IPG Mediabrands is continuing to provide media industry representation in the Toronto District School Board’s Black Student Summer Leadership program, which aims to bridge the gap for Black youth in the workplace.

The five-week paid leadership program is designed to provide African, Afro- Caribbean and Black students with experiential learning across various industries to help them develop skills to support their future education. The participating students must be at least 16 years old and be
enrolled in grades 10 through 12.

For Mediabrand’s third year participating in the program, it will welcome 10 students to its Toronto offices this week, where they will explore different facets of media agency life, from planning and pitching to research and data analytics. Partners such as TikTok, LinkedIn and Snapchat will also be on-site to offer a full perspective on the media landscape and provide insights into the latest trends and practices.

“Partnerships such as the TDSB BSSLP play an important role in our DEI strategy as we continue to broaden awareness of opportunities in our industry and enable diverse talent to grow their careers in media,” says Shelley Smit, CEO of UM and leader of IPG Mediabrands’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Community pillar working group.

IPG Mediabrands’ DEI strategy is built on three key pillars – people, work and community. This program is part of the agency’s community pillar. Earlier this year, IPG Mediabrands partnered with IMDOINGIT, in collaboration with creative agencies The&Partnership and FCB Canada, to host The Verdict, a marketing case competition for Black youth across Canada.