“The companies on this list stand out to their employees. They have open-door policies where employees feel heard, offer flexibility that supports work/life balance, and provide opportunities for professional development, promotion and recognition—to name a few,” to use the words of Nancy Cooper, Newsweek’s Global Editor in Chief. 

This recognition goes to show that our mantra—empathy, transparency and diversity—has paid off, and there’s no doubt that these goals will continue to guide the efforts of our global and local leadership in providing a space for all our people to thrive and feel pride in their work. It’s safe to say that this is one of the greatest moments in my time at Media.Monks, especially as this past year hasn’t been an easy one. 

We’re here to help our people overcome obstacles. 

From a people perspective, our organization—and many others with us—has been met with various unexpected and very difficult social challenges these last couple of years. While strict lockdowns as a result of the pandemic kept several of our teams in Asia-Pacific homebound, our people in Ukraine were suddenly forced to flee or take shelter due to the ongoing war. At the start of this year, we were also deeply saddened by the disastrous impact of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. More than anything, these tragic and unforeseen events have made it abundantly clear that taking care of our people, which means making sure they are safe, satisfied and happy, should and always will be our top priority. 

Meeting our people’s needs and caring for them is not something that can be done in a couple weeks—it must happen in the present. That’s why we practice what we preach every single day, and if I may speak on behalf of our global People team, we are very proud and honored that our efforts to establish a clear vision and direction for the health, wellbeing and happiness of our people hasn’t gone unnoticed. Now, let’s take a closer look at what exactly we do to support our talent. 

Paving the path for our people to thrive. 

Beyond providing the basics such as health insurance, caregiver leave and paid vacation days, I believe that building a workplace where our 8,700+ people worldwide feel at home is about culture, belonging and representation, and making sure this is in line with everyone’s unique needs. 

Before we dive into this, it’s important to highlight that as an organization with presence in every part of the world, we always have to make sure our efforts and initiatives account for the many jurisdictional, regulatory, cultural and demographic differences that constitute our global footprint—what may be a mandatory diversity policy in one country, might be legally prohibited in another. That’s why we not only prioritize data-driven analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion challenges to support more localized approaches, but we also encourage and facilitate employee-led community groups and initiatives in all our offices. 

In establishing a company culture where everyone can flourish, our initiatives are aimed at fostering an environment of DE&I and belonging. From supporting women in tech to taking action to realize diversity, these initiatives include community groups—think of our Melanin.Monks, Pride.Monks or AAPI Community Group—cultural and heritage-based events and celebrations, and local coalitions to support near and dear creators and businesses. 

Besides fostering a safe and inspiring environment, most of the above initiatives facilitate peer-to-peer learning, which is just as important in building a solid company culture. And if we encourage our talent to educate themselves and others, then we should also provide space and opportunities for growth. That’s why we have initiated a range of educational programs, including our Women Leadership Program and the S4Capital Fellowship. Furthermore, next to offering bespoke online training on various topics, from foundational DE&I principles to managing a team with empathy, we’ve recently launched our first-ever global professional development program: Accelerate.Monks. Featuring internal subject matter experts, this initiative is all about upskilling and knowledge sharing between our talented colleagues. 

The golden thread in all of this is our insatiable curiosity, creative spirit and can-do mentality. To better understand the experience of our talent, the People team has deployed net promoter scores and found that many of us have dreams way beyond our daily work and want more purpose-driven jobs. These insights have ultimately shaped our operating model of creative-first and “break it and make it.” I believe that creativity breeds creativity, and long-lasting culture is all about constantly reinventing yourself in art, culture and business—that’s why we give our talent the tools they need to always rise to the moment. 

Another accolade closer to our mission.   

Despite our size and relative infancy in this industry, our mission is to become an industry force, and raising extraordinary talent is essential to this. That’s why I’m so thrilled that Media.Monks has received this honor, as it’s testament to our efforts and proof that we’re on the right track. As a top 10 Cannes Creative Company of the Year, Webby Production Company of the Year, and the owner of the most FWAs ever, I believe there’s no doubt about our creative chops. But as the Global Chief People Officer, entering Newsweek’s Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces just hits different, because this tells me that our talent not only creates outstanding work, but they feel appreciated, valued and cared for in doing so—and right now, that’s all that matters.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month takes place in May because of two key dates: May 7 and 10. The former marks the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States, whereas the latter—also known as Golden Spike Day—recognizes the completion of the US transcontinental railroad, connecting East to West. Nearly twenty thousand Chinese immigrants supported the construction of this incredible project, working under brutal conditions in the Sierra Nevada for very little pay. It’s critical that they are given recognition for their courage, hard work and dedication, today and into the future.



The AAPI umbrella term represents cultures from the entire Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. AAPI Heritage Month is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions that individuals and groups of this descent have made to the United States—and there are many. From science, literature, art and sports to government, politics, activism and law, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have significantly contributed to and enriched various facets of American life. Over time, AAPI people, stories, and traditions have become more visible, with Michelle Yeoh taking home an Oscar for Best Actress, Bong Joon Ho winning Academy Awards for both Best Picture and Best Director for his film Parasite, Marvel launching its first-ever Asian superhero, and Kamala Harris becoming the first AAPI (and female) Vice President of the United States.



As our people spotlights show, representation matters—especially since AAPI people have such a long history in the United States. Records show that Asians first migrated to what is now known as the United States over 15,000 years ago, crossing the Bering Land Bridge that connected Asia with North America. This defeats the painful stereotype that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are perpetual foreigners, which entails the idea that they are inherently foreign, other and not truly American.



At Media.Monks, we empower our employees to build, innovate and work together as one team where everyone can feel like they belong and have a voice. Our focus is on fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment by treating people the way they want to be treated, encouraging colleagues to raise their voices, and working together to complement our differences and learn from one another. This ultimately helps create space for employees to share their unique identities and affinities and celebrate both contrasting and common life experiences.



In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—and the fact that AAPI people are the fastest growing racial group in the United States—members of our AAPI community have come together to reflect on and celebrate their unique histories and heritage.

Nikki Azuma, Office Support Assistant

San Francisco, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 

1 year.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you? Why is it important?

AAPI Heritage Month is a chance for me to celebrate not only my heritage, but other people’s Asian heritage as well. For the longest time, being Asian wasn’t cool—and as I reflect about those early years, I realize that the lack of representation in American media was a huge factor in feelings of self-loathing. It wasn’t until anime really started making a mainstay that I started to appreciate and connect with my Japanese heritage. I think it’s really important to be proud of your heritage, to be able to share aspects of it with others in a safe environment, and to show respect to people who are from different cultures and upbringings. Often in discussing these things, we realize we have more similarities than differences!

What advice would you give to aspiring AAPI professionals?

My mom wanted me to graduate college, become a nurse and settle down with a nice Asian boy. Only one of those things happened. The choices I have made throughout my career have allowed me to discover what I really love and excel at: administrative work. Follow your heart, don’t feel like you’re trapped in a box of expectations, and have faith that the decisions you make will eventually work out. 

The theme for AAPI Heritage Month in 2023 is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” What does that mean for you?

It all starts with an opportunity, doesn’t it? I was given the opportunity to join this company, and now I feel like I’m thriving. My manager is amazing and gives me ample opportunities to make the office a better place than it was yesterday. Opportunities only take you so far though; it takes recognition and support from those who work both with and “above” you to be successful and make an impact. Every day, I am thankful that I was given this opportunity—but I also recognize that I was afforded some privileges that are not available to all people. The essentiality of recognizing privilege and using that to help uplift others allows me to feel more like “we advanced” versus “I advanced.”

How will you celebrate AAPI Heritage Month this year?

