Founded in 2005 by Tiffany R. Warren, the annual ADCOLOR conference champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries. Maintaining the mission to “Rise Up” and “Reach Back,” the organization aims to create a community of diverse professionals who support and celebrate one another.
As a longstanding partner of ADCOLOR, Edelman was thrilled to join industry leaders, changemakers, and advocates at the 2024 ADCOLOR Conference and Awards. This year’s theme, “Off Mute,” highlighted the importance of amplifying underrepresented voices and driving meaningful, measurable change in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
In addition to serving as a Supporting Partner, Edelman furthered our participation by sponsoring the 2024 ADCOLOR FUTURES Brunch to help cultivate early career talent. During the brunch, we hosted an inspiring panel session, “Turning Up the Volume,” which examined the role of trust in driving progress in DEIB. Moderated by Trisch Smith, Edelman’s Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, the panel featured Amera Lulu and Dhwani Jain from Edelman, alongside Kenny Moore, a former LVMH Marketing Executive.
Drawing on insights from the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report on Business and Racial Justice, best practices shared included leveraging employee resource groups (ERGs) to create safe spaces and amplify diverse voices, aligning partnerships with organizational values for greater impact, and how to continue moving DEI efforts forward. Attendees received actionable tools and inspiration to use their voices and work to foster meaningful change.
We also hosted several Edelman colleagues at the conference to receive inspiration and information empowering them to bring back valuable ideas and insights they can use in our work.
Below are a few key takeaways that our early career attendees shared from this year’s ADCOLOR Conference and Awards.
Early Career Insights
Hope Empowers Agency
Farah Charisse, Coordinator, Edelman Global DEIB
While at the conference, I had the opportunity to attend the ADCOLOR FUTURES Brunch and hear the keynote speaker Donovan Triplett, Strategy Director at Wieden + Kennedy, discuss “What We Owe Our Hearts.”
In the weeks since hearing his speech, I’ve continued to remind myself that hope is a powerful catalyst for change. It’s more than just optimism – it’s the fuel that drives action. In moments of despair or disappointment, choosing hope empowers my agency and encourages me to continue to pursue change. Hope motivates me to take bold steps, stay resilient, and navigate challenges and changes with purpose. It helps me create meaningful, lasting impact in everything I do. Hope isn’t passive; it’s a force that propels us to act and create the change that we desire.
Rock the Boat
Damaryan Benton, Assistant Account Executive, Integrated Brand
I had the privilege to hear Lola Bakare speak during the panel “BEYOND STORYTELLING: Influencing the Product to Create Belonging.” Her words, “If you’re in this room, you have the privilege to rock the boat,” deeply resonated with me. They reminded me that our influence as professionals extends far beyond crafting narratives. It’s about challenging systems, rethinking structures, and fostering inclusion at every level. This message reaffirmed my commitment to not just tell stories, but to actively shape outcomes that drive equity and belonging in the industry.
Embracing Identity: Bridging Presence and Visibility
Eric Jonathan Huape, Account Executive, Multicultural
Attending my first ADCOLOR conference was transformative. The panel discussion, "FROM SPANGLISH TO NO SABO KIDS: The Evolution of Language and Identity," reshaped how I present myself and execute my work by highlighting the beauty of embracing our Latinidad in all its diverse forms.
As a brown queer individual at the start of my career, I often struggle with balancing my identity - fearing that being too brown or too queer might disrupt my professional image. However, the conference empowered me to break free from these limiting beliefs.
I realized that fully embracing my identity is not only my duty but also my strength. This experience underscored the vital cultural connection between presence and visibility for brown and black communities in creative fields. By embracing our full selves, we bridge the gap between mere presence and true visibility, paving the way for more inclusive and authentic representation. It's time to go off mute and let my true self shine.
