Moments are Fleeting, but Cannes Can Last Forever

@ the intersection of de la Croisette + inclusivity

Cannes…the best kind of assault on one’s senses. Sights, ideas, sounds, media, feelings, creativity, and humanity en masse collide - resulting in a thrilling, crushing experience. This year’s scene did not disappoint! Entry submissions were up 6% next-level media activations unfolded as far as the eye could see, and there was a noted, welcomed, increase in people of color that was reee-freshing.?

Endless experiences fueled treasured moments. By the end of the week, festival attendees found themselves hastening back to normalcy, unable to recall encounters vowed never to be forgotten. While many of those moments are fleeting, Cannes can last forever.?

Experiencing the festival from the intersection of de la Croisette + inclusivity shaped my perspective on how industry priorities bolted to diverse perspectives can drive growth, deepen relationships and do good for humanity well beyond that last sip of rosé.?

Inclusivity Rages Forward

Stimulating, soul-stirring conversations were held at #InkwellBeach , a Black-culture respite tucked amongst an endless string of hyped-up media activations, and at the (White) Black house, a stately and grand, white mansion just steps from the Mediterranean Sea, which served as the headquarters for Black At . Topics ranged from The Diversity Paradox to a Beachside chat with Bozoma Saint John and Sam Barrington (former NFL player), to the responsibility brands have in moving conversations and actions forward three years after George Floyd. Many of the topics struck a chord with me for their simplicity and profoundness. Some of the highlights for me included:

• “People don’t pull you up they push you up.” That’s exactly right. And consistent with my belief and leadership aspirations. Great leaders inspire and enable others to be their best, whole selves. Their expansion through growth & development pushes you up - everybody wins.?
• The Africa Imperative is a cultural responsibility. Shifting the conversation from a deficit, “Go back to Africa,” to an opportunity is critical in reshaping how The Continent is viewed. I hadn’t previously considered the idea that “until the continent of Africa is respected no Black person can be respected.” But as I sat and listened, I realized there was both power and truth in that notion.
• DEI Motives are an insightful indicator of how successful and sustainable an organization’s diversity efforts will be – especially where an organization sat on the fence during 2020’s social disruption matters. In many cases, #DEI efforts that were put in place in reaction to George Floyd have struggled to maintain momentum. At the same time, for those who already had DEI efforts in place, this catalyst served as an accelerant, powering them to new, more sustainable heights. Applause, applause to this bunch…

Gender equity conversations were earnest. I participated in a lively exchange with William White (CMO, Walmart), Karen Sauder (President, Google) and Elizabeth Campbell (VP, Field & Culture Marketing, McDonald’s), at the Contagious Villa hosted by 谷歌 , SEEHER and Publicis Groupe . One of the areas I am most passionate about is the importance of intersection and lived experience. I’m very clear on my perspective in this space:

“While there are numerous, shared, human truths, I know with emphatic conviction that we each approach them through our individual lens.?That lens is informed by our cultural identity; the customs, behaviors, traditions, and experiences we grew up with.?It’s a lens that not only shapes the way we see ourselves in the world, it informs & motivates our brand choices as well as the media engagements we opt into.”

Transforming Origin Stories Requires Intention

These days we feel great that we can say “There’s a Barbie for that!” This iconic brand offers almost every diverse combination possible; 5 body types, 22 skin tones, 13 eye colors and 94 hair colors. But that wasn’t always the case.

I reveled in hearing about the transformation of Barbie’s’ origin story. Like that of so many others, it was created in an era where public sentiment differed from today’s inclusivity demands. It was delightful to bear witness to the “Create to Differ: Invention in The Age of Perpetual Reinvention” session with Mattel, Inc. One of my favorite gems articulated by its CEO was: “Being in fashion ≠ Being fashionable.”

The insight behind this statement was that, though #barbie remained fashionable over time, around 2014 there came a point when she was no longer in fashion and became out of step with the times. As the world around her grew more diverse and beauty sensibilities shifted, Barbie started to fall flat and out of favor.

The courage Barbie brand stewards displayed by taking intentional steps in the areas of brand purpose, design-led innovation, cultural relevance, and execution excellence, to reconnect with new generations was captivating. By leaning into inclusivity, the brand was able to transform its origin story in ways that restored its appeal and keep it on top in today’s modern world.?The results are astonishing; #1 girls’ channel on YouTube, 20MM subscribers, and 23B minutes of viewed content.

Regarding That Thing Called Bias: GPT-4/Open AI

One of the most critical discussions that I had in Cannes was with The 614 Group Brand Safety Summit. Brand safety is on everyone’s mind and there’s a lot to think about in this area - fake news, inappropriate and offensive content, and data privacy are just the tip of the iceberg.

THE MOST IMPORTANT brand safety consideration, in my book, is bias prevention in emerging technologies. I am concerned that most emerging tech developers are non-Hispanic White, which is mis-aligned with younger, highly diverse users of new technologies like GPT-4 and Open AI. The out-of-kilter influence that developers have on new tech outcomes will have long-lasting effects. Given the speed in which they take off, if we aren’t watchful, vocal, engaged, and inclusive now, the very bias these new technologies promise to overcome will have the unintended impact we’ve been fighting against all along. You can watch the discussion here: https://lnkd.in/enUEx_Cj

All-in-all, it was quite an inspiring week that left me with a lot to think about. If you spend your time at Cannes well, the?lessons gleamed can be lasting and impactful.

Signing off @ the intersection of de la Croisette + inclusivity…until next year!

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