G-2LCWV30QZ8 Breaking Barriers in Ad Tech: A Global Perspective on Race, Gender & Inclusion - TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective

Episode 219

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Published on:

7th Mar 2025

Breaking Barriers in Ad Tech: A Global Perspective on Race, Gender & Inclusion

Episode Title:

Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/Breaking Barriers in Ad Tech: A Global Perspective on Race, Gender & Inclusion

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In this episode of A Black Executive Perspective Podcast, host Tony Tidbit engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Rebecca Deng, commercial advisor to TripleLift and principal board member of the Women in Programmatic Network. They explore the stark differences in racial identity between Europe and America, the impacts of Rebecca's multicultural upbringing, and her journey from Europe to being a trailblazer in ad tech. Rebecca shares her career milestones, and her work advocating for gender parity, and provides advice for aspiring professionals. The episode underscores the importance of networking, mentorship, and systemic change in organizations to foster a more inclusive industry.


▶︎ In This Episode

00:00: Introduction to the Dichotomy of Race in Europe and America

00:26: Welcome to the Black Executive Perspective Podcast

01:07: Introducing Rebecca Deng: A Trailblazer in Media

03:05 Rebecca's Early Life and Family Background

11:26: Navigating High School and Cultural Transitions

13:45: From KORU to a Career in Media

19:25: Challenges and Triumphs in the Ad Tech Industry

22:16: Facing Discrimination and Overcoming Obstacles

28:33: Experiences of Racial Bias Abroad

31:46: Creating Opportunities in Your Career

34:54: Women in Programmatic Network

39:57: Givsly Award Finalist

44:07: Advice for Breaking into the Industry

47:48: Steps Companies Can Take for DE&I

50:40: Final Thoughts and Call to Action

🔗 Resources

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Transcript
Rebecca Deng:

You know, what is so interesting about

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the dichotomy between being in

Europe and being in America is that

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when you're in Europe, people are

like, what country are you from?

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And then in America, you're just black.

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Like, there's really no

distinction whatsoever.

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We'll discuss race and how it

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Tony Tidbit: plays a factor, and

how we didn't even talk about this

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topic, because we were afraid.

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A Black Executive Perspective.

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We're coming to you live from the

new BEP Studio for another Thought.

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Provoking episode of a black executive

perspective, podcasts, a safe space

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where we discuss all matters related to

race, culture, and those uncomfortable

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topics that we tend to avoid.

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I'm your host, Tony Tidbit.

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So before we get started, I want

everyone to remember to check out

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our partners, Code M Magazine, whose

mission is to save the black family

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by first saving the black man.

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So definitely check them

out at CodeMMagazine.

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com.

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That is Code M Magazine.

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So today we are joined in our studio

by Rebecca Deng, commercial advisor to

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TripleLift and principal board member

of the Women in Programmatic Network.

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She's here to share her journey

and early life in Europe.

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to becoming a trailblazer in media

and programmatic advertising.

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We'll discuss her career milestones,

the impact work advocating for gender

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parity, and her advice for aspiring

professionals in the industry.

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So let me tell you a

little bit about Rebecca.

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Rebecca Deng, uh, is the

commercial advisor to the chief

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revenue officer at Triple F.

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In that capacity, she collaborates closely

with the CRO, revenue leadership team.

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Executive leadership team and

various cross functional teams

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to shape revenue strategies.

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She refined helps refine the

company's policies and optimize

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their operational systems.

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Additionally, she holds positions as a U.

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S.

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principal board member for the

woman in programmatic network.

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Since its inception in 2020.

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The network has championed initiatives

to advance the industry, offering

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networking events, speaking

platforms, and discussions on

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emerging trends while leaDeng

efforts to close the gender pay gap.

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Rebecca Deng, welcome to a Black

Executive Perspective Podcast, my sister.

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Rebecca Deng: Thank you

so much for having me.

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I'm really excited to be here.

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Tony Tidbit: Well, thank

you for being here.

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And look, you've, I mean, it's amazing.

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You've done a lot of stuff.

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And let's be fair.

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You've only been on the

planet a short period of time.

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So, so excited that you

were able to come in.

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And join us here in the studio

to talk about your journey.

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And more importantly, talk about

the things in terms of how you

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are really looking to make the

difference in the tech industry.

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And then more importantly, how

you're looking to help others.

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But before we get started, tell

us a little bit about where you

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currently live in that and a

little bit about your family.

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Rebecca Deng: Thanks for having me again.

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So I actually live on the Upper

East Side, best side, in my

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opinion, was born in New York.

