Tag: American Advertising Federation

Olamide Ogunjobi (AB ‘20) named one of AAF’s Most Promising Multicultural Students

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Recent graduate Olamide Ogunjobi (AB ’20) was recently named one of the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF)  Most Promising Multicultural Students. She and about 50 other students from across the country participated in the program’s virtual session in late January.

“Ola is one of the most hard-working, deserving honorees I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” said Kirsten Strausbaugh, senior lecturer in advertising.

The AAF connects the best multicultural college seniors and young graduates with the advertising industry. This year’s virtual program provided students with networking opportunities and personal brand coaching. The AAF hopes to help ad agencies recruit new talent and properly reflect today’s diverse society.      

“It’s a challenging climate for advertisers and their clients currently, with budget cuts, layoffs, businesses closing and all of the uncertainty surrounding us,” Strausbaugh said. “Participating in this program will give Ola the exposure she needs to active, healthy ad agencies who are in a position to recruit and hire top entry-level talent.”

Ogunjobi graduated in May 2020 with degrees in advertising and economics. The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed her to branch out and try new roles in UX design and public relations. 

“Trying new things helped me figure out what was the perfect fit for me. I’ve now found the right role for me in operations at an ad agency,” Ogunjobi said, who currently works for Porter Novelli.  

While a student, Ogunjobi participated in Ad Club and Grady’s Ph.D. Media Collective. These clubs gave her insight into how real-world ad agencies worked, and she heard from both experts and interns about things they wished they knew before jump starting their careers. 

The AAF program taught Ogunjobi how to be more confident in her craft, she said. The program’s creative workshops inspired her to change how she presents her work. 

“The recognition meant a lot, especially since I’ve known amazing people that were a part of the program,” Ogunjobi said. “It means even more to be in community with a lot of amazing groups of individuals.”

Grady students recognized as 2021 Multicultural Advertising Internship Program fellows

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Every year, the American Association of Advertising Agencies selects college students from across the country to be chosen as fellows for the Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP). 

This summer, nine Grady College advertising and public relations students will build necessary skills, develop a portfolio and intern with a variety of agencies in social, account strategy and public relations.

“Being a MAIP fellow means I get to be a part of an amazing cohort that not only provides a support system, but also actively celebrates diversity,” said Amari Tillman, a graduate student in integrated advertising and public relations. “My worth is being seen and advocated for in professional spaces and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”

Over 90 companies participated in MAIP’s 12-week virtual program last year. The program is committed to bringing students from diverse backgrounds into the advertising industry. 

“I am proud to be a part of a program that strives to make diversity, equity and inclusion an integral piece in the future of advertising, so that when we see ads featuring people of color, they are ads that undermine rather than perpetuate stereotypes.”

– Fourth-year advertising and sociology double major Morgan Jackson said. 

Grady students will have the opportunity to network with their 2021 cohort, learn from industry professionals and gain the skills and experience that will prepare them for their post-graduate endeavors. 

The fellows are also excited to create meaningful work with their host agencies, including FCB Chicago, Weber Shandwick, Pavone Marketing Group and Rodgers Townsend.

“To me, it means I have been given a unique opportunity to not only get experience with real clients, but to also start making an impact in the media industry by contributing my diverse perspective,” third-year advertising major Alise Crittendon said.

For third-year advertising and marketing double major Shruti Muruganandan, she realized early on she didn’t know anyone in either field. Being a fellow will help Muruganandan grow her network and give her a sense of community within the fellowship program, she said.

“We love to say the industry’s all about the people you know, and I feel so grateful to say that I get to know and learn from the MAIP community,” she said.

The eight students participating in the program are Alise Crittendon (FCB Chicago, copywriting), Morgan Jackson (Pavone Marketing Group, Inc, account and strategy), Amari Tillman (Weber Shandwick, public relations), Camryn Williams (Weber Shandwick, public relations), Camden Dukes (LGA Agency, media), Isabel Weber (Entree Health, social strategy), Grace Yeo (Rodgers Townsend), Shruti Muruganandan (Doe-Anderson, strategy) and Nhilynn Nguyen.

Kailyn Sanders selected as a Most Promising Multicultural Student

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Kailyn Sanders, a fourth-year advertising major at Grady College, has been named to the 2018 American Advertising Federation of Most Promising Multicultural students.

Kailyn Sanders accepts her award at a ceremony in New York City. (Photo: Tom Reichert)
Kailyn Sanders accepts her award at a ceremony in New York City. (Photo: Tom Reichert)

Every year the American Advertising Federation selects 50 multicultural students nationwide that they feel represents some of the top emerging talent in the advertising industry.

