In February Walter T Geer posted that he was going to shut down his social media and “use it to amplify the voices of Black women that needed a mega phone” Walter commented that Historically Black women “have CONSISTENTLY been called upon to help solve the worlds problems. It wasn’t too long ago that leaders and companies called upon and hired many of these women, to save their companies by addressing their diversity issues. Now only a few years later, many of those same leaders and companies seem to have forgotten the very people who helped dig them out of a hole” I was in touch with Walter and asked if he thought it was a good idea to profile some of the women he had featured and host a panel discussion on their experiences in marketing and communications and from their perspectives why we are where we are and what needs to change.  I was incredibly grateful that six of the black female leaders featured by Walter came back and agreed to be part of the discussion. In Part One of that discussion I am joined by *Effie Kanyua, Founder: We Are Warriors PR - featured in PR Week's 'New Agencies to Watch in 2024' *Ekaette Kern, Co-Founder and CEO, Tenet Consultancy. *LeAnne Weekes, public relations and marketing expert looking for her next role In this episode we have a really open conversation we discuss barriers to entry for black professionals in the field, including recruitment challenges, unpaid internships, lack of progression routes, and systemic issues. The panel discuss real-life examples of overcoming barriers in the industry, strategies for enhancing diversity in marketing and communications, stories of perseverance, creativity, and success, advice for aspiring professionals, emphasising the value of networking. Despite some progress, our industry still has a long way to go in truly embracing diversity and inclusivity. Let's learn, grow, and support each other in making the marketing world a place where everyone's voice is heard and valued. 💡 Listen, Learn Lead with That’s What I Call Marketing 00:26 Effie's Journey: From Journalism to AI-Powered PR 01:23 LeAnne's Diverse Communications Expertise 02:54 Ekaette's Mission: Diversifying the Agency World in Atlanta 04:28 The Stark Reality of Diversity in the Industry 05:02 Breaking Down Barriers: Opportunities and Representation 09:24 The Importance of Diverse Voices in Creative Industries 12:20 Challenges and Solutions for True Diversity and Inclusion 18:34 The Role of Leadership and Strategy in DE&I Initiatives 21:36 The Impact of DE&I Rollbacks and the Need for Action 44:22 Advice for Aspiring Professionals in the Communications Industry Thanks to today's show sponsors: The Indie List and Diplomat, the global brand agency  Get in touch about sponsorship or content partnerships, email  EmailInstagram X YoutubeListen to all episodes here  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.