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Um, my family's here, my

grandmother's here, though we're a

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little bit spread out across the U.

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S.

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New York is pretty much home

and we spend a lot of time here.

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Tony Tidbit: Got it, got it, got it.

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And let me ask you this.

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Look, you're working for a major

organization in the ad tech.

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You're working with the leadership in

terms of helping them from a revenue

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standpoint, drive revenue, optimize

revenue for this organization.

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You've got a lot on your plate.

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You're traveling, traveling a lot.

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So the question I have, why did you

want to come to the BEP studios today

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to talk about and share your journey?

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Rebecca Deng: Well, I wanted to come

and discuss my journey because I think.

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You know, having looked at the back

catalog of the people that you've

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spoken to, I think that there's

an opportunity to share stories.

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Um, and I think especially as a black

executive, you know, those stories can be

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lacking and so it's a great opportunity

to be able to share with other people.

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Tony Tidbit: Well, we appreciate

that you're willing to be

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open and open and sharing, so.

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You ready to talk about it?

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I am.

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All right.

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So let's talk about it.

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So look, you have a, you've,

it's, it's been a, um, a

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journey, your early life, right?

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So talk to us a little bit about,

you know, How your early life

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influenced to where you are today.

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You grew up in, you lived in other,

in other countries in Europe.

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Your father had a very significant role.

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Talk a little bit about, share

a little bit with us on that.

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Rebecca Deng: Sure.

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So I was born in New York.

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Um, but my father was an ambassador

from the Sudan before it split to

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the Netherlands and to Germany.

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So in the process of that,

we lived a little bit.

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of everywhere.

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Um, my mother is a Jamaican citizen,

but she's naturalized American.

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So every time.

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She would have the baby,

she would come back home.

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So we were born here, and then

we would continue on the road to

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wherever, um, my family was stationed.

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So

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Tony Tidbit: hold on one second, how

many brothers and sisters do you have?

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Rebecca Deng: I'm the youngest of four.

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Tony Tidbit: Okay, alright,

so just so I'm clear here.

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Yes, yes, yes.

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When your mother had, when she

got pregnant, she came back.

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She came home.

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Right?

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Had the baby.

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Stayed with family a little bit.

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And then went back to Europe

where you guys were, okay.

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And we hit the road.

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Rebecca Deng: So we lived a little bit

of everywhere because my dad also studied

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in between at Oxford and Cambridge.

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So we lived in London, we lived in

Paris, we lived in Berlin, we lived in

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Bonn before the capital moved to Berlin.

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Um, Um, lived in the Hague.

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Like I said, a little bit of everywhere.

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Tony Tidbit: Wow.

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I mean, so number one, now,

how old were you when you were

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living in all these places?

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Rebecca Deng: Up until seven.

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So I was young, but I have really clear

memories of the different houses, like the

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different furniture, the different rugs.

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Um, yeah, it was, uh.

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It was a lot of movement, but I

really enjoyed doing it as a family.

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And I think that's what keeps,

you know, the memories clear.

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Like we were doing family things together.

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Tony Tidbit: Now your father

didn't just have any job.

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He was an ambassador to Sudan.

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Am I correct?

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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So from the Sudan, from the

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Tony Tidbit: Sudan to

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Rebecca Deng: the Netherlands, to

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Tony Tidbit: the Netherlands

and then to Germany.

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So he was an ambassador.

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Okay.

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Which that's not, you

know, uh, a regular job.

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Right.

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So tell us a little bit about him being

an ambassador and, and, and what, what

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type of lifestyle did you guys live as

you were traveling all of all of Europe?

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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So when you live.

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Um, and that type of setup, luckily

certain things are paid for, your

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home's paid for, you get a cook, a

chauffeur, a nanny, but you get the

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opportunity to do lots of travel.

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So, as my dad would move, we would move,

my mom would have her relatives come

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and visit, um, you kind of have your own

springboard around Europe, essentially.

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Um, but what I would say was really,

you know, interesting about that role

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is there is the tension between You know

what you as an individual might think

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and then what your government thinks

like it is pretty much a political

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role So there are you know The times

when you don't necessarily agree.

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Um, but nevertheless, like you're

a family, you're a union, you,

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um, you know, entertain people.

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You are representatives of your country

wherever you're hosted, essentially.

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Tony Tidbit: Right.

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So, just so I'm clear though, 'cause you

just got finished saying that there are

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times when you may not agree, uh, and

I'm basically, this is from your father's

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standpoint of being an ambassador, right?

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Mm-hmm . That he may not

agree about certain things.

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Gimme some examples, like

specifically like what does that mean?

