Global Chief Inclusion and Impact Officer at Omnicom and panel discussion moderator at NYWICI’s New York Experience

Emily K. Graham believes that organizations do their best work when people and purpose are truly aligned. She’s applied this philosophy across her nearly two-decade long career as a communications strategist and C-suite counselor who’s advised private and public sectors on culture, reputation, and societal change. Her work and career have been recognized by Cannes Lions Creative Festival, PRWeek, AdAge, and Black Enterprise.

Her Role at Omnicom

As Global Chief Inclusion and Impact Officer at Omnicom, she designs and executes a world class strategy that weaves inclusion and purpose into everything the organization does. Reporting to the chairman and CEO, she leads a team across more than 100,000 employees, who serve more than 5,000 clients worldwide.

The role is business-centered and one that can be boiled down to a simple equation—inclusion plus innovation equals impact. The programs she designs support diverse talent, foster equitable opportunities, and build partnerships that tackle important social challenges. She also places importance on measuring progress, so that leaders can hold themselves accountable.

While Omnicom uses a centralized approach, it customizes strategies regionally to meet the local needs of the people and its business to ensure its strategies are meaningful for everyone. She says the most rewarding part is helping create a culture where people feel they belong and where their work reflects the agency’s values.

“We see the power of bringing people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives together,” she says. “That’s really when the magic happens. In our world that means, industry-leading strategies, creativity, and innovation. Inclusion isn’t just welcomed. It’s actively sought out so that every colleague can fully participate and thrive.”

Why Inclusion and Impact Are Important

She says there is a direct correlation between the feeling of inclusion and belonging and the ability to contribute to one’s own success and that of the business. They also uplift communities and support people along the way.

“I want people to know that inclusion and impact are not just about a title or a department. They are about mindset and action,” she says. “Anyone at any level can make a difference

by creating opportunities, supporting others, and championing equity in everyday decisions. It’s the small, consistent efforts that really add up to meaningful change.”

Early on in her career, Graham realized that business and social responsibility are connected in powerful ways. “I have always been driven by the question of how we can use the reach and resources of a company to make a real, positive impact,” she says.

Prior to Omnicom, she led the financial services team at FleishmanHillard, where she saw the need for a specialty focused on inclusion. With the support of agency leaders and her track record, she founded True MOSAIC, which is a consultancy designed to help global brands integrate inclusion, talent strategy, and social impact into their core business and reputation strategies. She was eventually named the PR agency’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer in its 75-year history.

Advice to Students and Young Professionals

Graham also teaches a master’s level course in cross-cultural communication at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications. She tells her students and those just starting their careers to take risks, be curious, step into opportunities that bring a challenge, build relationships, seek mentors and sponsors, and be one’s own advocate.

“And don’t forget to think about the bigger picture, such as how your work affects your team, your organization, and the wider world,” she says. “That perspective will guide your choices and open doors you didn’t even know existed.”

She also advises spending time learning and embracing AI. Everyone is on the same playing field when it comes to AI because each person and company is learning about its capabilities—and biases—in real time.

“This is where real-world learning and cultural awareness comes into play. While folks need to understand this technology, we also need to equip them with the tools to recognize bias so it doesn’t perpetuate,” she says.

Lessons Learned

Graham says her career has been a journey of curiosity, learning, and growth, during which she discovered the importance of listening, understanding others’ perspectives, and creating environments where people feel valued.

“The biggest lessons I’ve learned are that leadership is about service and lifting others up, resilience is essential because meaningful change takes time, and curiosity is invaluable,” she says. “If you stay open to learning from every experience and person you meet, you grow in ways you might never expect. I’ve also learned that small actions can have a big impact when you are intentional about them.”

NYWICI’s Role

Graham was drawn to NYWICI because it’s a community that truly empowers women in communications and media. She says it has been a place where she’s both learned from others and has been able to give back by sharing her experiences.

“Being part of this network has reminded me how important it is to lift others as you climb and how much growth comes from being part of a supportive community,” she says.