Chris Kenna's guest appearances

Chris Kenna

The Digiday Podcast

The Outvertising Podcast

Mad Influence

Jessica Lessin

Chuck Todd

Erika Nardini

Gary Liu

Ben Smith

Jeff Taylor

Andréa Mallard

Amy Adams

Rich Kleiman

Kara Swisher

Martha Stewart

Jack Parsons

Peter Kafka

Leah Finnegan

Mark Howard

OwlTail

Brand Advance, the three-year-old media network that helps marketers reach diverse audiences, has marked a sharp uptick in business in 2020, according to its CEO and cofounder Chris Kenna. Advertisers spending through Brand Advance's network increased 400% between mid-March through June."If Brand Advance was to be formed now everybody would say 'that is the most timely company,'" Kenna said. "The need wouldn't be questioned. Back then, it was questioned. It took a global pandemic for people to actually realize that diversity [should be] a main staple of every media plan."Kenna has unique bona fides on this front, telling Digiday he was the first Black person born on the U.K.'s the Isle of Man. "I got a certificate for that. I don't remember getting it, obviously," Kenna said.Diversity has grown into a "commercial imperative" in the last 10 to 15 years, Kenna said. To meet it, he advises companies to create their products and campaigns with diverse consumers in mind from the start, not as an afterthought. He also said that so-called test campaigns for companies to know whether this or that segment is worth reaching often miss the mark."I'm not testing being Black, I was born it. And LGBTQ+ people aren't testing being LGBTQ+, they just are. We don't understand why you have to test if we're a good consumer," Kenna said. 

Brand Advance, the three-year-old media network that helps marketers reach diverse audiences, has marked a sharp uptick in business in 2020, according to its CEO and cofounder Chris Kenna. Advertisers spending through Brand Advance's network <a href="https://digiday.com/media/time-to-put-their-money-where-their-mouth-is-minority-community-publishers-hurt-worse-by-keyword-blocking/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">increased 400% between mid-March through June</a>."If Brand Advance was to be formed now everybody would say 'that is the most timely company,'" Kenna said. "The need wouldn't be questioned. Back then, it was questioned. It took a global pandemic for people to actually realize that diversity [should be] a main staple of every media plan."Kenna has unique bona fides on this front, telling Digiday he was the first Black person born on the U.K.'s the Isle of Man. "I got a certificate for that. I don't remember getting it, obviously," Kenna said.Diversity has grown into a "commercial imperative" in the last 10 to 15 years, Kenna said. To meet it, he advises companies to create their products and campaigns with diverse consumers in mind from the start, not as an afterthought. He also said that so-called test campaigns for companies to know whether this or that segment is worth reaching often miss the mark."I'm not testing being Black, I was born it. And LGBTQ+ people aren't testing being LGBTQ+, they just are. We don't understand why you have to test if we're a good consumer," Kenna said.

Diversity 'is a commercial imperative now': Brand Advance CEO Chris Kenna

Joanne Oatts talks to Chris Kenna, Outvertising's Director of Intersectionality andCEO &amp; Founder of creative marketing agency Brand Advance. We talk about Black Lives Matter, Brand Advance’s experience of Covid-19 - both as an employer and in creating bespoke government messaging for minority audiences. Chris talks honestly about his experiences in the British Army, being a father, growing up in care, his years on the Isle of Man and his time as a model and TV presenter - as well as his past and (potential) future meetings with royalty. SHOW NOTESOutvertising’s Mentorship Programme: https://www.outvertising.org/mentoring-programmeOutvertising Resources to download: https://www.outvertising.org/Want to appear on the podcast? Or take part in our Mental Health Specials (planned for October 2020) - then message us here: https://www.outvertising.org/podcastBrand Advance: https://www.wearebrandadvance.com/Chris Kenna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskenna/Chris’s HSBC ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP0oTC3YHXwOutvertising Socials: Twitter: @outvertisingInsta: @outvertisingFacebook: outvertisingukLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/outvertising/

Joanne Oatts talks to Chris Kenna, Outvertising's Director of Intersectionality and CEO &amp; Founder of creative marketing agency Brand Advance. We talk about Black Lives Matter, Brand Advance’s experience of Covid-19 - both as an employer and in creating bespoke government messaging for minority audiences. Chris talks honestly about his experiences in the British Army, being a father, growing up in care, his years on the Isle of Man and his time as a model and TV presenter - as well as his past and (potential) future meetings with royalty. SHOW NOTES Outvertising’s Mentorship Programme: <a href="https://www.outvertising.org/mentoring-programme" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.outvertising.org/mentoring-programme</a> Outvertising Resources to download: <a href="https://www.outvertising.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.outvertising.org/</a> Want to appear on the podcast? Or take part in our Mental Health Specials (planned for October 2020) - then message us here: <a href="https://www.outvertising.org/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.outvertising.org/podcast</a> Brand Advance: <a href="https://www.wearebrandadvance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.wearebrandadvance.com/</a> Chris Kenna on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskenna/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskenna/</a> Chris’s HSBC ad: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP0oTC3YHXw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP0oTC3YHXw</a> Outvertising Socials: Twitter: @outvertising Insta: @outvertising Facebook: outvertisinguk Linkedin: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/outvertising/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/outvertising/</a>

An interview with Chris Kenna, CEO Brand Advance & Outvertising's Director of Intersectionality