Posted By Jasmin Mendoza, Thursday, November 9, 2023
ThinkLA's Diversity Summit, presented by My Code, left participants enlightened and inspired. This event symbolized ThinkLA's commitment to unifying and quantifying diversity efforts within the LA advertising community among Equity, Market, and Community pillars. The theme, "Amplifying Voices: Narratives of the Unheard and Underrepresented," brought to the forefront the stories and voices that often go unnoticed, emphasizing the importance of listening and understanding.
The panels at the event were remarkable, with leading experts, researchers, and advocates delving deep into the data-driven aspects of diversity and inclusion. The discussions unraveled the complexities and challenges that data presents when addressing diversity-related issues. The audience left with valuable insights into data-driven diversity narratives, poised to foster more inclusive societies and organizations. The event was a testament to the commitment of ThinkLA and its partners in driving change within the industry.
Testimonials
"Amazing event! Panelists were relatable and shared very real information, solution ideas, action items. I walked away feeling inspired and created my own action items list that I would like to see in my organization."
"My favorite part of this summit was the frankness with which each speaker spoke to each other up on stage. I also liked how each table had the name of the company visible."
"It was such an energetic summit, amazing content with awesome speakers."
Meet Our Committee Members:
ThinkLA events are organized with the help of industry professionals. Many thanks to this committee:
Co-Chair:Erik Guzman, SVP, Experience and Culture, UM
Co-Chair:Matthew Weisbecker, Chief Revenue Officer, My Code Media
- Kirsten Atkinson, VP, Brand Partnerships, BuzzFeed
- Suzie Bao, Group Account Director, Quigley - Simpson
- Leisha Bereson, Director, Media, Tubi
- Naomi Defensor, Team Director, Demand Partnerships, North America, Equativ
- Darryl Hawes, Sr. Account Executive, Locality Streaming
- Wanda Kato, EVP, Managing Partner, Horizon Media
- Kim Lewis, SVP, Ad Sales, BET
- Monet Merritt, Global Partnerships Director, Nike Jordan Brand, Initiative
- Duryea Ruffins, Executive Vice President, Strategy, Spark Foundry
- Joe Shields, President, Business Operations, The Hollywood Reporter
