GrownTalks

Ali Wheeler and Alima Trapp, from the Black Canon organization, delves into their mission to preserve historic black art and the driving force behind their project. They discuss the valuable artifacts in their collection and the impact of their work. The conversation also explores their experience with the growth initiative, mentorship, and the intersection of advertising and their passion for preserving black art. The conversation covers the importance of mentorship, community, and representation in the creative industry. It also emphasizes the significance of preserving and sharing cultural history through art and exhibitions.

Takeaways

• Preserving historic black art
• The impact of mentorship and the growth initiative Mentorship
• Community and Representation

Chapters

• 00:00 The Black Canon: Preserving Historic Black Art
• 06:07 The Name 'Black Canon'
• 34:54 The Power of Mentorship and Community in the Creative Industry
• 35:20 The Significance of Representation and Community Circles in the Industry
• 36:32 Creating Safe Spaces and Community for Underrepresented Talent
• 38:09 Preserving Cultural History and Impactful Art Exhibitions
• 48:26 Partnership with the Growth Initiative and Key Considerations

The podcast episode features a discussion with Ravi and Carlos, discipline directors for the growth initiative. They share insights into their roles, responsibilities, and the importance of programs like the Growth Initiative in the advertising industry. The conversation also delves into the motivation to come back, the collaborative nature of the program, and the overlooked aspects for early careers in the industry. The conversation covers the challenges of balancing professionalism and authenticity, the mistakes young professionals make, networking tips, reconnecting with contacts, and the key lessons for emerging talent.

Takeaways

• Importance of mentorship and guidance in the advertising industry
• The collaborative and team-oriented nature of the Growth Initiative program Balancing professionalism and authenticity
• Importance of networking and building relationships

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Season Overview
• 01:13 Role and Responsibilities in the Growth Program
• 03:01 Guiding Creative Fellows Through the Process
• 08:48 Inspiration and Motivation to Come Back
• 14:04 Importance of Programs Like This in Advertising
• 21:14 Overlooked Aspects for Early Careers
• 24:53 Navigating Professionalism and Authenticity
• 25:13 Challenges for Young Professionals
• 30:27 Networking and Building Relationships
• 36:22 Reconnecting and Maintaining Connections
• 42:29 Key Lessons for Emerging Talent

The episode kicks off with the introduction of the new season and the featured mentors, Gavril and Heather Olson. The mentors share their inspiring journey into mentoring and the impact of the Growth Initiative program. They discuss the importance of mentorship and the misconceptions surrounding networking, emphasizing the value of organic connections and the role of professors in building professional networks.

Chapters

• 00:00 Season Two Kickoff
• 10:14 Importance of Mentorship
• 16:36 Networking Misconceptions
• 26:04 The Role of Cover Letters
• 34:46 Advice for Breaking into Advertising/Marketing

In this episode of Grown Talks, we sit down with GIFs from the Growth Initiative program to hear about their journey so far.

The GIFs introduce themselves, share their hopes and dreams, and reflect on what it felt like to be accepted into the program. They talk about their expectations versus the reality of Growth, what they’ve learned, and how the experience has helped them better understand the advertising industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Grown Talks
05:33 Icebreaker: Introducing Yourself
10:50 Reflecting on Growth Initiative Acceptance
19:27 Expectations vs. Reality of Growth Initiative
25:37 Expectations and Career Growth
41:22 Industry Intimidation and Learning
47:27 Navigating the Industry
54:18 Understanding the Process
59:45 Reflection and Gratitude

The podcast episode features a discussion about the white paper 'We Rise Anyway: Pushing Inclusion When the System Pulls Back' published by 100 Roses from Concrete. The conversation addresses the impact of DEI rollbacks, mental health strain, career mobility, and the call to action for industry leaders and peers to drive real change through structural protection and sustained investment.

Takeaways

• DEI rollbacks impact workplace culture and create mental health strain
• Real change requires structural protection and sustained investment

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and White Paper Overview
• 09:24 Creating Real Change and Progress

This episode is a pause.

Instead of bringing in a guest, we’re turning the mic inward to reflect on the year behind us and the growth that came with it.

We talk about the conversations that challenged us, the guests who held up mirrors, and what it really took to show up consistently and honestly. No highlight reels. Just real reflections on growth, responsibility, and community.

This recap is about what stretched us, what stayed with us, and what we’re carrying forward into the next season of GrownTalks.

Whether you’ve been listening all year or you’re just finding us, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and grow with intention.

This episode is a pause.

Instead of bringing in a guest, we’re turning the mic inward to reflect on the year behind us and the growth that came with it.

We talk about the conversations that challenged us, the guests who held up mirrors, and what it really took to show up consistently and honestly. No highlight reels. Just real reflections on growth, responsibility, and community.

This recap is about what stretched us, what stayed with us, and what we’re carrying forward into the next season of GrownTalks.

Whether you’ve been listening all year or you’re just finding us, this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and grow with intention.

In this conversation, Shanita Perdomo shares her inspiring journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming the founder and executive director of Yes Miss Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women. She discusses the importance of community support, the challenges faced in starting her organization, and the valuable lessons learned from the Growth Initiative program.

Yes M.I.S.S Inc

Website: https://www.yesmissinc.org/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yesmissinc/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yes-m-i-s-s-inc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yesmissinc/

100 Roses from Concrete

Website: https://www.100rosesfromconcrete.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/100rosesfromconcrete/?hl=en

Summary

In this conversation, new Growth alumni Kevin Hutchinson and Tasha Bwalya reflect on their experiences in the program, discussing their motivations for joining, the challenges they faced, and the skills they developed. They reflected on the importance of communication, teamwork, and adaptability in the creative industry. The alumni share their aspirations for future careers, the advice they would give to new participants, and how Growth aligns with their values of making a positive impact. They shared their thoughts on networking and the importance of building connections in their professional journeys.

In this episode of Grown Talks, Keni Thacker interviews Kumi Croom, managing director at Duncan Channon. They discuss the realities of the advertising industry, including the importance of resilience, networking, and teamwork. Kumi shares her journey in advertising, the misconceptions surrounding the industry, and the significance of mentorship. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in the field and the value of building authentic connections.

Takeaways

• Stay resilient and curious in your career.
• The advertising industry can be a grind.
• Authenticity in storytelling is crucial.
• Networking is essential for career growth.
• The industry is smaller than you think.
• Reputation matters in a close-knit industry.
• Be mindful of your social media presence.
• Team dynamics can make or break your experience.
• Mentorship is about sharing knowledge and experiences.
• Family provides comfort and joy amidst work pressures.