WAATBP x The Come Up presents: The Come Up Brunch

 The One Club for Creativity’s Where Are All The Black People (WAATBP), advertising’s largest diversity conference and career fair since 2011, and The Come Up have partnered to host The Come Up Brunch, which takes place on Saturday, May 4, 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm, in Midtown Atlanta, exact location provided with approved RSVP. This event features top executives and mid-level Black advertising and creative career professionals. 

The Come Up Brunch, curated by The Come Up founders Kelsey Matthews and Dèja Mays, provides resources and community for mid-level creatives who want to connect and level up. It aims to have a candid conversation about entering the advertising industry as a person of color. 

“Through partnerships like WAATBP and The Come Up, we create a space where all can commune, share insights, and elevate,” said Matthews, an Atlanta native who works as a Brand Manager for Paramount (BET+). “We aim to create more opportunities for people who look like us to secure their seat at the table.”

During the event, attendees will receive insight that will guide and uplift the next generation of creatives to success including tips for applying to portfolio schools, being a competitive job applicant, and the day-to-day life of an advertiser. 

“As the executive director of WAATBP over the past 5 years, it has been my aim to continue the mission that Jimmy and Jeff started,” said Adrienne Lucas, Global Head of DEI. “I am here to help Black advertising talent connect, upskill, and find careers they are passionate about. I am equally invested in bringing new energy and ideas to the conference–including partnerships with programs like The Come Up.” 

WAATBP grew out of a conversation more than a dozen years ago between One Club Board members Jimmy Smith, chairman/CEO/CCO at Amusement Park Entertainment, and Jeff Goodby, chairman, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, about the critical need to create job opportunities in advertising and design for minority students.  The pair spearheaded the initiative for the organization, which held the first WAATBP panel on diversity during The One Club’s Creative Week 2011.

Before The Come Up Brunch, WAATBP and The Come Up will host  “WAATBP ATL Presents: How to Break Into Advertising”, a culture conversation taking place at Miami Ad School Atlanta for Black entry-level talent, recent college grads, current students, and their supporters, as well as entry-level art and design talent with creative resources and panel discussions featuring local industry talent from across the gamut. Admission to this event is free. 

Confirmed panels and speakers for Friday, May 3 are as follows. 

Breaking Into Advertising

• Moderator: Dèja Mays, Art Director, The Shipyard; Co-founder of The Come Up
• Kelsey Matthews, Brand Manager, Paramount | BET+; Co-founder of The Come Up
• Terence Raines, Creative Director, 160 Over 90 
• David Tann, CEO, Tantrum Agency
• Jason Whyte, Admissions Coordinator, Miami Ad School

The three panels and confirmed speakers for Saturday, May 4 are as follows.

Access Granted

• Moderator: Dèja Mays, Art Director, The Shipyard; Co-founder of The Come Up
• Johnell Gipson, Sr. Creative Strategist, Six Degrees
• A.P. Chaney, Senior Director of Creative, Sparkling Flavors, NAOU (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Kaleeta McDade, Global Chief Experience Design Officer, VML
• Sherman Winfield, Creative Lead, North America at StudioX (The Coca-Cola Company) 

Laid Off: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

• Moderator: Sharon Harris, Founder, Sharon Harris Collective; Board member, She Runs It; BECA
• Janis Middleton, Chief Inclusion Officer, Guided by Good 
• Christofer Peterson, Chief People Officer, Chemistry
• Dr. Nicole Garner Scott, WeaFinancial Strategist, Northwestern Mutual

Your Network is Your Net Worth

• Moderator: Kelsey Matthews, Brand Manager, Paramount | BET+; Co-founder of The Come Up 
• Peter Brooks, VP of Business Strategy Paramount, BET, VH1
• Brandon Butler, Partner, Chief Culture Innovation Officer, Majority; CEO, Founder Butter ATL
• Bem Joiner, Founder, Atlanta Influences Everything
• Adrienne Lucas, J.D., Global Head of DEI, The One Club for Creativity

While other industry DEI events are confined to addressing topics from the stage, WAATBP stands apart by also providing one-on-one portfolio reviews by top agency creatives, and recruiting opportunities for mid-level creatives who want to advance their careers, as well as students looking to break into the industry.  

“This past year, I spent a lot of time reaching out to our people in the industry and I recognized some similarities in our frustrations,” said Mays, an Art Director for The Shipyard. “We all crave community as a way to make us stronger. While entry-level creative positions and internships provide a foot in the door, the journey to the seat at the table is a long, hard voyage. The One Club’s WAATBP listened to these frustrations and provided partnership. We’ve reached out to some of the biggest names in Atlanta and they are on board to spread knowledge.”

For more information about WAATBP ATL or to attend The Come Up Brunch please visit https://www.oneclub.org/events/-waatbp-the-come-up-may4