Collective Influence: Shifting the Dial on Diversity

Our industry loves talking about diversity.

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And while there’s no doubt that progress has been made, talking about change and actually creating it are two very different things.

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At FARQ - a series of recent experiences have made us stop and question whether, as an industry, we’re doing enough. Not just to champion diverse voices, but to make sure they are being discovered in the first place, given the same opportunities, fairly compensated and properly supported once they’re in the room.

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We don’t pretend to have all the answers. But we do believe we have a responsibility to ask the questions - and to bring together the people who can help answer them.

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That’s why we’re launching Collective Influence.

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Why we're launching Collective Influence
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Over the past few months, we've found ourselves navigating situations that have forced us to ask some uncomfortable questions:

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- If we want more diverse talent represented in campaigns, how are we making sure those creators are being discovered in the first place?

- Are campaigns being planned inclusively from the outset?

- Once diverse creators are in the room - are brands doing enough to protect and support them?

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And one recent experience at FARQ brought that last question sharply into focus.

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Without going into the full story - because it isn't mine to share - one of our creators narrowly avoided being removed from a campaign after requesting a small number of contractual amendments designed to give them greater protection against harmful online abuse.

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They weren’t commercial deal-breakers. They were practical safeguards against harmful online abuse.

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It left us asking a question we think the wider industry needs to consider too:

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If we’re committed to championing diverse talent, are we also prepared to protect them?

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Because representation should not end when somebody is included in a campaign.

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True inclusion means thinking about what happens before, during and after a campaign. From how talent are discovered, to how creators are paid, to contracts, escalation, accessibility, moderation processes and the support available if something does go wrong.

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It isn't simply about inviting diverse voices into the room. It is about making sure they are supported once they are there.

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We don't have all the answers

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We do not have all the answers, and I want to be really clear about that.

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FARQ isn't launching Collective Influence because we think we've figured diversity and inclusion out. We haven't. We're learning too. But we also don't think that should stop us from starting the conversation.

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It's exactly why we want to create a space where we can listen, be challenged and learn from people whose experiences should shape the change.

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Why Collective Influence?

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Because this isn't something one agency, brand or creator can solve alone.

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The creator economy is an ecosystem.

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Brands, agencies, talent managers, platforms and creators all influence how opportunities are created, who receives them and what happens once a campaign goes live. And if we genuinely want to shift the dial, we need those different parts of the industry in the same room.

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That is what Collective Influence is intended to become: a series of industry conversations built around questions, shared learning and - most importantly - practical action.

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So our first event, Collective Influence: Shifting the Dial on Diversity, will bring together creators, agencies, brands and other thought-leaders from across the industry to explore some of the questions we believe deserve more attention.

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From talent discovery to contractual changes, better moderation and inclusive event planning. The conversation starters are simply that - a starting point. What will come out of the event, I imagine will be far bigger.

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We aren't expecting to leave on 15th October with diversity in the creator economy perfectly solved. Far from it. The point is to start somewhere.

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From conversation to action
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We don't want Collective Influence to become another conversation about diversity that ends when everybody leaves the room.

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Lasting change isn't going to happen because of this one event. It is going to requires consistency, ongoing conversataion and a willingness to keep asking difficult questions.

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My hope is that this first event helps everyone in the room identify tangible things we can all do differently - both individually and collectively - and creates momentum for conversations that continue beyond October.

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Because the future of the creator economy should be one where diverse voices aren't simply present, but valued and protected.

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That's the collective influence we want to create.

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We'd love you to join us from 9.30am-12.30pm on Thursday 15th October. Tickets are free, with limited availability. Find out more here.

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