Through this program students attend a four-day recruiting conference where they meet and learn from top professionals in the advertising industry, visit different advertisers and agencies and interview for full-time positions.

“The conference was amazing because of the large number of advertising professionals that came out to guide and mentor us. I am now connected with CMOs, COO, CCOs, presidents of agencies, recruiters and more,” Sanders, who attended the conference in February, remarked. “Not only did I build connections with the best in the business, but each and every one of the Most Promising Students have become a network of talent that has proven to be the future of the industry. The conference also taught me that I can do anything that I put my mind to. I now have three words that I live by: hustle, resilience, empathy.”

Sanders throughout her studies has capitalized on the different experiences Grady offers to students. In the summer of 2015, she participated in the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity study abroad where she learned more about the advertising and public relations industry. She also serves as the chair of diversity and scholarship for UGA’s Ad Club by ensuring that there is diversity within Ad Club’s programming, guest speakers and members.

“I am absolutely convinced that Grady’s Department of Advertising and Public Relations is one of the best in the nation,” Sanders said. “Grady has not only taught me to be hungry for learnings inside of the classroom but has pushed me to explore the industry outside of the classroom.”

This is seen in a commitment by Sanders to promote diversity and multiculturalism. In addition to this honor, Sanders has attended numerous industry conferences such as the Publicis Multicultural Talent Pipeline and UGA’s AdPR Academy: Advancing Diversity at Moxie. This opportunity was an “experience of a lifetime” as the AdPR Academy taught Sanders how to start her career as a young professional and how to differentiate herself from others.

“Being nominated by the AAF as a Most Promising Multicultural Student was such a huge accomplishment for me,” Sanders concluded. “When I received the email that I had been admitted into the 2018 class, I was absolutely elated. I felt that my three years of hard work and long nights had finally proved to be worth it.”

Two AdPR students selected for AAF’s 2017 Most Promising Multicultural Students Program

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Two Grady College advertising majors have been named to the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) 2017 Class of Most Promising Multicultural Students (MPMS).

Emily Laramy and Savannah Rabin are part of the elite group of 50 students from AAF’s college chapter network who were selected for the program through a vetted application process that included essays, letters of recommendation, resumes and specific academic requirements.

“We are so proud that two of our students have received this national recognition,” said Tom Reichert, head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. “It’s wonderful that the American Advertising Federation has created a program that honors high-achieving multicultural students and also connects them with industry professionals.”

“Being a part of AAF’s Most Promising program means so much to me,” Rabin said.  “I have an incredible love for the advertising industry and I feel as though programs like this are pivotal in further enriching its work and culture. To be recognized in this way is such an honor and I feel empowered and emboldened to make valuable contributions to the ad world.”

Laramy echoed that sentiment. “To know I was selected by a panel of judges made up of advertising professionals means my career goals are validated by the very people who make advertising what it is,” she said. “To have AAF invest in my future, and in broadening diversity in advertising as a whole, makes me hopeful for how advertising will change even more in the future.”

In addition to the recognition, the MPMS program includes a four-day industry immersion in New York City designed to promote diversity and inclusion within the advertising and marketing-related industries. It includes professional development workshops, agency visits and a recruiter’s expo.

“We’ve studied their campaigns in class, but being able to engage with the creators of great work is invaluable,” said Laramy, who aspires to work in art direction and ultimately as a creative director in an ad agency. “Also being able to share this experience with other multicultural students, many of whom I know from participating in the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program this past summer, is an amazing perk as I know we all share a focused passion for advertising and will likely be collaborating together in the industry very soon.”

The industry immersion means a lot to Rabin, as well. “Not only will I be visiting NYC for the first time, but I’ll also have the opportunity to network and converse with professionals eager to find talent,” she said. “I’m interested in both strategic media planning and brand strategy. I am still searching for the best fit for my skill set, so I’m excited to talk to more professionals in regards to my potential.”

Both students attribute much of their success to Grady College and its faculty.

“I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to have professors who go out of their way for students to ensure their success after graduation,” Rabin said. “I am confident I’ll be relying on their expertise well after college as well.”

Added Laramy: “Grady has been a huge part of my journey to join the advertising industry. I applied to UGA in the first place so I could attend Grady, because of its reputation and dedication to the advertising program.”

With an average GPA of 3.6, this year’s MPMS Class represents 34 schools and 20 states across the country, according to a news release from the AAF.

Leading agencies and companies have utilized MPMS year over year as a recruitment tool, including BBDO, DigitasLBi, Google, Leo Burnett, Omnicom Group, Pepsico, Turner and Wieden+Kennedy, among many others.

Kim Nguyen (ABJ ’16) was a member of the 2016 MPMS Class.