VMLY&R Unveils Inclusion Experience Advisory Council

The cross-industry leaders aim to create change through cultural awareness and racial equity within companies

VMLY&R has announced last Monday the launch of the Inclusion Experience (IX) Advisory Council, a strategic group that works on the critical need to redefine standards and raise the bar for inclusive teams, representative marketing, and more. 

Comprised of diverse leaders across a variety of industries from some of the nation’s largest and most well-known organizations, the council’s goals are to further evolve the narratives and practices around multicultural marketing, inclusive design, and experience strategy. Inclusion Experience Advisory Council members will review case studies and strategic research, explore and evolve best practice across their organizations, and exchange ideas and key learnings.

 

The board is chaired by Myron King, chief integration officer at VMLY&R. 

Members Include: 

• Bernard Bronner, chairman and president, Upscale Media Group/Bronner Bros 
• Bob McNeil, CEO, Grow Now 
• Connie Kinnard, SVP, multicultural tourism and development, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau  
• David-Anthony Powell, senior vice president, member engagement and development, Central Region, The 4A’s 
• DeLu Jackson, chief marketing officer, ADT 
• Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst, Forrester 
• Janet Kahr, principle / owner, Lavender Hill Consulting 
• Kelli Williams, CEO, The BrandLab 
• LaMark Johnson, customer experience manager (international markets), Ford Motor Company 
• Nicholas Segura, founder, Segura Marketing 
• Oyin Enoch, US marketing director, Hill’s Pet Nutrition/Colgate-Palmolive 
• Philip McKenzie, cultural anthropologist, strategist and host, The Deep Dive 
• Remi Kent, chief marketing officer, Progressive Insurance 
• Rod Johnson, co-founder, BLK & Bold 
• Tahlisha Williams, executive vice president, talent, equity and learning solutions, The 4A’s 
• Valerie Barker Waller, SVP, chief marketing and communications officer, YMCA of the USA 

 

The VMLY&R Inclusion Experience launched in 2021 as a strategic consultancy partner working with leading brands to bring about sustainable cultural change within organizations. With a focus on proactive collaboration with client partners, the practice saw tremendous growth within the first two years, generating significant value for brands and active client engagement. Working with clients across more than 15 industries, the Inclusion Experience practice has led more than 20 projects of significance focusing on everything from inclusive recruitment strategies to culturally grounded marketing practices. The practice has achieved significant growth via partnerships with several of the agency’s largest clients. Additionally, it is gaining significant momentum in the healthcare space, securing new inclusive marketing and health equity opportunities with global leading healthcare brands. 

“At ADT, we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe,” said DeLu Jackson, chief marketing officer, ADT, and member of VMLY&R’s inclusion advisory council. “Our work with the IX team at VMLY&R has helped us understand the impacts of inclusion in every aspect of our marketing and experience design process. I look forward to the additional impact we’ll have as a member of this advisory council.”   

Forrester released The Forrester Wave™: Customer Experience Strategy Consulting Practices, Q4 2022, which states, “VMLY&R has a well-rounded approach to culture change, including leadership coaching, learning programs, and inclusion experience programs that assess and address cultural barriers to inclusion… VMLY&R is a good fit for organizations that need a cultural transformation, particularly if the potential client’s culture needs to improve its inclusiveness.” 

“Inclusion isn’t just a goal – it’s a strategic driver of business growth,” said Jon Cook, global CEO, VMLY&R. “VMLY&R’s Inclusion Experience practice has been a critical business value for our client partners. As our dedication and focus continues to grow, we’re thrilled to bolster the practice by introducing a new advisory council.”

“We cannot wait to continue to redefine inclusive standards and set new benchmarks for inclusive teams and the authenticity of representative marketing, added King, chief integration officer at VMLY&R. 

The Inclusion Experience Advisory Council launched officially on September 18th.