Navigating How To Be More Inclusiv in the AdTech Sphere

Deep learning gives advertisers more time to focus on new challenges, more chances to think up new ideas, and more ways to grow their business. Cognitiv’s recent brand campaign highlights the incredible outcomes possible when you “reclaim your brain.” Many of the outcomes showcased, such as Invention, Collaboration, Reflection, Transformation, and Inclusion are also part of the fabric of our brand values. In this series, we look inward, with team leaders highlighting how these words and outcomes are brought to life within our own walls.

The State of Diversity in AdTech

The adtech industry, despite its global reach and influential power, continues to struggle with a lack of diversity. Studies show that representation of minority groups within the industry remains disappointingly low, with women and people of color underrepresented in leadership roles. 

The advertising world has a huge influence on global public perception and cultural norms. With this power comes a responsibility to promote and authentically reflect diversity. It is not enough to preach it; it is imperative to live it. At Cognitiv, we recognize this responsibility and are committed to prioritizing diversity internally and externally.

Internal Commitment to Being More Inclusiv 

This philosophy is evident in our leadership structure. Of our 28 managers, 11 are female. Our sales leadership team is entirely female. Additionally, 50% of senior leadership in our NYC office is female. Our commitment to gender diversity has yielded tangible results, with the percentage of female employees increasing from 33.6% to 39.8% from January 2023 to now, and our NYC office boasts a 55.8% female workforce. We also strive to outperform industry standards – in 2023, it was recorded that 16.7% of industry engineers are women. We are proud to share that today, 18.8% of our engineering team comprises women.

Inclusivity at Cognitiv extends beyond gender diversity. Our DE&I committee, made up of employees from all positions and offices, drives real change. To foster a culture of inclusivity, the committee works to seek out honest employee feedback and suggestions, reviews and presents internal statistics to stakeholders to ensure transparency and advocate on behalf of employee interests.

Additionally, we foster an environment that supports our colleagues in continuing their education in a way that not many other tech companies do. We offer access to a variety of courses and certifications, provide extensive resources, and help our team members attend events designed to facilitate learning and professional growth. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower our team members to expand their knowledge and skills, ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed and thrive in their careers.

Celebrating Pride and Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community

This Pride Month and throughout the year, Cognitiv celebrates and supports the LGBTQIA+ community. We believe in practicing what we preach by maintaining ongoing support rather than limiting our efforts to a singular “moment.” This year at the Cannes Lions Festival, we are hosting our second annual Pride Party, featuring performances by renowned Cannes drag queens. After the success of our fundraising component last year, we are once again teaming up with Givsly to give event attendees the opportunity to select one of three LGBTQIA+ nonprofit organizations — The Trevor Project, Point of Pride, and Queens of the Castro — for Cognitiv to make a donation to on their behalf.

Last year’s partnership with Givsly led to impactful outcomes:

• 4,528 crisis services provided free of charge to LGBTQ young people via The Trevor Project

• 31 LGBTQI youths received DragLab makeup kits from Queens of the Castro

• 378 chest binders were donated to trans youth and adults nationwide via Point of Pride

Enabling More Inclusiv Advertising in the Wider Industry

Cognitiv’s Deep Learning Advertising Platform is at the forefront of utilizing advanced technology to foster inclusivity in advertising. Our deep learning capabilities enabled us to develop tools that promote diversity and inclusivity in media buying. These key features are built on our deep learning contextual capability, offering a transformational approach to D&I in media buying based on GPT AI. We provide a transparent solution to reach inclusive content and diverse audiences more accurately and at scale.

Championing Inclusivity

To be More Inclusiv is integral to Cognitiv’s ethos and operations. From our internal practices to our external engagements, activations, and innovations, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of the world. By striving to improve, we want to set an example for the industry and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future in advertising and beyond.