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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So from a policy perspective, um,

you know, the stance that your

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particular country might have towards

another, um, I think human rights,

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like those types of things where

you might not necessarily agree.

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Um, and then my father was also,

um, a Christian at the time when,

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you know, the Sudan, when it was

one country was, um, Is still today.

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Majority Muslim.

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And then he himself was from

a, um, minority community when

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the Sudan was one country.

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So like, those are the types of tensions.

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Tony Tidbit: Got it.

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Got it.

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Got it.

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But you still, he's still got to

be the ambassador for the country.

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Right.

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Regardless of what his feelings or he may

not agree with their political stances,

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but he still represents the country.

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Right.

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And then you guys still had

to be a part of that as well.

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Yeah.

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Right.

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Which, you know, obviously in good times

when everybody's happy, it can be great.

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And then obviously when there's a little

tension, it can definitely play a part.

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Cause I would imagine, and again, you

are young, but you know, like today, if

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somebody lives, moves to same situation,

their parent is a ambassador, uh, uh,

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from the United States to the Netherlands.

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So wherever the case may be, right.

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And then there could be certain policy

things that people in Netherlands don't

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like about here in the United States.

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And then.

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You're, you know, your father,

you're, that's your father and

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you're going to school and then

some kids could spring that up like

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you believe in or your country.

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So did you run into

anything of that before?

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And I know you were

young, so probably not.

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Rebecca Deng: No, I mean, I think what

I ran into mostly, um, were just seeing

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differences in general, um, I mean, I,

the place where I went to school for the

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longest period of time was in Germany.

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And so in terms of the population,

it was very much majority white.

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And then pretty much anyone who wasn't

was from the international community.

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Tony Tidbit: So,

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Rebecca Deng: um, it

was more of just seeing.

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The differences, but a lot of us

all came from that background of

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our parents were from somewhere

else from somewhere else, right?

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Tony Tidbit: And then so talk a little

bit about how did your mother because

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that's not an average upbringing no, okay,

and then going to school in different

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countries and and obviously the the

attention in terms of you know, you're Uh,

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uh, uh, uh, ambassador's daughter, right?

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And your family.

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So there's limos, there's

events, there's all these things.

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There's houses.

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Like you were saying earlier, all these

things that when you grow up and you look

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at it, I'm like, wow, we got it made.

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So how did your mother, how does

your family keep you guys grounded?

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And when those things happen?

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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I mean, I would say that my mother

has been my greatest advocate, but in

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general, what she did that was a little

bit different is she took us everywhere.

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So she doesn't know how to drive.

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But wherever we were, if she

wanted to take us to a museum,

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she would take us herself.

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You know, if she, uh, felt like we

were behind with reaDeng because

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we were moving all the time, she

would tutor us, she would find a

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tutor, and she very much led things.

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Um, especially, you know, from

her perspective, she was not from

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the same country my dad was from.

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And so there was even tension there,

um, between, you know, the expectations

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of that background, um, and, you know.

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Um, even as simple as like how many

children you're expected to have 10,

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you know, and my mom wasn't doing that.

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Uh, she really wasn't, but it's

one of those things where, you

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know, you take what you have

and, um, you make the best of it.

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Tony Tidbit: So, and look, that's

no different than any family, right?

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No matter where you live at.

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Right.

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So thanks for sharing that.

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So where did you go to high school?

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Did you go to high school in Europe?

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Or did you go to high school here?

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Rebecca Deng: No.

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So I went to high school in, Um,

Milton, uh, sorry, Milton Academy.

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So it's eight miles outside of Boston.

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So I was a boarDeng student.

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Tony Tidbit: So talk a little

bit about the transition.

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Um, you've been in Europe

for a lot of your time.

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You go in all these different

schools and different countries.

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Now you're coming here

to the United States.

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Talk a little bit about that transition.

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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I mean, I think, um, you know,

what is so interesting about

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the dichotomy between being in Europe.

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and being in America is that

when you're in Europe, people are

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like, what country are you from?

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And then in America, you're just black.

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Like, there's really no

distinction whatsoever.

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Um, so the community where we lived,

like when we moved back to the U.

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S.,

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we had, you know, Caribbeans, we had black

people, we had people from everywhere.

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Um, and I think being there in that

community and, um, you know, seeing

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kind of like the petty squabbles

that we all had with each other,

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you wouldn't necessarily realize

that black is not a monolith, right?

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That there are different communities

with different backgrounds and things.

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So it was interesting coming

to boarding school and kind of

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seeing that, you know, all of,

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all of that nuance was a little bit lost.

