Empowering progress from within

As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing importance of driving dynamic progression

By Contributor

Published: February 17, 2025 Updated: February 18, 2025

As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing importance of driving dynamic progression

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Supporting initiatives that promote diversity of talent in broadcast, media, and entertainment is a clear win for the media technology industry. It strengthens the talent pipeline, fosters innovation, and challenges long-held stereotypes. While the external impact of such sponsorship is undeniable, it's increasingly important to highlight the internal benefits, especially when budgets are tight and every initiative must prove its value.

From boosting employee morale, to nurturing a culture of inclusion to enhance leadership development, we spoke to some of Rise's supporters to understand the tangible advantages that transform organisations from the inside out.

Reputational rewards Our emphasis on diversity in the industry really helps us build strong relationships with customers and partners, explains Kris Langbridge, principal customer solutions manager, Amazon Web Services (AWS). It immediately demonstrates our commitment and helps us to move forward on common ground with prospects and clients.

This sentiment is echoed by Bob Boster, president, Clear-Com. Our sponsorships are very select and we put a lot of time and consideration into what the company chooses to support. By extension, our staff, and in particular our female staff, understand that the company sees diversity and female representation as a core corporate value. This helps them feel seen and their contributions recognised.

Career confidence A longstanding supporter of Rise, David Ross, CEO of Ross Video reflects on the transformative impact Rise has had on its employees' career growth. One of our employees was working as a sales coordinator when she took part in a Rise mentoring cycle. That scheme not only gave her fantastic guidance and advice, but also the confidence and network to enable her to take hold of her career and propel it forward to a director level role.

It's clear that the industry needs and would benefit hugely from more females in leadership and board-level roles. For us, supporting Rise is incredibly important.

Visibility leads to productivity Opportunities to participate, network or collaborate on activities can empower employees and help boost not only their confidence, but also their proactivity and commitment to their own careers. Leanne Tomlin, marketing director at Perifery, emphasises the impact of encouraging female employees to participate in conference presentations and panel discussions. We've made a concerted effort to champion our female team members in industry forums, and the positive effects are undeniable. It's inspired confidence and increased engagement across the board.

Langbridge agrees, noting how the benefits of participating in Rise's programme of initiatives create a ripple effect at AWS. We've seen a huge impact in terms of employee productivity. They have an opportunity to be much more active in this space, taking part in the global mentoring schemes and the Rise Awards. This cultivates a very warm and positive sense of doing good for our industry, and we've seen how this feeds back into our team's performance and commitment.

A community committed to change In conclusion, Mark Harrison, founder and CCO, DPP, encapsulates the sentiment perfectly: Diversity simply makes companies better. It brings a freshness of ideas and consistently drives dynamic progression, something we've clearly seen in the companies supporting Rise. This is incredibly encouraging for the broadcast industry, but achieving meaningful change requires a long-term commitment and, of course, financial investment, to ensure this vital work continues. Only then can organisations sustain higher levels of motivation, confidence, and collaboration across their teams.

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