Black Creative Excellence Celebrated

For Black History Month, creative innovators share key moments in their careers

Creative by Fufu and Grits, a Black-owned and Black-led creative agency. Published on February 2, 2024

Black Creative Excellence Celebrated

For Black History Month, creative innovators share key moments in their careers

Creative by Fufu and Grits, a Black-owned and Black-led creative agency. Published on February 2, 2024

Once again for Black History Month, Ad Age will celebrate Black creative excellence throughout February. Now in its fourth year, the project is designed to shine a light on key moments in the careers of inspiring and influential creators from across the industry. Across the month, four change-makers will serve as guest editors, kicking things off with a pivotal project from their own careers — and then sharing the spotlight with other talents who are shaping the industry in impactful ways.

For the second year in a row, we’re also partnering with Outfront to showcase some of the industry’s most creative talent on digital out-of-home media across the U.S.

If you missed last year’s series, catch up here.

Web production by Corey Holmes.

Black Creative Excellence Celebrated

For Black History Month, creative innovators share key moments in their careers

Black Creative Excellence Celebrated

For Black History Month, creative innovators share key moments in their careers

‘Merging passion with purpose’—Outfront’s Nicole Mapp on the Color of Change ‘Until Justice Is Real’ campaign

‘Paint like a child’—Keith Cartwright on inspiring the next generation of Black creatives.

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

Mesa Company’s Feh Tarty on leveraging ‘radical efficiency’ to solve business challenges

Gale’s Geoff Edwards on leaving a legacy—and helping other Black execs define theirs

SoFi’s Kai Fields on finding a seat at the creative table

Helen Hollien of Little Minx on the ad, and later the job, that made her career

Melvone Farrell on Muhammad Ali and a life journey come full circle

Cashmere’s Rebecca Williams on creating a true representation of Black culture for Disney

Joe Street on the making of Chase Ink’s ‘Ripple’ doughnut campaign

Sheereen Miller-Russell on coming out as a Black woman at work

Mediabrands’ Chauncey Wesley on the power of mentorship

Cadillac’s Juanita Slappy on the making of the ‘Black Future’ campaign

Amex’s Marques Zak on launching the first brand-hosted watch party for the BET Awards

Majority’s Asmirh Davis on building a diversity-led talent model

Butter.ATL’s Brandon Butler on forging, not finding, your perfect career

A.P. Chaney on the making of Sprite’s Black Panther and Hip-Hop at 50 campaigns

Unilever's Obinna Keke on his mission to diversify the men's grooming space

Porter Novelli’s Conroy Boxhill on finding anchors for your life and career