Good morning, Marketer.
Black people make up more than 13% of the U.S. population, yet the representation of Black leaders in our marketing industry is vastly disproportionate. According to our editor Rodric Bradford, professional organizations and corporate resources play a key role in the academic-to-professional pipeline – and can be integral to advancing Black leaders in martech.
Organizations like Blacks in Technology, a tech-focused community and media organization dedicated to increasing representation in the industry – or Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA), a nonprofit organization for professionals in the IT industries, take a national approach to pooling resources and creating a growth pipeline for students. “Both organizations understand that barriers exist, not only for junior-level employees, but all the way up to the C-level, and are quick to address the needs at all stages,” writes Bradford.
While it’s important to encourage participation in these types of professional organizations, it’s also necessary that your own organization has the resources and processes in place to support the advancement of Black and POC marketers and technologists. For example, digital transformation agency Publicis Sapient said the developments in 2020 have led to the creation of an internal task force that is working closely with the CEO to create a short-term action plan as a foundation for implementing long-term inclusion in hiring practices and employee retention. In June, 18,000 Publicis Sapient team members participated in collaborative sessions and learning tracks to begin the process of change.
“We are incorporating plans specific to talent in the Black community,” said CMO Teresa Barreira. “We need to invest in Black- and minority-led education and training to drive a more robust corporate understanding of what it means to be Black, how history affects our Black colleagues, and the role other employees must play in achieving long-lasting equality.”
There’s more to read below, including chatter on a potential issue with LinkedIn ad CTRs.
Taylor Peterson,
Deputy Editor
