2025 LEADERS APPLICATIONS OPENING UP SOON

Ashley Sherman (Cousins), GM of SkyMiles Partnership Marketing at Delta, led Delta’s sustainability campaigns, CES, and rebranded Delta’s Jetways. She keeps diversity and representation at the core of everything and launched Delta’s Faces of Travel campaigns.

With a BA in economics from Spelman College and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School, she earned the distinguished Julia Stell Award. Formerly at Google and Barbie, she championed diversity, launching groundbreaking Barbie editions. Ashley’s zeal for bettering the world fuels her daily creativity.

Beyond work, she cherishes moments with her husband, Travis, toddlers Nora and Nile, and furry friend, Bailey.

Carole is a tech savvy business leader with experience in marketing, sales, and finance at national nonprofits and leading global brands. She has been working to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace for more than 15 years. At Aquent, her strategic initiatives led to award-winning content, increased social media engagement, and the launch of a diversity recruiting solution. Recognized as a Top 50 Inclusive Leader by the National Diversity & Leadership Conference, Carole also champions diversity as a board member at nonprofits and current advisory board roles with 50/50 Women on Boards and American Staffing Association.

Catherine Navarro-Harkin is an SVP strategy director at Leo Burnett who specializes in learning and being curious. With over two decades in the industry, she still approaches new challenges with the eager eyes of a child.

The work of Cat and her teams has been recognized by the Effies, the Jay Chiat Awards, and The ARF David Ogilvy Awards.

During her Leo Burnett tenure, Cat took a two-year overseas assignment that turned into five working on Kellogg’s, P&G, Sanofi, and Nestlé. Cat has also worked on Dove, McDonald’s, ALDI, and Serta.

Cat’s a champagne aficionado, world traveler, and a mom.

Named on the 2024 Campaign Magazine UK A-list and one of their 2023 Trailblazers of the Year – Chloë Davies is an award winning founder, creative, social impact consultant, chef & entrepreneur who has dedicated much of her 20+ year career campaigning for inclusion and equity in all spaces, in-house at agency level, corporate organisations or through wider community engagement. With over 15 years of experience in retail, artist management, and PR, Chloë has honed her expertise in leadership, social impact and inclusive representation.
In April 2023 she founded ‘It Takes A Village Collective’ – a global hub for Black women in Adland.

Claritza Jiménez has built a media career at the intersection of marketing strategy, journalism, and entrepreneurship. Claritza is a director of marketing strategy at Paramount/CBS News where she is part of the senior team that leads efforts to grow the audiences for the CBS Evening News, CBS Mornings, and Face the Nation. Claritza is also an Emmy-nominated journalist and news producer with past roles at The Washington Post, The Associated Press, and POLITICO. Claritza holds an MBA from Darden School of Business, an M.A. in journalism from American University’s School of Communication, and a B.A. in political communication from George Washington University. She is the founder of InColorStock.com, an inclusive stock content company that works with Black and POC creators to license their images. She calls Washington, D.C. home.

After moving from London to New York, Cyp worked in television before making the switch to academia, handling event marketing and social media for the college programs he supported. A love of both communications and health—and a desire to continue connecting with diverse audiences—led to focusing solely on these, first running email marketing for a continuing medical education company, before landing in advertising at McCann Health. Now, as the most senior copywriter at the MMC and RXM PR agencies, Cyp is constantly finding new ways to educate audiences on health, healthcare, and ways to combat disparities.

Dee Turman has dedicated her career to providing a platform for underrepresented voices and creating space for athletes, artists, authors and activists to tell their unique stories. She is currently Head of Inclusive Programming at Audible. Prior to Audible, she lead Hip Hop and R&B content strategy for Amazon Music and launched Amazon Music’s first state-of-the art creator space in Los Angeles. Before Amazon, Dee was Sr. Director, Digital Development & Production at Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Earlier in her career, she also held producer roles at LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s UNINTERRUPTED, ESPN and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Hanifa is currently the Creative Director, Head of Photography at Verizon. She is a passionate creative leader with over seventeen years of experience.Hanifa’s foundation was built at Parsons the New School of Design and the International Center of photography. She has worn many hats and worked in various roles upto Creative Director. She’s been the recipient of AI-AP, SPD, POYi & Webby awards.

At the heart of her purpose is an unrelenting commitment to creative excellence, kindness, and Building community and increasing opportunity for historically excluded people. She was responsible for spearheading photography equity initiatives at Netflix and Verizon.