I will celebrate AAPI Heritage Month the same way I celebrate heritage every month: by developing a unique ethnic menu for our office’s lunch program, thereby supporting people of that heritage and promoting their brick-and-mortar restaurant (if applicable) by sharing information about it with our team. I often think about how I would like my heritage to be represented, and make sure to apply that same respect in representing another culture. So this month, we’ll be supporting all Asian-owned businesses!

Who inspires you from the AAPI community and why?

While not Asian American, I really love and respect Michelle Yeoh. I remember being in 6th grade, watching Wing Chun and realizing that being an Asian woman could mean kicking @$$. Watching her acceptance speech for winning an Oscar really deepened my love and respect for her, because she earned, deserved and most importantly OWNED that win.

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational historical moment. 

I’m also half Chinese with strong females on the maternal side. My great-grandmother was a living legend. She lived through two world wars, watched us go from rotary phones to cell phones, and immigrated here as a paper daughter. She lived to be 109 years old, traversing the steep inclines of Chinatown until she was 95 and being in complete control of her faculties until she was 102. Her history of survival, struggles, and finally successes reminds me every day that I am also strong and that I can also overcome challenges.

Jeffrey Leong, VP Biz Ops

San Francisco, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 

7 years.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you? Why is it important?

AAPI Heritage Month represents an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the diverse cultures, histories and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It's important to me to celebrate as many cultures as we can and show respect to all backgrounds.

What advice would you give to aspiring AAPI professionals?

Identify what goals you want to achieve and then create a roadmap to reach those goals. Separately, if it is important to you, embrace your cultural identity—your heritage is an integral part of who you are, and it can be a source of strength and inspiration in your professional journey. 

The theme for AAPI Heritage Month in 2023 is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” What does that mean for you?

It's important that we give opportunities at Media.Monks to folks of all different backgrounds. We seek to be a merit-based organization and this theme embodies that ethos.

How will you celebrate AAPI Heritage Month this year?

Food! My favorite way to celebrate my own culture and those of others is by experiencing cuisine with other people. 

Who inspires you from the AAPI community and why?

My parents and family for their work ethic, perseverance and unity. 

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational historical moment. 

My grandmother was the first Chinese-American Woman to own her own real estate brokerage in San Francisco. My family and I are very proud of that and of all the hard work and determination that went into that achievement.

Vivian Huang, Senior Strategist

San Francisco, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 

4 years.

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you? Why is it important?

AAPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to reflect on our roots and honor our heritage. It's a time for us to come together and share our experiences as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to celebrate our diverse histories and identities. It's an important time of the year because Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders contributed a lot throughout American history, but our accomplishments and contributions are often glossed over. As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, it's our job to be vocal and proud about who we are and what we bring to society. 

What advice would you give to aspiring AAPI professionals?

Do not be afraid to go into a field that is “untraditional.” Culturally, we are often told that a career such as being a doctor or an engineer is the only path forward. While those fields are certainly respectable, they’re not the only option. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders can be artists and entertainers and so much more—we have just as much right and talent as anyone else to exist in every industry. By breaking the mold, we can pave the way for future generations to explore things that they're passionate about and chase their dreams.

The theme for AAPI Heritage Month in 2023 is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” What does that mean for you?

“Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” means improving access to executives and influencers for AAPI professionals. It's about breaking structural barriers as well as the misconception that AAPI professionals are hard workers, but not good leaders. It's also about creating a safe space and a platform for AAPI professionals to be more vocal and visible. This starts with organizations understanding the diversity of the AAPI workforce and what barriers or challenges we face, addressing mental health needs or concerns, and truly analyzing whether leadership within an organization is systematically alienating AAPI professionals.

How will you celebrate AAPI Heritage Month this year?

I love podcasts and I've started to listen to a new one—AsianBossGirl (ABG)—which is a podcast by three Asian women about the modern day Asian-American female experience. In addition to that, I will definitely try to support more local Asian-owned businesses and look to connect with fellow AAPI professionals as much as possible.

Who inspires you from the AAPI community and why?

Bernice Chao and Jessalin Lam. They're the co-founders of Asians in Advertising, which is a community created for AAPI professionals to foster connections and opportunities, thereby helping Asians elevate to higher positions within the advertising industry. In an industry that's traditionally been a “boys only club,” it's really great to see two Asian women, who are both in positions of leadership within their respective organizations, help bring an underrepresented community together.

Sterling Stovall, Art Director

San Francisco, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 

3 years. 

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you? Why is it important?

I think AAPI Heritage Month is a special time when we can come together to celebrate everything the Asian community has done and how it continues to influence our culture today. It means a lot to me that we are continually seeing more and more Asian representation in our everyday lives, whether that’s in mainstream media or just in the workforce. It’s important because growing up, I didn’t really see as much representation happening, so it’s nice to see that progress is being made.

What advice would you give to aspiring AAPI professionals?

My advice would be to lean into your culture, take risks with what you can do, and be unabashedly yourself. The world and the workplace are a lot better when we have people bringing their unique personalities and perspectives to the table. Also, don’t base your status of success on where someone else is in their journey—we all walk our own timelines and that’s okay.

The theme for AAPI Heritage Month in 2023 is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” What does that mean for you?

To me, this theme means that we’re trying to do better by giving qualified and deserving candidates the opportunity to succeed and represent our country—because right now, it still seems that diversity is a problem in our government representation. I can only hope that as we move forward into the future, we not only have more Asian representation, but our government is an actual representation of what our country looks like.

How will you celebrate AAPI Heritage Month this year?

I will celebrate by spending time with my family, watching a bunch of Asian-influenced movies, and eating delicious Asian cuisine.

Who inspires you from the AAPI community and why?

Growing up, I was always inspired by Jackie Chan. My mom introduced me to him when I was very young and I just loved how he infused his martial art movies with comedy. The fact that he was tough and silly at the same time was something that I really looked up to. It’s amazing to see his dedication to the art and all the work he puts into his stunts, no matter how much it takes to get the perfect shot.

More recently, the cast and crew of Everything Everywhere All at Once inspired me, because they took an insane concept and executed it to perfection with barely any budget. I love all the recognition and awards it’s getting and how it has blasted to the forefront of the entertainment industry.

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational historical moment. 

My mom is an inspiration to me because she immigrated to the US from Vietnam when she was only 14. While she didn’t know the language, she was trying to spearhead a better life in the States. She worked hard to develop a life out here and raise her kids. She taught me the value of kindness and hard work and I’ll always love her for that. She makes me proud to be a Vietnamese American.

While we know February as Black History Month in the United States and Canada (the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Ireland have similar observations in October), its precursor was Negro History Week in the US, initiated on February 7, 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent Black Americans of the time. The second week of February was chosen because it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, both of which were already celebrated by Black communities across the country. Today, we devote the entire month to commemorate, celebrate and honor the African diaspora and Black history—our history. Read more about the origins of Black History Month at the ASALH.

Black History Month is a time to look back on a history that affects—and was affected by—all of us. A time to remember and honor the people who have gone before us, to recognize the progress that’s been made in the ongoing struggle for racial justice—and to educate ourselves on all that is left to do.

At Media.Monks we operate under people-centric values that empower our employees to build, innovate and work together as one team—where everyone belongs and everyone has a voice.  For us, treating people as they want to be treated, encouraging others to raise their voices and working together to complement our differences fosters an environment where everyone feels heard. To that end, we support our employees in creating community groups (CGs) that recognize and celebrate our unique identities and affinities and create space for employees to celebrate and share common life experiences. Our CGs have an unparalleled impact and make up the fabric of our company's culture. Melanin.Monks is one of our groups, providing a space for exploring and understanding the Black diaspora while offering support and mentorship to our Black workforce.

