Jo Arscott is a true pioneer.
When she started in advertising she was a teenage girl of colour. And that was back in the 1980s, when the planet was a lot less woke (as the kids say) than it is now.
Then she paved the way for ‘Integrated’ work long before ‘360’ became an adjective.
Then she worked everywhere from Arkansas to Qatar.
And she’s now a walking diversity debate who doesn’t think there should be one.
So she’s had an advertising career unlike any other, but met every twist and turn with relentless positivity.
Have a listen as we discuss…
From Gloucestershire to Watford.
Inspiration from Margaret Thatcher and Boy George.
‘Oh my God, she’s black! Oh my God, she’s a girl!’
Integration was a thing.
That asthma poster.
To the BBC via Paris.
Saatchi and Saatchi under Dave Droga.
Being groomed by Michael Howard to become an MP.
Off to Coke in Atlanta.
Shopper Marketing and Bentonville, Arkansas with Saatchi X (Amish, Cowboys, KKK…).
And no real love for Chicago.
So back to the UK… before quickly off to the Middle East.
It’s all an education.
Is the whole diversity thing a good thing or a bad thing?
Colour of skin isn’t necessarily expertise in multicultural advertising.
A ‘cultural collage’.
It’s not about hiring people; it’s about how you talk to people.
1:1.
(I'll happily send a CV/Resume on request.)
Projects
- Design Council Interview - Jo Arscott: Britain's first black female Creative Director(Article originally published by Design Council) Globally experienced, award-winning and hugely creative, Jo Arscott has worked with and represented billion-dollar brands such as Coca-Cola and Proctor & Gamble across the UK, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Her career to date has delivered inspiring and engaging pieces of work incorporating diverse, creative and strategic thinking. Her most recent roles found her heading up accounts within MENA and Saatchi & Saatchi, where she managed
- Interview: “I understood the power of my own brand”In his latest Four Corners column, Jon Daniel catches up with creative director Joanna Arscott, an orphaned child who found her way and launched a flamboyant career, beginning in the 1980s. (Article originally published by Design Week, by Jon Daniel October 26, 2016) For this year’s Black History month, I am proud to shine a spotlight on one of the first Black female creative directors to grace the British advertising scene. Still creating effective and award-winning work wherever she goes, ple
+ Show more
Projects credited in
- This International Women’s Day, meet the 200 Women Redefining the Creative Industry in 2018Discover our 2020 list here This International Women's Day, we asked influential icons to nominate 10 trailblazing women who they believe are redefining the creator landscape. The result? A unique and incredible list of 200 trailblazing women breaking barriers and inspiring change! Only 36% of jobs in the creative sector are currently filled by women. At the top of the tree there’s an even bigger problem - women make up only 11% of Creative Directors. In an attempt to change this, our month-lo165
Skills
- Creative
- Brand Consultancy
- Keynote Speaker
- Shopper Marketing
- Brand Activation
- Mentoring
- Multicultural Sensitivity