News
← Back to IdeasOgilvy Launches Cross-Industry Diversity Innovation Lab
NEW YORK — May 3, 2021 — Ogilvy has launched a cross-industry innovation lab, The Force, aimed at solving an array of talent, philosophical and policy issues linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Force brings together a wide-ranging set of thinkers from different industries and backgrounds to identify opportunities to scale learnings and develop solutions that will put DE&I at the forefront of business strategies, driving impact in both financial and societal terms. 2021’s inaugural participants in The Force innovation lab include representatives from Airbnb, Blumhouse Productions, Calm, The City of Santa Monica, Gallagher, the National History Museum of Los Angeles, 72andSunny among others.
The Force will use behavioral science and design thinking to tackle pipeline, funding and staff challenges. Participants will meet three times in 2021 with each session featuring prominent presenters, hackathon like challenges for the group to solve, and opportunities to forge cross-industry collaborations to drive change. The 2021 cohort will also work to better understand how to use utilize their platforms to shape and support more inclusive public policies at the federal, state, and local levels. The first session kicked off last week with additional lab and workshop meetings in July and November. The first guest speaker was Dr. Sonya Sloan who discussed the disproportionality and lack of equity in healthcare.
James Kinney, Ogilvy’s Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, said: “We believe that diversity is an economic, social, judicial and creative science. Nuances between business type and industry are important learning opportunities—and collaboration over competition is required in order to create meaningful change. Our mission with The Force is to learn from each other, while also thinking about how we can collectively push for change. Diversity is often treated as an add on, or tenant of HR as opposed to a central piece of business, and that needs to change. This group is coming together to ensure that it does.” Kinney will serve as the chair of the innovation lab.
Andy Main, Global CEO of Ogilvy, added: “Our industry has tremendous convening power that can be used to bring about change for the better, and The Force is a great example of that. I’m looking forward to seeing how the power of collaboration combined with our creativity, insight and scale can make a difference.”
Calm’s Chief People Officer Scott Domann said: “Diversity, equity, inclusion and the creation of a culture and workforce that practices and champions DE&I should be woven into the fabric of every business in every industry. The Force will be an incredible asset for our industry and I’m excited to see how our solutions impact businesses across the globe.”
Karine Shahar, Chief Human Resources Officer at Blumhouse Productions, commented: "We can no longer talk about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion without holding ourselves accountable and taking action. The entertainment industry must make systemic changes and The Force is a great way to do so by bringing together a wide-ranging set of thought-leaders across different industries and disciplines.”
David Martin, Global Inclusion & Diversity Director, Gallagher shared: “As we continue to see the need to stay focused on the DEI challenges that so many are facing daily, The Force will help spark needed conversations and identify ways we can ensure that we are building a better and more equitable future for everyone. We are proud to be invited to participate and look forward to the discussions ahead.”
About Ogilvy
Ogilvy has been producing iconic, culture-changing marketing campaigns that have grown brands and businesses since the day its founder David Ogilvy opened up shop in 1948. Today, with 132 offices in 83 countries, Ogilvy’s singular ambition is to be the best creative partner and platform for growth on the planet. Ogilvy’s deep expertise in almost every field coupled with its award-winning global network allow it to scale value-driving ideas at lightning speed – all powered by world-class creativity to give clients an unfair advantage in this complex, noisy, hyperconnected world. In 2020, two of the world's most prestigious creative award shows, D&AD and The One Show, recognized Ogilvy as the Network of the Year, a reflection of its ability to use creativity to transform business and culture. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow Ogilvy on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: David Ford / david.ford@ogilvy.com
# # #