Black Woman-Owned Agency Receives Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Certification in Hopes of Better Reflecting the American Dream

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Jul 14, 2020, 09:30 ET

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Isom Global Strategies (IGS), a marketing, advertising, and public relations firm, is proud to announce national certification as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). According to a PR Week article based on data from 98 firms, timing could not be better since George Floyd's death has sparked the movement for equality, including a conversation on how U.S. agencies lag in diversity and inclusion. PR Week reports that only 13% of marketing agency leadership in the C-suite or Board, and just 24% of their overall workforce is non-white.

IGS Founder and CEO Towan Isom said, "WBENC Certification will help my company, and the community of women-owned businesses, strengthen the African American and women-owned business ecosystem that lags behind mainstream PR agencies." Data compiled by PR Week backs up Isom's critique. In 2019, more than half (55%) of U.S. agencies had no people of color on their Boards or in the C-suite. Ms. Isom says, "By their messaging I can always tell the brands that have representation in the boardroom and those that do not. We're hoping that the Stop Hate for Profit campaign will highlight gaps in ownership, leadership, and mentorship in PR, marketing, and advertising agencies."

IGS is a woman and minority-owned agency founded in 1998. Its clients include major global and federal brands like Comcast, Nike, Tanqueray, Black Entertainment Television, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and many more. Through unique client-centric and creative planning and delivery of services, and its multi-cultural global staff, IGS distinguishes itself from large traditional agencies and run-of-the-mill production houses.

Isom notes her company is "highly qualified and represents the authentic voice of the real American experience, unlike the larger agencies making decisions and controlling messaging with no people of color in the boardroom. I'd love to see Fortune companies commit to have an African American Tier-One agency in their procurement process, not going through Tier-Two agencies that take 90% of the budget and say make the rest work." Isom adds, "I think Richard Edelman has the right idea when he promised to double his company's purchase spend with minority-owned small businesses. African American agencies aren't saying we want to replace these agencies, we just want to be invited to pull up a chair."

To learn more about Isom Global Strategies, please visit www.isomglobal.com.

About WBENC and Certification
Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation's leader in women's business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women. WBENC includes more than 14,000 Certified Women's Business Enterprises, 14 Regional Partner Organizations, and over 300 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America's most prestigious brands, as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification.

WBENC's National Standard of Certification is a meticulous process. It includes formal documentation and a site visit to validate that the business is 51% owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. Corporations and government agencies demonstrate commitment to diversity and continued development of supplier diversity programs by including women-owned businesses among their suppliers.

For more information about WBENC and its certification, please visit www.wbenc.org.

CONTACT:
Towan Isom, CEO
[email protected]
202-841-9443

SOURCE Isom Global Strategies