Exposing Anti-White Harassment + Discrimination in US Media Companies
FAQs
Golin
FAIL
golin.com
TYPE: PR Agency
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS: Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock Inc., State Street Corp., Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, First Trust Advisors Lp, TPG, TriplePoint Capital, SVB, and Sequoia Capital (via owner IPG)
OWNER: IPG (Interpublic Group of Companies)
2022 REVENUE: $225 million
GLOBAL HEADCOUNT: ~1,700
909 Third Avenue, 9th floor
New York, New York 10022
Dawn Langeland, co-President, N.A.
dlangeland@golin.com
Golin's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)* initiatives in its U.S. operations, particularly its hiring practices and training programs, are concerning. Golin, a global public relations agency owned by Interpublic Group (IPG), emphasizes DEIB as integral to its mission, implementing specific hiring strategies like ensuring Black candidates are interviewed for every open position and fostering relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to diversify its workforce. Programs such as "Night School" target marginalized communities, and mandatory bias training modules address topics like unconscious bias. Such training often emphasizes systemic racism, unconscious bias, and the need for racial equity, which may include discussions framing Whites as inherently privileged or complicit in perpetuating inequality. While these initiatives aim to promote inclusivity, the NYSHRL prohibits employment practices that discriminate based on race, including those that may disproportionately disadvantage White employees or applicants by prioritizing other racial groups in hiring or advancement. Golin's structured DEIB leadership includes Nina Bhagwat, who is non-White and joins as Global Group Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Natasha O'Dell Archer, J.D., a Black woman whose title as Global EVP of DEI was recently changed to "Global Executive Vice President of People Engagement," perhaps reflecting the current legally-fraught DEI landscape; and Kimberly Brock, M.P.H., who is identified as Executive Vice President, Health Equity Lead. Notably, these top three identified DEI-related leadership positions are held by non-White women, with two of them being Black.
Golin instructs companies on DEI practices.
*DEI "equity" involves prioritizing certain racial, gender, or identity groups with targeted resources or opportunities to ensure equal outcomes at the cost of fairness and individual merit. DEI’s equity focus shares some similarities with communism and socialism in its group-based, redistributive approach, and with totalitarianism in ideological coercion.
Institutional investors like BlackRock and Vanguard increasingly emphasize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors, including diversity and inclusion metrics, in their investment stewardship and proxy voting guidelines. This external pressure from major parent company shareholders likely serves as a significant driver for Golin’s' public commitments and strategic focus on ESG and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Consequently, accountability for the design and impact of DEI initiatives rests primarily with the company's leadership and board, who must navigate these influential investor expectations.
This information is based on publicly available information, including websites, case studies, and news articles from a recent period. To ensure you have the most accurate and current information, please refer to the company's official announcements. The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice; consult a licensed attorney for specific legal guidance.
It is illegal and contrary to public policy for any organization, including nonprofits, to instruct companies on discriminatory or harassing practices, potentially resulting in serious legal and financial repercussions such as lawsuits for facilitating discrimination, reputational harm, loss of IRS tax-exempt status, and investigations by state and federal civil rights authorities.
DieDEI.co is waiting on internal materials for a fuller picture of Golin’s DEI program. Follow us on social and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
AGENCY/FIRM PARTNERS INCLUDE: AutonomyWorks, Cyabra, DeVries, FutureBrand, Jack Morton, Merkle, Moderna, MWW Group, NAPA AUTO PARTS, Octagon, ReThink HK, The Variable, United Women Singapore, Weber Shandwick, Zimat Consultores.
NOTE: Client lists are subject to change. This information is based on publicly available information, including websites, case studies, and news articles from a recent period. To ensure you have the most accurate and current information, please refer to the company's official announcements.