Careers Photography by Lucy B Elephant in the room Shanice Mears, head of talent and co-founder at The Elephant Room, and founder of the agencys one month mentors programme, talks about getting young black employees into advertising and how companies can become more accountable. By Katie McQuater First, can you tell us about The Elephant Room? The Elephant Room is a creative agency dedicated to creating a more inclusive space within advertising, not only through work and representation, but also through methods of building business. We want to be an example of change. shoes, or if I wasnt in a position to do what I do now. My day-to-day understanding of the industry is my research, and then its bouncing those ideas off my team. How important is mentoring for young black employees and potential employees? Extremely important. Black people within the workplace need to feel empowered, and, more often than not, they dont. We often face stereotypes, lack of belonging, prejudice and Its my job to make sure we have a network of discrimination, which doesnt always enable us creative talent, both in advertising and outside to progress within, or remain with, a company. of it. But also to be up to date with what is We often choose to opt out to avoid conflict, happening in culture across the world, so that we awkwardness or sadness. can be on the pulse and well Everyone deserves to be positioned to work on the most empowered in the workplace it culturally effective projects. just happens to be that we are a Black people within the minority who often feel ignored. Whats the background workplace need to feel What does your role as head of talent involve? to the one month mentors programme? empowered, and, more often than not, they dont The project matches young people who want to venture into creative careers with senior and C-suite leaders, and aims to help young talent build sustainable relationships in the industry. This is centred on the calendar year Black History Month, International Womens Month, and Pride, particularly for mentees who identify as such, and exclusive to them for that month. Ultimately, were on a mission to support talent. Did research have any role in the development of this? Yes, but I feel like my role is all about research. I often speak to talent about what they want. I read articles, I listen to podcasts and think about what I would have needed if it was me in someone elses Theres a lot of talk about inclusion. How can organisations be more accountable? Do what you say and mean it. Its not enough to talk, or participate in agency and client debate. We have to be actively anti-racist and call out the behaviours that are unacceptable. No-one in their own skin, ability, sexual orientation, class or background should feel lesser or worse, not accepted in any workplace in times like now. Its just not OK. You were asked to sit on Downing Streets Race Disparity Audit. What did that involve? I sat on the race advisory board, which meant analysing data and programmes in the NHS, education, and around police stop and search. 66 Impact ISSUE 33 2021_pp66-67_Careers.indd 66 26/03/2021 10:20