The best marketing doesn't simply reach more people, it makes more people feel seen, understood, and included. In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, Cal Wilder sits down with Catharine Montgomery, Owner, Founder, and CEO of Better Together Agency, to discuss why inclusive marketing has become a business imperative rather than simply a social initiative. Catharine shares how accessibility, representation, and reducing bias in AI can help agencies create stronger campaigns, build greater customer trust, and better serve increasingly diverse audiences. Whether you're leading an agency, managing a brand, or exploring how AI is reshaping marketing, this conversation offers practical guidance on creating marketing that works for everyone. Takeaways: Inclusive marketing is about expanding your audience, not narrowing it. Catharine explains that inclusion isn't about checking boxes, it's about recognizing that customers come from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. Marketing becomes more effective when more people can genuinely see themselves reflected in the message. Accessibility should be built into marketing from the beginning. Rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought, agencies should incorporate it throughout strategy, creative development, and execution. Small decisions, from image descriptions to color contrast and language choices, can significantly improve how audiences engage with content. AI inherits the biases present in its training data. As generative AI becomes more common across marketing, Catharine emphasizes the importance of understanding how bias can appear in AI-generated outputs. Agencies must review, question, and refine AI-generated work rather than assuming technology produces objective results. Curiosity is one of a marketer's most valuable skills. Creating inclusive campaigns begins with asking thoughtful questions, listening to different perspectives, and remaining open to learning from people with experiences different from your own. That curiosity ultimately leads to stronger creative work and better business outcomes. Better representation strengthens trust. Consumers increasingly expect brands to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Authentic representation helps build credibility while allowing organizations to connect with audiences in more meaningful ways. Inclusion requires continuous improvement. Catharine explains that no organization gets everything right immediately. The goal isn't perfection, it's developing processes that encourage learning, feedback, and continual progress as customer expectations and technology evolve. Marketing leaders have an opportunity to shape how AI is used responsibly. Rather than fearing AI, agencies can help clients leverage it thoughtfully by recognizing its strengths while putting human judgment in place to identify bias, improve accuracy, and maintain authentic brand voices. Connect with Catharine: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnmontgomery/Website: http://www.thebettertogetheragency.com Ways to Tune In: Transistor: https://marketingagencypowerhour.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19ECltpQuJWu6rfXlx98wT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marketing-agency-power-hour/id1809205281 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/344bea8c-7897-4dfc-8cdc-f31a92514243 iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-marketing-agency-power-hou-272863996/ Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/marketing-agency-power-hour-6067409
