https://www.afrancois.com/home daily 0.75 2016-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1499826112718-2R7AW0WV3OTWP2QSFNBW/o-BARCLAYS-SEATING-JEWS-facebook.jpg Home https://www.afrancois.com/home-1 daily 1.0 2024-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1643818897403-N5MD4Q79FV8O9OQD7GPQ/aaron_francois_066.jpg The T’Challa of Marketing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1501961673819-H119LN276T7NQIYKH9N9/Barclays+Center.jpg The T’Challa of Marketing https://www.afrancois.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-02-15 https://www.afrancois.com/thevisionary daily 0.75 2024-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/8e2d379f-4585-402f-bc07-eaf2288ff0d5/Black%2BVisionaries%2BLogo%2BSolid%2BBlack%2BBackground.jpg The Visionary - Make it stand out Black Visionaries Inc. In Winter 2022, I officially launched Black Visionaries an organization geared towards servicing Black Professionals who are either entrepreneurs or within corporate America looking to make significant strides. The organization services professionals by providing them with the tools and resources needed to support their goals. This can range from increasing awareness of certification and grants to facilitating in-person mixers granting exposure to like-minded peers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/2055eebb-1a45-4306-8b63-45f31ed8c18d/AdAge+DEI+Champion.jpg The Visionary - Make it stand out AdAge Creativity Awards Finalist The AdAge Creativity Awards, recognize excellent work, outstanding people, creative companies, and exceptional production within marketing, advertising, and Tech. D&I Champion of the Year finalists are selected based on their continued advocacy for diverse voices within the aforementioned industries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1500057306599-P7BQ1J97ETJMMJT2JHI7/Screen+Shot+2017-07-13+at+12.43.53+AM.png The Visionary Dance Mogul Magazine Sept. 2015 Release In partnership with Dance Mogul Magazine, I was given the opportunity to assist with the compilation of a magazine that shed light on an underground dance community in the streets of New York. This project went on for a year and the release event itself brought in 300+ attendees to celebrate. Both digital & hard copies of the magazine can be found here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/3e77edd2-dd34-42c9-b089-4ac4d61d9659/mo_08212416.jpg The Visionary - Make it stand out Nasdaq Opening Bell Ceremony In August 2024, my non-profit Black Visionaries was invited to ring the opening Bell at Nasdaq for their work in the community. Click here to see the recording of the ceremony. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1661913209542-NVZP5EDVQN3EBYHZWFJ3/IMG_9925.jpg The Visionary - Make it stand out Mr. ADCOLOR 2022 In 2022, I was honored to be named Mr. ADCOLOR 2022. ADCOLOR Honorees are luminaries and notable figures chosen by the organization’s Board of Directors and respective partners. Each honoret is acknowledged for their commitment to DEI and creating space for diverse voices across the marketing industry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1499914396709-9X988SKKNAKZHGAK5C8P/image-asset.jpeg The Visionary AAF NSAC Competition Each year the AAF hosts the annual NSAC competition where a brand enlists the help of students to develop a campaign that re-ignites their product in the eyes of the consumer. This year we worked with Tai Pei which is a frozen food brand. You can find a link to the deck we composed here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1501550804936-OX5FEXGY1MMCOPPWQAIC/image-asset.jpeg The Visionary BMCC Urban Male Leadership Academy The Urban Male Leadership Academy is the Borough of Manhattan Community College branch of the CUNY Black Male Initiative (BMI) Program. Having once been an actual student within the program, I eventually moved on to become a mentor to the incoming students, while also partnering each semester to curate workshops through my non-profit Black Visionaries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1661911096314-6P7TJDUGYPVBLBPAYZV5/ADCOLOR+Logo.jpg The Visionary - Make it stand out ADCOLOR Advisory Board Chair In 2020, I became an official member of the ADCOLOR Advisory Board. As a member of the AAB, I serve as a co-lead for their Learning & Development team. This team focuses on developing programming that speaks to the needs of the incoming year’s FUTURES class, with workshops, discussions, and activities centered around skill building, candid discussions, and knowledge sharing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/ffdd279e-2902-4a35-acea-93028aadd55c/BAM_6009+%282%29.JPG