While Black history transcends a month, we’re excited to officially celebrate the contributions of Black professionals in the marketing and advertising industry. These change makers have made our industry more equitable, inclusive and inspiring to watch.
Known for being one of the first black advertising executives during the 1970s, Tom is credited with changing the way advertisers see and talk to non-white audiences. He persuaded brands like McDonalds and Coca Cola to incorporate elements of black culture in their ads, and his work and philosophy have helped to usher in more culturally relevant marketing.
Oriel, a former chef turned award-winning creative director, founded and launched One School, a free training program exclusively for Black creatives to help talent break into the industry. Since the inception of the program last year, Oriel’s goal has been to lower the high cost barrier of US portfolio schools for young creatives of color.
Bozoma Saint John is one of the nation’s most talked about marketers. Her career has spanned multiple industries and she’s held prominent marketing roles at PepsiCo, Beats Music, Apple, Endeavor and is currently the chief marketing officer at Netflix. Along her career journey, she’s been an advocate for authenticity, diversity and inclusion.