Lunch curated by 8it, NYC’s app for food pop-ups, drops and industry recos. 8it’s bringing Black culinary magic to Blackweek; today featuring Chef Brittney “Stikxz” Williams, a renowned NYC chef of Jamaican descent serving us a dish that celebrates the Jamaican diaspora, blending tradition with innovation. Download 8it, the simplest way to find the best food.

Herbed Quinoa Salad (chicken & veggie):
Spiced chickpea, fried shallots, goat cheese & coconut masala dressing

This lunch is proudly sponsored by KUAMP, an award-winning, independent, Black-owned pioneering creative production studio at the intersection of culture and innovation. Visit kuamp.com to learn more.

*NOTE: this lunch is for Premier Registrants only located within the Omnicom | OPRG Premier Lounge.

As the tech industry continues to shape the future of work, innovation, and global economies, the importance of diversity and inclusion has never been more critical. This panel will explore how intentional, thoughtful, and strategic efforts to build inclusive cultures within tech companies can foster creativity, drive innovation, and lead to sustainable success.

Leading experts in technology, business, and diversity will share insights into the practical measures that companies can take to design more inclusive work environments. Discussions will focus on the importance of diverse leadership, equitable access to opportunities, and how technology itself can be leveraged to create positive social change. Panelists will highlight case studies of organizations that have successfully embraced diversity by design, offering attendees actionable strategies for integrating inclusion into the very fabric of their corporate cultures.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, executive, or a tech professional, this session will provide valuable insights into how diversity is a fundamental element in designing the future of tech and driving economic growth.

Black Americans watch more TV and consume more media than the rest of the population. Yet, they remain one of the most underrepresented groups on TV—from the lack of doctors on the big screen to the lack of representation in advertising—and this is affecting the community in more ways than you may think, including its overall health. This panel will discuss the role entertainment plays and the impact it has on shaping healthcare perceptions and health disparities, particularly in the Black community.

Peloton rode into everyone’s lives, ushering in new realities of what at home fitness and self care would be. What made Peloton different is how it built community around its brand. At the core of the Peloton community are its instructors, who are with you anytime and anywhere, be it first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day, or after work to help you meet your personal fitness goals. In this fireside chat between Walter Geer, Peloton Instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts, and Peloton Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Weinberg, we’ll discuss how Peloton built a diverse influencer army of instructors and a thriving community, and how its instructors have become brands and influencers in their own right.

At a time when many companies are pulling back from DE&I initiatives, Sephora is doubling down on its investment by continuing its work around ensuring diverse representation, expanding partnerships, and strategically aligning its brand with inclusive cultural narratives. Join us for an engaging fireside discussion with Sephora’s Celessa Baker, Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, and Danisha Lomax, Head of Client Inclusivity and Impact at Digitas, where they will discuss how Sephora’s commitment to economic inclusion is reshaping the beauty industry and supercharging the brand’s growth.

This discussion will explore:
– Sephora’s strategic DE&I initiatives: Including its commitment to the Fifteen Percent Pledge and the impact of Sephora’s Racial Bias in Retail Study.
– The evolving role of brand partnerships: How leveraging collaborations helps the retailer authentically connect with diverse communities.
– Business outcomes: Sephora’s commitment to inclusion is not just a social imperative, but a business strategy that enhances brand loyalty and drives revenue.

Wondering what it actually takes for companies to stay the course on inclusion? P&G marketing and media leaders demonstrate how they have elevated equality and inclusion as essential, enduring elements of business growth and operationalized winning through diversity as a strategy for success across the enterprise. Join this interactive conversation to understand how to shift the conversation from “resilience” to “returns.”

Challenging times often reveal people’s true colors, and today is no exception. In an era where self-preservation tends to prevail, we’re witnessing a decline in moral values across industries. Why is it so difficult for professionals to consistently demonstrate courage? In this fireside chat, Sundial CEO Kirk McDonald will delve into the systemic and ethical challenges plaguing the advertising industry and explore the urgent need for more courage and accountability.

100% of US population growth comes from diverse consumers. Diverse consumers have a combined spending power of over 5 trillion dollars. The statistics that support marketers’ prioritization of diverse audiences are irrefutable. Yet, there is still a significant disparity in investment in how these audiences are prioritized by most Fortune 500 companies. With CMOs’ time being so finite, how do they make sure they have the information needed to make diversity a business driver? In this presentation, BECA Founder & CEO Jerri DeVard will lead a discussion on what best practices CMOs and market leaders should incorporate to ensure they are maximizing, prioritizing, and right-sizing diverse audiences within their total addressable market. From shaking up their supplier base, to how to incorporate new forms of insights gathering, to the growing importance of being culturally relevant, this talk will unpack the principles on how to make DE&I a competitive advantage for CMOs.

Let’s be honest—everyone wants to win awards and be recognized for their work. However, the awards culture in advertising carries more weight than simply acknowledging creative excellence. Brands often determine an agency’s value based on its awards history, and top talent is drawn to agencies with prestigious wins, leading to more opportunities for award-worthy projects. But how does this dynamic affect diverse-owned agencies and executives striving to compete on a level playing field, hoping to secure accolades like a Cannes Lion or an Effie? Is the awards industry inherently biased, and does it unintentionally perpetuate inequity? In this panel, Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, will explore the biases within the awards system and the efforts being made to create more equitable recognition across the industry.