WheresSpot DEI Event Recap

Spotters: our Zoom presentations returned with a bang! The topic was “DEI and Commercial Production: A Discussion,” and there was high attendance. It was moderated by one of our founders, Perry, who led an important discussion with three panelists who are very well-versed on the topic: Tamika Lamison: Exec Director, Commercial  Directors Diversity Program, Wendy Stryker: Partner at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, and Sallie Mars: recruitment & Creative Ops Consultant.

It is a complicated topic and a hard work landscape to navigate. The panelists were able to bring professional insights on many aspects of DEI including its relevance in today's market, a legal perspective, along with strategies to attract a more diverse group of hires. They spoke about how to make the workspace more inviting as well as the current state of affairs to bring more diversity into the production world both behind and in front of the camera. Many of the questions for the panel came from you guys, submitted before the session.

One thing was clear: diversifying this business is still a real challenge. The participant chat that accompanied the session showed many are highly motivated to do whatever is within their power to help overcome a persistent imbalance. One issue that seemed consistent was that folks need guidance in how and where to recruit more diverse candidates. We have included below a link to a resource guide created by AICP. There were also many good suggestions made by the panel spotlighting recommendations on how to make the workspace feel and operate in ways that make diverse team members feel welcomed. We recorded the session for anyone who wants to view it. We rewatched it and found it even more informative the 2nd time around.

Link to resources: https://aicp.com/initiatives/equity-and-inclusion/talent-resources