Airbnb CMO Wants to Meet Women and ‘Creatives of Color’ at Cannes

Airbnb wants the creative team behind its marketing to be as diverse as the world it represents. That’s why Jonathan Mildenhall, the brand’s chief marketing officer, has put out a call to action, asking for women and “creatives of color” to meet with him at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this June.

“The industry has been talking about the need for diversity for as long as I’ve been in it,” said Mildenhall in a statement. “It is now time for us all to stop talking, and start on-boarding opportunities for these vastly underrepresented creators. And I, for one, will do everything within my power to ensure we do so.”

The company has been working to showcase the diversity of the hosts on its platform in its ads. But “to authentically convey [hosts’] varied experiences,” the company needs to be working with “groups whose perspectives, connections and experiences are rooted in different parts of the world—yet, generally speaking, aren’t in the room when their opinions are needed the most,” the company explained in its release. “It is our firm belief that cultivating a strong group of wide-ranging minds will result in the sort of impactful storytelling that can make positive societal change.”

The company issued a release this morning asking, “Going to Cannes Lions this year? If you’re a creative of color or woman in the creative industry, and have stellar work we want to meet you while you’re there. And even if you’re not, we should still talk as diversity is the future of our business. Send your work to creative@airbnb.com or visit us at abnb.co/creative and let’s connect.”

Kristina Monllos

@KristinaMonllos

Kristina Monllos is a senior editor for Adweek.