In recognition of Black History Month, members of our DE&I Team, in conjunction with Melanin.Monks, have come together to reflect on the continuing history of Black excellence.

Quiana Haynes, Associate Account Manager

Tampa, Florida

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 1 year and 8 days

What Black History Month means to me:

Black History Month means the absolute world to me. It is the month I was born in (2/2) and it's the month I celebrate and educate myself on our history. Graduating from one of the best HBCUs, Florida A&M University, I was able to surround myself with individuals who looked like me who wanted to succeed and continue to learn more about our history.

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title.

The significance of this title is that it captures everyone's definition and traditions of Black history and the legacy we continue to build.

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

It differs because it is factual and cultural.

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

In 5th grade when I sat in my classroom full of other kids who didn't look like me watch the Obama's Inauguration. This moment gave me hope that I, too, can achieve anything I put my mind to no matter what.

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

Jim Crow, because I would not be where I am today without them. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States. The post-World War II era saw an increase in civil rights activities in the African American community, with a focus on ensuring that Black citizens were able to vote. This ushered in the civil rights movement, resulting in the removal of Jim Crow laws.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

Food is my love language. Food has also created many monumental moments in Black history, from braiding rice into our hair for food during slavery to grounding corn to make grits. I will forever be grateful for Black food inventions and recipes that I could never live without.

A. Jay Johnson -  Senior Strategist

Brooklyn, New York

I’ve been with Media.Monks since: 

I joined Cashmere Agency in February 2022.

What Black History Month means to you?

I try to celebrate Black history and futures on a continuous basis. But Black History Month is a beautiful way to compel non-Black folks to think about all the brilliant things we have done for the world, particularly as social media and the education system frequently fail us. 

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title:

“Black History/Our History” is important because it shows the love, excitement and pride we have for our history. We have to claim it. 

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

Black history is not just a part of America's history, it is America's history. The country was built off the backs of my ancestors, by my ancestors, or stolen. 

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

The Black Panther Party has had a massive influence on me, personally and professionally. As a community organizer and activist, I’m always trying to promote and educate about the benefits of mutual aid and collective care movements. The Black Panther Party exemplifies both the strength of our community and how effective these programs can be. They laid the blueprint through projects like the Free Food Program, Free Breakfast Program, Health Clinic, Seniors Against a Fearful Environment (SAFE)—assisting elderly folks to their destination safely - and many others.

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

Connected to my last answer, I'd say that the most profound moment from Black History in the US is the creation of the Black Panther Party and its subsequent movement. Their incredible vision, resilience and resolve enabled their core mission to spread across every corner of the country—and all before the advent of the internet and social media.

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational Black history moment. 

When my grandfather retired from the US Army in 1970 and went to work for NASA for the next twenty years. This was inspirational as he was one of a select few Black men to work at NASA over that time. 

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

I strive to celebrate Blackness every day of the year, and Black History month will be no different. I will continue to take every opportunity to educate myself and others on our history, be intentional about how I represent myself and my community, and support those who are on their way to creating a brighter future

Johanna Lubin, Creative Producer

Los Angeles, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 

Almost 3 years

What Black History Month means to you?

It's an opportunity to reflect and celebrate past accomplishments along with a reminder we have a lot more to do! 

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title.

It brings us all together. No matter who you are, we can all shape Black history! 

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

When Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated to the Supreme Court last year! By being the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, she is showing every Black woman that with resilience, anything is possible! 

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

As an immigrant coming from France, Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” speech will always be one of the most profound moments that resonate with me—it was such a defining moment of the civil rights movement!

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

It's an all-year-long celebration for me by supporting Black-owned businesses; supporting incredible Black Women like Ketanji Brown Jackson, Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris, Bozoma Saint John, etc.; and making sure to work with as many Black and crew members of color as possible.

Aaron Parrish-Dean, Fellow

Atlanta, Georgia

I’ve been with Media.Monks since: 

April 2022

What Black History Month means to you?

The blueprint to world evolution: technological advancement, upgrade in consciousness, character development.

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title.

In order for us to not only reach our destination but decide exactly where we want to go, we must understand where we’ve come from and how that affects where we are now. Our history is the “why” to many questions—both answered and neglected. Ultimately, the significance is everything because there would be no explanation for our being—let alone anything to explain. Imagine how detrimental that would be to society (on a global scale).

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

Firstly, I believe that Black history directly impacts American history and not the other way around, which intimidates the American education system from adequately teaching its students not only the horrors of Black oppression and genocide, but the magnitude of Black contributions that went on to disrupt the world as they knew it, multiple times. Lastly, Black history doesn’t begin or end with America; it’s so much bigger than this country.

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

February 14, 1867. The founding of Augusta Institute (which would later be renamed to Morehouse College) is everything to me and my life, and I owe it such.

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

The Horse in Motion (1878). The first ever motion picture starred a Black man named G. Domm. The majority of people aren’t even aware of this fact. However, Jordan Peele popularized this moment in his film Nope (2022). I think this is the most profound moment in US Black history because it displays the blatant love/hate relationship America has with us since the invention of the motion picture. We’re thrown in front of cameras and adored, but despised in everyday life.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

I don’t. I celebrate Black history every day by trying to become the best version of myself, indulging in Black ideologies and educating myself on those who’ve left their mark before me. Intentionally deriving my inspiration from these people is how I plan to incorporate their efforts with each and every way I create an impact and leave my legacy. That’s how I celebrate Black history.

Angelica George, Social Strategist 

Atlanta, Georgia

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 

I’ve been at Media.Monks as a full-time employee since October of 2022. I initially started at Media.Monks as an intern in July and was later hired for a full-time role.  

What Black History Month means to you?

Black History Month means so much to me as an opportunity to learn and inform. This month's importance is beyond measurable to me. To know the sacrifice and dedication it took for this month to exist and the resilience of the community is incomparable. I always do my best to highlight individuals as well as be an active participant in helping others be open to learning. 

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title.

The significance of that title stands on the truth! The truth is that though the month may be labeled as Black history, it truly is the history that shapes every part of the world’s history and should be acknowledged as that. No one can get rid of Black history because it’s woven into every single piece of history. 

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

Black history is American history and beyond. I can’t say it differs other than it being glossed over in the school system. In any significant moment that’s considered “American history,” Black people and Black history are part of that moment as well. The Black history stories aren’t always told, but they show up in every moment of history. 

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

It’s so many moments that have shaped and influenced my entire being. I attended a historically Black university, Clark Atlanta University. Having the opportunity to attend an HBCU is an undeniable and unexplainable experience. Those years at that beautiful institution taught me so much beyond books and assignments. 

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

The most profound moment from Black history in the US is tough to choose. For me personally, I’ll say the election of President Barack Obama. This moment holds significance as a whole because it was something that was rooted in positivity, a glimmer of hope. It was at a time when I was old enough to truly understand race relations in this world, and it made the impossible feel real. 

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational Black history moment. 

My family is inspirational because of their resilience. My mother was born in the 50s and she lived through the civil rights movement. She has had experiences that most won’t understand. Despite being present in those times, she still persevered. My grandmother was a beautician and was able to own her own shop. My family's rich legacy is a testament to resilience. 

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

I honestly do my best to celebrate Black history every day. Whether it’s me personally learning new information about our history, sharing new information that others may not be privy to, but also enjoying the fact we deserve celebration. Black History Month gives us that designated time when essentially everyone has to pay attention, so I do my best to show up on social, attend events, and highlight contributions.

Devon Anderson, Senior Art Director

Dallas, Texas

I’ve been with Media.Monks since: 

I joined Cashmere Agency in August 2022.

What Black History Month means to you?

