2024 FUTURES ANNOUNCED

Adama Kamara (pronounced like “Adam” with an “uh” at the end) is a Sierra Leonean-American creative strategist, writer, and arts worker based in Washington, D.C. Her work spans disciplines and mediums—from journalistic writing to archival research and curation— but what every project has in common is that each underscores her belief in the transformative power of storytelling to foster a deeper appreciation for diverse human experiences.

Adama works full-time as a Senior Creative Strategist at Creative Theory Agency (CTA), a culture-focused marketing agency based in Washington, DC. There her clients are multinational brands like Shea Moisture and Google who she works with to tell socially impactful stories. Outside of CTA, Adama is a contributor for Re:Think, a creative marketing studio within The Atlantic, and a DMV Chapter Host for Black Girls in Arts Spaces. Adama received bachelors degrees in Anthropology and International Studies from Emory University, magna cum laude.

Alexander Ortiz is a vibrant, energetic, and emerging Afro-Latino creative born in The Bronx, NY. His passion lies in achieving organizational development by designing communications that drive culture forward and cultivate a sense of community and belonging for all.

Ortiz is a first-generation graduate from SUNY Binghamton’s College of Community and Public Affairs, obtaining his Master’s of Public Administration in 2022. While studying, he explored graphic design, organizational leadership, and all things diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, he held various student executive board positions, such as Graphic Designer for the Latin American Student Union and President for La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated. Since these empowering experiences, Ortiz’s mission has been to find and cultivate spaces where his creativity and graphic design expertise can co-exist with his heart’s desire to lead social impact.

Today, he happily serves as the Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing at NYC Health + Hospitals’ Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This role allows him to lead and manage the successful execution of high-impact cultural campaigns like commemorating Black History Month, Immigrant Heritage Week, Transgender Day of Visibility, and many other essential observances among a health system home to more than 45,000 staff members, and 1.2 million yearly patients.

When Ortiz is not in the workplace, he can be found at music events, practicing yoga, journaling, traveling the world, or running throughout New York City with his crew– catch him if you can!

A writer at heart, a thinker by design, and a visionary all the time, Alise Crittendon is a Copywriter and multidisciplinary creative that aims to foster change through art. Her creative career journey started as a young writer, exploring novels and short stories, even before knowing much about the world. As she grew, her craft became other forms of storytelling like journalism and, most recently, copywriting. But for Alise, writing is just the medium to achieve her greatest goal: to use creativity to connect the world, be inspired while inspiring others, and advocate for marginalized communities like BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities. Although she aims to evoke change in all sectors, her interests especially lie in the beauty, fashion, and wellness spaces. In her almost 2 years-old professional career at Edelman, she successfully began walking the path she was destined to, from encouraging Black and Brown youth to pursue skills in STEM with a Microsoft x Black Panther partnership to making the beauty industry more inclusive through social content that acknowledges the importance of makeup in trans individuals’ self-discovery for MAC Cosmetics. To consistently grow as a professional, Alise aligns her career goals of creating impact with her personal goals of being a life-long student of the world by constantly learning about the human experience, herself, and other cultures. Ultimately, she’s able to bring her skills, unique world view, and ambitious spirit together to thrive at the intersection of creativity and purpose, where she can create what’s missing.

Brionne Burns, a multi-hyphenate, with a Master’s in Brand Management and Strategy, identifies as a Jill” of all trades learning the intricate details of various departments and skill sets. She comes equipped with experience in project management, production, account management, and experiential strategy.

Brionne’s love for cultivating community, coupled with never-ending curiosity has led her to work with amazing brands and people. She is an Account Executive at Wieden + Kennedy where she helps guide the McDonald’s US business through various marketing campaigns, product launches, and partnerships. Notably, She’s contributed to the success of campaigns like, “Fan Truth Highlight reel”, an always-on/ proven platform, “Sauces,” which focused on two new LTO sauces, with one of the releases being the chain’s first-ever “breakfast-inspired sauce”. Prior to W+K, Brionne worked alongside cultural icon Gabrielle Shirdan at Kitchen Table and crafted work for leading brands such as Martell, Status Pro, and L’Oréal. She also runs a self-owned business, Building Body with Bri. BBWB is the brainchild of a brand built to provide women of color a place to improve their overall health giving them solutions, resources, and a supportive network.

