Addressing the Need for Diversity in the Advertising Industry

Diversity is a challenge that plagues the advertising industry but is steadily gaining more recognition as being important. With marketers embracing technology to provide personalised services to consumers, the need for diversity stands out as a key factor in the industry’s success.

As many industry experts acknowledge, creativity and diversity are linked; the more diverse a team is, the more creative and innovative solutions it will produce. When brands ignore the issue, they are likely to appear tone-deaf or lack perspective in their delivery.

From a historical perspective, much progress has been made when it comes to diversity. However, with a clear connection between the quality of output and the breadth of representation, some wonder why the advertising industry has not invested heavily in initiatives that promote it .

Still, even as conversations continue at the industry level, various success stories have highlighted the value of diversity and inclusion. Ajab Samrai, a respected creative who is the Global Chief Creative Officer at Blitzworks, is among those who feel diversity is a pertinent issue that needs more attention.

One of a Handful

In 1987, when Mr. Samrai joined Saatchi & Saatchi London, he was among the first Asians born in Britain to get into the industry. As he recalls, “you could count us on one hand.”

This didn’t hold him back, however, and by the age of 23 he was one of the youngest Creative Group Heads in the company’s history. He worked on some of the biggest brands in the world, with his contributions leading to business worth millions of pounds and over 300 awards to his credit.

As Chief Creative Officer of O&M Group Japan, he championed diversity and created opportunities for more female creative talent.

Giving a Platform to Others

Mr. Samrai’s own experience has led him to value diverse thinking at Blitzworks, especially from younger creatives who join the team. During the pandemic, one of the company’s hires was Bryan Obonyo, a creative who — while appreciating the exciting and challenging nature of the job — feels that the advertising industry is not changing fast enough to invite promising black students.

In his experience, Obonyo notes that many people he has come across have been welcoming and helpful and that many established companies have long-running diversity initiatives. He notes that the advertising industry can learn from the music industry, where inclusivity and diversity are more widespread and accepted.