The Visionary - Make it stand out The Black Visionaries Brunch Each year, in honor of Black History Month, Black Visionaries hosts the annual Black Visionaries Brunch. This invite-only event is geared towards creating a space for fellowship amongst Black Professionals across industries. The full recap video can be found here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1499914237935-Y9H2P5SPLB11IJGPMNBF/Aaron+at+BK+Museum.jpg The Visionary Mindlezz Thoughtz x Brooklyn Museum The Brooklyn Museum enlisted the help of Mindlezz Thoughtz to develop an effective campaign around their "Rise of Sneaker Culture" exhibit. This occurrence received a lot of traction from notable publications such as Timeout Magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1500759820579-U23A2B7907LGYEHLPQC5/image-asset.png The Visionary 2017 PRSSA Bateman Competition This year PRSSA at Baruch partnered with The Campaign to Change Direction to spread awareness of the five signs of emotional suffering. The campaign included multiple social activations as well as testimonial videos from Humans of Macaulay students. We also generated the #TAKE5 hashtag so students could view each other’s stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1613439953341-YTA26Z9I0C2XQ6EYEZP1/HackathonIG+Infeed.png The Visionary ADCOLOR 2020 Pre-Conference Panel In 2020 I joined the ADCOLOR Advisory Board supporting the team in developing an extensive virtual experience despite the impact of COVID on the world. One of the highlights of my involvement was the pre-conference panel centered around Putting Action Behind Anti-Racism. The panel brought together a full slate of DEI champions to discuss ways to execute impactful and measurable anti-racist practices at every level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1584675118801-9D2J8KW5N17BFEKCB8Z4/IMG4311060428611536267.jpg The Visionary ADCOLOR x Deutsch Presents: We See You In partnership with Deutsch agency, the ADCOLOR Futures class of 2018 released a video titled “We See You." Featuring testimonials from the class of 2018, the video focuses on the feeling of invisibility that diverse professionals feel within their respective fields. The title acts as a mantra letting viewers know that they are not alone and no matter how unseen they may feel, WE SEE YOU. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/48d7be74-643c-4577-b965-202ef6f1b239/Screenshot+2024-11-08+at+4.20.05%E2%80%AFPM.png The Visionary - Make it stand out “Right Hand” Plug Award In recognition of my dedicated service to supporting future leaders and helping them overcome professional obstacles,14th & Market awarded me the “Right Hand” plug award. https://www.afrancois.com/resume-1 daily 0.75 2024-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/39f713ac-cd85-4925-b183-c3a2547f2817/Aaron+F.+Resume.png Resumé https://www.afrancois.com/themarketer daily 0.75 2024-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/d6c2ea9a-e518-4057-9785-c7d1964241bb/General_Electric_logo.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/f57d7231-9f78-4aac-b0e7-6fb24757699c/Screenshot+2024-11-10+at+7.51.18%E2%80%AFPM.jpg The Marketer - Make it stand out Muse by Clios Op-Ed As a nerd, I always find interest in merging pop culture, fandom and brand building. An op-ed piece I wrote for Muse by Clio does exactly that. Click here to read the full article https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/8b285b01-03a2-4676-843a-db46c78dfe4e/American-Express-Color.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1661913353624-5N0WP57D3ZF5ZTD3J5JQ/Billy+Davis.jpeg The Marketer - Make it stand out 4A’s x McCann WorldGroup Billy Davis Award The Billy Davis Award was created in honor of Roquel “Billy” Davis, a legendary songwriter, producer, music director, and Advertising Hall of Fame alum. Honorees are selected for their creative and innovative power to positively influence their company, community, or society at-large, further driving DEI https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/28a7567f-befc-442f-b03f-667efdaeffa0/Sprite-Logo-2019.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/41b4d8d9-5f35-4e54-add1-a82af511842b/Gatorade_logo_before_2009.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/703ae1d1-df07-4f6e-8842-207fd9e7491f/Meta_Platforms_Inc._logo.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/3d490a06-c0e4-4c11-af1a-45446fa5e66d/Samsung_Logo.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/bfbcca82-bf3b-4d9d-8e4f-c4aeb16109bf/IMG_2622.jpg The Marketer - Make it stand out AD Club 2024 Rockstar Award Each year, the AD Club of NY celebrates Rockstars, Innovators, and Icons within the marketing and media industry. In 2024, I had the honor of being selected for the Rockstar category. