My Code’s Post

As we begin to catch up from the exhilaration, energy and well-earned exhaustion that makes #Cannes, I want to share some of my thoughts that I hope will live beyond the week. 1. Latino unity and pride became Latino community and productivity at Cannes.  As more and more #Latinos reclaim our #Latinidad, we are inspired and uplifted by each other.  When we actively come together as a community we create the kind of critical mass we need, build our own networks, and drive progress together.  It is reinforcing to engage as a group. Our shared voice  empowers and emboldens our individual voices. 2. Partnerships are best when they are allyships.  Without question, we took greater flight at Cannes this year because we had partners who not only showed up but sponsored our events, participated in them, opened up their audiences to ours.  I want to call out Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity's Chair, Philip Thomas, as well as Republica Havas, Procter & Gamble, National Football League (NFL), LERMA/. @MEL, REMEZCLA Media Group, Malka and Nielsen.  The sponsorships made our work possible.  Their belief in us helped us  soar. 3. The facts fuel the future.  We came to Cannes with a solid business case for the Latino market —data about our $3.4 trillion purchasing power and our $3.2 billion GDP. We drew the arc for the future, that our 20% population, which is the youngest and fastest-growing will grow to 30% of the population in the future.  Data makes storytelling powerful and persuasive. 4. Diversity isn’t an add-on.  #Marketers who not only understand their consumers but reflect their values are rewarded with sales, profits and long-term brand loyalty. So, for all the noise and backlash about DEI, take a look — the best of the best companies understand that inclusivity is not a box to tick, it’s a smart business strategy. Marketing is about the future and Latinos are the future. 4. We must keep driving Latino visibility on global platforms.  It is important for us to be in all the rooms where it happens — not just Cannes but also Davos and Advertising Week and any other platform where we can and must be part of the discussion. We also have to show up for each other. It is important for us to learn and listen from each other, build an agenda together and speak from the same script. Cannes was successful by so many measures.  The relationships between Latinos and brands, agencies, media and technology are being built and fortified all the time.  Our shared interests create a win for everyone and together we can write a future that is productive, prosperous and purposeful for all.

🎉 Celebrating Another Milestone: A Resounding Success at the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions Convention! 🌟 Greetings to our incredible community! We're thrilled to share the success of our recent keynote at the Canadian Association of Fairs & Exhibitions Convention, where we embarked on a journey to "Creating a More Inclusive World, One Conversation At A Time." 🌍💬 In our collective pursuit of a more inclusive, human-centered future, we delved into the transformative power of curiosity and the courage to unlearn. These qualities, we believe, are the bedrock for creating spaces where every individual experiences a profound sense of belonging. 🤝 During our session, we worked towards establishing a common language and knowledge base—essential tools for understanding the 'why' behind diversity, equity, and inclusion. Together, we began to unravel the threads of our own self-awareness, fostering a deeper understanding of how others around us experience the world. 🌐✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey! Your presence and engagement added immeasurable value to the conversation. Let's continue to champion inclusivity, spark more conversations, and build a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Here's to creating a more inclusive world, one conversation at a time! 🚀🌟 #InclusionRevolution #BelongingMatters #CAFEConventionSuccess

It was a pleasure meeting with 'Ronke Kokoruwe on my recent trip to London. Out of kindness, she visited me, and we chatted and got to know each other better. I first met Ronke when she spoke at the Rise and Lead Women - Rise & Lead Summit in 2022. After we issued a call for speakers, she reached out, wondering if it was okay for her to apply. I encouraged her, saying, 'You should apply and let the team decide if you qualify.' Fortunately, she was selected and her presence brought a unique energy and inspiration to the Rise & Lead Summit stage. She also brought along her friend Yemi. Today, I appreciate both of them because, whether they are speaking or not, they ensure they secure tickets to join the Summit in The Hague. One of the ways we promote diversity in our speaker selection is through our call for speakers. We made this call last week, which was supposed to have closed yesterday. However, the applications we have received so far still lack diversity. As an organisation deeply committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, we intentionally ensure that people of all backgrounds, including men and women with a unique message to share are represented on the Rise & Lead stage. If you're still wondering whether to apply, please do so today. Let the speaker selection team decide. We have extended the application deadline by another week to attract more diverse applications, including men. Please apply before the new deadline or share with someone you know. Read the guidelines and apply now. P.S: You don't need any special permission to apply. However, if you are not selected this time, it may be your turn next time. But do apply anyway through the link below. https://lnkd.in/eahKvRHV #Riseandleadwomen #rlsummit2024 #callforspeakers

' Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is still the only truly global celebration of the absolute best work that our industry is capable of, and in my view it’s a must-attend for everybody. I coach and advise a number of leaders of small to midsize agencies and holding companies, and for their business development and agency growth goals, I always recommend attending Cannes, even (and especially) if they’ve never been. It’s the one week of the year where you can find pretty much everybody in our industry and everybody on the client side all in the one place, so for biz-dev goals, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Plus, you don’t have to rent a beach to get noticed. Demonstrate precisely what Cannes celebrates -- extremely ingenious strategy + highly creative execution -- and you can impose yourself on the landscape of Cannes to generate buzz, chatter and media coverage to further those goals.' I talk to Barbara Lippert for MediaPost: https://lnkd.in/eBHPavim

Do you champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace? Nominate your company for one of the prestigious DEI awards at Women In Travel CIC awards in June! Alessandra Alonso shares more in the video below. They're not looking for perfection, but rather genuine dedication and tangible actions towards fostering diversity and belonging. With just 3 tailored questions that won't take more than 20 minutes to answer, you could be on your way to winning in one of four categories: DEI Professionals Team, DEI Champions of the Year, Inclusive Talent & Recruitment Leader of the Year, and Allyship Heroes of the Year. If you're part of a team leading the charge in driving DEI initiatives within your company, show us how your team influences and educates colleagues at all levels. If your company is actively moving from talk to action in the realm of DEI, share how you're setting the standard for inclusive workplaces and campaigns. If you've implemented innovative talent management and recruitment initiatives to harness the power of diversity, let us know how you're reaching beyond conventional channels to represent all individuals in society. And if your company excels in being an ally to women and diverse groups, both internally and externally, highlight your allyship strategies and programs. Your efforts will be judged by an independent, diverse, and distinguished panel of industry experts (one of which is me!). Don't miss this opportunity to stand out and inspire others! The deadline is approaching quickly. #recognitionawards #womenintravel

Ready to start 2024 off with some new resolutions? Why not join Urban Land Institute’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and AmCham HK’s Women of Influence Committee to meet some new faces (and remember their names when you leave). In today’s fast-paced world, remembering people's names can be a game-changer, opening doors to new opportunities and fostering lasting relationships. This interactive session will provide you with practical strategies and proven techniques to network effectively in a variety of scenarios, as well effortlessly recall names while simultaneously making a memorable impression. During this dynamic event, you will gain valuable insights into the art of networking, learn effective icebreakers, and discover how to forge meaningful connections in any setting. Through interactive exercises and real-life scenarios, you'll develop the ability to remember names with ease, leaving a lasting positive impact on everyone you meet. Join in the combining of these two impactful women's networks in Hong Kong and make valuable new connections. Key Takeaways: 🧠 Learn the science behind memory and its relation to name recall. 🤝 Master proven techniques for introducing yourself and engaging in meaningful conversations. ⁉️ Discover practical strategies to remember people's names. Register here, men and women, members and non-members welcome! https://lnkd.in/gAcgDGCD #nyresolution #networking #skills #wli #uli #woi #womeninbusiness Susheela Rivers Ada Fung Hannah Jeong Yvonne Lui

