Actor/producer Ryan Reynolds has announced the formation of The Creative Ladder, a nonprofit to help make creative careers more accessible to all–especially those from underrepresented communities. Deloitte has joined the initiative as a founding donor with an initial $500,000.00 contribution and as a strategic collaborator.
The Creative Ladder, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will offer a wide array of programs and services for students and rising creative talents to open up career options in marketing, advertising, design, and commercial production. For those already working in these industries, The Creative Ladder will offer leadership training, mentorship, networking opportunities and career development resources.
Reynolds, co-founder of The Creative Ladder, stated, “I love making ads and want to help make sure talent of all backgrounds have the access and information they need to succeed. Ads are just another form of storytelling and a more representative workforce will only make this industry stronger and enable it to tell better stories.”
Janet Foutty, executive chair, Deloitte US, said, “Deloitte is thrilled to support their mission to strengthen the pipeline of racially and ethnically diverse professionals seeking careers in the creative field, and create more leadership pathways for the next generation of creative professionals. Underrepresented communities haven’t had the same networking and career development opportunities as most creatives. Creating a more diverse pool of talent is a critical step in creating an equitable future across multiple creative segments.”
Formally launching in Fall 2022, The Creative Ladder will offer a Creative Leadership Conference and six-month Leadership Academy that virtually teaches management skills.
Global hospitality company, Hilton also joins as an early sponsor, pledging financial support and hosting the inaugural Creative Leadership Conference. “We are pleased to join forces with The Creative Ladder to drive awareness and inclusivity across careers in marketing,” said Mark Weinstein, chief marketing officer, Hilton. “At Hilton, we know how important it is to our current and future team members to create a culture where diverse backgrounds are welcomed, encouraged, and celebrated. We are diverse by nature, inclusive by choice. This makes our work stronger – better enabling us to connect with our guests and communities of all backgrounds around the world.”
To lead the organization, Reynolds will be joined by co-founder and CEO Dionna Dorsey Calloway, founder of the lifestyle brand District of Clothing, and third co-founder and chief content officer David Griner, a longtime editor for Adweek.
The nonprofit’s inclusive board of directors includes top-level executives from Snap Inc., TBWA, The Martin Agency, VaynerMedia and more.
“In our communities, there isn’t a talent deficit, there’s an opportunity deficit,” said Dorsey Calloway. “That’s why our mission of connecting, inspiring and elevating an inclusive new generation of creatives matters. Creative Ladder will help us cast a broader net and connect amazing young creatives to opportunities otherwise less accessible and known.”