In 2020, Brionne won first place in the One Club for Creativity “Where Are All The Black People” talent showcase.

When she’s not vying for a seat at the table, you’ll find this native New Yorker, identifying problems and solutions through the infusion of cultures encouraging awareness to orchestrate movement. She is committed to choreographing the “dance” of cultural change in Communications.

Carlena Neely’s career journey epitomizes a vibrant and multifaceted approach, intertwining her profound experiences in technology and marketing. Raised in Charlotte, NC, her educational journey in Information Systems from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her international exposure at France’s Burgundy School of Business have laid the foundation for a career steeped in innovation and diversity.

As a Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft Corporation, Neely is at the forefront of shaping marketing strategies for startups and software companies within Azure. Her tenure at Microsoft has seen her spearhead successful campaigns and initiatives, enhancing engagement and driving growth.

Carlena’s role at Toyota AI Ventures showcased her commitment to diversity and innovation, where she played a pivotal role in establishing significant partnerships, furthering diversity and inclusion efforts. Her experience in experiential marketing, product, and business development is evident in her strategic contributions and leadership.

In her capacity as Marketing Director for Out For Undergrad, Neely’s impact went beyond roles and responsibilities, driving meaningful change and securing pivotal sponsorships. Her leadership style is characterized by vision and the ability to achieve tangible results.

Neely’s professional narrative is a testament to her strategic acumen, adeptness in forging meaningful partnerships, and relentless drive for diversity and inclusion within the tech landscape.

I am Christopher Jeremiah Clements. Chris is devoted to passion, purpose, and fulfillment through serving others, approaching each day with dedication. Honestly, I cannot list 1 achievement that I have accomplished funny enough, but I have been blessed to serve in many leadership roles throughout my undergraduate and professional career that has allowed me to value servant leadership in everything that I do. However, I am the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Recruiting Lead for Texas A&M University – an institution that encompass 35 % of minorities, with 2.69% of students identify as Black or African American. I am truly passionate about providing students of Color with resources, hands-on material, and knowledge that will allow each student to uniquely thrive in an environment that allows them to flourish while experiencing passion and joy.

In addition to that, a service (passion) project that I founded and curate at Texas A&M University is DLAMP (Deloitte’s Leadership Allyship & Mentorship Program) that connects minority students to Deloitte’s Consulting practice, allowing them to gain Consulting insight, software, and technical skills, all while learning from some of the brightest and most passionate business leaders in the world. I currently lead 20 practitioners at my firm while supporting the mentorship of 25 students through equitable and personalized engagements.
Christopher J. Clements lives by, “It means an honest devotion, not anticipation of personal gain.” To me, that means – doing something positive for the world because you genuinely want it to thrive regardless of one’s personal motives.

Clarke Williams was born in Baltimore, MD where she locked into her creative pursuits of writing, design, and strategy early on. She graduated from Howard University in 2020 with a B.A. in political science and has since worked with brands across industries executing marketing strategy, content creation, and creative consulting.

Her purpose in love is to operate in love for the betterment of humanity and she does this through authentically telling stories and encouraging creative expression in others to aid community development, social innovation, and collaboration.

Dasia Jones is an accomplished professional in the communications industry, with an expertise in social media and digital intelligence. She is known for blending her work at the intersections of culture and digital to create authentic stories. In the first 3 years of her career, Dasia has earned a reputation as a respected junior leader.

In her current role as Senior Social Analyst at Burson, Ms. Jones embraces her diverse perspective to support social strategies for her clients, including The Coca-Cola Company, Shutterstock, Google, BuzzRx and more.

Prior to her current role, Dasia worked with clients such as Chase Bank, Crocs, Helzberg Diamonds, UPS and the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective.

Dasia also has a background in global DEI, having served as a diversity counselor in her previous agency’s global DEI practice, a data analyst on the DEI Issues team and as social media lead for the Race and Culture Media + Platforms team.

Even in college, Dasia’s commitment to DEI was known. In her role as SGA’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion and experience on various administration councils, Dasia instilled a strong sense of belonging within the campus community.