It's a celebration of everything that makes us great, not only celebrating the past but the amazing things happening in Black culture today and all the ways we're building towards the future. It's about honoring the Black artists, scholars, activists, world-changers and making sure their visions continue to move not only Black people forward, but the entire world.

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title:

The words "our history" make me think about the weight of everything we've had to endure and all of the incredible things we've built, even while carrying that burden. Black people are truly roses from concrete, succeeding and thriving in a world designed for us to fail.

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

It doesn't at all—you can't tell American history without the Black people who came here and physically built America as we know it today. Every chapter of American history was moved forward by Black people, from the slaves who came here by ship, to the academics and scholars that moved science and laws forward, to the tastemakers and culture creators that define our modern society today.

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

I was very new to the industry when the George Floyd protests of 2020 hit, and in a lot of ways it completely broke me. To feel the ever-present fear of knowing that could happen to me or any of my loved ones, to the wild range of responses from my non-Black coworkers and peers. It really made me sit back and evaluate what it means to be a professional and a human being, and put into perspective everything that we do in this industry. I think in a lot of ways, it directly led me to prioritize purpose and culture-driven work, and to never neglect the human being that is behind every professional.

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

When we think of profound moments from Black history, the most iconic moment is the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, but I think an even more profound moment was the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. It's not the most positive and rosy answer, but I think it says a lot more about where we've been and where we are as a country.

The world looks to him now as a shining beacon of hope, a symbol of the ideal "post-racial society,” and even so, despite every effort to be peaceful, despite doing everything "the right way,” he still was gunned down. It serves as a microcosm of the catch-22 that Black people in America face. No matter whether you're peaceful or violent, kneeling on the ground or with a fist in the air, the oppressed cannot grant themselves freedom if the world is not ready for them to be free.

We as Black people can march and sing and protest all we want, but it takes all of us, the entire country, to believe that Black people and all people of color deserve liberation. We must be truly united in the vision of a world in which every person can live equally, equitably and freely, and until we do, we still have a long way to go towards achieving the utopia that Dr. King dreamed about.

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational Black history moment. 

Just this past weekend, my great-grandmother celebrated her 90th birthday. Being able to hear her talk about the things she's seen and lived through in her time, and seeing every generation of family come together and celebrate our oldest living relative, was a wonderful thing to be a part of.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

Year-round!

Jovonna Palmer, HR Business Partner

Nashville, Tennessee

I’ve been with Media.Monks since: 

6 months

What Black History Month means to you?

Black History Month is an opportunity to highlight and honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout our history.

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title.

The significance is to honor the contributions and legacy of Black/African Americans across our history and society.

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

Black history is rich in the fact that contributions have been made in the arts, science, technology, etc. However, the difference is that this information is not shared as much as traditional American history is shared. Black history should be celebrated more than just one month out of the year.

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

The year Barack Obama was elected president shaped my life in a way that change and progress were made. We as a country are still a work in progress, but I remain hopeful. 

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

The most profound moment from Black history in the US is the year Barack Obama was elected president. This event shaped my thinking in that we were making strides in becoming a better country. Seeing and loving people for their work and character vs. the color of their skin was great progress.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

I celebrate Black History Month by attending and supporting various Black-owned businesses and the arts.

Kaaya Allotey, Senior Strategist

Los Angeles, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks since: 

I’ve been at Cashmere for over 2 years! Since December 2020.

What Black History Month means to you?

When I think of Black History I always go back to the Ghanaian principle of Sankofa, which means “go back to the past and bring forward that which is useful.” In essence, it speaks to the importance of learning from your roots, history and culture as a guide for steps building the future. This is especially important for us as Black Americans as so much of our history has been (and unfortunately continues to be) buried, erased, and misrepresented. 

The title of this piece is “Black History/Our History.” Describe the significance of that title.

The title Black History/Our History signals the power that we as Black Americans have during this month to take full ownership over our representation and reclaim our narrative. As previously mentioned, so much of our history has been (and continues to be) misrepresented, skewed, and erased by others. Black History/Our History our time to challenge these misrepresentations and remind others (and ourselves) of our influence and resilience.

How does Black history differ from traditional American history?

First thing first, Black history is American history. Let's make sure that’s super, super clear. Black Americans have literally built the economic infrastructure and culture of this country from the ground up so it is extremely frustrating that we have to constantly issue the reminder that our history is central to American history. In terms of the Black American experience, there’s no denying that we’ve had (and continue) to endure much more than our fair share of hate and systemic oppression here in the United States. Nevertheless, what is beautiful and Undeniably Dope™ about the Black American experience is that we still manage to be the blueprint for art, expression, style and culture even in the midst of it all. I love that about us.

What moment in Black history has influenced your career or life, or resonates with you?

I’ve been so inspired by the ascension of West African culture/appreciation into Black American culture that has happened over the last several years. As the daughter of a Black American Baltimorean and a Ghanaian-American immigrant, I struggled to find my place in between two very distinct cultures. It is the best thing ever to see those two worlds that I previously thought of as super separate, collide in ways that I would have never imagined. From the massive success of Afrochella (now known as Afro Future Fest) to Virgil Abloh bringing traditional Kente cloth to Louis Vuitton runways, it’s clear that the future of Black representation has ample diasporic synergy.

What do you think is the most profound moment from Black history in the US? Why did you choose this event?

The racial reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd is something that will forever mark a seismic shift in the zeitgeist that Black American experience is validated. Previous to this time in culture, race was such a sensitive, opt-in-as-you-choose type of discussion. So many different ideas, histories, controversies that blatantly had racial undertones were largely unacknowledged or just broadly referred to as racist–or at least questionably so. There was very little nuance in these conversations that were happening at an interracial level and/or on large-scale platforms. Now, it is so much more commonplace for topics like bias, privilege, anti-Blackness etc. to be a part of the conversation. We have a long way to go, but I can appreciate the progress.

Describe (if you have one) a moment in your family's story that can serve as an inspirational Black history moment. 

My grandfather, John Sidney Sheppard, was a walking piece of Black history that inspired me and hundreds of people in his 96 years of life. During the heart of segregation, not only did he attend high school (which was a feat in itself at the time) but went on to earn his bachelor’s from Bowie State University and his master’s from NYU. He was the most loyal alumnus I ever met of his high school and especially his undergraduate college, BSU, where he served as chairman of both the BSU Foundation and Board of Visitors, was a life member and two-time president of the BSU National Alumni Association, and was a member of the Sports Hall of Fame, along with several other in his lifetime. Ultimately, he was awarded the status of Historian Emeritus along with being recognized as the oldest, longest active alumni at BSU and had the honor of getting his high school gymnasium named after him for his decades of service. Amazingly, his community involvement hardly stopped with his schools as he was a president, chairman of the board, amongst many other capacities for the James Mosher Little League Association, and a founding member and former president of Zeus Inc., a Baltimore-based men’s social and civic club.  His love for his HBCU, along with his relentless commitment to community service, truly set the precedent for my education and commitment to community advancement in my work and social efforts.

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

As a cultural strategist, I use Black History Month as a platform to celebrate the legacy and lasting influence that Black Americans have made and continue to make in culture at large. Today more than ever we see that Black culture is popular culture, and Black history is a great time to celebrate and amplify that truth.

In addition to making digital spaces like the metaverse accessible to audiences far and wide, it’s crucial that brands offer consumers a wide variety of representational features to facilitate self-expression and secure a sense of belonging. Online you can be whoever you want—the beauty of the internet is that it has long enabled people to self-present on their own terms, but it is up to the creators behind the scenes to provide consumers with the tools to do so. 

Why are representation and self-expression in the metaverse important?

