IAA to host global panel to help brands improve diversity and inclusivity
The International Advertising Association (IAA) will host a global panel, featuring members from around the world, with the aim of helping brands and individuals make positive change in the diversity and inclusivity space.
The panel will be hosted on June 25 at 7pm AEST and feature Sheba Nandkeolyar, founder and CEO, MultiConnexions Group, Australia; Patrycja Pielaszek, CEO, WeCoCo; Charulata Ravi Kumar, managing director at Accenture, India; and Jerry Daykin, EMEA media director, GSK and commercial director, Outvertising, UK.
Nandkeolyar will take part in the panel on June 25
The panel will be hosted by Joel Nettey, SVP IAA Global and CEO of Innova DDB Ghana.
Nandkeolyar said things feel different this time around and brands need to be on the front foot.
“Normally when there is something politically charged and sensitive, big companies stay out of it and do not become involved, but we are seeing an evolution in marketing and leadership in the wake of the Bla(c)k Lives Matter movement.
“Australian brands have flocked to social media to post about BLM, to varying degrees of perceived genuineness. Diversity, inclusivity, and belonging lend richness to the fabric of living – from racial diversity to all forms of diversity. Diversity makes our lives more meaningful and rewarding and should be an integral part of our lives,” said Nandkeolyar.
The panel follows the IAA’s Leaders View campaign which saw 27 marketing communications leaders and members of the organisation offer support for businesses dealing with the COVID-19 economic impacts. Nandkeolyar also added her voice to the Leaders View campaign.
“It is easy to dismiss diversity in advertising as tokenism, but we are seeing a growing need for corporate social responsibility in the true sense of the words. It should not be just about tokenism anyway! Creating great special campaigns or products that suit the needs of diverse audiences will always be well received. After all, consumers will quickly denounce diverse campaigns if they see them as opportunistic. The challenge is to talk the talk and walk the walk,” said Nandkeolyar.
Any idea how to get involved please? There is no link in the article.
Thank you.
Hi Anne,
You can find more info and register here:
https://www.iaaglobal.org/event/thought-leadership/iaa-voices-how-to-build-and-empower-diverse-communities
I’ll also pop the link into the story.
Thanks,
Vivienne – Mumbrella