Walking the Talk on 
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging 

June 21-25, 2021

Sparking Meaningful Action Through Candid Conversations

VAB will provide a stage for new voices, diversity of thought and fresh perspectives with the ultimate goal of driving lasting change and inclusivity within our industry.
These conversations told through industry professionals are to inspire actionable shifts in mindset and offer practical guidance to spark meaningful action.
Together, we will illuminate the path forward on prioritizing diversity, driving inclusivity, and instilling a feeling of belonging in the workplace, in our lives and beyond.

Let's Walk the Talk - Advancing Diversity & Inclusion Through Equity & Belonging

Session 1. Commitment to Change

Understanding the value, the issues, and fundamentals of diversity and inclusion are the first steps to addressing the systematic inequities and injustices in society. Unless we understand these fundamentals, and the issues that come along with them, we can’t talk about or start to address the problems of racism and unconscious bias. Last year, as a response civil unrest taking place in the country and the increased demand for equality for all, ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (AIMM) put forth an industry pledge detailing the steps needed to move our industry forward. This session will share the work done to date and the vision of a more equitable playing field for all so that we can finally #SeeALL

Session 2. A Fireside Chat: Leading by Example, with Powerful Purpose

Inspiring Others - A Journey to Inclusive Leadership

Session 1. A Path Towards Transformation

It takes inspiring leaders to empower others to take on challenges and bold missions. We will inspire others on how to overcome personal and professional challenges to achieve success as a leader, for their teams, and set a path for future generation of change makers. 

Session 2. A Fireside Chat: Authenticity Demands Choice, The Path to Honest Leadership

Looking Within Our Industry 

The Value of Being Seen and What Inclusivity Really Means in Marketing and Advertising 

Session 1. Advancing Cultural Journeys in Marketing & Advertising

There has been an industry-wide call for brands to enhance the authenticity of their communications, improve their cultural relevancy, and increase their diverse representation and inclusivity. We will explore the growing importance of connecting through culture and guiding brands’ cultural journeys in a fact-based process. Join us as we chat with brand leaders at different stages of launching and advancing their journeys as they seek higher quality connections leading to incremental impact.

Session 2. In Conversation with iSpot.tv - Spreading the Message of Diversity & Inclusion through Empowering TV Ads

2020 redefined what it means to be a brand in the 21st century. On matters of diversity and inclusion, some brands continued their conversations, while many others just started to wade in. iSpot will impart lessons from the new wave of diverse and inclusive messaging in TV and video ads.

Session 3. The Business and Branding Benefits of Inclusive Marketing Campaigns

Wednesday June 23  |  2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

There is proven success for brands that have more diverse representation and inclusivity in their marketing. We will discuss what marketers need to truly embrace this inclusivity – inspirational success strategies, data & insights, and proof that “doing good” impacts their bottom line. This session will provide lessons from brands and marketing campaigns that are successfully embracing inclusivity in their communications – and learn how to apply to your own strategies and plans and correlate inclusion to business outcomes.

Lessons From Organizations Making a Difference 

Session 1. Advice and Inspiration from Organizations Making Change

Thursday June 24  |  1:00 PM - 1:45 PM EDT

In these sessions we are shining a light on organizations who are successfully addressing diversity, inclusion and bias in their lives, offices and communities. This session will provide actionable, practical advice from how other organizations are driving equity and belonging to incorporate into business practices and everyday life. You’ll learn how to get started and what you can do now to begin making a difference.

Session 2. In Conversation with Sightly

Thursday June 24  |  1:50 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

At a time when brands are expected to participate in cultural conversations and brand loyalty can change in an instant, we'll talk about how to hold ourselves and each other accountable for developing and staying true to our brand's identity. Sightly and Horizon Media discuss their approach to fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting diversity across the industry.

Getting Inspired: Success Stories and Real-World Insights

Session 1. In Conversation with Tubi

Friday June 25  |  1:00 PM - 1:10 PM EDT

Diversity both in front of and behind the camera is table stakes for Marketers looking to reach nationally representative audiences in authentic and meaningful ways. Tubi will discuss both the importance of diverse storytelling and audience accessibility to live and on-demand news, sports and entertainment content.

Session 2. Leading the Conversation Through Fresh Perspectives and Actionable Guidance

Friday June 25  |  1:15 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or have been working for years, we all need perspective and actionable insights on how to confront the tough conversations and foster a more inclusive mindset in life and work, particularly in light of challenges of unconscious bias. This session will provide inspiration and guidance for all those wanting to not only succeed but support cultural inclusion.

*Check out the Winner of the Young Rising Star Award + Honorees HERE.

The learnings from our summit cover topics such as: unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, cultural relevancy in advertising, inclusive marketing, equity and belonging in the workplace. As always, we aim to inspire fresh thinking, rooted in real-world learnings and experiences so we are providing actionable takeaways from each of the sessions. Download them HERE