VML Named to the Seramount Inclusion Index

VML is among 38 organizations recognized for creating an inclusive workplace, receiving a score of 60 percent or higher on the sixth annual Seramount Inclusion Index.

Since the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R to create VML, we have connected and expanded Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), ensuring they have a stronger platform to drive cultural and business impact. This connection fosters a more inclusive culture, where diverse perspectives are heard and valued.

VML also launched the "Inclusion as a Skill" initiative, a global program that provides workshops and discussions to embed inclusive practices across our organization. This program has been instrumental in raising awareness and driving behavior change.

Additionally, we awarded $50,000 in scholarships through the 4A’s Foundation to support students from marginalized communities, furthering our commitment to diversity in the industry.

VML has prioritized building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization from the ground up. We’ve undertaken significant initiatives to support and measure our progress in fostering diversity and gender balance across all levels of our agency.

Tasha Gilroy

Global Chief Belonging Officer

Seramount is a strategic professional services and research firm dedicated to supporting high-performing, inclusive workplaces. The Inclusion Index provides organizations the metrics needed to understand trends and opportunities in demographic representation, creates a road map to drive internal change, and identifies diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) solutions to close any gaps. Organizations provided data and were measured in three key areas: best practices in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of people from underrepresented groups—women, racial/ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people; inclusive company culture; and demographic diversity.

This year, 160 organizations applied to participate in Seramount’s 2023 Inclusion Index. Twenty-nine of those listed on the 2024 Inclusion Index are recognized for superior achievement as Pinnacle Inclusion Index companies, which is defined as those receiving a score of 80 percent or higher. Forty-two of those listed on the 2024 Inclusion Index received a score of 70 percent or higher, qualifying as a Leading Inclusion Index company. Completed applications were collected online from December 2023 through March 2024. Results reveal opportunities for all organizations to target their diversity and inclusion efforts for greater effectiveness.

“We take immense pride in the effectiveness of DEI best practices among our Inclusion Index organizations,” Katie Oertli Mooney, Managing Director of Seramount. “These organizations consistently raise the bar on building and sustaining inclusive workplaces with their unwavering commitment.”

Key findings from the 2024 Seramount Inclusion Index:

Representation within Leadership. 41% of corporate executives who report directly to the CEO are women (up from 38% last year) and 28% are people of color (up from 25% last year). This includes 11% Black/African American executives (up from 10% last year), 6% Hispanic/Latine executives (up from 5% last year), 10% Asian executives (up from 9% last year), and 2% executives who are two or more races (up from 1% last year).
Promotions. A higher percentage of promoted employees at Index companies were women this year – 57% compared to 54% last year. A higher percentage of promotions went to people of color as well – 47% compared to 43% last year. This includes 15% Black/African American (up from 12% last year), 16% Hispanic/Latine (up from 14% last year), 11% Asian (down from 12% last year), and 4% from other underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (same as last year).
Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leadership. More Index companies are offering extra pay or incentives to ERG leaders – 60% this year compared to 53% last year.
Auditing HR processes. Auditing HR processes to address implicit bias continues to be a best practice with 93% of index companies auditing HR processes, up from 92% last year. Among these companies, more companies are auditing their onboarding process – 78% this year compared to 66% last year.