Henry Ong is a marketing executive who has worked at some of the most iconic global entertainment brands. Currently, he serves as a Director of Brand Marketing at Universal Pictures responsible for spearheading unmissable marketing activations for high-profile films such as: Jurassic World Dominion, Nope, and Oppenheimer. Prior to Universal Pictures, Henry spent over a decade at Marvel Entertainment and Disney. At Marvel, he led innovative 360 marketing campaigns for their live-action television shows. At Disney, he helped build and execute global product strategies for award-winning films from Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

Hollie is Managing Director of Lucky Generals NYC. She has been vital in growing the new office since joining in 2021. Previously at Anomaly she ran a full Diageo portfolio—Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Bulleit, Captain Morgan, Don Julio, and Buchanan’s – winning Effies and Clios along the way.
She also led WeightWatchers, delivering a brand relaunch in 10 markets, working with Oprah Winfrey. And held agency responsibility for womxn empowerment and growth.
Before NYC, Hollie worked at 72andSunny LA, as well as WCRS and Ogilvy in London. Brand experience includes Coca-Cola, MTV, Sky, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, eBay, Philips, Unilever, INFINITI, and American Express.

Jabari has earned a reputation as a forward-thinking marketing executive who connects mission-driven brands with the heartbeat of culture to reach the next generation of consumers.

Before AKQA, he held positions on the media and brand side as SVP of Marketing and Entertainment at Westbrook Media, VP of Brand at Lyft and launched award winning campaigns for the Pixel 2 & Pixel 3, leading global marketing for mobile hardware at Google.

Pre-Google, Jabari led the football, baseball, and training consumer product lines at Nike, where he created some of Nike’s largest campaigns.

Jabari co-founded Monday Night Mentorship to coach and mentor marketers of color during the pandemic.

Jad-Évangelo is a multilingual Global Inclusion and Cross Cultural Expert with 15+ years of experience around the world in Advertising, Marketing, Media, Higher Education and Philanthropy who focuses on global narratives and strategic DEI initiatives with several organizations (Lululemon, FHL bank, NYU) focusing on Intersectionality, Global identities and cross-cultural practices. As an award-winning filmmaker on Prime Video for his short film ONCE UPON A COLOR, Jad-Évangelo received accolades with Arab America’s Top 30 Under 30 list, featured interviews with Empower Atlanta and the Black Wall Street Times. He was worked as a multicultural strategist with major agencies such as BBDO, TBWA, McCann Worldgroup, Transperfect and A-B Partners within the Middle East, North African and North American regions. Jad-Évangelo is a proud immigrant of Haitian, Lebanese and Palestinian background with fluency in 5 languages and teaches classes in Advertising, Media and Business at Morris Brown College, South University and University of North Texas.

Jasmine Gurley is the director of brand marketing & communications at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she leads internal and external communications, social media and content development, public relations and film projects, brand development and management, merchandising, as well as executive and crisis communications for the 157-year-old historically Black college. Prior to Morehouse, Jasmine held agency and in-house PR and communications roles for over a decade in the architecture, interior design, and building products industries. This ultimately led her to the product innovation PR team at The Home Depot headquarters, where she led several record-breaking PR-turned-sales campaigns, including the company’s first tagline change to “How Doers Get More Done” and the initial launch of the viral 12-foot Skeleton that swept the nation in 2020.

Jay is the Executive Director of Talent Development and Inclusion at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Apple’s Creative agency. In his current global role, he leads Talent and Learning Development, Culture & Engagement, Employee Resource Groups (ERGS), and DEI. Jay’s career spans Tech, Media, Government, Ed, and Non-Profit. He holds 25+ years international experience leading business transformation across multiple regions with culturally diverse teams. He’s specialized in the human capital and DEI space and the building of talent ecosystems. He has led projects for Apple, the UAE Federal Government, Stanford, the Kauffman Foundation, and Royal Dutch Shell. Additionally, he has collaborated with non-profit organizations across various domains, focusing on empowering historically marginalized communities including Bedouin tribes, women entrepreneurs, education and literacy initiatives, economic empowerment programs, and support for refugees and asylees. Jay is also a proud ADCOLOR Champion.

His personal and professional journey has been greatly influenced by his immigrant parents’ experiences of belonging and acceptance, reflecting a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. Having lived and worked in five countries across four continents, Jay brings a truly global perspective to his work.

A distinguished alumnus of the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, Jay holds an Honor Graduate status and dual Master’s degrees – a Master of Science in Leadership, Organizational Design & People Systems, as well as an MBA with Distinction. He has been honored with awards from the Institute of International Education, the STARR Foundation, the American International Group, and the Golden Bear Award from TBWA\MAL. Jay is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, the Beta Gamma Honor Society, and holds several certifications in Talent and Organizational Development, alongside numerous credentials and accolades spanning various industries.

