111 episodes

Inclusive marketing is rapidly growing in prominence, as more consumers expect that brands "see" them, be more inclusive in their marketing campaigns, and accommodate a broader base of customers that don't cleanly fit into what is considered "mainstream."
The show is hosted by Sonia Thompson, an inclusive brand coach, strategist, consultant, speaker, and Forbes and Inc. columnist who's helped brands and leaders alike attract and retain diverse customers.
This podcast explores everything you need to know about building an inclusive brand, including customer experience, inclusive leadership, cultural intelligence, building diverse teams, inclusive language and imagery, and more.

Inclusion and Marketing Sonia Thompson

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 50 Ratings

Inclusive marketing is rapidly growing in prominence, as more consumers expect that brands "see" them, be more inclusive in their marketing campaigns, and accommodate a broader base of customers that don't cleanly fit into what is considered "mainstream."
The show is hosted by Sonia Thompson, an inclusive brand coach, strategist, consultant, speaker, and Forbes and Inc. columnist who's helped brands and leaders alike attract and retain diverse customers.
This podcast explores everything you need to know about building an inclusive brand, including customer experience, inclusive leadership, cultural intelligence, building diverse teams, inclusive language and imagery, and more.

    110. Essential Lessons from Nike's WNBA Signature Shoe Controversy

    110. Essential Lessons from Nike's WNBA Signature Shoe Controversy

    It's reported that Nike will be signing a signature shoe deal with Caitlin Clark. While excitement for, viewership, and support of women's sports, including the WNBA are on the rise, there are some major disparities happening from a representation standpoint.
    Nike's shoe deal with Caitlin Clark amplifies the problem. In this episode, I walk you through what's happening, dive deeper into the root cause of the issue, and cover how all of this impacts your brand.
    Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter
    LinkedIn post that inspired this episode
    Episode 45: Factors that influence your customers's success that you should be aware of

    • 24 min
    109. Cultural intelligence for marketers with Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel

    109. Cultural intelligence for marketers with Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel

    Cultural intelligence is essential for any brand that wants to be effective with their inclusive marketing efforts. It is the foundation for helping you engage in an authentic way to make people from underrepresented and underserved communities feel seen and like they belong with you.
    In this episode, I sat down with an expert who actually wrote a book on cultural intelligence for marketers -- to talk about that very topic.
    Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel is a cultural theorist, writer, social critic, and strategist specializing in inclusivity within marketing, media, and tech. She's currently a senior insights lead at Reddit, and has consulted for brands inclusing Nike, Samsung, Disney, Ulta Beauty, and Amex.
    Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter
    Dr. Anastasia Gabriel on LinkedIn
    Cultural Intelligence for Marketers book

    • 36 min
    108. A framework for inclusive communications with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim

    108. A framework for inclusive communications with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim

    Communication is a core part of marketing. And yet it feels like so many brands struggle with communicating in a manner that is both inclusive and authentic. As a result, a lot of times brands struggle with communicating in a manner that doesn't turn people off or push people away that they would prefer to draw closer.
    In today's episode, I sat down with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, a linguist, inclusive language expert, and author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide. During our chat, we cover a framework for using inclusive language that gives you the confidence you need to design your communications in a way that makes more people feel like they belong with you.
    Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter
    The Inclusive Language Field Guide
    Dr. Suzanne Wertheim
    Episode 15: Getting started with inclusive language with Nailah King

    • 35 min
    107. How changes to the 2030 U.S. Census impacts your brand today

    107. How changes to the 2030 U.S. Census impacts your brand today

    Major changes are coming to the 2030 Census in the U.S. And even though we're a few years away from those changes taking effect, the implications for brands start now. In this episode, I walk you through the changes the U.S. government recently announced for the Census, why the changes were made, and how they impact your brand.
    Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter
    U.S. Census Changes Just Approved
    Sample 2030 U.S. Census Questionnaire
    Suzanne Wertheim
    SightsSet Consulting - Renita Bryant

    • 30 min
    106. How Zumba built a global customer base in more than 180 countries

    106. How Zumba built a global customer base in more than 180 countries

    Inclusive marketing really is just doing marketing well. Even though we aren't there now, eventually, we'll get to a place where won't even need to call inclusive marketing inclusive marketing anymore -- it'll just be the way we do marketing.
    The good news -- we're not too far away from that being our reality. That's because that's the way some brands are already operating today. Zumba is one of those brands that has that approach.
    In today's episode, I sat down with Zumba's Chief Marketing Officer, Carolina Moreas, who gave a ton of insight into the way the brand operates, that has enabled them to build a global and fiercely loyal customer base in more than 180 countries.
    Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter
    Zumba

    • 28 min
    105. How The Home Depot became "The Most Culturally Inclusive Brand"

    105. How The Home Depot became "The Most Culturally Inclusive Brand"

    The Home Depot was recently named "The Most Culturally Inclusive Brand" by the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive & Multicultural Marketing (AIMM).
    I thought it would be great for you to learn about their approach to inclusive marketing, so I sat down with Chante LaGon, Sr. Manager of Multi-Cultural Marketing at The Home Depot to get insight into how they think about and execute inclusive marketing.
    There's lots to learn from this chat. Pull out your pen and dig in.

    Get the Inclusion & Marketing Newsletter
    The Home Depot

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
50 Ratings

50 Ratings

Amber-Tiana ,

This Is The Podcast I’ve Been Waiting For!

Sonia is doing what needs to be done! This podcast offers a truly thought-provoking examination of the importance of inclusion in marketing through a brilliant storytelling like flow.

Not only does Sonia share powerful statistics that really demonstrate the need for greater representation of marginalized groups in marketing - she also provides relevant examples from pop culture as well as her own intersectional experiences to illustrate how inclusion can be used to create better results for all of us and not just (but definitely including) your bottom line.

All in all, this is an absolute must-listen for those interested in learning about how we can make our marketing initiatives more inclusive and effective. 100/10 would recommend.

CPickCanes ,

Every leader needs to listen

We need more people applying the lessons Sonia and her guests share on this show.

TinasheChaponda ,

Empowering emerging leaders

I have struggled with my identity as an African immigrant while growing up in the American culture these past 20 years. Now that I'm in a leadership role in advertising, Sonia and her guests have helped me grow past my identity insecurities and biases through their stories. I've built an environment for our team where all ideas are welcome and improved how we help our clients connect with diverse communities.

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