She held DEI and social media internships at the NAACP and FOX Factory Inc.

Outside of work, she loves to serve in her young adult ministry, 1-800-PRAYFORME, reaching Black and Brown 18–35-year-olds in the surrounding Atlanta and Decatur areas. This work inspires her as a leader and drives her passion for creating bold, connective stories for diverse communities.

Deandra Simon is a passionate multimedia storyteller with a proven track record in strategic partnerships, program management, sales, and content creation for industry leaders like Apple, Disney, and Paramount. Currently, Deandra leverages her experience as a Technical Program Manager at Apple Music, where she collaborates globally with third-party partners to launch new features and deliver software updates to millions.

Beyond Apple, Deandra champions diversity and inclusion in entertainment and tech. She serves on the Black @ ADCOLOR Community Group and mentors high school and college girls of color, guiding them through the college and internship application processes. Deandra also advocates for the global expansion of social enterprises using media and technology.

Deandra holds a Master of Arts in Media Studies from Brooklyn College and a Bachelor of Arts in English and African-American Studies from John Jay College.

Debby is an Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google, where she spearheads brand and entertainment innovation at the forefront of technology. Her diverse background in marketing and sales has shaped collaborations with top brands like CeraVe, Booking.com, Doritos Dinamita, TurboTax, and Under Armour. Driven by a passion for inclusion, Debby leverages emerging technologies to amplify diverse voices and leadership within the tech industry.

Outside of client engagements, she’s also been busy with various other projects:

Has written ‘Ctrl+Alt+Latina’ (starting in 2023), a book empowering Latinas of all backgrounds with the tools to rewrite their narratives and defy stereotypes, fostering a positive mindset.

Has launched the ‘YouTube Ad Break’ newsletter on LinkedIn, which bridges the gap between culture and trends. Its bite-sized insights for advertising professionals have garnered a dedicated 15K subscriber base.

Has launched ‘Unidas En Practica,’ a coding bootcamp in Inglewood, CA, designed to empower high school students to explore the world of tech and ignite their creative potential. Serving over 10 students, the coding bootcamp serves as an entry point for the Girls Who Code summer Immersion Program.

Upon graduating from Fordham University in 2021 with a B.S in Marketing, Diontay began his professional career as a member of Ogilvy’s Associates Program. Over the course of his tenure from September 2021 to March 2023, Diontay underwent rotations across Ogilvy Consulting, Account Management, and Brand Strategy. This comprehensive experience provided him with a well-rounded introduction to the advertising industry, ultimately leading to his full-time employment with Ogilvy’s brand strategy team. While primarily focused on accounts such as Nationwide and IKEA, Diontay has also made contributions to projects for renowned brands like Powerade, Pacifico, Truly, and others. In addition to his role as a Brand Strategist at Ogilvy, Diontay actively engages in initiatives aimed at fostering a vibrant agency culture. He serves as one of the co-leads for Ogilvy’s “Black Diaspora” community in NYC, where he plays a pivotal role in developing and coordinating events and programming tailored to the needs and interests of Black employees at Ogilvy.

Edgar is an adaptable team player with over two years of experience in strategy and media planning. Harnessing his budget management and research skills, Edgar has played pivotal roles in developing media plans to ensure ROI for brands like Walmart. Edgar’s motivation for his D&I efforts at Zenith is fueled by his first-generation identity. He forms part of Zenith’s D&I council, working alongside colleagues and executive leadership to develop strategies to continue harvesting inclusive working environments. In his spare time, he enjoys staying up to date with the latest fashion and beauty trends through podcasts and reading case studies. While also pushing himself to learn new skills like sewing and languages. Through it all, Edgar centers his cultural awareness to inform brands how to authentically connect with consumers. All in efforts to shape brands that impact culture.

An aspiring Japanese-Brazilian strategist and a fiery painter, growing up with multicultural media ignited my passion for authentic ads tailored to each culture. In both strategy & art, I transform human truths into media that resonate with viewers. As a culture enthusiast, I seek experiences where I can leverage my unique, creative perspective and unlock hidden truths in refreshing ways!

Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, a filmmaker from a small town in Jersey, brings a unique perspective influenced by her cultural background: her parents hailing from Ghana and St. Lucia. Her passion for experimental filmmaking, poetry, and performance art has earned her recognition on various platforms, including the Student Academy Awards and Raindance Film Festival. Her short film “To the Girl That Looks Like Me” was featured in the Scene in Color Film Series and screened on platforms Rotten Tomatoes, NBCU, and Peacock. She has received accolades from Cinequest, the Toronto Black Film Festival, NFFTY, and the Tony Hawkins Award for Excellence in Sound Design. She was selected for MacDowell’s Winter ’23 Residency and worked on long-form prose and poetry. With experience working with artists like Janelle Monae, Megan Thee Stallion, and Queen Latifah, Ewurakua’s ability to connect with people translates into impactful films. When not working, she enjoys music, singing, karate, and horror movies.

Gia Cummings is an intellectual, creative, and empathetic innovator driven by her purpose of achieving freedom for herself and others. As a student at Duke University, she studied Public Policy & Global Health, motivated by her desire to learn how our institutions are designed, and more importantly, how they can be improved for the benefit of us all. The culmination of her education was the creation of her honors thesis ‘Maternity in Motion: Examining the Reproductive Experiences of Sub-Saharan Migrants in Morocco’, which allowed her to explore the intersections of reproductive justice, global politics, feminism, and autonomy. As she entered the corporate world through her BOLD internship at Google, Gia learned to combine her dedication to justice with the business acumen she obtained as a trusted client representative for Google’s largest clients, which has led her to career purpose in the present. Gia aims to incorporate inclusion practices in the business realm as necessities, rather than ‘nice to have’ initiatives that are too often subject to shifts in dedication based on the current state of resources. Her vision is to transform the culture of the environments that she influences, ushering in a new era in the corporate realm that is ready and willing to address the inequities of our past. As both an accomplished digital marketer and inclusion leader, she is uniquely positioned to create new ways of being that begin in the workplace and extend into our world.

My mission is to actively practice radical empathy so that I can foster spaces of unapologetic joy and unconstrained creativity. I am empowered to be a force of positivity through my art by seeing, hearing and celebrating people for who they are. As an art director, I strive to find ways to challenge norms and push how brands connect with people. Whether it’s through graphic design or experimenting with different medias, I love creating strategic solutions that meet people where they are at.

Kim Chungong is a first-generation Cameroonian-American from Kansas City, Missouri who graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations. Due to her love of storytelling and art, she aspired to become an art director until she joined the Mosaic-award-winning Barkley Creative Accelerator program in 2021. As a creative apprentice at BarkleyOKRP, she discovered her knack for copywriting and wrote for clients such as Red Lobster, Motel 6, and ARAG Legal Insurance. She was then promoted to a full-time copywriter position in BarkleyOKRP’s social media department where she now works primarily for Planet Fitness. As a social media writer, she’s helped create social campaigns that have gone on to win Clio and Reggie awards and collaborated with superstars like Megan Thee Stallion.

Growing up and seeing a lack of diverse representation and working in a predominately white industry, Kim has used her position to pitch ideas that challenge the norm and highlight issues and minority groups that don’t get attention in mainstream media, such as health disparities in the black community or the importance of safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Lauren B. Myers is a passionate storyteller and creative strategist that generates bold collaborations and noteworthy campaigns. A 2022 graduate of Howard University, she currently works as the Coordinator of Marketing and Sponsorship at NICE CROWD, a live events brand that produces the American Black Film Festival in both Miami and London, along with other large scale events. With an industry diverse background in public relations, social and integrated marketing, partnerships, and advertising, Lauren utilizes her varied experience to challenge industry standards and create new pathways to success. A persistent advocate for disenfranchised communities, she serves as Vice President of the Look Back Give Back Foundation, a 501-c3 non-profit supporting high school students on their journey to higher education. Outside of the office, Lauren lives an incredibly active lifestyle as a creative director, disc jockey, and surfer.

I am a Lebanese-American woman from Dearborn, Michigan, home to the most dense Arab population outside of the Middle East. This unique, tight-knit community instilled in me the power of community spaces at a young age. Through volunteering and leading cultural initiatives during high school years, my mission developed into championing spaces that build community and foster belonging for underrepresented identities.

