SVP and Senior Partner, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Offices
FleishmanHillard

Adrianne C. Smith is SVP/Senior Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard, a global PR agency developing creative and strategic communications for brand and reputation management, corporate and consumer marketing, crisis and more. Prior to joining FleishmanHillard she was named the first Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity at WPP, the largest multinational communications, advertising, public relations, technology and commerce holding company. Adrianne is also the Founder and Visionary of the Can: Diversity Collective, a non-profit organization created to provide access and exposure to young adults of color and under-represented communities to global thought leadership conferences on advertising, marketing, creativity, economics, innovation and technology. In 2017, she launched the first iteration of the Diversity Collective, the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) which provides rising stars in the advertising and creative industry the opportunity to attend and participate in the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2019, she made history by creating the first stand-alone Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Beach in the festival’s 66 years of existence. Cannes Lions is where the best creative work in the world is judged to the highest standards.

With more than 20+ years of industry and advocacy experience, including her work as the Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Advertising at Howard University, Adrianne has helped many individuals achieve their personal career goals and organizations achieve their strategic corporate goals. Her training and development programs were the catalyst for the success of several advertising executives. Graduates trained in her program have received numerous awards and accolades including Cannes Lion awards.

Adrianne’s career has been primarily based on making the invisible visible by creating opportunities for under-represented communities. She has created and

produced both documentaries and television programs as well as participated on the launch team for a digital sub-television network. In addition to her advocacy work, Adrianne is the founder of Vision Corps Media Group (VCMG), a media incubation company developed to create new content for current and emerging media outlets.

You are the most important brand that you’ll ever represent! The creative strategy you use to promote multinational brands, you must use to promote the multifaceted YOU.

Global Creative Director
Publicis Italy

After a long architecture career that lasted almost 7 months and a half, Sandra decided that doing ads is more fun than doing houses.

So, in 2011, she started her ad career.

It was the best decision ever because she loves creating conversations. Those conversations got her awarded in all the major shows (Cannes, D&AD, Clio, One Show, ANDY, NYF, LIAA, Eurobest) and also got her titles like Copywriter of the Year or Pitch 100 Superwomen. All this helps with her parents being less mad about her dropping architecture.

Sandra moved from Bucharest to London and from London to Publicis where she is currently working as a Global Creative Director.

Sandra lives for pizza, pasta and Prosecco. 
Sandra cannot wink. Or whistle.

A drive through good work, where it comes from and how to approach your ad carreer.