

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.

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

‘Paint like a child’—Keith Cartwright on inspiring the next generation of Black creatives.
Guest editor: Keith Cartwright
Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Cartwright

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

Mesa Company’s Feh Tarty on leveraging ‘radical efficiency’ to solve business challenges
Feh Tarty
Global head of brand and marketing, Mesa Company

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


Helen Hollien of Little Minx on the ad, and later the job, that made her career
Guest editor: Helen Hollien
Executive producer, Little Minx

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

Cashmere’s Rebecca Williams on creating a true representation of Black culture for Disney
Rebecca Williams
Group Creative Director, Cashmere Agency, Cashmere Agency

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

Sheereen Miller-Russell on coming out as a Black woman at work
Guest editor: Sheereen Miller-Russell
Executive VP of ad sales and client partnerships, Warner Bros. Discovery

Mediabrands’ Chauncey Wesley on the power of mentorship
Chauncey Wesley
Executive VP and Managing Partner of Activation, Mediabrands

Cadillac’s Juanita Slappy on the making of the ‘Black Future’ campaign
Juanita Slappy
Head of Multicultural Marketing, Cadillac

Amex’s Marques Zak on launching the first brand-hosted watch party for the BET Awards
Marques Zak
Director of cultural platforms, American Express

Majority’s Asmirh Davis on building a diversity-led talent model
Guest editor: Asmirh Davis
Founding partner and chief strategy officer, Majority

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

A.P. Chaney on the making of Sprite’s Black Panther and Hip-Hop at 50 campaigns
A.P. Chaney
Senior director, creative at The Coca-Cola Company’s Sparkling Flavors North America Operating Unit

Unilever's Obinna Keke on his mission to diversify the men's grooming space
Obinna Keke
Head of innovation, SheaMoisture

Porter Novelli’s Conroy Boxhill on finding anchors for your life and career
Conroy Boxhill
President, U.S., Porter Novelli