My purpose for creating empowering communities developed while studying at the University of Michigan, where I co-founded the first Arab Business Society and Arab sorority on campus. These initiatives paved the way for Arab representation in historically exclusive spaces, with membership growing 10x over 4 years.

Advocating for representation of my community extended to creative spaces – where I photographed traditional Arab designs for the first time in UofM’s fashion magazine, choreographed Arab cultural dances for an audience of 1,200+, and launched my first business Seeing Me Accessories: a jewelry brand representing diverse Arab cultures.

As an Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google, I now operate at the intersection of community and technology, broadening my influence from thousands to millions. Within the Google Ads go-to-market team, I spearhead the design and execution of premium Google events, fostering a community of c-suite leaders. Outside of my core role, I co-lead Arab Googlers in New York ERG and am a founding member of Arabs in Marketing, which focuses on hosting community events with external organizations such as AdColor for Middle Eastern/North Americans (MENA).

My passion for community fuels both my career and personal life. I’m excited to discover new ways to build the communities I am a part of, and I’m confident the ADCOLOR Futures program will inspire new ways to Reach Back.

Mary Grace Wright, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, is a multi-faceted creative who enjoys turning imaginative concepts into impactful realities. She is driven by purpose-filled, culture-centered narratives and values the importance of bringing underrepresented creatives to the table. Her diverse skill set encompasses wardrobe and product styling, art direction, production and creative consulting. As a graduate of Stephens College School of Design, Mary’s fashion background makes it natural for her to dig deep, think outside of the box, and apply her premium taste to every project she touches.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Mary embraces a rich and fulfilling personal life. She actively serves in Elite 23 International Inc., It’s Bigger Than Us LA, the Joel Arthur Cousin Foundation, the Marcus Graham Project, and the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective. In addition to serving her greater community, Mary finds inspiration in exploring art galleries, discovering new culinary experiences, and curating R&B playlists. Embodying a commitment to excellence and a passion for uplifting others, Mary is poised to continue making a meaningful impact in the creative industry and beyond.

Maryam Ikuforiji is a creative marketer passionate about mobilizing visual storytelling to elevate brands and communities. She holds a BA in Communications with a concentration in Integrated Marketing and a minor in Legal Studies from Northwestern University. As a midwestern native with Nigerian roots, she’s motivated to create culturally compelling stories that reflect her belief that art transcends everything as it supersedes cultural and linguistic barriers and her passion for diversifying a space that was not created with people like her in mind.

Despite being early in her career, Maryam has brand, social, and growth marketing experience across many industries including entertainment, beauty, and tech with notable internships at WarnerMedia, Curology, and Google – where she converted full-time. At Google, Maryam leverages her passion for representation and creativity to support SMBs and creators through their advertising journey by ensuring accessibility and representation in the marketing communications delivered to Google’s global audience.
Outside of her 9-5, Maryam commits herself to service through mentorship at her alma mater, Google’s BOLD program, and ERG leadership. Beyond this, she prioritizes her creative pursuits through passion projects including photography, design, and event coordination in her new home of Los Angeles, CA.

Morgan Batts is an Associate Brand Executive currently working on the Nike account at Wieden+Kennedy Portland. Morgan graduated from Hampton University in 2022 and is also a proud alumni of ADMagic, a program designed to expose students from HBCU’s to jobs in creative industries. In her short time in advertising, Morgan has lent her skills to projects such as Nike’s What the Football, Megan Rapinoe’s retirement campaign, the latest iteration of Kobe: That’s Mamba, and Sabrina Ionescu: Sabrina’s Laws of the Game. She is passionate about creating access, space and opportunities for youth in underrepresented communities through community service and is a strong proponent of the power of representation in the industry.

I am an experienced professional with a BA in African-American Studies and a DUAL MBA and MA in Communication. I am passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the digital media landscape. With a strong marketing, branding, and content creation background, I have successfully transitioned from a program manager to a director role, honing strategic communication, data analytics, and client engagement skills. My expertise lies in crafting impactful communication strategies and utilizing business analytics to drive effective marketing campaigns. My career endeavors have included time at Live Nation Entertainment, BET, iOne Digital, LinkedIn, Forbes Tate Partners, Depop, and more.