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Tony Tidbit: Well, I, I, and I can

imagine that was a culture shock in a way.

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Right?

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Yeah.

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Because to your point, it was

more about you representing a

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country versus your skin color.

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Okay.

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Which I would imagine, like,

what are they talking about?

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Right?

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How are they just, Taking that, you know,

I grew up, my mother is Jamaican and

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my father is a Sudan, Sudanese, right?

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And now I can, everywhere

I've been at, I've been that.

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And then when I come here, I'm just black.

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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And, uh, it's kind of like, uh,

like the multi dimension is just

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Tony Tidbit: Squoze.

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They put you in a box.

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Yes.

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You just become one.

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There is no multi dimension.

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You're in a box, right?

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Just based on your skin color.

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So Obviously, you know,

you've done very, very well.

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Now you attended, if I remember

correctly, you went to KORU, right?

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Yes.

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Talk a little bit about,

number one, what is KORU?

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Mm hmm.

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And then tell us a little bit about

how it influenced you and helped you in

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terms of your endeavors moving forward.

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Rebecca Deng: Sure.

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So, KORU is a, at the time, it was

a program that helped people, um,

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students who didn't necessarily know

what they wanted to do to prepare

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for their life after college.

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And so, I got my degree at KORU.

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In ancient Greek and Latin.

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And I was convinced I was going to

get a PhD, but then I had friends who

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were in the process of doing that.

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And I took classes with them.

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And they were all broke.

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And I was like, that's just not for me.

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So I, hold on one second.

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So, so , I mean, it's true.

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So that's

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Tony Tidbit: number one, right?

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Yeah.

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Is that, and I hope for the young students

who's, you know, thinking about what

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career they want to get involved in, okay.

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Is that, yes, it may sound great that you

want to get a degree in Oceanic, uh, uh,

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uh, exploratory stuff, but at the end of

the day, you also gotta be able to be,

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make a living and make money too, right?

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So that.

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Once you saw that, that

woke you up a little bit.

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Is that what I'm hearing?

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

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And I was like, this is not going to work.

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Um, and actually if I had

done that, I would have.

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started on the job market, like

in the middle of the pandemic,

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which would have been horrific.

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Rebecca Deng: Um, but anyway, um, so I

did that program and I was just unsure

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about what I wanted to do, but we had

the opportunity at the time to work

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with different, um, host companies.

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So on the West Coast, they could

work with, um, brands like Facebook.

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I was able to work with HubSpot

and essentially we would go

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through the KORU program and we

would do a capstone project for.

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The corporate sponsor.

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So we did a project for HubSpot.

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We showed them our learnings, but

at the same time, you're able to

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learn about the company, learn about

like, how do you present yourself?

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Well, how do you interview also just

like the basics of like Excel functions?

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Like, can you do a VBA macro

for your first day of work?

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Tony Tidbit: Right.

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Right.

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You

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Rebecca Deng: know, like the

types of things that really.

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Make a difference and and

give you a leg up as you're

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on your path to your first job

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Tony Tidbit: And and so that

introduced you to media.

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Rebecca Deng: Yeah, so I had the

opportunity to interview with essence

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digital Um, at the time, now Essence

Media Com, at the end of the KORU program.

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So they helped place, uh, KORU helped

place students at Essence Digital.

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And so I got my first

job in September of:

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And it was really interesting

because it was a rotational

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role as a media executive.

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So I did a little bit of everything.

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My first job was in Ad Ops.

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Which was amazing and really taught me

like the fundamentals because how many

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people actually know what an ad call is?

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Tony Tidbit: Um,

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Rebecca Deng: and then from there

I moved into account management for

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:

Google because we were agency of

record at the time, I was able to

366

:

do biddable media, do search, do

planning, do a little bit of everything.

367

:

Tony Tidbit: So it was a way for

you to understand the back end.

368

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

369

:

Tony Tidbit: Of digital ad campaigns,

how they worked, working with clients,

370

:

uh, account management, all those things.

371

:

Right.

372

:

To give you more of an education in terms

of when you go to a website, you see

373

:

an ad, you're like, Oh, there it goes.

374

:

Right.

375

:

But there's a lot more to it.

376

:

Right.

377

:

So.

378

:

You know, as, as you started, this was

your first job into the ad tech field,

379

:

what made you, number one, think that

this is something I like, I'm interested

380

:

in versus I was going to get a PhD.

381

:

All right.

382

:

And then number two, what made

you decide that this is something

383

:

I want to continue to grow?

384

:

Rebecca Deng: I think when your

agency side, you have the opportunity

385

:

to see things happen real time.

