Championing The Inclusive Agenda

We work in an industry that is frequently trivialized. In the minds of many, we make the annoying things that interrupt the TV show you’re watching or appear next to article you want to read. As much as we may love advertising, it’s a craft that is often maligned and dismissed.??

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But in fact, what we do can be a powerful tool for change. Every day we create images and words and sounds that are seen and read and heard by millions of people across the country – sometimes even across the world. They help shape how we all think about the society we live in.?

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Working at Ogilvy, one of our daily sources of joy is witnessing first-hand the diversity of experiences and perspectives that exist within our agency. It is truly the core of what makes us exceptional. But accompanying the beauty we all receive every day from our inclusive community, is a responsibility to ensure that same diversity is reflected in the work we put back out into the world. In other words, we should ourselves be accountable to create work that looks and sounds like us. Sounds simple enough, but let’s be honest, despite all the progress that has been made over the years, we still face resistance.?

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“We’re not sure this couple will test well.”?

“I don’t think this casting is reflective of our target.”?

“Let’s find a scenario that will resonate with a broader audience.”?

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The resistance is perhaps more subtle than it used to be, but it’s still there. Civil rights pioneer Bayard Rustin once said, “We need in every community a group of angelic troublemakers.” Let’s take inspiration from these words and continue to push our agenda of empathy and inclusivity.?

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It is our responsibility to paint a picture of our society where love and identity are borderless. We have to drive social change via representation in our work, and in our industry. This is how we will break biases and destigmatize stereotypes. What we do every day influences perception and behaviour, so while we’re selling products and services, let’s also sell empathy and inclusivity.?