How do you solve a problem like the crucial gap in the representation of Black British women in panel discussions and judging sessions?

Join Our Table, a new UK initiative designed to celebrate Black British women and create a platform of equity and visibility for Black women in communications, aims to tackle this problem head-on. The collective was founded by eight influential Black British women from across the industry and launches next month.

Join Our Table was conceived at this year's Cannes Lions Festival of Advertising, where, despite some notable efforts to spotlight diversity, its founding members recognised a crucial gap in the representation of Black British women, particularly in panel discussions and judging panels.

Rather than simply admiring the problem, as an immediate response to this lack of representation, these women devised Join Our Table. A collective with a clear mission to celebrate Black women in the UK advertising and media industry and champion increased visibility, not only at Cannes but throughout the sector.

It is a move that comes as Black talent continues to face the sharp edges of a lack of inclusion across the industry. According to the latest All In Census data three in ten Black people stated they were likely to leave the industry due to a lack of inclusion and/or discrimination. One in ten people from an ethnic minority had personally experienced racial discrimination at their current company.

The founding members of Join Our Table include some of the most impactful changemakers in the creative industries: Gerry Anyanwu, Client Director at Global Media, Collette Philip, Founder of Brand By Me, Elizabeth Anyaegbuna, Founder of 16 X 9 Media, Samantha Lewis, Account Manager at Kinetic, Nadine Leighton, Marketing Consultant, Chloe Davies, Founder of It takes a village, Annika Allen, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at ALL 3 Media and Maria McDowell, Founder of Lollipop Mentoring.

According to their website the Join Our Table team is ‘building a platform to spotlight Black excellence, amplify bold voices, and make space for all our sisters to shine. A place for community, mentorship, and empowerment.’

At a time when the advertising industry is at risk of losing 30% of its Black talent and the anti-racism initiatives that followed 2020’s resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement are fast disappearing, Join Our Table will launch this October. The platform will amplify the work that Black women are doing across this industry and kicks off with the UK’s 2023 Black History theme ‘Saluting our sisters’, a celebration of sisterhood and the matriarchy.

Gerry Anyanwu, Client Director at Global Media, and founding member of Join Our Table, explained: “As a 40+ Black woman, I want to use my position to support my wider community. The Black female position in the workplace is too often a hard struggle. I want this campaign to say boldly “we see you; we see how hard you work, and we got you sis.”

Join Our Table is sponsored by Brand By Me, a brand and strategy consultancy focused on social justice. It will launch with an outdoor campaign created by Brand By Me, with advertising space donated by C-Screens, IQOOOH, JC Decaux and Clear Channel.

Collette Philip, Founder of Brand By Me, and Joint Creative Director for the campaign, explained: “As a Black female founder, I know first-hand that a seat at the table can be a double-edged sword. This campaign is about showing up for Black women on our own terms. I’m super proud that Brand By Me is sponsoring this powerful campaign, using our resources to amplify Black women in the communications industries”.

The digital outdoor campaign, created by Brand by Me, is a clear call to action with the strapline “It’s time to celebrate Black women”. It features uplifting, colourful images of the 8 founders together against bold headlines. Each execution was designed to illustrate community and joy and challenge stereotypes.

The campaign was shot by photographer Crystal Nyarko and art directed by Thad Cox, for Brand by Me. Brand by Me also commissioned a custom music track, developed specifically for the campaign called  ‘Wings’, written and performed by James Junior. 

Join Our Table is partnering with Bloom, WACL (Women in Communication and Advertising and Leadership) and Media For All on a social media campaign which will run throughout October.

All activity will drive people to the campaign spotlight hub, joinourtable.co.uk showcasing Black British women within the advertising, media, and marketing industries. This hub promises to be a valuable resource for event organizers, businesses, and media outlets that intend to amplify minoritized voices.