Before joining Match in 2017 to lead multicultural marketing strategy for Match Affinity, Julia was Managing Director at Dieste, an Omnicom agency, leading a group of brand executives and cross-functional teams in business development for key clients including AT&T, The Hershey Company, Southwest Airlines, Nissan, and P&G among others. Previously, she was Director of Marketing at Nexxo, a fintech startup acquired by MoneyGram. A Women in Tech, Top Women of Impact, Unstoppable Women and Global Industry Leader honoree, Julia is a proud bicultural Latina with over 25 years of experience.

With a focus on health equity and inclusive data-driven marketing practices, LaChanel Hemphill has led initiatives connecting healthcare clients with underserved populations, addressing disparities in provider education, health literacy and access. Utilizing data analytics, she has identified regional variations to tailor strategic marketing interventions, fostering increased engagement and positive outcomes. Additionally, as a Subject Matter Expert, LaChanel has championed inclusive technology adoption, ensuring innovations like AI and machine learning are accessible to diverse populations. Her dedication to combining marketing expertise with a passion for inclusivity has driven impactful change.

Mika Liboro currently serves as EVP, Head of Communications for McCann North America. She specializes in corporate communications for creative agencies with an emphasis on executive eminence, content development and strategic media relations, working closely with the c-suite to develop agency and brand narratives.

Mika provides strategic counsel and is a media relations powerhouse with deep expertise elevating brands and positioning companies in the forefront of the industry. Mika previously served as Head of of PR/Communications for Droga5 and Director of PR/Communications at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA. Prior, she was VP, Director of Communications at Deutsch LA, leading external and internal communications for the agency and its production studio Steelhead.

Mike Taylor serves as Vice President, Team Marketing & Business Operations, for the NBA and is charged with growing NBA, WNBA, NBA G League & NBA 2K League team profitability through strategic consulting in all areas of business operations, including ticket sales, suite sales, customer retention, sponsorship, marketing and digital, suite sales, guest experience, arena operations, analytics, and expense management. Since joining the NBA, he has helped drive results across the league, including four consecutive attendance records in addition to record setting ticket and partnership revenue results.

Mike Williams’ North Star is driving progress through creativity. He has been able to realize this vision in multiple leadership roles. Prior to his current role as Executive Creative Director at FCB, Mike led Branded Content for a publisher; was a creative lead at the BET network; and ran creative for Commonground, a multicultural advertising agency. Mike has won awards in various industries he’s been in from Cannes to the Effies to ProMax. He has authored for online platforms and contributed to books published in academia. He’s grown business on a variety of international brands including Verizon, Coke, Walmart, and MillerCoors.

An acclaimed entertainment marketer and advocate for representation, Nana brings 20 years of expertise, crafting groundbreaking campaigns for industry giants like Netflix, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Universal Studios. At Meta Inc, she leads creative marketing, content strategy, and innovation, building content experiences that connect brands and creators to the world. Committed to uplifting underrepresented communities, Nana leads Meta’s SEEN initiative, where she has been a speaker, educator, and co-creator for thousands of storytellers in spaces such as Sundance, SXSW, AdColor. A Clio Awards Judge and Webby Award winner, her work has been featured in Variety, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline.

As North America Head of Audience Data Strategy and MarTech, Nidhi is responsible for bringing Audience Data Strategy & Insights at the center of the End-to-End planning and Measurement process. As member of EssenceMediacom US Leadership team, Nidhi is leading the transformation of our operations, pushing audiences through the full Planning, Activation, Measurement process and elevating the use of predicative audience modeling across accounts.
Nidhi has hands on experience in growing teams and clients to profitable growth in highly competitive segments. Her extensive experience covers various verticals such as CPG, Technology and Automotive with a portfolio of diverse clients.
Nidhi was named one of the twenty-seven rising stars of AdTech in Business Insider April 2023 issue. Previously, Nidhi has served as Diversity and Inclusion Board Member for Together Digital and was a member of the Female Foundry program. In addition, she has served as a seasonal adjunct Professor at Franklin University where she teaches Marketing Analytics.

Pia Padukone has worked in healthcare advertising her whole life. But the healthcare part is not what drives her. It’s story that is the through line. She followed it to different agencies and new roles, chasing the opportunities that lit a fire in her to follow their narratives. In all the free time that advertising affords, Pia wrote two novels that were published by a major publishing house. From FCB Health to Sudler and Hennessey to CDM to Harrison and Star to Heartbeat and now Saatchi and Saatchi Wellness, she follows the thread of any story that I can shape.

