It’s more than a simple motto or a fluffy corporate belief statement. It’s our way of life. As Ideabar’s parent company, that mentality has been a driving force in how we handle business each and every day ― from the way we partner with our clients to how we treat our team of invaluable employees. And for the second year in a row, Cox is being recognized for not only talking the talk, but for walking the walk as well.
Cox was recently named a 2020 “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” scoring a perfect 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. The annual study is organized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to achieving equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans. It evaluates various companies based on their corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality and serves as the nation’s premier benchmarking report of its kind.
At Ideabar, we’re guided by our own set of core values: be kind and direct; more talent, less ego; default to yes; keep the idea moving; and live + work + play. We take pride in our diverse pool of talent and recognize the valuable contributions that the LGBTQ community offers our agency.
“At Ideabar, our mission is to change minds and move markets for the brands we believe in. In today’s day and age, the only way to achieve that is by fully embracing the different perspectives that every team member is able to bring to the table,” said Will Dolan, a graphic designer at Ideabar. “As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, I believe we’re able to weave our own unique experiences into overarching agency strategies, which ultimately enables us to tell our clients’ stories in more authentic, engaging, and impactful ways.”
Will first joined Ideabar as a member of Cox Media Group’s Digital Talent Program. The highly competitive, year-long program is designed to attract a diverse pool of recent graduates who have demonstrated superior academic achievement and show promise of a successful career as a leader in the digital media industry. Since successfully completing the program, Will has been hired on as a full-time graphic designer who now works on a wide range of projects, including clients in the arts and entertainment, health and wellness, and education industries.
“When I first heard that Cox had been recognized as one of the top places to work for LGBTQ equality, it made me extremely proud to be part of an organization that takes LGBTQ rights so seriously,” he said. “It’s one thing for a business to claim they’re an ally. But to put specific procedures, policies, and resources in place to support that stance is easier said than done. At Cox and Ideabar, I know this is a real priority, and the recent award only validates that. At the end of the day, it makes me feel valued and accepted, and it empowers me to be the best employee I can be.”