforce and create a lasting impact for their respective businesses.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to DK Bartley, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Moody's. In their conversation they discuss DK's commitment to connecting organizations with “best in class” talent and the best practices he has surfaced that have created a winning DEI strategy.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Sherina Smith, Vice President of Marketing at American Family Insurance. In their conversation they discuss Sherina Smith's acceptance of the induction of American Family Insurance in the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors. They cover the commitment that American Family Insurance has to diversity in its marketing and how the organizations focus on inclusion is a long term strategy.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Dr. Gracie Lawson Borders, Dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University. In their conversation they discuss Dr. Lawson Borders' acceptance of the induction of the School of Communications in the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors. They dive into the legacy of Howard University and the important role the School of Communications plays in preparing and training young thinkers. Dr. Lawson Borders highlights why this particular moment in history will be shaped by a relentless pursuit of the truth.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Christena Pyle, Chief Equity Officer, dentsu Americas. Phil and Christena discuss the recently released dentsu DEI report: Together We Thrive. Christena reflects on her personal journey of belonging while sharing more insight into dentsu's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Sheereen M. Russell, Group Vice President Ad Sales & Client Partnerships for Inclusion Audiences, OWN. In their conversation Philip and Sheereen discuss how OWN delivers on their brand promise to both audience and partners. Sheereen shares her personal journey and the deep connection to creating on behalf of an audience that is seeking nourishment in their content.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks toLamar Johnson, VP of Marketing at National Public MediaIn their conversation they discuss Lamar’s two-decade career being a part of and leading some of the most iconic brands in the business.They explore the unique brand positioning of NPR and how its legacy provides a roadmap for growth and innovation.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Anastasia Dukes-Asuen, Ampersand’s Director, Advanced TV Data and Insights. In their conversation they discuss the role that data and research play in finding effective solutions for clients across the addressable TV business. Anastasia shares lessons from her career trajectory, how she inspires her team and predictions on the future of media and TV.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Mike Paul, President Reputation Doctor, LLC and discusses the current crisis of DEI within the media and advertising industry. In a candid conversation, Mike Paul shares his perspective as an expert in crisis management and connects the importance of reputation, accountability and transparency to what the industry must do to improve diversity.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Christena Pyle, Chief Equity Officer, dentsu Americas. In a wide ranging conversation they discuss Christena’s career and commitment to equality and why this matters more than ever in today’s media industry.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Natasha Dure, Vice President, Communications & Culture at Ampersand. Philip and Natasha discuss her role at the center of Ampersand and the importance of connecting diversity, communications and culture into cohesive strategy.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Marissa Nance, Founder/CEO, Native Tongue Communications. Marissa is a highly regarded media expert and she shares her story of navigating a career touching some of the biggest brands in the world to the launch of her own media agency, which is the first and only minority-and-female-certified media-led agency in the U.S.

In this episode of The Pool, Phil talks to SVP/Creative Director Drew Watkins of Turner Sports/Bleacher Report about his career journey and the process of bringing content to life. Drew reflects on how he found his voice to speak up in “quiet rooms” and the collaborative and complex process of creating relevant content for a rapidly changing audience.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Senior Vice President of Multicultural Networks and Strategy at UP Entertainment, Melissa Ingram. Melissa share’s her vision to fulfill AspireTV’s brand promise to “See Yourself’ throughout the networks innovative and forward thinking content with a clear mission to own Black Lifestyle programming.

In this episode of The Pool,Philip talks to Julliard ethnomusicology professor Dr. Fredara Mareva Hadley. In their conversation, Philip and Fredara discuss the unique qualities of Black music and cultural expression. They also share how Dr. Hadley’s Black History Month lecture series on the history of Black music came to be part ofTwitch’s platform.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Mita Mallick, the Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta. In their conversation, Philip and Mita discuss how brands can successfully navigate an increasingly complex multicultural environment. They talk through how brands can avoid missteps but more importantly how to apologize if they do. Finally, Mita shares her perspective as a working mother and the challenges of COVID-19 and the “new normal” of work from home.

In this episode of The Pool, Philip talks to Chequan Lewis, Chief Equity Officer, Pizza Hut. In their conversation, Philip and Chequan discuss his career journey, the reality of “Double Consciousness” and its effect on Black professionals, the importance of equity as an organizing value and how organizations can become resilient.

In this episode Philip talks to Dr. Marcel Rosa-Salas, an anthropologist of culture and assistant professor of marketing at the University of Illinois, Chicago. In this conversation, they discuss the historical legacy of racialized marketing and what it means for an industry coming to terms with significant challenges regarding external and internal diversity.

In this episode Philip talks to Detavio Samuels, COO, REVOLT Media & TV. In their conversation, they discuss the central role that culture generally and Hip Hop specifically play in developing insights in the broader industry. Detavio shares valuable observations tracing his career through some of the top spots on both sides of the marketing and media business. 

In this episode Philip talks to Glenda Villanueva-Marchetta, Multicultural Lead, a4 Media. In their conversation, they discuss the importance and growth of the Latino market, how understanding “why” people do something is more important than “what” people do and why the future generation is a source of hope. 