Randi White is an enthusiastic, strategic-thinking, and impact-driven senior leader with 17 years of experience building brands and successful teams, fostering lasting client relationships, and developing DEIB strategies that drive change. She is currently an SVP at award-winning Day One Agency focused on Strategy and DEIB, a role created for her based on her unparalleled passion for fostering a culture of belonging, integrating DEIB into all aspects of the business, and reimagining approaches to DEIB. Prior to joining Day One, Randi worked at digital ad agencies overseeing top-tier brands across diverse categories—CPG, sports, automotive, fashion, and more.

Ranjani is a creative leader with nearly two decades of experience in writing, creative direction & strategy, making content, and leading and inspiring creative teams. She is currently SVP, Story at the award-winning Day One Agency in New York City. She started her career as a trend forecaster and culture writer for FADER, Refinery29, V Magazine, Vogue.com, and others. Her advertising career spans tenure at Condé Nast working as a creative lead at the in-house agencies of Glamour, Vogue, and Condé Nast Traveler; as a creative director at renowned creative agencies AR New York and Laird + Partners; and as an executive at POPSUGAR, Taylor, and Day One Agency, leading teams to create culture-driven, purpose-led content and experiences.

Sean is the Managing Partner of Travori, a Sports, Music & Entertainment firm dedicated to cultivating Cultural Partnerships and Experiences for brands, properties and talent.
Previously, Sean was an SVP at CSM Sport & Entertainment, where he oversaw the Brand Consulting division and managed accounts such as Indeed, Booking.com, Sage and Coca-Cola.
He also served as Vice President of Horizon Media’s Sports & Entertainment where he drove significant new business and optimized existing client strategies across the agency.
Sean has 17+ years of advertising, brand and sports marketing experience through organizations such as GlobalHue Advertising Agency, Chase and Oakview Group.

An award-winning Group Account Director, Stephanie’s more than 16 years of Account Management experience has been felt on several brands at various agencies including Burrell Communications, VML, The Martin Agency and Wieden + Kennedy. She’s consistently recognized for going the extra mile for the creative work, her agencies and her clients.

Beyond her love for advertising, Stephanie has always been active in mentorship. She truly believes that it’s her duty to pour into others what’s been invested in her.

Stephanie’s other, more personal, passions include: powerlifting, crocheting and spending time with her three beloved nieces and her dog, Zuri.

With 17 years of experience in sales, strategy, and marketing, Tadji fosters meaningful connections between humans and brands. As Director of Client Partnerships at Left Field Labs, she collaborates with influential leaders to design innovative digital and immersive experiences. Tadji’s approach centers on connecting dots, big-picture thinking, and developing strategic solutions aligned with client goals. Her portfolio includes large-scale projects spanning AI, AR, interactive installations, and more. A first-generation Iranian American, Tadji focuses on moving the needle in the world, bridging cultures and driving change through technology. Her work exemplifies the power of diverse perspectives in shaping transformative digital solutions.

Tiffany Kerr leads a Meta Creative Shop team responsible for a multi-billion dollar portfolio of more than 6,000 advertisers. Celebrated for her thought leadership on the business of creative, Tiffany equips advertisers of all sizes to grow by maximizing their creative potential on Meta’s platforms and expanding the communities they serve. Before joining Meta, Tiffany built the playbook for inclusion in tourism advertising and championed small businesses in her role as VP of Marketing at Visit Austin. Tiffany’s career was built on a creative agency foundation where she led accounts for PepsiCo, BMW, Southwest Airlines, Hilton Hotels, and ADCOLOR.

Tracy Keller is a senior sales and marketing executive with over 18 years of premium video and branded content experience. Tracy began her career at CNN Digital and then joined The Walt Disney Company in 2007. In her current role as Director of Sales, she is responsible for driving revenue growth across the Disney portfolio, maintaining strong client relationships and providing day-to-day guidance and leadership to her sales team. During her tenure, Tracy has sold marketing and media products across ABC Network, ABCNews, Disney+, ESPN, Freeform, FX, Hulu, National Geographic and SOAPnet. Tracy’s expertise includes streaming, addressable, social, creators/influencers and linear. Tracy received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Baruch College in 2006 and a Professional Master of Business Administration degree in Management from Binghamton University in 2009. She Runs It honored Tracy as a GenNext recipient in 2018 and as Working Mother of the Year in 2024.

Willow Hill is an entrepreneur and award-winning Chief Creative Officer at the helm of building the purpose-driven brands of tomorrow. As the Co-founder of Scout Lab, her clients include Wix.com, Adidas, Venmo, and scaling startups such as Ritual, Maple, Kindred, and Casetify. Prior to Scout Lab, she built and launched Airbnb’s global brand, introducing the Airbnb rebrand to the world via major global campaigns. Today, Willow speaks on building brands designed for the next generation. Her work has been featured by Forbes, The Disney Channel, Ad Week, Nylon, Rolling Stone, and the Dieline.