The Power of Connection, Credibility & Community -- Black Women Advancing in Media and Advertising (Video)

During the quotBlack Women Advancing in Media and Advertisingquot panel in the Female Quotient EqualityLounge at Advertising Week we heard from three Black leaders from different sectors of the advertising and media community who explored the realities of slow representation and shared their outlook on how the community is unified in its approach to overcome barriers The panel consisted of three engaging leaders Tangie Murray Senior Vice President 4A39s Foundation who served as moderator Monique Nelson Chair and CEO UniWorld Group and Christena J Pyle sheher Chief Equity Officer dentsu AmericasThe panel discussion revolved around the key themes that could address some of the systemic barriers and entrenched behaviors that have held Black women backConnectionsPyle started the discussion by poignantly reminding audiences of the power of making connections quotYour network is your net worthquot she said adding that emerging leaders should choose the managers they want to work with rather than the company they joinTo increase the velocity of external connections the panelists highlighted the partnerships with other organizations that drive the diversity agenda forward Nelson shared the community organizations she works with and supports closely including the UN Eagle Academy for Boys and Mothers of Black Boys UnitedPyle is working to support Congresswoman Barbara Lee and supports mentorship advocacy organization Big Brother and Big SisterMentorship is another important careeradvancing touchpoint that both panelists emphasized quotMentorship is reciprocal and is an act of generosity that can change a person39s career trajectoryquot Nelson saidTo be able to connect effectively with others both panelists underscored the importance of selfcare The panelists shared some of the rituals that energize and keep them positive including the importance of sleep reducing alcohol intake during the week and creating one39s own oasis with a serene beach getaway Nelson revealed that sometimes she even goes to bed earlier than her kids to ensure she gets her essential seven hoursBoth reminded audiences that close friendships can be very therapeutic emphasizing the nurturing power of quotkeeping the positive friends around you as it is a hard industry you can get a lot of no39squotIronically even the strong camaraderie between competitors in the industry also leads to close bonds of empathetic understanding and generous sharing according to the panelistsCredibilityAn essential fuel for career progression for anyone is ensuring you build your brand and credibility by delivering exceptional results Nelson shared that for Black women the bar can be even higher It is critical she said quotto be agile and be prepared to learn everyday as it is fastmoving industryquotPyle also emphasized the importance of understanding and learning every aspect of the advertising business across HR Sales Operations and Finance To have this macro and committed approach means quotyou have to demonstrate stamina as it can be difficult and challengingquot she shared Over time talent will find that the quotaperture opensquot but you first need to get quotcomfortable being uncomfortablequotThe industry needs to migrate beyond tokenism and acknowledge that the slow progress is due to quota lack of opportunities presented not talentquot Emerging leaders and young students need to be introduced to this industry as there is a lack of awareness and education on how the ad industry works quotOften students don39t even know how an ad is even createdquot Nelson saidThe 4A39s MAIP program makes great strides in moving young promising talent to new careers and eventually higher levels of responsibilities Pyle a MAIP graduate shared that quotthe industry is not designed for Black womenquot and that she didn39t know as a young student that the industry was even an option for her The panelists agreed that Black women are not a monolith and emphasized that quotour assertion our swagger and our energy might be misconstrued in the workplace and we need to ensure it is seen as a source for strengthquotCommunityA key part of building community is accepting leaders as they are being able to express yourself using your own innate skills talent and selfidentity including the freedom to wear your hair in a way that feels natural and empoweringUsing new vernacular by saying quotshe is definitive rather than she is aggressivequot the panelists asserted that building community must intentional collaborative and sustainable over timeForming relationships and community through Business Resource Groups BRG means having a space where you can be celebrated and accepted They are also places to hone innate leadership skillsBlack Executive Leadership Academy by McKinsey is a forum where leaders can connect from across different companies providing a depth of experience and collaborative effort that transcends just one industryNelson remarked that quotUWG is one big BRGquot and emphasized the importance of peertopeer communication while ensuring culture is always at the core quotWe help our partners to become more inclusive creators and learn how to execute against itquot she said Nelson also highlighted the role of intersectionality and how understanding the rich texture of a person39s identity helps with dismantling unconscious bias and creating lasting relationshipsAs the panel ended all three leaders summed up that the best way to progress is to be reminded of our humanity and to simply quottake care of each otherquot After all great leadership is about genuine empathy and generous listeningClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet

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The Power of Connection, Credibility & Community -- Black Women Advancing in Media and Advertising (Video)

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Raquelle Zuzarte

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