The advertising world is threading a needle right now. Agencies like mine are working to stay true to our DNA while not appearing “too other”; if a brand assumes that a diverse agency’s success is tied to DEI rather than its capabilities, the agency can be deprioritized when DEI falls out of favor.

We must recognize that these societal shifts are cyclical. The companies that abandon DEI today may struggle when public sentiment inevitably swings back. The question for brands isn’t just how to navigate today—it’s whether they’re prepared for what’s next.