27: Why the industry should be more DIVERSE! I'm one of FEW Women running a studio! Why I founded APNA Studios!
May 23, 2023
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Jessy Gillis, Founder of Apna Studios, discusses the importance of diversity in the creative industry, challenges in founding a studio as a female leader, fostering inclusivity, addressing accessibility barriers, and advocating for more diverse leadership in advertising campaigns.
Financial support boosts diversity, collaboration with diverse studios enhances cultural insights, and investing in diverse agencies impacts the industry positively.
Implementing mentorship programs and retention initiatives supports diverse talent, fostering progression, code-switching, and inclusive leadership opportunities.
Combatting tokenism in the industry requires strategists to push for original storytelling, genuine insights, and authentic representation to drive diversity and inclusivity.
Deep dives
Need for Financial Support for Diverse Talent
Financial support is critical for attracting and retaining diverse talent in agencies. Collaborating with diverse studios and businesses to gain cultural insights, offering financial support and succession paths for diverse talent, and investing in working with diverse agencies can significantly impact the industry.
Importance of Mentorship and Retention Programs
Implementing mentorship programs, such as reverse mentoring, and retention initiatives can help support diverse talent in the industry. Offering programs for progression, support in code-switching, nurturing talent, and providing opportunities for leadership can enhance retention and create a more inclusive environment.
Challenges of Tokenism and Lack of Originality
Tokenism and lack of originality pose challenges in the industry, leading to the replication of ad campaigns with superficial diversity. Strategists play a crucial role in challenging briefs, pushing for genuine insights, questioning language and representation, and driving original storytelling to combat tokenistic practices.
Shift Towards Originality and Cultural Authenticity
Embracing originality and cultural authenticity is vital to combat tokenism and superficial diversity in ad campaigns. Strategists can push for genuine insights, storytelling, and representation, helping brands move away from generic practices towards authentic and diverse storytelling.
Negative Impact of Mobile Phones on Human Interaction
While recognizing the utility of mobile phones, there is a growing concern about their negative impact on human interaction and nature. The excessive use of phones is eroding authentic human connections, leading to a desire to minimize phone usage, reduce addiction, and prioritize in-person interactions for a more meaningful and balanced life.
Apna Studios Founder Jessy Gillis the latest guest on untalented by UNKNOWN.
We discuss Jessy's journey to finding Apna Studios, why the industry should be more diverse, how the industry is built on the culture it takes from, why there are hardly any other female founders of studios, what we can do to fix the diversity issue, and why Jessy felt forced and compelled to make her own studio.