ColorCreative’s Talitha Watkins on connecting emerging creators with industry mentors

Ad Age is marking Black History Month 2024 with our fourth-annual Honoring Creative Excellence package. (Read the introduction here.) Today, guest editor Keith Cartwright turns the spotlight to ColorCreative President Talitha Watkins, who writes about launching the Find Your People Program. Inspired by a New Year spice refresh recommendation from chef Alex Hill (@justaddhotsauce), I drew parallels between a well-stocked kitchen cabinet and my key advisors within my career in leadership. After founding successful programs such as the Universal Emerging Writers Program and CAAAmplify, my latest venture, the Find Your People Program at ColorCreative, mirrors the concept of intentional seasoning. The Find Your People Program began as an event for emerging production professionals. Despite launching just before the pandemic, it thrived as participants continued collaborating virtually. Revisiting and refining the program in 2022 allowed us to restock our “cabinet” with valuable insights for a successful launch in 2023. Our ColorCreative kitchen cabinet includes diverse voices who play a pivotal role providing perspectives crucial for a robust program. Launched in May 2023, the revamped initiative received 1,500 applications, and we selected 28 participants who completed a specialized curriculum and produced four short films. The program’s success was made possible by kitchen cabinet collaborators such as Kate Marsden from Canva and the leadership from the Pop Culture Collaborative, who served as early sponsors. The Find Your People Program has become a sustainable franchise by thoughtfully stocking our metaphorical kitchen cabinet with industry mentors, many of whom count the experience as a bright spot during a challenging year. Monique Francis, Myriah Johnson, Jamari Perry, myself and the ColorCreative management team are excited to welcome the next cohort as we gear up to embrace the lessons learned, reaffirm our intentions and prepare for the upcoming season. Our goal is to instill the practice of cultivating a well-stocked cabinet in our participants, fostering a genuine mission to create sustainable careers and a more inclusive and equitable entertainment industry. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters From influencer marketing to agencies, get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox Click here

ColorCreative’s Talitha Watkins on connecting emerging creators with industry mentors

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