WHAT MEN CAN DO TO PARTNER FOR CHANGE: - Actively mentor and promote women to leadership positions. - Share best practices and your commitment to diversity and gender balance. - Identify unconscious or direct biases and address them with other men. - Call upon women, including women of color, in discussions to create an environment that encourages collaboration. - Give women credit for their work, especially up the leadership chain, and actively listen and implement their recommendations. - Recruit women to lead high-profile projects. - Advocate for women within your company and your networks. PARTNERSHIPS FOR PROGRESS: JOIN THE MOVEMENT Collaborative partnerships drive our global movement. Your support fuels our research, education, and advocacy efforts preparing and propelling women into corporate board service. https://lnkd.in/gWUh_ZSP #ChicagoEvents #5050WOB #WomenOnBoards #5050WomenOnBoards #DiversityandInclusion #GenderEquality #EmpowerWomen #GenderParity #CorporateResponsibility #BoardDiversity #WomenOnBoards #DiverseLeadership #CorporateGovernance #WomenLeaders #InclusiveLeadership #EmpowerWomen #DiversityInBusiness #ChangeTheBoardGame #EqualityInLeadership #WomenOfColor #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInLeadership 

What an event! Imagine a room full of ERG Latino/a/e/x leaders who work countless hours as volunteers to create community and offer career advancement for their coworkers.The energy was amazing! There was a panel followed by roundtable discussions about our challenges and wins. I had the honor to represent T-Mobile's ELEVA ERG in this event. Here are some takeaways: James Thomas, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Alaska Airlines offered the following advice to leaders: 1. Storytelling is important to let people know what you are doing in your ERG. Many times people just don't know. Your communication strategy needs to be very clear. 2. Make sure you use your voice because is more powerful than you know. You have more power than any of the DE&I team members in your company. You know what your members want and need and the DE&I team may not. 3. Leverage your executive sponsors. Don't be afraid to ask them. "I need this" for them to move obstacles out of the way. The incredible panelists Gladys Jimenez Freytag from Amazon, Aracely Godinez, CPA from Boeing, Pilar Pacheco from the Gates Foundation and Martha Segovia from Starbucks shared many insights, one of them was the challenges that Latinos face when moving to Seattle for work: - They agree that moving to Seattle from other cities or states that are more diverse can be a cultural shock for Latinos. - They founded ERGs or took leadership roles in their companies' ERGs to find their community and help others feel a sense of belonging. -Retention can be a challenge. They have seen talented Latinx employees leaving their companies and WA after a few years living in the Seattle area. "It can be tough living here."  -Boeing Familia ERG offers new employees a welcome kit to inform them about their resource group and to let them know that there is a community for them in the company. Fun fact: Only about two people from the audience were actually from the Seattle area. Thank you to Gladys Jimenez Freytag, Global President of Latinos at Amazon for the invitation! She has been a big supporter of Latinas in Tech - Seattle. 🙏 Thank you to all the leaders that put this event together and the companies that were sponsors. Special thank you to Alaska Airlines for hosting us in their beautiful space.

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In a recent incident at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, a performance led by Thomas Jolly unintentionally offended Christian and Conservative leaders around the world by depicting imagery reminiscent of "The Last Supper." The renowned mural by Leonardo da Vinci is a cornerstone of Christian worship, symbolizing Jesus Christ's sharing of bread and wine with his apostles, an act deeply embedded in the faith's traditions. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps issued an apology, emphasizing that the intent was to celebrate community tolerance, not to show disrespect. "Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance," Descamps said. She further expressed sincere regret to those offended, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting cultural and religious sensitivities. This incident underscores a critical business lesson for all event managers and organizers: Cultural sensitivity is not just a social responsibility but a key business strategy. Failure to respect the diverse beliefs and traditions of attendees can lead to public outcry, potential boycotts, and significant financial losses. 🔍 Key Takeaways for Future Event Managers: Thorough Cultural Research: Ensure that all performances, displays, and activities are thoroughly vetted for cultural sensitivity and respect for all religious and social groups. Engage with Cultural Advisors: Collaborate with cultural and religious advisors to review event content and provide insights into potential areas of concern. Transparent Communication: Clearly communicate the intentions behind artistic choices to the public, highlighting inclusivity and respect. Prompt Apologies and Actions: If an oversight occurs, promptly issue sincere apologies and take corrective actions to address the offense. By prioritizing cultural sensitivity, event managers can foster an inclusive atmosphere, ensuring the success and positive reception of their events. Let the Paris 2024 experience be a guiding example of the importance of this approach in our increasingly diverse world. #EventManagement #CulturalSensitivity #Paris2024 #BusinessStrategy #Inclusivity #CommunityTolerance #CulturalAwareness