In this episode Philip talks to Todd Triplett, Creative Lead North America, Tik Tok. In their conversation, they discuss Todd’s journey through advertising, his reflections on Chronic Frustration Disorder and what makes Tik Tok unique in the social media landscape.

In this episode Philip talks to James Lavallee, Vice President, Marketing and Sales Development, Effectv. In their conversation, they discuss James’ career journey, the importance of building relationships and networks for people of color in marketing and the launch of Comcast RISE in response to the needs of small businesses operated by African Americans and BIPOC.

In this episode we talk to Rhonda Crichlow. SVP Chief Diversity Officer Charter Communications. Over the course of their conversation, Philip and Rhonda discuss her career journey and how it has shaped her current role at Charter. They tackle the importance of strategy and long term planning when it comes to building a successful diversity and inclusion program.

Our guests are Bonita C. Stewart andJacqueline Adams together they are co-authors of A BLESSING: Women of Color Teaming Up to Lead, Empower and Thrive. Over the course of our conversation we discuss how Jacqueline and Bonita joined forces. The power that resides within “A Blessing” and the their strategic takeaways from administering The Women of Color in Business: Cross Generational Survey. More here at -> https://leadempowerthrive.com/

Almost ten years ago, Lauren Wesley Wilson was aiming to climb the ad agency corporate ladder. But she was deterred; she didn’t see anyone who looked like her. No African American, LatinX or Asian men or women in leadership roles.  So, she began a series of luncheons in her town of Washington, DC, “to bring together people of color in our industry because so many of us in the space were feeling isolated and alone...and we didn't have a community to call on as it relates to new business or getting promoted or how to navigate corporate America. Those series of luncheons became ColorComm, Inc., a national platform to advance women of color in business, now nine years and nine cities strong, with thousands of members. And, participants include names like Gayle King, Gloria Steinem,  Bozoma Saint John, and  Shelley Zalis. Some of the leading brands in media and marketing are  sponsors -- from MWW and Edelman PR agencies, to Coke, Nike, ViacomCBS, Comcast and Publicis Groupe. In this conversation with media journalist and podcast host, E.B. Moss, Wilson talked about the strides made, the ongoing challenges for people of color, and the business imperative for the industry to include them.  Highlights: On Data: "There's so much data out there, but it's about action and execution. Where I see companies fail are those companies that don't line-item a budget around changing this landscape. They spent all their money to get the data, but they haven't allocated money for change." On Action Items:  "People of color in the agency, marketing and advertising space is such a small percent. So, if a company  looks at its numbers and sees just a handful of people there, they need to set them up for advancement. But it’s two-fold: the individual working in the company oftentimes doesn't have the skills to know what to do. And that's why organizations like ColorComm exist, to train you, to give you the tools and resources and professional development and skills to understand your role within your company." Get all her thoughts and recommendations on thriving through diversity and inclusion, and how ColorComm is helping everyone step up by listening to the full episode.  

At a recent gathering of MediaVillage contributors Advancing Diversity Podcast host, E.B. Moss, tapped the expertise of two highly regarded columnists: Michael Farmer and Peter Hubbell, for a 20-minute, unedited stream of brilliance. The topic is key to how ad agencies may survive or thrive, and impacts the very content we consume and the products we are encouraged to purchase: age bias and the longevity economy. Problems were posed, and opinions and insights lobbed on this subject so allied with Jack Myers’ message: how the media  industry must advance diversity... and particularly why is it essential for the advertising community to not condescendingly say, “okay, Boomer,” but instead, “we need you, Boomers!” Michael, while calm and charismatic, does not mince words on the state of the ad industry, as evidenced by the full title of his book, Madison Avenue Manslaughter: An Inside View of Fee-Cutting Clients, Profit-Hungry Owners and Declining Ad Agencies, and cautions in our conversation that, “agency CEOs ought to recognize the economic figures [the overwhelming percentage of disposable income in United States is held by baby boomers] and that they have not put together a staff that is capable of serving clients in all the dimensions that need to be served.” As Peter, equally elegant (and the author of other well-titled books, such as The Old Rush), agrees and notes, “for all of the progress that has been made on inclusion, we are still excluding people of age.” Hence, the birth of Boomagers, the agency he built to target that very demographic, because, “we knew that the young clients would lack experience in the lives of baby boomers. But also, from an experience and consumer understanding, we knew that they wouldn't be prioritizing them.” So, he and his (now global) agency stepped up. Listen and learn: How has the “juniorization” of ad agency staffs affects the way they think about client problems; What are the growth opportunities and the ways brands should be positioning themselves; What is the main bias around age; Is brand loyalty all it’s cracked up to be; How can multigenerational storytelling enhance marketing efforts? You’ll also learn why Peter won’t wear Levi’s anymore, and if Michael holds out hope for today’s agencies....

