Wunderman Thompson's Inspiration Personified: Chenell Hall

Wunderman Thompson are the inspiration experts. Because of this, we know that inspiration doesn’t come from any one place, but rather it should be drawn upon from a diverse and inclusive culture. 

This allows us to see things differently, to reject conventional thinking and to push the boundaries of creative bravery. The emergence of hybrid working environments has meant that finding opportunities for meaningful connections and a sense of belonging are more important to protect and nurture than ever before.

In this new environment, it’s imperative for businesses to actively build a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued, and heard. Our Business Employee Resource Groups are just one way we bring people together and provide a positive forum for development, education and idea exchange around a common interest. 

We now have 20 of these groups across the Wunderman Thompson network devoted to topics such as AAPI, Sustainability, Marginalized Ethnicities, Disability, Women and more. They’re a key component of what makes Wunderman Thompson inspiration experts, and ensure that their core values are reflected in every aspect of the company. 

In 2022 the company added Business to the existing ERG program, which creates more opportunities for the diverse voices of employees to directly impact their work. This is just one way we’re putting inclusive experiences at the heart of our business to help drive growth for our clients, and something we’re passionate about sharing to inspire the wider industry. By incorporating these groups, we take ownership and responsibility for creating culturally competent work that drives conversation to enrich our culture and wider society.

Here are thoughts from their members on what inspired their creation, and how they use them to inspire change from their corner of the world.

Name: Chenell Hall

Title: VP, Account Director

City: Wunderman Thompson Health St. Louis

Business + Employee Resource Group / Affinity: Our Collective Voices

Q> Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role?

Chenell> I’m Chenell Hall and I serve as vice president, account director to a group of healthcare accounts out of the Missouri office. I currently live in Austin, Texas, and have been with Wunderman Thompson for over six years. I’m a second-generation advertising professional, as my brother and I both followed my father into the industry. I’ve been fortunate to work on both the media and client sides of marketing, but the agency energy keeps calling me back.

Q> What made you crave more cultural inspiration at work?

Chenell> For about 15 years, my work was very multiculturally focused. I worked with brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, T-Mobile and Cricket Wireless to develop marketing and advertising that targets diverse audiences. I have always enjoyed learning about different cultures, but the professional task of speaking to audiences in culturally relevant manners is my true passion. Coming to Wunderman Thompson, that thinking remained part out of my approach. I became interested in supporting our internal culture and began volunteering to lead the Missouri IE&D Task Force as those efforts came to the forefront at the agency after the tragic murder of George Floyd. This resulted in me raising my hand to support our Missouri Culture Committee, our North American Sustainability endeavors, and now leadership in the Our Collective Voice (OCV).

Q> What is the purpose of your group? What is the change you are trying to achieve?

Chenell> OCV is an affinity B+ERG for Black Employees at Wunderman Thompson. We came together initially to support each other through pain and tragedy (which we have sadly continued to do), but we’ve sustained our support through natural camaraderie, career guidance, and aligned purpose. We want to be a resource for the agency supporting conversation about Black History, Black target marketing, IE&D, and other initiatives promoting understanding and success of our people. It’s not lost on our group that agencies have the ability to alter the norms of society, so we know that our efforts to impact the messaging that leaves our doors has a major impact.

Q> Why is your group important to the culture of Wunderman Thompson / the wider industry? 

Chenell> Belonging is such an important part of each employee’s experience. I believe the OCV is a space where many employees feel a strong sense of safety and belonging. It’s a space where we share pain and challenges as well as career wins and personal triumphs. We also work to make sure Black employees are well represented in all kinds of spaces within the agency, and that extends outside of the agency in organizations and communities across the nation. We have a group that is very diverse in interests and talents, that actively enrich our offices individually every day.

Q> What’s been the best part about being involved in your group? / What happens when you get together?

Chenell> We’re a fun group with lots of interesting personalities and interests! When we get together, we laugh, we cry, we connect. It’s quite special and I value those connections a great deal. I feel more engaged with and more connected to the agency because of OCV. I also know that when terrible things happen in our nation, we will come together and to try and make sure everyone is ok.

Q> How has your group inspired change, both within Wunderman Thompson and the wider industry?

Chenell> The individuals in the OCV work in all aspects of the agency. Human resources, creative, account service, data, technology and beyond from entry level to executive functions. We are able to come together to align on how we can support the agency’s culture and we go out and try to give that energy in our daily work and interactions. OCV has consulted on agency strategy for a major brand that targeted Black consumers. Many of our IE&D leads belong to this group and lead those efforts in North America and globally. Beyond our doors many members function as thought leaders in the industry, speaking to meaningful subjects like diversifying the advertising space, IE&D and specific areas like health equity. Most of all, the work we do lives in society and touches lots of people, with our fingerprints all over it in big and small ways.

Q> Why is community important to you and what makes a good workplace community?

Chenell> A sense of community is what we all strive for in all parts of our lives. From our neighborhoods, our kids’ schools, or places of worship to the gyms where we work out, and even our workplaces, I think most of us seek community for ourselves and our families. We want to feel comfortable, supported, respected, safe and as “at home” as you can be outside of your dwelling. I think these are the attributes we all look for in all communities, but in our workplaces, we also seek to have opportunity for growth and we want to be treated equitably. 

Q> What is your advice for other agencies who are looking to foster a sense of community among employees, and expand the work they are doing internally to effect change for their clients/the industry?

Chenell> Embrace diversity of all kinds and do the work. More points of view and life circumstances in each room position you to speak to your targets in meaningful ways and to prepare you for the future. Unfortunately, diversity rarely just happens. It happens consciously through education and effort. The community that forms as a result creates thoughtfulness and empathy that positively impacts the culture and the work.

Q> How can these groups impact the wider industry?

Chenell> These groups offer our best opportunity to attract and retain diverse talent, allowing people to practice their passions and to feel supported in their lifestyles, genders, sexuality, race, and ethnicity within their workspaces. These groups help to diversify our industry and push it forward, which will continue to do nothing but improve the work and the delivery to clients and brands.