Karen Blackett OBE, chief executive of WPP's MediaCom, has recently been named “The Most Influential Black Person in Britain” by Powerlist magazine, but the 43-year old leader of the UK's largest media agency still thinks it's odd that she's “The only senior black woman in the advertising industry.” Blackett, who was awarded her OBE back in June, topped the Powerlist 100, which aims to celebrate influential black people in Britain, and is the first black businesswomen to do so.
Blackett became chief executive at MediaCom four years ago, 16 years after joining the company, and has helped to launch a number of high profile media campaigns, including the first Government-backed apprenticeship scheme for the creative industry, a scheme she became an ambassador of, taking on 10 to 15 people each year. She is also a noted philanthropist. She's the trustee of the adoption charity Adopt A Better Way, and recently slept rough on the streets for a night with fellow MediaCom employees to raise money for the homeless charity, Centrepoint.
Karen Blackett believes that “Trying to diversify the industry is the only way” to future-proof it, and says she is “More than happy to be vocal and talk about that.”
Blackett believes that “Trying to diversify the industry is the only way” to future-proof it, and says she is “More than happy to be vocal and talk about that.” She also said that role models already exist within the industry so people already know it's possible. She also believes that, whilst she is still the only senior black woman of note, the industry has changed for the better; when she started her career, for example, she said “You could count the number of people who were black or from any ethnic origin on one hand.”
Karen Blackett
Blackett also said she has been very fortunate in her career “To have worked for employers that have recognised talent and potential,” and that don't judge based on “Gender or skin colour.” She admits, however, that she has encountered more than her fair share of sexism and racism in the industry. Ten years ago, she led a pitch for a cereal company, and discovered later that the only reason the pitch was unsuccessful was because two men from the brand had said “MediaCom were quite good but there’s no way we’d have a female director in this account, let alone a black one.”
The top 10 also includes Academy Award-winning director, Steve McQueen, F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, comedian, Lenny Henry, and actor, Idris Elba
She adds that she has yet to be approached to join a FTSE 100 board, and believes that headhunters for those boards appear to not realise “There is life outside of middle class white England.” Still, she said that, whilst her cup was already rather full, if she was approached, and it was “An opportunity where (she) thought (she) could contribute,” she'd be more than happy to make that leap.
The top 10 (which can be seen in it's entirety below), also includes the Academy Award-winning director of “12 Years A Slave,” Steve McQueen (no, not THAT Steve McQueen), F1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, comedian, Lenny Henry, and actor, writer and producer, Idris Elba, with Blackett's the only name from the advertising industry.
The Powerlist 2015 (Top 10)
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Karen Blackett, chief executive officer, MediaCom UK
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Ken Olisa, Thomson Reuters, Powerlist Foundation charity
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Chuka Umunna, shadow business secretary (Labour MP, Streatham) and Helen Grant, minister for Sport and Tourism
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Sandie Okoro, Global General Council, HSBC Global Asset Management
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Steve McQueen, artist/director
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Matthew Ryder QC, barrister
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Sharon White, second permanent secretary of the Treasury
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(joint) Lenny Henry, actor and writer and Idris Elba, actor and producer
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Adrian Joseph, director, search advertising Northern & Central Europe, Google
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Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 driver