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/4144feaf-e2e2-4135-96f0-519799319b4a/amazon-logo-0.jpg The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1532056175494-67V72M3G9NKWS7C45T85/ADCOLORFUTURESLOGO.png The Marketer 2018 ADCOLOR FUTURE Aaron was selected as one of 30 AdColor Future honorees for his consistent dedication to reaching back to his community while continuing to excel in the advertising industry. "ADCOLOR FUTURES is a unique program that is dedicated to identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders in the advertising, marketing, media, and public relations industries. The program offers sponsorship to attend the ADCOLOR Conference & Awards, career training through ADCOLOR University, short and long-term mentorship, as well as activities designed to inspire creativity and build camaraderie." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1661907963088-S4OYNNUWSMM8C76VRL6D/LBB+Logo.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Little Black Book Interview Upon starting at R/GA as a Senior Connections Strategist, I was interviewed by Little Black Book about my perspective on how bands can more effectively leverage partnerships to be more innovative in their work. Additionally, I was able to share some gems about mentorship and the role it played in my career thus far. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1502677203176-FPHUMMDHR9OD9XJG71I6/image-asset.jpeg The Marketer 4A's MAIP Program During the summer of 2017, I was accepted into the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) under the 4A's. The program was founded 40 years ago and allowed students of diverse backgrounds to be fully immersed in different advertising agencies across the United States. In addition, the program included 12 weeks of virtual spring training prior to our start date and evening workshops for professional development afterward. I am more than proud to say I am officially an alumnus of the program and have joined a network of over 3,000 individuals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/152b40f0-8e2b-4dbe-bdbd-80d5f6185a6c/Toys__R__Us_logo.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/73431b64-e218-4823-beab-db8a25a4ab03/Screenshot+2024-11-10+at+3.56.57%E2%80%AFPM.jpg The Marketer - Make it stand out Campaign US Article Feature In commemoration of Black History 2024, Bailey Calfee of campaign US asked 11 Black creatives for their favorite campaigns that authentically represented Black Culture and their impact from an industry perspective. Click here to read the full article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/9a2f4f46-f290-4f81-af09-aa8a1b5da024/DC_Comics_2024.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1661913357493-DVUC5XHLHVI3KSJB8R60/MAIPER+To+Watch.jpeg The Marketer - Make it stand out 2021 MAIPER To Watch MAIPER To Watch Finalists are recognized for making significant strides and doing workin within the industry that continuously pushes the needle both within and outside of their companies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/32576c89-e1be-4fe3-b3ec-d4a5da331cac/Google_2015_logo.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/c478d868-8f2c-4b1f-8cef-cf809b077ec6/16302304-1708701125494-b9c3ae8e8a408.jpg The Marketer - Make it stand out A Dose of Black Joy Podcast A Dose of Black Joy & Caffeine is a podcast dedicated to amplifying Black creatives within the marketing and tech industries. Each episode navigates through conversations about work culture & Black culture. You can find a link to my appearance here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/d85d3a37-e442-44cc-98c4-9150da71c4ac/taco_bell_logo_1994.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/558cbf4f-33a7-442f-ab01-d49965b5f5c8/Max+logo.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/a2f56d6e-441a-4604-94e7-108816844f68/1596472873372.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/1661908309285-F3DIJD4QR02ZNT1DAIV3/WPP+Real+Logo.png The Marketer WPP Employee Spotlight (March 2020) Each month WPP network highlights its community members for their commitment to success while standing out as leaders. Through my work as an ERG lead, Planning Supervisor & DEI champion, I created impactful work on a network-wide scale while working towards a better experience for diverse employees within each agency. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59656f5ccd0f68c56a464f0d/88df381c-27e4-4ec0-9b33-b837660a4a52/Jumpman_logo.svg.png The Marketer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.