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At this year’s Advertising Week Europe, amidst a backdrop of industry change and cultural headwinds, one space stood out not only for its vibrant atmosphere but also for its commitment to driving forward a vital conversation: the Empower Lounge.
In a time where conversations around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) are facing increasing scrutiny and, in some cases, active resistance, the Empower Lounge boldly stepped into the spotlight. Over 1,000 people engaged with the space throughout the week, proving that there is a powerful appetite for content that confronts uncomfortable truths, celebrates progress, and, importantly, pushes for more.
From keynote talks to candid panels, the Lounge became more than a physical venue—it was a hub for thought leadership, innovation, and real-world reflection on the state of DE&I in the advertising and marketing world.
Key Themes from the Week:
Representation Beyond the Token: Discussions focused on pushing past performative action to drive sustainable change in teams, leadership, and media representation.
Intersectionality in Practice: Sessions explored how to better support overlapping identities—looking at race, gender, neurodiversity, disability, and sexuality not in isolation, but in tandem.
The Power of Inclusive Leadership: Leaders across industries shared personal stories and strategic insights on building inclusive cultures from the top down.
The Future of Work is Inclusive: Panels delved into the business case for inclusivity—from Gen Z expectations to the positive commercial impact of diverse thinking.
Real Conversations in Real Time
One session that truly captured the spirit of the Empower Lounge was the panel discussion titled “The Inclusion Imperative: Pushing Forward in a Time of Pushback,” featuring Rose Bentley (Propeller), Lori Meakin (WACL), and Sandra Masiliso (DEPT) who summed up the event perfectly: “This wasn’t just a panel, it felt like a much-needed moment of reflection, challenge, and momentum.”
Their discussion focused on three powerful themes:
The Meaning of Pushback
The panel explored the growing resistance to DE&I initiatives - a trend seen not just in the media, but within boardrooms and creative departments across the industry. The conversation didn’t shy away from the real-world implications: how this regression risks alienating audiences, narrowing creative horizons, and damaging internal morale.
One particularly sobering insight: 39% of UK marketers would leave their jobs for a company with stronger DE&I commitments. That’s not just a stat—it’s a signal. A signal that talent is watching, and that inclusive workplaces are not a ‘nice-to-have’ but a core business imperative.
Staying Ahead Requires More Than Words
The panel didn’t stop at diagnosing the problem - they laid out a blueprint for meaningful progress. Leadership accountability was highlighted as a critical factor. DE&I can’t live in silos or be relegated to HR initiatives; it needs to be embedded into business strategies as a core centre of excellence.
The importance of transparency came up time and again. “What gets measured, gets done,” was one of the standout lines of the session, underscoring how data - when used responsibly - can drive real change. It’s not about box-ticking; it’s about embedding DE&I into the DNA of an organisation.
The AI Elephant in the Room
In a future-focused twist, the panel addressed another challenge impacting DE&I: artificial intelligence. With generative AI playing an ever-growing role in content creation, the conversation turned to the biases embedded in many AI datasets—biases that often marginalise underrepresented communities.
The panel proposed a compelling solution: data nutritional labels. Just as we check what goes into our food, why not be transparent about what’s going into our data? These labels could offer clarity about the sources, demographics, and potential gaps in the training data that powers AI - creating a new layer of accountability in how technology intersects with inclusion.
A Week of Purpose and Positivity
While the industry at large may be experiencing what some are calling “DE&I fatigue” or encountering political and cultural pushback, the Empower Lounge sent a clear message: inclusion still matters. In fact, it matters more than ever.
The incredible attendance and high engagement levels throughout the week are proof of that. People showed up not just out of obligation, but because they’re hungry for real talk, for solutions, and for spaces that reflect the world as it is—and as it could be.
In a world that sometimes seems to be moving backward, the Empower Lounge pushed forward. It was a space not just for discussion, but for action. A space that refused to ignore the tough conversations, and instead embraced them with courage, clarity, and optimism.
As Advertising Week Europe drew to a close, the energy from the Lounge lingered. Still buzzing from the panels, the conversations, the honesty, and the momentum built over five days, one thing became clear: when done right, DE&I is not a trend - it’s a movement. And at the Empower Lounge, that movement found a home.
Photo credits: Advertising Week Photography by Shutterstock