The Creative Ladder

On Friday, November 1, The Creative Ladder gathered at the beautiful Signia by Hilton Atlanta, sponsored by 160over90, to connect, inspire, and elevate the next generation of creative leaders. Our Atlanta Summit brought together alumni and new community members from underrepresented backgrounds to: ? Expand networks ? Gain insights on intergenerational communication from industry leaders ? Reimagine their career trajectories From impactful workshops to inspiring panels featuring speakers like Donye Taylor, Bobby Moore III Moore of Obsidianworks, Alexandra (Alex) McInnis of Murder Hornet, Janis Middleton of Guided By Good, and Kennedy-rue McCullough of REVOLT, the energy in the room was unmatched! ?? Key Takeaway: Effective managers recognize that each generation has unique communication preferences. Tailoring your approach—by using the right channels and aligning with preferred methods—ensures clear, impactful, and inclusive communication across diverse teams. A huge thank you 160Over90, Hilton and MurderHornet, our incredible speakers, and all the rising leaders who made the event such a success. Let’s keep climbing the creative ladder—together. ?? Watch the reel to relive the magic! #CreativeLadder #ATLSummit #CreativeCareers #LeadershipDevelopment #DiversityAndInclusion #Hilton #160Over90 #ATLCreatives

Over the past three months, these 8 incredible individuals have dedicated themselves to an intense and condensed journey of growth, self-discovery, and leadership development. We all know how challenging it can be to navigate new experiences, step out of comfort zones, and tackle big goals in such a short time. Yet, this group rose to the occasion with resilience, adaptability, and the kind of self-advocacy that defines true leaders. Leadership isn’t just about reaching the finish line—it’s about how you advocate for yourself, pivot in the face of challenges, and continue pushing forward when the path gets tough. This cohort embodies all of these qualities, and their growth over the past three months has been nothing short of inspiring. Congratulations Alexandra Mendelson-Tennant, Amera Lulu, Kirby Darland, Vicky Inoue, Jefferson Beard, Brooke B. Williams, Caro Hernandez and Stephanie Benjamin! We are so proud of what you’ve accomplished and excited to see how you’ll take the lessons learned here and make an impact in the creative world. Keep climbing!

To My Creative Ladder Community: As we navigate the results of this election, I want to take a moment to remind each of you to care for yourselves and each other. This time can bring out a range of emotions—some of which are heavy and hard to carry alone. Remember, you are not alone in this; we’re here for you. Lean on this community, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support. No matter what we saw from the candidates or who emerged victorious, let’s hold on to what truly matters: our own character, kindness, and integrity. Our goodness, resilience, and commitment to creating a positive impact in this world are constants that no election outcome can ever diminish. As creatives, we are powerful artists and storytellers. When ready, let’s channel that power to share our collective story—a story rooted in empathy, resilience, innovation and positive change. This is a moment to remind ourselves of the impact we can have through our voices and our creativity. This moment is a clear reminder of why The Creative Ladder exists: to inspire you, to help you build community and lead with integrity, and to provide the support you need on your professional climb. We stand firm in our values and commitment to you. We will not compromise on our values, our integrity, or our charge to support you on your journey. Your growth and impact mean the world to us, and we’re honored to walk alongside you. We are deeply grateful to our supporters who believe in the promise of empowering creatives from diverse backgrounds to explore, flourish, and rise up the ranks in advertising and marketing, and we are incredibly thankful to have your support in continuing our mission forward. Take the time you need to process, reflect, and recharge. You are each valued, and your well-being is our priority. Let’s continue building a future rooted in inclusion, creativity, and resilience—together. With all my support and admiration, Dionna

A message from our CEO.

One extra moment of gratitude to 160over90 for helping make #CreativeLadderATL a success and enabling us to connect Atlanta's emerging creatives with some of the best in the industry. We're endlessly thankful for the team's support and a special shoutout to Senior Director of Impact and Inclusion Tyler Bell for helping us kick off the day in our opening session! ??

It’s not a Creative Ladder event without a group selfie! ?? We had such an incredible time here at?#CreativeLadderATL?with a day full of insightful sessions and impactful networking with Atlanta’s emerging creatives. Thank you to our speakers, for sharing your powerful insights with us, and to our volunteers, for welcoming our attendees with open arms. We’re incredibly thankful to?Signia by Hilton Atlanta?for hosting today’s Atlanta summit in their beautiful space. Lastly, a huge thank you to our sponsors?160over90,?Hilton,?Capital One, and?Murder Hornet?for their generous support in making today’s event possible. ???? . . . #CreativeLadder Dionna Dorsey Lisa A. B. Abnia Loriston Ryan Reynolds #AtlantaCreatives #CreativeLadderAtlanta

In our panel discussion at #CreativeLadderATL led by Janis Middleton, we explored how creatives can close the intergenerational gap with insights from Bobby Moore III, Kennedy-rue McCullough, and Orlando Hampton. ?? Key takeaways? Use your generational experience to connect with others, acknowledge the power in connecting with those outside your generation, and always stay true to yourself. . . . #creativeadvice #intergenerationalgap #atlantacreatives #creativetips #creativecareers #creativeladder

We're back in the 404! We're kicking off today's Atlanta Summit with an opening keynote led by multi-hyphenate creative Donye Taylor and Murder Hornet’s Managing Partner & Founding Member Alexandra (Alex) McInnis. A huge thank you to our sponsors 160over90, Hilton, Capital One, and Murder Hornet for helping us bring these inspirational and uplifting sessions to Atlanta’s emerging industry leaders. ?? #CreativeLadderATL

REMINDER: Rising Leaders Academy Application is open now. Apply today! ?? https://lnkd.in/eyaep6dZ This 6-month long intensive requires commitment. But with your commitment, you'll gain new skills, confidence, and a community to support you. Are you ready? ?? #creativeleadership #creativeladder #advertising #marketing #upskilling #professionaldevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #creativity

We're thrilled to announce the speaker lineup for the?Creative Ladder ATL Summit?on?Friday, November 1,?brought to you by?160over90! This half-day event will bring together thought leaders and rising stars in marketing, advertising, and creative industries to share insights on unlocking creativity and closing the intergenerational gap at the office while offering opportunities to network and build community. Speakers include: ? Donye Taylor ? Bobby Moore III, ObsidianWorks ? Alexandra (Alex) McInnis, Murderhornet ? Janis Middleton, Guided by Good ? Kennedy-rue McCullough, Revolt and more! Last day to register?is?Tuesday, October 29! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with peers and industry leaders. Whether you’re a previous participant, or new to our community, this is your chance to invest in your career and future. Location:?Signia by Hilton Atlanta? Register Now:?https://lnkd.in/eGzUpYMr