Verizon created adfellows, a unique fellowship program to improve diversity and inclusion in the marketing and advertising industries. adfellows was founded on the knowledge that marketing/advertising requires diverse voices and perspectives to be successful, so Verizon and its agencies came together to drive actionable results.

The paid fellowship is an eight-month immersion program that gives fellows the opportunity to explore career tracks, gain real-world experience, and network with industry leaders. Participants rotate across positions, including public relations, creative, media, and brand marketing, at Verizon and other companies.

The program was created to bring more diverse marketing candidates into the recruitment process with the hope that they will stay with the agency or Verizon. The adfellows program selects college graduates from across the country, all with diverse backgrounds, to participate in the fellowship program. Verizon fully covers the housing and expenses for all fellows to ensure that people of all backgrounds can have the chance to participate.

In 2018, adfellows produced 19 graduates, and more than 90% of the graduates were offered positions at one of the member companies. The second year of adfellows produced 29 graduates and also saw the program expand to include additional brand partners such as The Community, MRY, R/GA, McGarry Bowen and Accenture. With it’s third year to start this September, the program will include a total of 17 companies and agencies including, Anheuser-Busch inBev, American Express, and Walmart.