My role as the CEO and Founder of my own company, Brij App, has also aided in my ability to lead teams and connect diverse creatives to mentors in the media industry. I continue to combine my formal academic experience with my work experiences to empower communities by empowering creatives.

Born in India, raised in Dubai, and now working in Chicago, Niharika has been a globetrotter from birth. Living on a ship for 8 years, humanity felt at a distance from her, but this fueled her fire to bring people together against all odds through storytelling.

During her time at DDB Chicago, she has played a pivotal role in bringing brands like IMAX, McDonald’s, Hefty, and Reynold’s into culture. Additionally, she co-founded the DEI committee, driving initiatives to foster inclusivity within the Omnicom network, and is currently helping shape the future of DDB Chicago as part of the Next Gen Leadership Committee.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Niharika enjoys volunteering at dog shelters, repurposing abandoned items through thrifting, and piecing together jigsaw puzzles. Passionate about mentorship, she guides students and junior professionals through platforms like We Are Next’s Coffee at a Distance. She also plays a pivotal role in acclimating DDB interns to the agency environment.

Prior to joining DDB Chicago, Niharika contributed to marketing international exhibitions and cultural programming at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Immersed in art, culture, and history, she honed her skills as a storyteller and advocate for cultural exchange. She’s lived many lives and held many roles but none greater than that of a perpetual student.

Ramon Luis Fille always dreamed of working in the technology industry, since his first interaction with a computer. Being born and raised in the Philippines, he never thought he had the opportunity to work in the industry. After immigrating into the US at the age of 9, he worked hard to make his dreams become a reality.

Ramon is currently a Marketing Program Manager within the Xbox Social Impact team at Microsoft. His work centers around making gaming a more inclusive space through the ideation and execution of multiple cultural campaigns. He also helps create disaster relief campaigns that allows Xbox players to donate their rewards points and help when a disaster strikes, even if players do not have the funds to do so. Aside from creating campaigns, he also manages relationships and aids in uplifting multiple non-profit organizations who make space for underrepresented communities within the gaming industry.

Before joining Team Xbox, Ramon was a Product Marketing Manager within Microsoft’s Azure Organization, focusing on empowering developers from all backgrounds to innovate on Cloud Native platforms. He also focused on making campaigns more accessible to developers of all backgrounds through the creation of social media campaigns focused on an enterprise audience, but also, budding developers. After interning with the Inclusive Marketing Team at Google, he found his love of making marketing inclusive and accessible.

Ramon is now based in Seattle, WA. He is an avid runner, yogi, and gamer. He also has a TEDx talk addressing his immigrant experience.

Randy Ambroise Paul is a visionary Content Studio Manager at ZIYNX, where he leads a team of creatives in the sports and entertainment industry. With a Master’s in Sports Management from Long Island University and a BA in Psychology from Marist College, Randy’s expertise spans brand development, content strategy, and digital storytelling. His career is marked by significant achievements, including driving a 70% user base growth for ZIYNX through innovative content campaigns and spearheading a $1.2 million community revitalization project in Huntington Station. Beyond his professional success, Randy is deeply committed to community upliftment, leveraging his Haitian heritage and passion for social justice to make a tangible impact. His work embodies a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and social responsibility, making him a standout figure in his field.

Raven is an Associate Manager on the Strategy & Insights team at Wasserman, where she works on strategic measurement for AT&T’s sponsorship marketing portfolio, specifically for their multicultural, lifestyle interests, gender equality, music, and gaming partnerships. In her day-to-day, Raven combines her data analysis skills with her creative mindset to inform clients on creative ideation and strategic decision-making. Raven continuously aims to uphold DE&I in her work by being an active member in Wasserman’s Black employee group, FUBU, and offering personal insight to support the evolution of AT&T’s multicultural partnerships. Prior to joining Wasserman, Raven worked in e-commerce strategy at Amazon for two years in their Retail Undergraduate Program and interned at the NBA and Wasserman during her undergraduate years.
Raven graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Communications with a concentration in Messages and Marketing, as well as minoring in Consumer Psychology and Africana Studies. Additionally, Raven was a member of the varsity volleyball team and served as DE&I chair for the Student Athlete Advisory Board, Programming Chair for Black Student Athletes at Penn, and Co-President of the Women’s Athletic Association.
Raven currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, but was born and raised in Houston, TX and is a proud daughter to Nigerian and Jamaican parents. She enjoys her side hustle as a Pilates instructor, making Spotify playlists for every occasion, and catching up on the latest reality TV shows.

