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Sabrina Lynch – 2021 Rockstar
By ADCOLOR September 15, 2021 |Sabrina continuously pushes for diversity within the marcomms industry – from her time as consultant for Saatchi & Saatchi, SVP at Daniel J Edelman Holdings (Zeno Group), and now at Taylor Strategy. Sabrina’s focus on diversity and inclusion sits in the intersectionality of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and marginalized audiences.
She was the creative architect of the Inclusivity Quotient, criteria to measure and evaluate levels of inclusivity for every piece of technology created for consumers, no matter their economic status, physical ability, background or location. She presented this concept to multinational technology company Lenovo who included the IQ as part of their global business D&I goals. https://news.lenovo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Diversity-AND-Inclusion-Report-2018-12-03-update.pdf Subsequently, Lenovo launched their Product Diversity Office, committed to driving the criteria and development of technology for diverse users and validating and minimizing bias inherent in the technology and/or the product itself. Lenovo Voice, the first product to have passed through the PDO’s pilot program, is set to launch across Lenovo X1 Fold devices worldwide.
She was handpicked to be the D&I lead and chairperson Parsons School of Fashion to identify challenges and spearhead solutions that improved educational diversity in terms of the school’s composition of its syllabi, student admissions, workforce, program design and access to financial aid support to avoid negative, disproportional impact among students. Sabrina was responsible for leading the research, organizing and hosting focus groups and omni-channel audits – now moving into building the School of Fashion’s D&I narrative, platform and executional framework to correct inequalities and increase educational equity. Her goal has not waivered – provide an unflinching assessment of fashion marketing today and guide Parsons to lead changes that positively impact its students, faculty and pushes the fashion industry to do more to support underrepresented minorities by leading by example.
Sabrina was also selected by New York City Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC to write and lead workshops for Office of the Mayor’s staff on racial equity. Thrive NYC is Mayor de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray’s commitment to mental health for all – and is the first time a large American city dedicated its own funding to supporting the mental health of people who had long been underserved. Sabrina is leading programs for the program titled B-HEARD (Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division) that enables EMTs and Social Workers to understand racial equity in their work, identify unconscious bias and access tools to manage bias while serving the communities of the city. She is also a consultant for the Andrew Goodman Foundation – founded by the parents of the murdered civil rights worker – leading DE&I training for their staff and campus ambassadors, encouraging youth (18-29 years old) to use their voice and vote as a powerful force in democracy.
Within Taylor Strategy, she is principle advisor for Diageo where she not only bears the responsibility of developing integrated marketing approaches for Smirnoff, Crown Apple and Captain Morgan but is also the custodian of D&I across this portfolio – ensuring its incorporation in campaigns and initiatives to ensure support of marginalized communities. She was instrumental to the launch of the $20MM Diageo Community Fund and subsidized initiatives, including supporting Vote.org’s efforts to simplify political engagement and increase voter turnout among Black, Hispanic/Latino and LGBTQ+ voters and supporting Black founded & owned businesses. She is a key leader in the company’s efforts with one of its biggest clients, P&G, on matters of diversity. One example being her involvement in P&G’s Take on Race – which builds a collection of resources, intended to shine a light on inequality, highlight bias and spark dialogue. She navigated the brand’s allyship of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace – the only Black driver in NASCAR’s top tier races- during the investigation into a noose being left in his garage pre a race on the Talladega Superspeedway. In addition, Sabrina has been co-counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to help reframe the purpose, meaning, and power of the vote as a world saving, future claiming, act of social activism, leading to more donor support, community activism and sway with political leaders. Committed to teaching inclusivity to the younger generation, she is lead for the development of an IP pilot program for Samsung Global that will encourage positive digital citizenship and champion diversity among Gen Z. She has been managing the design of a multi-channel, interactive ecosystem that teaches children and teenagers to collectively advocate for, participate in and embrace positive behavior, appreciate the perspective of others and learn about cultural competency. The experience will live across APP + OS in addition to online & offline platforms and new innovative tech, expand accessibility to the experience.
With a deepfelt understanding that supporting diverse communities comes through empowerment, Sabrina is creating the brand framework and strategy for the Boris Lawrence Henson Fund to support its mission in improving mental health in Black communities. Talking, discussing, or seeking mental health is taboo among People of Color, each generation – from Silent to Gen Z – hold misperceptions and mistrust of mental health services and programs. As a result, those who need help do not receive proper care or pursue therapy. Sabrina is a principle advisor for the non-profit organization, directing best practices they, and BLHF’s affiliate partners, should execute to strengthen relationships with People of Color and spur action among key decision makers to create, sustain and invest in the ushering of a new tradition of healing – lifesaving, life-changing, culturally competent mental health resources.
Sabrina took on the challenge of creating the DE&I program for PDC Beauty to enable the parent company to build a stronger action plan and highlight its crucial role in shaping beauty industry practices that are flawed and ultimately let down Black & Hispanic women. She is developing career development and self-care programs to support young college women ages 17-22 with Gyrl Wonder and curating a dedicated scholarship and mental wellness program to support non-traditional, female students (e.g. adults ages 25+, veterans, single parents) for the UNCF.
As an Adjunct Professor at Manhattan College and Facilitator at Fordham University, she has led over BIPOC 300+ students to graduation, teaching Advanced Strategy, Advanced Communications and Business Negotiation. Sabrina is also a volunteer GED tutor for The Bowery Mission, helping those facing homelessness and poverty achieve their goal of obtaining their diploma. She is an official Professional mentor for the Taylor Bennett Foundation, mentoring multiple Black, Asian and Minority graduates entering the industry where she talks openly about the ambitions and opportunities available to diverse students – from grassroots level and above, bringing a wave of change to an industry in need of better talent representation.
As a member of the United Nations Foundation Communications Corp, she works with the coalition to deliver the UN’s Development Goals to promote equality and wellbeing – such as co leading the prelude launch of the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit which saw Voices of Gen Z from around the world expressing their expectations and demands for a future in which leaders rise to the challenge through climate action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03fC-KBVjDE
On the back of all the efforts made to date, she is also a TED Talk Alumni. Her keynote TEDx speech in Los Angeles discussed the urgent need to bridge the gap in social equity through inclusive technology, ultimately democratizing access to information for everyone on a cultural, social and a professional level.
Her accolades include:
2014: Cannes Lions, Silver for the United Nations
2016: Cannes Lions, Gold for Intel
2016: Interviewed and included in the book “How to Practice Global Public Relations and Strategic Communication” written by Kara Alaimo, former communicator at the United Nations and in the Obama administration
2019: Selected as Pitch Magazine’s “Super Woman”
2019: Selected as Yahoo! Finance & INvolve Ethnic Minority Executive Role Model
2020: Selected as a 2020 Innovator by Provoke Media
2020: Selected by Yahoo! Finance & INvolve as a Top Female Role Model Executive
Sabrina is a contributor to HuffPost, CultureBanx, Forbes and PR Week, providing insights on important issues affecting women and people of color today, including the widely recognized lack of diversity in marketing and the intersection of business, technology and innovation for minorities.