Robin Wright called on businesses to embrace “the full richness of humanity” today speaking at a diversity focused event held by Google at the Cannes Lions Festival 2019.
The Hollywood actor and activist, who also set up socially conscious sleepwear label Pour Les Femmes, said: “We are very happy to be here representing Pour Les Femmes, a real example of a business driving economic empowerment for women in conflict regions. We all learn so much when working with the full richness humanity has to offer, from gender to geography, and welcome this event from Google to drive that spirit through marketing and advertising.”
Her comments were made as part of Google’s programme, Diversity is creative: Are you making the most of it? which was held today at the Google Beach during the Cannes Lions Festival 2019. It focused on the importance of creating more inclusive, meaningful work that speaks to all kinds of audiences – with Robin acting as an expert voice from outside the industry. The programme also tackled new, better ways to make companies a place where diverse talent can grow and thrive through effective hiring practices and a focus on fostering an inclusive company culture.
Pedro Pina, VP Global Client & Agency Solutions at Google, who hosted the event, said: “At Google, diversity and inclusion are an ongoing, global effort. The most important thing we’ve learned is that we can’t do it alone. By coming together as an advertising community, we can learn from each other, support each other, and ultimately accelerate progress.”
As an example of how Google collaborates with the industry to further diversity and inclusivity, the company announced the global expansion of Rare, an initiative first created in 2017 as a 20% project* by two Creative Directors, Tara McKenty and Stefanie DiGianvincenzo.
Now a fully supported Google global programme, Rare is a platform that gives underrepresented talent, throughout the advertising industry, the tools and the professional network they need to thrive. Rare has provided leadership training for hundreds of future leaders from communities underrepresented in advertising. Furthermore, through Rare’s corporate clinics, they also equip businesses with the actionable steps to drive change within their companies.
Rare has the support and endorsements of more than 50 creative agencies, brands and like-minded organisations around the world – from BBDO, Dentsu and R/GA, to Channel 4, AirBNB, D&AD, Creative Equals, and the Berlin School of Creative Leadership as well as 25 charitable partners. In just over 12 months, Rare has trained over 250 future leaders from communities underrepresented in advertising.
Speaking at the Diversity is Creative event, in addition to Robin Wright, were industry leaders such as Chaka Sobhani, CCO Leo Burnett and Luis Miguel Messianu, CCO Alba DDB, alongside top Diversity and Inclusion advocates, such as Tiffany Warren, President, ADCOLOR and Shelley Zalis, CEO, The Female Quotient.
