This includes finding talent that doesn’t have traditional advertising backgrounds or even college degrees, according to Walker.
“There are people out there that financially cannot make it through that level of higher education, but they're still very talented people,” Walker said.
Currently, the agency has its own database of talent and has brought on agency clients such as nice&frank, launched last year by former Goodby Silverstein & Partners executives, and TBWA\Chiat\Day LA. The agency will also look to work with creatives at any level for freelance or full-time positions.
Besides finding the right talent for clients, Ink also offers cultural consulting, helping to identify areas of improvement within an organization to help make diverse talent feel more welcome.
“It doesn't help if you've done all of the work to find unconventional talent if once they get to your organization, you don't have the environment to sustain or to tap into and grow that talent,” Pierce said.
Once a client hires talent through Ink, it will keep the dialogue going with the hired employees.
“Let’s say you get placed somewhere and you’re a junior strategist of color on your team,” said Golden. “Well, based on your connection with Ink, we can definitely ensure that you have a network of other Black junior strategists or more senior strategists if you need to put minds together or have questions.”
The company plans to donate 6% of its fees to currently undisclosed initiatives dedicated to helping Black creatives.
“It's one thing to place talent and get help Black people that are already professionals by getting them jobs, but it's a completely different thing to think about the future generation and help them exist even in this space. That is something that is very important to us,” Pierce said.