People want to be heard and understood, far beyond any stereotypes or preconceived notions about who they are as individuals. For this reason, advertising is not one size fits all, and in my opinion, it never should be. Diversity, equity and inclusion can help to ensure that a wide variety of people can be heard and communicated with effectively, and in a way that truly resonates with them. It’s important for people, especially those within minority groups, to feel represented. And having someone showing up for them within the advertising industry is a great start to making sure they feel seen in communications efforts.
The key word here is "start." Agencies have begun to take steps towards diversity and inclusion — it's important that upper level management choices reflect this as well. Having a diverse group of people in upper level positions makes it more likely that these efforts remain prevalent within all levels of the work. Speaking from personal experience, the workplace becomes much more inviting when you see people that look like you or come from a similar background. From my education experience alone, I’ve seen a wide variety of people from all walks of life that are aiming to become future advertisers, and having increased diversity on the inside will make it more likely that everyone will have a chance to be seen.