RARE / A DIVERSITY INITIATIVE

The tech, media and creative industries are notoriously homogenous. They lack diversity of gender, colour, class, sexuality, ability and perspective – especially at the top. This isn’t just an ethical problem, it’s also a threat to the progress we make as a generation. Because without diversity of perspective, ideas are limited and innovation just isn’t possible.

So why the lack of diversity?

Being a minority brings about a set of issues that many aren’t equipped to deal with – unconscious bias, marginalisation, and prejudice in the workplace. Which leads great talent to opt out of the industry prematurely.

So we created Rare.

A leadership masterclass for underrepresented creatives, designed to give them the network, knowledge and inspiration they need to thrive today and lead tomorrow.

The masterclass was developed in partnership with Google, D&AD and the Berlin School for Creative Leadership. But since that first event back in 2017, Rare’s evolved well beyond our wildest imaginations – and is now more aptly described as a platform that enables minorities, businesses, and the industry at large to drive, and benefit from, a more diverse, inclusive culture.

And the results so far?

→ Engaged 25,000 industry professionals to embrace difference, changing the conversation around diversity

→ Armed 380 future diverse leaders with MBA level leadership and resilience training

→ Built a social network of diverse professionals the size of the NZ advertising industry

→ Awarded $300,000 in grants and scholarships to support minority talent and advance grass-roots initiatives

→ Kick-started 4 businesses operating to drive diversity across the creative, media and tech industries

→ Opened 4 scholarships to prestigious creative colleges

→ Engaged over 50 industry sponsors to support over 25 charities working in the D&I space

→ Launched industry feeder program placing minority talent in creative companies all over the world