14224: Cannes Cons XVII.

Adweek published the following quote from former R/GA Chief Creative Officer Chloe Gottlieb:

“I think 2018 is a watershed year in terms of inclusion and equality in the workplace. … #MeToo was like this spark that created a fire, and the fire is going to burn down structures, and things are going to look very different.”—Chloe Gottlieb, Google’s new director of user experience, in the press room

It’s true that “2018 is a watershed year in terms of inclusion and equality”—for White women in adland. Hell, Gottlieb was able to leverage her privilege to land at Google, another company desperately seeking to diversify, and apparently settling in its efforts by boosting Caucasian female representation.

Also disturbing are the constant references to #MeToo, given that the movement originated to help survivors of sexual violence—especially underrepresented women of color—versus White women in a field where exclusivity is the norm. The “spark” has been around since 2006, incidentally, and was only hijacked by adwomen in recent years. Sorry, but Gottlieb hasn’t evolved much since her “Here Are All The Black People” appearance.

12872: The One Club’s Exclusivity.

Adweek published a perspective from The One Club Director of Diversity Traecy Smith, discussing the hilarious image from the latest Here Are All The Black People soiree. First of all, “The One Club Director of Diversity” remains an oxymoron and/or contradictory juxtaposition that’s as peculiar as the photo sparking controversy. Smith sought to defend the image by pointing to a video featuring the “Advertising For Good” panel depicted (the relevant part begins at about 45:20). Ironically, the panel was moderated by Barbara Lippert, a White woman who once landed a job at Goodby Silverstein & Partners via cronyism—plus, Lippert actually joked about the lack of Blacks on the panel. Additionally, Smith argued the panel included DDB New York CCO and Global Citizen Icaro Doria and an Asian-American participant. Um, is that roughly the equivalent of counting janitors and receptionists as diversity hires? Smith also presented the realization that “Progress is messy. It doesn’t move forward seamlessly; it stumbles, sometimes veering off in the wrong direction before righting itself.” Is that an explanation or admission—or both? The One Club is becoming the next ADCOLOR®.

12351: Highlighting 14 In 2014.

It wasn’t easy to find 14 highlights in the advertising industry for 2014, but here goes (in no particular order):

1. Artist/Writer/Recovering Adman Lowell Thompson marched on.

2. The Marcus Graham Project Infographic exposed the exclusive state of affairs on Madison Avenue.

3. Pam El was drafted by the NBA as the league’s new CMO.

4. Dawn Hudson was drafted by the NFL as the league’s new CMO.

5. Jerry Seinfeld dissed the advertising industry at the CLIO Awards—unintentionally proving to be prophetic with his ultra-lame Acura campaign featuring a Black guy.

6. The Advertising Standards Council of India created mandates barring spots that portray dark-skinned people negatively.

7. Roy Eaton delivered the best 3.5 minutes you’ll spend all year.

8A and 8B. Issa Rae and Living a Creative Life enlivened Here Are All The Black People.

9. Commonground/MGS was unveiled as a new holding group comprised of eight independent, minority-owned agencies.

10. Ogilvy & Mather South Africa CEO Abey Mokgwatsane examined three macro drivers contributing towards a very vibrant South African ad industry: talent diversity, digital migration and the changing role of South Africa as a gateway to the rest of Africa.

11. MediaCom UK CEO Karen Blackett was named “most influential Black person in Britain” on the Powerlist 2015.

12. David&Goliath President Brian Dunbar declared, “L.A. is a very culturally diverse city and I think the cultural makeup of the agencies reflects that. It certainly does at David&Goliath. I see a lot more diversity here than I have at other agencies in my career and I think that helps make the work more interesting.”

13. Despite a rough year, Steve Stoute and Translation rebounded by winning the NBA shootout.

14. Team Epiphany may be the most diverse enterprise in the advertising industry.

12121: Here Are Creative Life Thoughts.

Here Are All The Black People presented a panel titled: Living a Creative Life. BBDO SVP Director of Creative Engineering and Tactile Production JD Michaels moderated a panel starring kbs+ Creative Director Melody Henderson, Huge Art Director Mark Montgomery, Creative Director Kenneth E. Parris III and Neon ACD Karalyn Leavens. This event was the best of the bunch, as the panelists were likeable, relatable and inspirational, offering meaningful insight that actually applies to being a young creative in the advertising industry. The boomer leaders in the field—who have undoubtedly been enjoying cocktails in New York City over the last few days—should have attended this event. They might have learned more than they likely will during Advertising Week.

12119: Here Are Global Comments.

Here Are All The Black People presented a panel titled: Creativity is a Global Currency. Leo Burnett EVP Director of Strategy Wells Davis moderated a panel starring The Bull-White House Founder Matthew Bull, Leo Burnett Global Creative Director Brandon Rochon and Havas Worldwide Creative Director Gian Carlo Lanfranco. The panelists were likeable and semi-inspirational; however, is pursuing global opportunities the best route for young advertising hopefuls? Hell, it’s tough enough to even land a gig at Globalhue. While the U.S. advertising industry is extraordinarily exclusive, other countries—the U.K., for example—are not much evolved. Again, attendees would be better off staying at home and working for Issa Rae versus the culturally clueless abroad.

12118: Here Are Breaking In Comments.

Here Are All The Black People presented a panel titled: Breaking In. Breaking Wind might have been a more accurate label. William Burks Spencer moderated a Q&A session starring BBDO CCO David Lubars, mcgarrybowen ACD/Copylover Neisha Tweed, R/GA SVP ECD Chloe Gottlieb, Boone Oakley President Gregory Johnson and GSD&M Creative Director Jake Camozzi. The basic problem with the discussion? The executives offered nothing beyond common knowledge and common sense. Candidates could get greater insight from simply scanning the classic How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising by Maxine Paetro. Additionally, the panelists were too diverse—and not in a multicultural sense. Lubars and Camozzi sounded like traditional advertising dinosaurs. Has Tweed the social media ACD ever hired anyone? Gottlieb felt a little hackneyed, as digital types often do. And Johnson is a suit—so his opinions on portfolios mean less than zero. Not convinced any of the professional participants connected with the audience. Again, attendees would be better off working for Issa Rae versus these dullards.

12117: Here Are Issa Rae Thoughts.

Here Are All The Black People took place last week, segregated and separated from the annual Advertising Week. The multicultural creative career fair featured Issa Rae as keynote speaker. As the event video shows, Ms. Rae was a superior choice to open the festivities versus Dr. Cornel West, at least in terms of being contemporary, relevant and inspirational to a young and impressionable audience. On the other hand, Rae’s innovative spirit and emphasis on revolutionizing the media representation of Black characters flies in the face of the professional pigeonholing and perpetuation of stereotypes that persists for non-Whites in the ad industry. The HAATBP attendees would be much better off working for Rae than any advertising agency.