To younger generations, real-life and digital identities are equally important. The first generation that grew up with digital avatars has now come of age, and digital experiences are pivotal to shaping their identity, our virtualization report highlights. In fact, 60% of Gen Z and 62% of Gen Y “believe that how you present yourself online is more important than how you present yourself IRL.”   

Digital platforms are important spaces for identity construction, and virtual-first brands can satisfy an audience’s desire to build identity by providing accessible, personalized experiences that enable self-expression. Movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #SayHerName, which have a standing both online and offline, are driven by identity and fuel the growth of social groups connected by shared beliefs, interests or experiences. Virtual-first brands that actively engage with such new, hybrid identities are able to foster a sense of belonging for diverse audiences.  

Beyond the element of fun, the metaverse can serve as a tool for empathy. Brands play an important part in determining the metaverse’s impact on consumers. The Ancient Greek philosopher Plato once said, “you learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a lifetime of conversation.” While we’re well into the 21st century, this statement is as valid today as it was back then. 

“The metaverse gives us a shared sense of space that you don't get through 2D experiences,” says Catherine D. Henry, SVP Growth, Metaverse & Innovation Strategy. “This medium enables intellectual and emotional connections that transcend our physical bodies, allowing us to experience (once again) the purity of relationships formed as children—when people connect over interests and shared play, rather than commonalities and socially imposed signifiers. This is truly liberating, and the reason why fantastical avatars and gender fluidity in the metaverse are so important.”

Through play, people can engage with others in a fun and meaningful way and learn to get along with their peers, as seeing others from a different point of view allows people to practice empathy, our Social Innovation Lab argues. Research shows that the embodied experience of inhabiting an avatar that is physically different from oneself can lead to behavioral changes that align with that avatar and influence someone’s self-perception, suggesting one can start to see overlap between the avatar and the self. “This is important because empathy and tolerance can be fostered in virtual environments, and help bridge the social divide created by Web2,” says Henry. “The missed opportunity for brands is not so much to have games, but now it’s more about amplifying authentic, often underrepresented voices and creating space for people to learn.” So, rather than an escape from real-world problems, virtual-first brands view digital as a tool to help solve them.

Besides all the perks, digital spaces also come with problems—that’s no secret. One thing to watch out for is (unconscious) biases of creators that limit representation and self-expression, such as customization options based on stereotypes and cultural appropriation, or exclusion of customization features that people want to use, like Black hairstyles. Even more worrisome is the issue that user behavior can go against expectations. Think of how some social media platforms are used as a tool to manipulate through fake news, or how online groups are weaponized to harbor hate groups—when they could serve as a refuge for those looking for belonging. However, the metaverse is a new digital chapter and thus presents new opportunities to do better. 

So, how do we achieve representation and self-expression in the metaverse? 

Diversify avatar use and customization. Given that in the US 48% of Gen Z consider themselves non-white and one-third of Gen Z identify outside the gender binary, providing a wide variety of representational features to facilitate self-expression and belonging is essential. This means offering a range of skin tones, choice of prosthetics, hairstyles, body shapes, voices, and so on. Another important step brands can take is to keep default avatars free or cheap, and only charge (more) money for additional differentiators, like a cool jacket. That said, features for self-presentation can go beyond physical characteristics to represent a more emotive sense of self-identity as well. Adidas, for instance, partnered with Ready Player Me to create unique avatars that are based on a person’s personality rather than their physical likeness, ensuring an authentic reflection of who they are. Above all, don’t force people to show up as themselves, but allow them to choose whatever they want their avatar to (re)present in the metaverse. 

As a brand, give user-makers the tools and get out of the way. It’s crucial not to constrain user-makers, since they’re the ones forging the future of how we use the metaverse—keeping in mind that we encourage brands to be transparent about how they monitor their users’ contributions to ensure the metaverse remains a safe space for everyone. That aside, brands can invest in education and work with influencers to market the tools they offer to DIY. Duolingo is a great example of a brand that has built assets for its users to create their own games, but then got out of the way. This circles back to the point of accessibility; we need to make sure as many creators from different walks of life as possible are included in the building process to counter biases.

Allow ways to gather and group for belonging. Digital environments offer a safe space for exploring identities—and to ensure safety, brands need to establish ethics and guidelines from the get-go. Online you can be whoever you want, so people tend to feel more confident to speak up. Fortunately, many people are able to bring something from that experience back to their real lives. For instance, people from the LBGTQ+ community were able to form community support systems within social VR—and for some, this offered the only form of support as they weren’t able to access any offline. This combination of a supportive community and the embodied avatar experience empowers many in the real world and helps them understand their identities better.  

In all, the whole engine behind the metaverse world must be diversified. From executives and employees who work at the companies making the metaverse, to decision-makers at brands creating experiences in the metaverse, owners of digital environments, and influencers and user-makers—the metaverse is for everyone, so everyone should be able to contribute a building block. The issue is, many people don’t know how.

In the same vein, looking at the expected influence and impact of the metaverse, brands can integrate metaverse strategies into their ESG commitments—the possibilities to diversify are endless. 

How does this all come back to the real world?

Digital behavior inspires real-world change, that’s a fact. Conversations that take place in the metaverse expand out into other spaces, such as meet-ups, talk shows and other real-life events. In a digital environment like the metaverse, we’re able to meet people from around the world that we would’ve otherwise never met and actually get to know them on a deeper level. Some may just see avatars, but we see people who are willing to be their authentic selves in connecting with others. 

“People are more willing to be open, vulnerable and their real selves when, ironically, they're not actually in person and when they’re behind an avatar, so people have more ‘real’ experiences connecting with somebody that in real life they wouldn’t have ended up talking to,” says Susan Parker, Executive Creative Director. “And then they might take it outside the metaverse.”

“2021 has been about getting up to speed, as an organization and an industry. Unified with our clients by a shared goal to reduce climate change, it has been a fertile soil for more transparency, collaboration and innovation. We’re not nearly there, but we are all on the same journey to get there and become climate negative,” says Regina Romeijn, EVP Business Strategy & ESG. 

The sustainability journey doesn’t end here. We strive to be industry leaders, both producing the best in class experiences and delivering them in the most environmentally and socially responsible way we can. Every day is a new day to be the catalyst for change and inspire others within our industry and beyond to be and do good, keeping in mind our overarching goal to build a sustainable and inclusive company. At both the heart and start of this mission is our commitment to transparency—it’s key to good governance, and good governance in turn is key to becoming a successful industry leader. 

Getting on with Good Governance 

Governance matters, it’s as simple as that. Corporate governance not only relates to how companies are managed, but also to how management is supervised. At Media.Monks, we hold proper corporate governance in very high regard as we consider it to be a leading factor in the successful execution of our business strategy. For this reason, we have moved from conducting Corporate Social Responsibility reporting last year to Environmental, Social and Governance reporting this year. This “governance” piece is crucial, because it means that we go beyond recognizing our social and environmental responsibilities as a global company, and focus on our duty to hold ourselves accountable and be completely transparent—about our wins as well as our losses. 

The Green Future, a Joint Effort 

Next to good governance, we need good guidance in realizing our goal to build a sustainable and inclusive company. So, we have established three pillars to boost our sustainability efforts, which make up the foundation of our ESG strategy. First, “Zero Impact Workspaces” concentrates on creating a climate-neutral and environmentally-conscious household, while making tangible efforts in our daily operations. Second, “Sustainable Work” serves as a catalyst for change, leveraging our expertise to innovate with technology and creativity for good, thereby impacting our supply chain. Third, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” highlights our goal to establish a workplace that fosters an inclusive culture that values people with different backgrounds, genders, sexual preferences, caregiving status and health. All in all, we focus on taking care of ourselves and each other, with a growing emphasis on the support that we offer to clients—because positive impact doesn’t have to stay within the confines of our company.  