386

:

You get to see clients come and go,

but you also see vendors come in

387

:

and there was so much happening.

388

:

You know, when I started working,

that was, you know, homepage,

389

:

takeovers were everything.

390

:

Um, and then programmatic,

391

:

Tony Tidbit: the

evolution, it kept growing.

392

:

It was growing tech, new technology.

393

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

394

:

And you could see just the

changes in how people were buying,

395

:

what people were interested in.

396

:

And it, you know, gave me assurance

that there was something here.

397

:

Tony Tidbit: Got it.

398

:

Got it.

399

:

You know, it's interesting.

400

:

Cause you know, I started my career in TV

advertising and selling local television

401

:

advertising, and then eventually,

you know, I decided that I was going

402

:

to stay in the advertising field.

403

:

And then I went to print and the

two thing that, although they're

404

:

different media vehicles, they were

similar because once you learn them.

405

:

That was it.

406

:

All right.

407

:

There was nothing new.

408

:

You know, once you learn how a TV ad

runs and how to sell it and this and

409

:

now, and I, there was nothing new to it.

410

:

Once you understand a print ad, a

quarter page, half page, full page

411

:

ad, then it was nothing new, right?

412

:

But when I came to the

digital side, to your point.

413

:

And you, you never could feel

comfortable because you were always

414

:

learning something new because the

technology continued to evolve.

415

:

And that was the exciting part of being

on on the forefront of how people engage

416

:

in advertising from a digital standpoint.

417

:

Now, you've been Essence

Digital, Samba TV.

418

:

L'Oreal and now TripleLift, right?

419

:

Tell me a little bit of

highlights, share with us some

420

:

of the highlights of those roles.

421

:

You already talked about Essence Digital.

422

:

Tell us some of the other highlights

that you had working at Samba,

423

:

L'Oreal and TripleLift as well.

424

:

Rebecca Deng: Sure.

425

:

I mean, I think, I think really the

highlight for me in all of these,

426

:

um, career moves has just been kind

of checking the trends and following

427

:

the market and really trying to.

428

:

Get the best experience

of, of what that changes.

429

:

So when I was at essence, I really saw

the move towards programmatic and I

430

:

wanted the opportunity to like, from

the inside, figure out what's going on.

431

:

So I had the opportunity to move to

Samba and actually run managed service

432

:

campaigns and like be in the trade desk,

be in oath, be in all these different

433

:

platforms and actually be hands on keys.

434

:

And I think that has just

been so invaluable for me.

435

:

Long term to understand, you

know, not just talk about what

436

:

it means to be a media buyer,

but actually buying that media.

437

:

Um, and then when I was at Samba, I kind

of started to see the shift away from

438

:

managed service towards more data usage.

439

:

And I was thinking, Hmm, it's really

interesting to see, like, what,

440

:

what would this look like on the

other side, on the client side?

441

:

Um, and I moved over to L'Oreal and

from there I had the opportunity.

442

:

To use those audiences to build different

types of campaigns to think a little bit

443

:

differently as the brand, um, you know,

how are we going to segment our consumers?

444

:

How are we going to market to them?

445

:

And it was an interesting role because

it was kind of a little bit of being

446

:

hands on keys, but then also having

different L'Oreal brands as internal

447

:

clients, particularly, um, people

who are more print or TV focused.

448

:

So it wasn't just running campaigns.

449

:

It was.

450

:

Explaining this is how

digital media works.

451

:

This is how we can take your print

strategy or what you're doing on TV and

452

:

take those spots and think about what it

looks like to do this programmatically.

453

:

So I think coming full circle, being

able to chart that change, um, and

454

:

particularly the experience at L'Oreal

was so formative because there is the

455

:

element of doing the work, but then also.

456

:

You know, when you're in ad tech,

typically all of your colleagues

457

:

know what's going on, but it was

this unique experience where it

458

:

wasn't just selling the thing.

459

:

It was being a team with the

person you were selling to.

460

:

Tony Tidbit: Right.

461

:

Right.

462

:

So number one, having that holistic

view, most people don't get that, right.

463

:

Which is fantastic because now

you can see the full circle, how

464

:

things work from an ad stamp.

465

:

Excuse me, from an agency

standpoint, brand standpoint, as

466

:

well as from a vendor standpoint.

467

:

Let me ask you this, you know, being

at those different organizations,

468

:

talk a little bit about the challenges

that you faced as being, um, a person

469

:

of color, as well as a woman, right.

470

:

At those organizations in the industry.

