At VML, we are simply better together, and it starts with our people. Inclusion, Equity & Belonging (IE&B) is essential to the unity of our agency’s over 30,000 employees around the world and the work we produce. With diversity as one of the outputs, diverse perspectives and experiences enrich our offerings and position us to inspire each other. We acknowledge that diversity isone of the outputs of these three elements and prioritize diverse perspectives and experiences that enrich our offerings and position us to inspire each other.
Inclusion, Equity & Belonging
Connecting Culture
Inclusion is the practice of bringing together and accommodating a mix of people - especially those from historically excluded communities - to spark creativity, inspiration, and growth.
Equity is the collision of diversity and inclusion in action. It encourages fair treatment of all people to ensure full engagement, participation, contribution and advancement, regardless of identity.
Belonging is the feeling of security and support derived from a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group or place.
Connecting through People
At the core of VML’s IE&B programming is our employee resource group (ERG) ecosystem. Functioning both as community support systems and forums for education and idea exchange. Our ERGs help employees discover commonalities and embrace differences to foster the kind of environment that encourages them to bring their authentic selves to work.
Each ERG organizes its own programming, which empowers members to decide what is important for their communities, and membership is open to all VML employees. We have ERGs focused on Accessibility, Caregivers/Parents, Disability, Gender, LGBTQIA+, Multicultural, Race/Ethnicity and Wellness.
Connecting through Commitments
Health 4 Equity
Health 4 Equity Center of Excellence focuses on organizational development and external impact through the cultivation of partnerships and production of programming for progress against racial health inequities. Learn more about one of our first initiatives on Black maternal health in the UK, Brazil and the U.S.
Racial Equity Week
Through their 20/20 Program, our Brazil office is on a mission to promote racial diversity; delve into challenges and opportunities the deconstruction of unequal structures brings; and promote measures to ensure racial equity in the agency’s strategic teams with their Black Leadership Acceleration Program.
Detroit Experience Studio
DES is a 10-week program providing Detroit high schoolers with an opportunity to explore creative careers, build marketing skills and work with industry leaders. As a recipient of funding from WPP’s Racial Equity Program, DES has expanded its cross-collaboration across WPP.
Connecting through Partnerships & Purpose
Black Representation in Marketing
BRiM is a cross-industry initiative created to improve the representation of Black people in marketing. They provide actionable advice to help anyone, no matter their level, improve the representation of Black people in marketing.
Human Rights Campaign
HRC is an advocacy group that strives to end discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. Most recently, our partnership produced The Reality Flag, a campaign to rally support for the Equality Act, legislation to guarantee non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
myGwork
myGwork is the largest global business community of LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, inclusive employers and anyone who believes in workplace equality. It offers members of the LGBTQ+ community a safe space to connect with inclusive employers and find jobs, mentors, and professional events.
The Unstereotype Alliance
We are proud partners of The Unstereotype Alliance, a thought and action platform that seeks to eradicate harmful stereotypes in all media and advertising content. VML Brazil was named as Agency of Record by Unsterotype Alliance for their upcoming global campaign.
Human Rights Campaign
The HRC’s Corporate Equality Index is the foremost benchmarking survey measuring corporate policies related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Our Mexico office received a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index for the fourth year in a row.
Dear Black Talent Partnership Pledge
Dear Black Talent is a talent platform designed to create a pathway for Black professionals to connect with advertising and marketing agencies. We made the Dear Black Talent “Partner Pledge” to actively participate in diverse hiring practices.
Outvertising’s Stand Your Ground Pledge
Outvertising is a UK nonprofit LGBTQ+ advertising/ marketing advocacy group. We made Outvertising’s Stand Your Ground Pledge to stay true to the commitments we made to the LGBTQ+ community in response to attacks on companies by anti-LGBTQ+ groups.
Connecting through Recognition
Socially Responsible Company
Our Mexico office earned the Socially Responsible Company ESR® badge, a prestigious certification awarded to companies for their “effort to assume a voluntary and public commitment to implement socially responsible management and continuous improvement as part of business culture and strategy.”
Business Culture Award
We were honored at the Business Culture Awards, where we were named a finalist and recognized as highly commended in both 2022 and 2023, respectively, for our work to create a workplace environment that sets employees up for success.
Investing in Ethnicity
Our UK office was named top 25 employers to have completed the Investing in Ethnicity Maturity Matrix Index. This tool assesses organizations’ commitments to the Ethnicity Agenda using a system based on guidance and recommendations consulting with organizations across sectors.
AAF Mosaic Awards
We were honored at the AAF Mosaic Awards with the Mosaic Champion award for going above and beyond in DEI within adland and the DEI Student Programs award for the development, execution, and management of the Detroit Experience Studio.
Connecting Culture with Our Work
Work
Pollution Capture Pencils
Turning air pollution into an instrument of change for India’s school children
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Work
#StandUpToJewishHate
Football owner and foundation founder Robert Kraft calls on all Americans to help fight antisemitism
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