Moreover, we strive to support the UN’s Sustainable Development agenda with our sustainability strategy and efforts. In the report, we elaborate on the SDG targets for each pillar and explain how we plan to contribute to those targets. To give you a sneak peek, in response to the World Economic Forum 2020 Davos Manifesto, S4Capital Executive Chairman Sir Martin Sorrell announced our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2024. In 2021, we took the next step and became the first company in our industry to sign the Climate Pledge, a cross-sector community of companies and organizations working together to crack the climate crisis with a mission of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

Three years ahead of schedule, we reached carbon neutrality through the growth of our S4 Forest, where more than 265,000 trees have been planted (and counting), capturing 10,617.95 tonnes of CO2 emissions. While we achieved this status by offsetting our emissions, we still need to reduce our emissions to the maximum to reach Net Zero. As digital companies are big consumers of energy, especially electricity, we are highly aware of this challenge. The biggest obstacle that we will need to overcome is business travel. We aim to keep our digital presence where we can instead of flying in, but realistically we expect the number of business flights to increase again as the world reopens post-COVID. Nevertheless, ain’t no mountain high enough to keep us from getting to that goal.  

The Only Way Is Making Headway 

“Looking ahead to our ambitions for the coming years, it’s essential to the health of our company and our aim of being the best place to work, that we stay focused on our priorities—the well-being of the planet and people. Our commitment to care is not something only captured in process documents and playbooks. We will continue to deliver on the ESG initiatives we launched in 2021, deepening our relationships with the charities that we support and acting on our vision to use creativity and storytelling as a force for good,” says Knaap. 

On top of that, the coming years will revolve around leveraging our capabilities and experiences to help our clients with their sustainability efforts, making good on the promise to maximize our impact on not only the world, but also our sector. In the meantime, we’ll keep reporting on our ESG accomplishments and challenges—because transparency is the first and foremost step in becoming an industry leader. 

For more detailed information and insights, read the full report.

Web 2.0, the most recent iteration of the internet characterized by the rise of social media and user-generated content, did much to reframe the social consciousness around race, gender, sexuality, disability and more. While social platforms elevated a diverse range of voices, the leadership behind them are often white and male, betraying the notion that digital is the welcome space for everyone that it should be.

As we begin to envision and engage with the metaverse, we have the responsibility to help build a digital environment that is truly inclusive and accessible, that gives everyone (regardless of ability, economic situation, or any other factor) the chance to create and participate. Because the more people who can, the better the metaverse will be for everyone.

We All Have a Responsibility to Make the Metaverse Accessible

There’s the phrase “Nothing for us without us.” What it means is that the design of policies should not be decided without the representation and participation of those who are affected. To this respect, the gaming industry has made considerable inroads with the disability community: the much-celebrated accessibility features of racing game Forza Horizon 5, which released late last year, were created in partnership with direct input from the community. These features tend to trickle down into other games and immersive experiences like those found in the metaverse. Still, brands and businesses that lead in the creation of the space—builders of hardware, platforms and digital experiences—can do much more to enable true access and participation.

Broadly speaking, accessibility in the metaverse means providing an equitable playing field so everyone can contribute to the key economic driver it is: the metaverse economy is expected to be worth $13 trillion by 2030. Yet only 63% of the world’s population are connected to the internet at all. Lack of connectivity isn’t reserved for developing countries. Nearly a third of New York City households lack broadband internet, a base requirement for the immersive experiences that characterize the metaverse. Having access to broadband internet is essential for any creator hoping to build, sell or trade assets in these new worlds, or to develop the fundamental skills needed to thrive in the metaverse.

Many countries are addressing these concerns by declaring digital access a human right, including Estonia, which has established a national digital literacy system. But we shouldn’t wait for governments to catch up to the pace of technology; businesses can play an important role in upskilling and providing access. This could include supporting coding camps or donating hardware to schools, helping the next generation prepare and keep competitive for the virtualized economy.

The Importance of Representation and Self-Expression

Building is a fundamental activity in the metaverse, in which audiences participate in shaping experiences by leveraging the tools provided by developers. This makes representation important in metaverse experiences and storytelling, enabling audiences to construct identities that feel authentic to them—whether that means a 1:1 representation of the physical self, a complete departure from reality, or somewhere in-between.

Just as accessibility options have opened gaming to large audiences, a wide variety of representational options can enable belonging in the metaverse. While there’s still room to improve, games like The Sims serve as an excellent example for how to represent diversity to construct avatars and identities, like expansive gender options and eliminating the exclusivity of options between male or female characters. Likewise, those building and designing metaverse experiences can include inclusive options like Black hairstyles, prosthetics, assistive/mobility devices and more to ensure everyone in the metaverse can be themselves.

Still, real-world biases are likely to spill into the metaverse—meaning people may not always feel comfortable representing themselves in ways that reflect their physical appearance. Hardware limitations may also affect the faithfulness in representing a wide variety of bodies; for example, VR headsets on the market today were originally developed with certain color gradients as a lesser priority, evoking similar issues in photography from the days of film to now. Though by enabling diversity in both the creation and participation in these spaces, developers of metaverse platforms and experiences can cultivate a digital culture of respect where we hope to see a shift away from these concerns.

Platforms Must Anticipate Safety Concerns

Access and representation are crucial so that people of all walks of life can visibly participate in the metaverse, either as industry professionals building the technology or audiences participating in communities and experiences. But these efforts fall flat if it’s not a safe space for everyone, meaning an inclusive and equitable metaverse must account for user safety.

As we’ve seen over the last two decades online, anonymity can lead to destructive behavior—and there’s no reason to believe those behaviors will simply go away in a more embodied digital space. Moderating in digital has historically been difficult to scale, though the developers of games and tech platforms can mitigate unsafe experiences by implementing features that help people take greater control over how others can interact with them. The Safe Zone feature in Meta’s Horizon Worlds, for example, allows people to distance themselves from others by setting personal boundaries. Metaverse platforms can continue to evolve and adapt these features as needed.

No single company or culture can build an equitable and inclusive metaverse. That’s why those in our industry—including the brands, partners and tech platforms we work with—must unite with the communities we serve to develop open, secure and trusted virtual environments. Together, we have an opportunity to do better and build a new era in digital that’s inclusive from the start. Let’s get working.

Insights for this piece were contributed by Catherine D. Henry, SVP Growth, Metaverse & Innovation Strategy; Lewis Smithingham, Director of Creative Solutions; James Nicholas Kinney, Chief of Diversity and Talent Discovery; Iulia Brehuescu, Digital Accessibility Manager; Sam Haskin, Inclusive Marketing Practice Lead; Rona Mercado, Chief Marketing Officer, Cashmere Agency; and Vanessa Zucker, Director of Marketing and Communications.

While businesses around the world are making progress on appointing more women to leadership positions, it’s high time we ramp up the pace. So, I was delighted to participate in S4Capital’s Women Leadership Program, a six-month virtual course designed in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s School of Business and led by the acclaimed Dr. Homa Bahrami. Open to female leaders within Media.Monks to help them reach the next level of leadership, the program touches on a range of topics such as Inclusive Leadership, Strategic Thinking and Innovation. Through this experience, I’ve had the opportunity to pick the brains of esteemed business scholars and fellow female leaders in defining what modern leadership looks like. In my view, we live in an ever-evolving, hyperconnected world today where talent, clients and consumers alike no longer wish, but demand to see the diversity of the global population reflected in their leaders. So, which new colours should we add to repaint the leadership picture? 