I was a scholarship holder at macromedia University in Munich, Germany, studying Media- and Communication Management. During that time, I took part in the Junior Agency Award, where I learned how to develop and pitch a campaign and won 2nd place. There I also met the founders of David+ Martin, who invited me to do an internship at their creative agency. I fell in love with the industry and its potential and joined the agency as an account trainee after graduating in 2021. I was later accepted onto the very first under-30 advisory board of the GWA* to help discuss and shape the future of advertising in Germany.
In 2022 I was recruited by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam and joined as an Account Executive.

Throughout my time in advertising, I have worked with amazing people and been involved in various projects, from pro bono projects and pitches to national and global campaigns. I’ve worked with and for a variety of clients across a wide range of industries including education, food, beverage, entertainment, insurance, beauty and retail. With my energetic, curious and outgoing personality, l’ve been able to build trusting relationships with clients and peers and support through the strategic, creative and production phases of projects. Believing that advertising has the power to challenge and change society and the status quo, I am driven by my values and am a strong advocate for DE&l.

*GWA = association of Germany’s leading agencies, the main board consists of CEOs and founders of these agencies

Srirashmi (Siri) Gudur is a Business Planner for Emerging Markets at Microsoft. She cares deeply about leveraging DEI and mentorship to build more impactful technology and expand the accessibility of wealth.

While a student at Drexel University, Siri taught high school girls coding, encouraging young women to pursue computer science. As Vice President of her alma mater’s Women in Computing Society, she launched a mentorship program connecting students with alumni working in tech. She also organized TechTogether Boston, Boston’s largest all-female and nonbinary hackathon, earning her a spot on the Girls’ STEMpede 2022 List of Top 10 Inspiring Young Women in STEM. Most recently, she helped launch a networking program sponsored by Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer to connect 300+ employees with experienced leaders across marketing and to spark mentor relationships.

An avid entrepreneur and technologist, Siri also built 4+ award-winning apps to solve social issues in her community. From food insecurity to lack of youth political engagement, she has used her technical aptitude to serve others.

Siri was accepted to Harvard Business School via the 2+2 program and will matriculate in 2026 for her MBA. Long-term, she aspires to invest in early-stage tech startups with a focus on underrepresented founders.

Outside of work, Siri coaches students through various admissions processes to help others get accepted into their dream schools and companies. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring restaurants with friends.

Ty Jenkins, a Chicago native and Communications Planner at Saatchi & Saatchi, swiftly made a mark with his deep understanding of human behavior, social trends, and global culture. He orchestrated successful campaigns for Walmart+ and Nerdwallet, which earned him the 2023 Rising Star award and a selection into the 4A’s Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies program.

Before advertising, Ty earned a B.A. in Marketing from Taylor University as an Act Six/Pursue Scholar. At Taylor, he recognized the culture shock that affected the attrition rate of culturally diverse Black male students. He founded an affinity group named Camaraderie, which provides equitable solutions for Black males at Taylor. As a result, all 15 founding class members will have graduated by 2025, setting an example for future classes.

Ty’s career took flight when he participated in a French campaign competition for the Chicago Bulls. There, his Chicago lineage and strategic prowess on a team of four helped him clinch victory with the #AllesLesBulls campaign. Following this success, Ty embarked on a three-month bootcamp with the Marcus Graham Project in LA. Armed with faith and just the bare necessities, he relocated to LA and started his career at Deutsch LA four days after the experience.

Beyond work, Ty immerses himself in diverse cultures, from speaking Amharic to embracing his automotive enthusiasm. He remains committed to paying forward the opportunities that shaped his journey by being on the young professionals board for Pursue Scholars and mentoring advertising professionals in the Marcus Graham Project.