471

:

Rebecca Deng: I think what

I have struggled with is,

472

:

you know, when something happens and

you're like, did something really happen?

473

:

Did it not as in terms of.

474

:

If, you know, there's an opportunity

that you want that you get passed

475

:

up on, maybe someone makes a comment

and you're constantly thinking, did

476

:

they say what I think they said?

477

:

Or, or, you know, was it

just a passing comment?

478

:

So sometimes for me, what I've struggled

with is trying to understand, like, am

479

:

I necessarily facing discrimination?

480

:

Am I necessarily You know, being

passed over, or am I just so activated

481

:

that I'm spiraling a little bit?

482

:

Like, how real is what

I'm really encountering?

483

:

Um, and to be honest, like, I think

that can be just as debilitating as,

484

:

Tony Tidbit: as

485

:

Rebecca Deng: something truly happening.

486

:

Um, but there's, there's never, there

hasn't been anything in particular

487

:

that stands out, but I think just even

constantly second guessing yourself.

488

:

You know, when I Um, and I think

it's really important for people

489

:

to understand that, you know, when

you're trying to achieve something,

490

:

do people, you know, really see me as

being the owner of that achievement?

491

:

Like, um, even when I was in boarding

school, I remember when, um, we got

492

:

our college acceptances and, you know,

people who were legacies, their family

493

:

had been going to Brown since donkey

years, since the day Brown opened, would

494

:

say of my, you know, classmates, Oh,

well, so and so only got in because.

495

:

They were black.

496

:

And I'm like, do people

think that way about me?

497

:

And, and that carries with you.

498

:

Tony Tidbit: Right, right.

499

:

Let me ask you this because number

one, thanks for sharing that.

500

:

I think that's something that a lot

of, um, people of color deal with.

501

:

Even though we try to ignore it, even

though we try to, you know, walk with,

502

:

um, one shoe in front of the other.

503

:

We just try to assimilate

with everybody else.

504

:

We see ourselves as part

of this team, company.

505

:

Um, we're trying to be an

asset at the organization.

506

:

We're trying to make a difference.

507

:

We want to grow and stuff

of that nature, right?

508

:

But that must be very,

that can be very stressful.

509

:

Mm hmm.

510

:

To, as much as you try to ignore

it, little things come up and then

511

:

you tend to kind of let them go.

512

:

But then they keep adding up and then to

your point, sometimes, you know, sometimes

513

:

you may overthink things because now this

thing that you've tried to ignore and you

514

:

try to be like everyone else, it won't let

you, you know, they won't let you do that.

515

:

Okay.

516

:

So talk a little bit about

that, because here's the thing.

517

:

When you wake, when you wake

up in the morning and you.

518

:

So when you come to work, you're

thinking about, Oh, like everybody

519

:

else, Oh man, I got this to do.

520

:

I got that to do.

521

:

I got that.

522

:

Oh, I got this meeting.

523

:

I do this.

524

:

Oh, I hope they like what I put together.

525

:

Blah, blah, blah.

526

:

Like Joe or Harry or,

or Samantha or whatever.

527

:

But then when you throw this other

thing on top of that, it becomes like

528

:

an extra weight that you or we have

to carry that other people don't.

529

:

So can you speak to a

little bit about that?

530

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah, I mean.

531

:

I think it's one of those things where,

like you said, you don't necessarily

532

:

notice the burden of it until something

cracks and then you realize how much

533

:

of it you've been carrying or how many,

just how many things mentally you're

534

:

trying to keep hold of, like, you

know, if you have a presentation, you

535

:

obviously want to prepare, you want to

get your notes together, you want to

536

:

get the slides looking good, but then

you also think, You know, even the

537

:

genesis of the opportunity to give the

presentation or being able to, to go on

538

:

a certain business trip or to do certain

things, you wonder, how am I perceived?

539

:

And I think in certain instances, I solve

that by over preparing, by wanting to be

540

:

even better, by wanting to do even more.

541

:

Um, because you don't necessarily

want there to be any comment about,

542

:

like, the quality of the work that

you're, So there'll be certain

543

:

instances where it feels like the

load of preparation is probably, you

544

:

know, higher than it needs to be more

intricately wrought, perhaps more,

545

:

more overthought than it needs to be.

546

:

But it's kind of like, this

is my insurance policy for

547

:

people to know that what I do.

548

:

Is good because I am good,

549

:

Tony Tidbit: right?

550

:

Right.

551

:

Which is a big, which is

something everybody wants.

552

:

Right.

553

:

You know, I, it reminds me of, um,

and I can relate because it reminds

554

:

me, um, of several instances.