Strengthening Female Leaders to Drive Gender Equity 

In line with our mission to change who does the work, realizing gender equity is a top priority. However, while only hiring more women is not going to cut it, appointing them to senior leadership positions can. In light of this, S4Capital’s Women Leadership Program focused on how we can change the company and spur innovation. “It was amazing to see the diversity in perspectives when women in different roles come together and discuss the challenges we all face in everyday life,” says Helena Curado, VP of Business Consulting in Latin America. Moreover, the program seeks to build bridges between women in different capabilities and strata of the organization to foster a tight-knit internal network. For many, this has left a very positive mark on both their professional and personal development. 

“Through the program, the insights garnered from our global force of female leaders allowed me to see things differently, impacting my goals in ways that were previously not obvious to me,” says Erika Lang, SVP Group Account Director in New York. “The energy harnessed through our collective gathering has powered me up.” As positive leadership sparks positive change, equipping female leaders with a supportive, inspiring network can go a long way in realizing gender equity - and determining who will succeed them in senior leadership positions.  

Leading The Way With Diversity and Inclusion 

The global pandemic has drastically changed business as usual, forcing companies to completely rethink their organization. The transition to working from home has shown that people can retain their levels of productivity, wherever they are. With geo-distributed teams becoming the new norm, leaders will be challenged by time zones, cultural differences, and difficulties with nurturing relationships through virtual communication. While this certainly presents new challenges around culture-building, quality control, and effective communication, it also creates opportunities for leaders to put more effort into building trust, encouraging collaboration and fostering a safe professional environment. 

Hybrid work offers possibilities to be more inclusive of teams that need less stimuli to focus, revealing the need for new leaders who are willing to accommodate the neurodiversity of their teams and foster an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Moreover, strengthening DE&I has evolved into a top priority for companies, clients and consumers, as leaders recognize that establishing a diverse workforce is essential for your success, especially in terms of the talent and clients you attract.

Design That Delivers Scale

With our world always in flux, it’s important to keep pace. To be an effective leader in a changing world means continuously designing yourself out of your current position and handing over the reins to emerging leaders when a new challenge comes knocking. Especially in hyper-growth environments such as the digital media industry, scale is the buzzword that never goes out of style.

As we scale, we need to nurture a culture that enables growth and employ a “coaching” leadership style in building our new generation of leaders. Studies show that women are skilled at strengthening team processes, collaboration and performance because of their ability to listen to different voices and guide by coaching, thereby capitalizing on the team’s combined skills and knowledge while uncovering where and what expertise is needed to scale the business. 

If Not a Victory, Then Always an Important Lesson

Sharing the Women Leadership Program experience with fellow female leaders has re-emphasized to me that it’s no sin to fail, so long as we celebrate our successes and always heed the lessons of failure. Our role as leaders is to provide feedback, training and mentorship to the next generation of leaders. It’s important that we let our teams experiment, and if they fail, try again. On top of that, our job is to encourage initiative, inspire learning moments, and stimulate a broader understanding of the problems, consequences and significance of failures. Above all, I trust our budding leaders will remember the lessons they learn throughout their journey.

Effective leadership is always going to be dynamic. There’s not just one style that works for every leader, team or even situation. In other words, leaders need to be adaptable. “Across sectors and industries, leadership can only be future-proofed by leaders' ability to evolve, adapt and embrace the unknown,” says Malin Hanås, Creative Director in London. “It's truly a necessity to never stand still,” Curado adds. 

At Media.Monks, we’ve developed a brand that is flexible and built with the intent to empower our people to make it their own. Though we as leaders all share the desire to fuel our team’s self-confidence, effectiveness and productivity, our daily fire drills are different. Still, there’s one thing we have in common: we’re not just here to change the work and what it can do, but especially who does the work. Let’s repaint the leadership portrait to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive picture—all together.

On Feb. 7, 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent Black Americans initiated Negro History Week to recognize the contribution and central role of countless Black men and women in U.S. history. Today, the United States and Canada observe February (in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Ireland, October) as Black History Month: a time to commemorate, celebrate and honor the African diaspora and African American history. Our history.

Black History Month is a time to look back on a history that affects—and was affected by—all of us. A time to remember and honor the people who have gone before us, to recognize the progress that’s been made in the ongoing struggle for racial justice—and to educate ourselves on all that is left to do.

At Media.Monks we operate under people-centric values that empower our employees to build, innovate and work together as one team—where everyone belongs and everyone has a voice.  For us, treating people as they want to be treated, encouraging others to raise their voices and working together to complement our differences fosters an environment where everyone feels that they belong. To that end, we support our employees in creating employee resource groups (ERGs) that recognize and celebrate our unique identities and affinities and create space for employees to celebrate and share common life experiences. Our ERGs have an unparalleled impact and make up the fabric of our company's culture. S4 Melanin is one such group, providing a space for exploring and understanding the Black diaspora while offering support and mentorship to our Black workforce.

In recognition of Black History Month, members of our DEI Team, in conjunction with S4 Melanin, have come together to reflect on the continuing history of Black excellence.

Naana Orleans-Amissah

London, United Kingdom

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 1 year and 8 days

My role: I head up Brand and Creative Strategy in London. My ambition is to fuel great award-winning work by using strategies that provide brands with distinct ideas rooted in culture.

What Black History Month means to me:

BHM is a time to visibly and unapologetically celebrate being here together with other Black people across all countries and cultures; remembering that we are often our forebears' wildest dreams and remembering to thrive in pride.

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me the most: 

Zora Neale Hurston’s collecting the oral histories and the musicality and depth of the speech of African American people—specifically her posthumously published Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”—which ties the Black Atlantic (continent in relief) together.

I am inspired by:

Yaa Asantewaa. And also James Baldwin.

Renee S. Ingram 

Portland, Oregon

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 1 year and 7 months

My role: Account Coordinator

What Black History Month means to me:

What Black History Month means to me is a continued celebration and acknowledgment of Black people's excellence in spite of circumstance. 

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me the most:

The election of Former President Barack Obama. Shortly after his inauguration, I was inspired to run for student government and became class president.

I am inspired by:

Malcolm X.

Tamika Johnson

Los Angeles, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 1 year and 2 months

My role: I am the Senior Human Resources Business Partner for MediaMonks LA and Co-Leader of S4 Melanin ERG group. As Senior HR Business Partner, I consult with the business’s staff, leadership, and management in order to foster and promote the engagement of our core values at all levels. I also assist management and leadership in resolving employee relation issues, conducting effective investigations, and recommending action for sensitive and complex situations. I coach departmental heads and management in performance management processes, compensation and remuneration programs, recruitment practices, and management decision-making. Another aspect of my role is being involved in DE&I at Media.Monks, as co-leader of S4 Melanin. Our goal is to bring Diversity and Cultural Awareness to the organization.

What Black History Month means to me:

It's not just a month. Every day I celebrate Black history, from traditions at home in the kitchen to having a voice at work with my colleagues. Black history means legacy.

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me the most:

Seeing Barack Obama serve two terms in the White House, then Michelle Obama take a prominent role in continuing the legacy and progress of Black people.

I am inspired by:

Maya Angelou. "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."

Jordan McNairy

New York City, New York

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 1 year 4 months 

My role: I am a Content Marketing Manager helping with all things Social Innovation Lab/Social.Monks content—including white papers, social digest/bites, and the SIL podcast (you should give it a listen ).

What Black History Month means to me:

BHM is a time to reflect on our Black history as Americans because, remember, Black history is American history. It’s an important time to be more intentional about learning about past accomplishments and the ones that sacrificed everything in order to pave the way. Also, over the last few years I have used BHM as a time to become more conscious of where I am spending my money throughout the year. Black businesses are everywhere, are amazing, and deserve support year-round. 