What are the specific steps we can take to increase diversity and inclusion in the media and advertising industry? What is "intersectionality"? How are some of the biggest content producers and organizations - Intel, Twitter and the 4As - making strides with employees and the communities they create at work, and around their brands? E.B. Moss captured the voices and ideas of a dozen esteemed attendees - ranging from Dalana Brand of Twitter to Julie Coppernoll, corporate vice president, global marketing strategy at Intel, to Publicis Americas CEO, Tim Jones, and the legendary Kay Koplovitz of Springboard Enterprises. As you’ll hear in the coming weeks when we roll out more episodes of the Advancing Diversity podcast created during the MediaVillage Advancing Diversity Honors event held at CES, these leaders share recommendations and points of view about what impacts them the most both personally and professionally.  

Some sobering statistics emerged from the recent #Inclusive100 survey of the media/marketing industry: Women and people of color are actually declining in the executive ranks. In this conversation with survey creators, Lynn Branigan, president and CEO of She Runs It, and Carol Watson, senior director at Diversity Best Practices, tell MediaVillage how we can do better and get it right - starting with the need to benchmark where we're at now.  Learn about the three goals of "100" that inspired their #Inclusive100 survey. “Companies really want to know how to  move forward. ... You can't just say you've been doing a lot, you have to measure, and understand what's happening with LGBTQ shifts, disability, veterans...all of those things. It's a very holistic, data-based approach which has been really missing in the marketplace. ...It’s like going to the doctor for your annual checkup. It's not a five-minute visit, it’s a great diagnostic scan and we all have to take our medicine,” Watson says. Learn why marketing + measurement are the biggest drivers of success through this podcast, and through MediaVillage’s Advancing Diversity initiative. In fact listen to the previous interviews with all of this year’s inductees to the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors. There will be more coverage on MediaVillage of the forthcoming Honors, Council meeting, the Diversity Job Meet-Up and the Creative Tensions® experience all taking place during CES on January 8th in Las Vegas.

In this episode of the Advancing Diversity podcast, Air Force veteran J. Michael Haynie, Ph.D., speaks with MediaVillage's Ginger Conlon and E.B. Moss about how our military community is especially well-equipped to enter the workforce — they are trained to be entrepreneurial, diverse and resilient. Haynie encourages us invest in the future of our military veterans. He discusses successful new ways of delivering education and economic opportunities to this vital community.  Listen to understand all the reasons he is being inducted into the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors for members of the media, marketing, advertising and educational area who are moving the needle on a more inclusive workforce. For information on attending the event, held on Jan 8th at CES in Las Vegas, visit www.ces20.com . And, if you're seeking to network for a new job by those HIRING a diverse workforce, register for the Advance a Diverse Workforce MEET UP, listed on the same site. 

At the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show Shelley Zalis and 7 others will be inducted into the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors for helping drive more diversity and inclusion in the media and marketing communities. How did this pioneer of online research become the founder of The Female Quotient - famous for building up a pack of women to face down the "boys club" of CES years ago?  Zalis tells MediaVillage why not only do words matter -- and we need to move beyond "diversity" to "proximity" -- but why even the right words are not enough and action is required to thrive as a company today. Hear why Zalis is contracted by scores of major organizations to build understanding and tear down fences in hiring and content creation...and and how helps the bottom line.  Learn why Zalis says, "use your voice."  And listen to all our Advancing Diversity podcasts to be inspired by each of these inspiring inductees to the Hall of Honors. 

As someone who immigrated to the United States and became a citizen, Publicis Media, Americas, chief executive officer Tim Jones has a personal connection to the diversity and inclusion (D&I) issues making headlines today. That connection, and his belief in our founding doctrine of embracing all people, are clear through his participation in organizations such as Autism Speaks, for which he’s a member of its board, and myriad programs instituted at Publicis. Jones, will be inducted in to the Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors conducted by MediaVillage on January 8 at CES, along with seven others who have stood out by accelerating the move from advocacy to activism. Jones, who serves as a conduit for many of diverse voices at the agency group, aims to ensure he amplifies their messages throughout the organization to drive real action. He loaned his voice to this Advancing Diversity podcast episode with E.B. Moss, head of content strategy for MediaVillage, discussing both his origins and the origins of some of Publicis Media initiatives created to help diverse talent get hired by our industry and be heard – and why they strive to even take that message to Washington, DC, as well. 

Sue Obeidi has been encouraging content creators to break stereotypes and rethink portrayals of the Islamic community and Muslim characters in entertainment content. In the face of world events, the director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Hollywood Bureau is committed to improving the quality and number of authentic and inclusive representations in media, so audiences see this community as vital contributors to culture worldwide. She is a vibrant, fresh, and persuasive voice who is producing results. In this Advancing Diversity podcast episode with E.B. Moss, head of content strategy for MediaVillage, Obeidi fully explains the case for why the entertainment industry is more influential than the government in impacting societal and cultural change. And that explains why, in 2017, Obeidi was one of 60 change-makers named to Variety's Inclusion Impact Report and why in January 2020, along with her friend Tim McNeal, she and six others will be inducted in the MediaVillage Advancing Diversity Hall of Honors.