555

:

And, but I had a guest on the show, um,

and she talked about it a little bit.

556

:

And, you know, at the end of

the day, you again, put one foot

557

:

in front of the other, right?

558

:

You just want to be the best you

and you want to assimilate and just

559

:

people to see you for what you bring

to the table, what personality you

560

:

have, what's your character, those

things that should matter, right?

561

:

And so, but then at the end,

you're not thinking about race.

562

:

No, no, I mean, not primarily you

just live in your life, right?

563

:

You live in your life You're not

even thinking about these things,

564

:

but then like she said then the world

reminds you yes They bring up race.

565

:

Mm-hmm . You know, like you were

saying earlier about when you were

566

:

getting your college acceptance,

you know, you, oh, I'm going to

567

:

Georgetown, or I'm going to Princeton.

568

:

Or she only got her thing

because , she was black.

569

:

Mm-hmm . I mean, why can't you just,

why can't it just be you wasn't

570

:

thinking now, you were just like,

I'm excited and I'm, and I'm saying

571

:

this generally for everyone, right?

572

:

It's just, unfortunately these things

come up and then all of a sudden

573

:

when you think that you're just as

equal as everybody else, then the

574

:

world brings things to you, right?

575

:

And then all of a sudden you gotta

say, well, where did this come from?

576

:

Have you experienced that at all?

577

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah, I mean, I've,

I've had some, I would say some

578

:

of these experiences I've had,

interestingly, were in Europe.

579

:

So I.

580

:

Studied abroad in high school for a year.

581

:

I lived with a host family in Italy.

582

:

Most amazing experience of my life.

583

:

But I moved there in 2009 and just

before I got there the Italian

584

:

government was trying to make being an

illegal immigrant a crime and it was

585

:

honestly a little bit nuts because

I lived in a place that was kind of

586

:

like off the beaten track kind of in

the middle of nowhere and um I always

587

:

was treated, even to this day when

I go to Europe, like an immigrant.

588

:

Like people will ask me for directions

right away when I get off the plane,

589

:

people will have an expectation of

language skills I don't have, but

590

:

people assume that I'm from there.

591

:

Um, and so I never really

get the experience of

592

:

being a guest.

593

:

And I think that's one of, um, one

of those experiences for me where

594

:

you know, when you book a trip,

when you go somewhere, you're just

595

:

looking at like, what sites can I see?

596

:

Like, you know, what

paintings are on offer?

597

:

Like what, what, what will

be available for me to do?

598

:

And then you get off the plane.

599

:

And then everyone's

like, Well, where's this?

600

:

Where's that?

601

:

You know, I, I, people will, I gotten

off the plane at Amsterdam before

602

:

people asked me to sign petitions.

603

:

I'm like, what are you talking about?

604

:

Like, I'm not from here, but there's

no, I guess there's no separation,

605

:

no understanDeng that like,

606

:

if I didn't present the way that

I did, like it would, would you

607

:

necessarily consider me to be,

you know, um, someone who's here.

608

:

But it's kind of like in the

way that like the only expats

609

:

that you ever meet are white.

610

:

You know, like, oh, okay.

611

:

Tony Tidbit: Got it,

got it, got it, got it.

612

:

Got, you know, like there,

there's just like no.

613

:

So you can't be from the United States.

614

:

Rebecca Deng: Exactly.

615

:

.

Tony Tidbit: Alright, so, so I, so I think I understand where

616

:

you're coming from now, right?

617

:

Yeah.

618

:

When you go there, you know, um,

people don't see you as an American No.

619

:

They see you as an

immigrant of that country.

620

:

Yes.

621

:

Right.

622

:

That from wherever.

623

:

From wherever.

624

:

Right.

625

:

Um, which is interesting.

626

:

I mean, and I never even, and that's a

good point about the expats, um, 'cause

627

:

I never even thought of that before.

628

:

And so.

629

:

Here's the thing, you've done a tremendous

job, you know, in your early part of your,

630

:

because you still got a lot of things to

do, and you're gonna, there's a ton of

631

:

stuff success that you're going to have,

and you're gonna, you know, o there's a

632

:

lot of doors that are gonna open for you.

633

:

So regardless of that, you still have

been very successful in your career.

634

:

Talk a little bit about

how you created the role.

635

:

Not at triple lift because that role

wasn't something that was on a job board.

636

:

Okay.

637

:

And, um, based on your tenacity and

your forward thinking, you were able to

638

:

create nothing, something out of nothing.

