Shirley Chisholm once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” As the founder of a social change agency, I have often found myself not only bringing the chair, but the table too, to conversations and spaces in which I advocate for the nonprofits we serve.
It is extremely gratifying to be recognized by two organizations for the work that I’ve done to increase visibility for mission-driven causes, while simultaneously championing for more thought leadership by women in the sector, who make up more than 74% of the workforce.
My inclusion in PRNews’ 50 Game Changers of 2017 earlier this year was not only a chance to hang out with the cool kids, but was also confirmation that we as an agency are onto something.
Being selected by 914Inc. magazine for their cover story, as one of 17 key female business leaders in the New York region, has me equally humbled and inspired.
Years ago, this type of recognition was normally given to global agencies who supported the largest of brands. But our work with the people, working for the people, is getting noticed. This is not only a win for us but also for nonprofits everywhere who are trying to capture the hearts and minds of audiences with ever changing priorities. Your stories, your vision and consistent focus to accelerate progress on important social issues deserves attention, and I’m so happy that we as an agency are positioned to play a role in the eco-system of social change.
The honor of being the only representative of a social change agency to receive these accolades inspires me to further our reach and support even more organizations, with a sense of urgency.
While we here at The Wakeman Agency celebrate this recognition, we hope you will join us too because these wins simply would not be possible without you.
In solidarity,
Vanessa