Madison Avenue Initiative

It's important that general market agencies hire senior level employees of color throughout all departments in their agency. But the inclusion of a more diverse group of people does not guarantee the development of relevant messaging and communications. No, that alone is not the answer. The key is to make sure that those who are responsible for developing the overarching strategies for the brand, and the corresponding positioning statements and creative briefs as well, have the requisite background, knowledge and skill set to understand the influence of all cultures and the subtleties and nuances of race in that strategic process. That's more important than anything else.