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me the most:

The Great Black Migration is a moment in Black history that sticks out. During this time, six million Black citizens left the rural south for coastal areas and the midwest. This included my grandparents who packed up everything they had and moved with four children to Washington state. This meant leaving everything they knew socially and economically behind in search of a better life with more opportunity. Being that they were in their mid-20s, I can’t imagine the courage that must have taken. 

I am inspired by:

SO MANY! But in terms of personal inspiration, Mumia Abu Jamal. His influence in radio journalism has fueled my interest in podcasting, writing and social activism. If you’re unfamiliar, I recommend watching Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary, his life story leaves me absolutely speechless.

Jonathan Colquitt

Pasadena, California

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 1 year and 4 months

My role: I work as a producer at Media.Monks and have helped manage digital assets for a highly trafficked platform for the past year. I have recently taken on new work in project management for a large client initiative.

What Black History Month means to me:

Black History Month means celebrating the successes of our community and ancestors. It is a time when we are reminded of our greatness but also of all the efforts of Black leaders that allow us to continue to build today.

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me:

A moment in Black history that influenced my career/life was George Floyd's murder and the events that took place after it. It was a time when I was reminded how short life is and the importance of enjoying life and setting boundaries. It also reminded me of all the work that still needs to be done in educating people that Black individuals are human, relatable and capable—just as any other ethnicity. 

I am inspired by:

I would say that any and all Black individuals in positions of power past and present continue to be my inspiration. I hope to continue to add to their successes and someday inspire others to continue to strive for excellence as a community.

Aaron Pitre

Seattle, Washington

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 10 months

My role: I am a Senior Copywriter on our PayPal team. My squad specializes in consumer marketing.

What Black History Month means to me:

As a Black American, Black History Month means celebrating a beautiful people with a rich history, heritage and culture; recognition of the invaluable contributions that Black people have made to America for over 400 years and remembrance of our journey to the present moment. 

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me:

When I first learned about the Underground Railroad, it had a profound effect on me. I was filled with a sense of wonder and pride in learning about this highly complex network created to liberate the enslaved from bondage. I loved learning about the coded messaging hidden the lyrics of Negro spirituals and the patterns sewn into quilts, the safe houses that were stops along the way to free states, and central figures such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Lewis Hayden who put their lives on the line in the name of freedom. 

I am inspired by:

I am inspired every day by the life and works of James Baldwin. Among many things, he had a crystal-clear understanding of power, race and sexuality, and a fierce devotion to the truth. To this day, he remains a reference—and a guiding light—for many of us.

Mamou Kilambi-Mbakwe

San Francisco Bay Area

I’ve been with Media.Monks for: 5 years

My role: I am the Global Senior Social Media and Community Manager. I represent Media.Monks externally and help celebrate and amplify all things Media.Monks. That includes sharing company updates, company culture, award wins, project launches, employee wins and appreciations.

What Black History Month means to me:

My mom always said you have to know where you come from to get to where you're going. Black History Month is that: knowing and understanding histories past to be able to pay homage to those who came before us, learn lessons from their stories, and have inspiration for the future. BHM is education for everyone, and not just folks who identify as Black. 

A moment in Black history that has influenced or shaped me the most:

Barack Obama became the president of the United States. I was in high school—it was my senior year—and I will always remember that moment. My parents even let me stay home from school to watch his inauguration. It showed me that even in places where we may feel like we don't belong, we can still have a place. Hard work and determination can open doors that you once thought would remain closed forever. 

I am inspired by:

Issa Rae for highlighting the multitude of Black experiences on her show Insecure. We aren't just one thing, and she captured that effortlessly.

Before you even get into creative, the most important place to infuse DE&I thinking is in your research. “Inclusive marketing research is about being truly human-centered in your approach,” says Media.Monks Strategy Director, Naomi Heckroth. “The key is in designing research to address real challenges so that brands can connect with their customers on a more meaningful level.” More inclusive and equitable research approaches and techniques will help you show up with eyes wide open for a more accurate and diverse view of who to reach and how to better connect. The result will be better strategies, better campaign performance and deeper, more empathetic connections with your target audiences.

Cultivating a DE&I mindset for marketing research, whether managed by internal teams or external partners, can be the difference between creating meaningful and sticky messaging or completely missing the mark. That’s why we put together an Inclusive Marketing Research Tipsheet chock full of tips for conducting radically inclusive marketing research. Here’s a quick rundown of just some of them from our resident experts.

Start at the Beginning

In creative work, your job is to reach and attract people to your brand, product, or experience.  Ideally, they represent various groups who respond to messaging based on their diverse backgrounds, upbringings, and world views. And marketing research is the starting point for better understanding and engaging with those ideal audiences. But if that research is flawed—let’s say you’ve inadvertently missed an entirely underrepresented group, or asked questions that have an unintended cultural tilt—the results will color everything you do. “Flawed research leads to flawed insights which, in turn, means missing the mark when you’re trying to connect with audiences,” says Sam Haskin, Media.Monks Inclusive Marketing Lead. “So starting with an awareness of DE&I in your research—who you’re asking, what you're asking them, and how you’re asking—is a very important step in creating authentic messaging.”

Marketing research that’s designed for diversity brings the right perspectives into the room and ensures that all voices are heard. And effective research teams challenge every assumption to get to a better outcome. Here are a few tips for starting your research off on the right foot:

• Know your team’s biases. Even the best-intentioned individuals and teams cannot completely know and understand all audiences. And, as humans, most of us have unconscious biases. Assembling a diverse team can help but will not completely counter bias—the key is to be aware and honest about gaps in understanding to try and sidestep inadvertent exclusions.
• Build a representative sample. This includes counteracting weaknesses in general population statistics by oversampling commonly undercounted groups that are relevant, and paying attention to how weighting may provide more inclusive insights.
• Examine secondary research resources closely. The more diverse your secondary sources are (who funded the research or who authored a report can provide hints) the more inclusive and complete your insights will be.

Choose Inclusive Partners

Conducting marketing research can be a lengthy and time consuming undertaking. If you’re considering collaborating with an external partner, evaluating a potential partner’s commitment to DE&I from the outset will help set you up for success. “Neutral” does not equal diversity.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Include diverse vendors in your RFP process.
• Look for partners who are committed to DE&I in their own organizations.
• Select the partner with an intentional approach to representing all consumer voices.

Hold Yourself Accountable

You don’t have to wait for a new research project to start integrating more inclusive and equitable approaches. To help set a baseline for measuring your progress and hold yourself accountable to real change so you can continue to build your practices with inclusivity at the forefront, conduct audits of existing research methods such as customer segmentations and personas, customer needs studies, brand positioning research and campaign effectiveness tracking. 

“Although the primary goal of an audit is to discover where you currently stand, keep in mind the longer-term goals that you plan to accomplish once you have implemented your DE&I marketing efforts,” says Executive Creative Director Susan Parker. “Goals will help you keep your eye on the ball as you evaluate and formulate recommendations.” Here are a few questions to help guide audits and ensure your marketing research efforts are focused on inclusivity:

• Participant demographics. For target audience studies, what was the rationale for screening only that set population? What relevant perspectives may have been missed as a result?
• Primary research. Are surveys provided in multiple languages? How are quantitative studies weighted?
• Secondary research. What are the biases, perspectives and lived experiences of the authors or financial backers of these sources?
• Question framing. Does the way you ask questions reinforce stereotypes or cultural biases?

Including diverse perspectives and voices in your marketing research increases your potential to produce work that better represents—and resonates with—the world around you. It balances listening, empathy, and data. The effort you put in at the beginning, and throughout the journey, will pay dividends for your business and society in the long run.

Want to dig deeper? For more detailed information on conducting radically inclusive marketing research as well as a wealth of pro tips, insights and helpful resources check out our tipsheet.