639

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

640

:

So I think what I would say just in

general, when you're thinking about

641

:

what your next step is, I think there's

an element of like doing the research,

642

:

seeing what's available, but then

also just the brass tacks of like.

643

:

So I had the opportunity to work with

the CRO in my previous role, and I was

644

:

just thinking about like, you know, how

could I add more value to him, to his day?

645

:

Um, and then I had the opportunity

to work, uh, sorry, to, to attend a

646

:

conference and I met a woman who said

that her job, like in the course of the

647

:

discussion was chief of staff to the CRO.

648

:

And then I was like, that's interesting.

649

:

So I walked up to her and I was like,

I think I maybe want to do that.

650

:

And she was like, great, here's my number.

651

:

Um, we met, we had a couple of calls and

she was like, you know, if this is what

652

:

you want to do, think about, you know,

job descriptions like this or like that.

653

:

But I think there's, you know,

there's more than to it than just

654

:

coming up with a job description.

655

:

It's like really putting it into practice.

656

:

So thinking about, okay, by the time that

I potentially pitch this role to someone,

657

:

I want them to already think it's a given.

658

:

I want to think about what are

the ways in my current day to day

659

:

I can come up with strategies.

660

:

I can do things that kind of just like

insert yourself, but in a positive way.

661

:

So that by the time you come around

and you say, Hey, I'm thinking about

662

:

X, Y, Z, role, what are your thoughts?

663

:

And then they look at the job

description, they're like, well,

664

:

you've already been doing this.

665

:

Tony Tidbit: I love it.

666

:

I love it because that's the,

you know, there's, uh, somebody

667

:

taught me this years ago, act as if

668

:

Rebecca Deng: manifest,

669

:

Tony Tidbit: right?

670

:

Manifest, right?

671

:

And when you just do it without saying

you got to pay me more for me to do that,

672

:

or, you know, I, I'm, yeah, just do it.

673

:

Right?

674

:

Manifest.

675

:

Act as if because you're creating

opportunities for yourself

676

:

without even recognizing it.

677

:

And here's the kicker.

678

:

This worked out well

for you at TripleLift.

679

:

However, even if it didn't, you're still

doing things and setting yourself up for

680

:

the opportunities at another company.

681

:

Right?

682

:

Because you've already

been acting as if so.

683

:

I think that is fantastic.

684

:

Talk a little bit about, you know,

the women in the programmatic network.

685

:

How did you create?

686

:

Talk a little bit about that

and what you guys are doing.

687

:

BEP Narrator: If you like what you hear

and want to join us on this journey

688

:

of making uncomfortable conversations

comfortable, please subscribe to a

689

:

Black Executive Perspective podcast

on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

690

:

or wherever you get your podcasts.

691

:

Hit subscribe now to stay connected

for more episodes that challenge,

692

:

inspire, and lead the change.

693

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah, so I actually chatted

with a friend who I used to work with.

694

:

L'oréal and I said, since agency time.

695

:

It's like when I was working agency side,

I just don't really know what's going on.

696

:

Um, I feel like when you're at the

agency, people are coming in and out.

697

:

You know what?

698

:

You know, the bleeDeng edge, so to speak.

699

:

And I told them like, I just don't really

know what's going on in the industry.

700

:

I only really know about what's

happening with, you know, SSPs.

701

:

And he said, well, there's

this great group called the

702

:

women in programmatic network.

703

:

They're based in London, but

they do some things in New York.

704

:

You should check them out.

705

:

So I checked them out, went to their

LinkedIn page, checked out their

706

:

website, saw what they were doing.

707

:

And then there was a volunteer

opportunity to be a regional lead

708

:

and to essentially, you know, start

bringing the programmatic network.

709

:

To the U.

710

:

S.

711

:

And it originally started at the

beginning of the pandemic when our

712

:

two co founders went to an ad tech

conference, and they were only women.

713

:

And they're like, all

right, enough is enough.

714

:

So they started the group for

women to get together, basically to

715

:

create a platform to elevate women.

716

:

And we really think about what

we do around three major piece,

717

:

um, to increase the power, pay

and parity of women in ad tech.

718

:

And so, um, Over the past couple of years,

I've been blessed with a volunteer team.

719

:

We've been able to build them out.

720

:

We do, um, Um, and so we've

done a cornerstone event every

721

:

year with different sponsors.

722

:

So we've done, um, our

international women's day event

723

:

in March of last this year.

724

:

It's still 2024 with the trade desk.

725

:

We just did, um, an event with

double verify with cognitive, where

726

:

we put on panels, where we create

opportunities for women to speak

727

:

about the work that they're doing.

728

:

And it's been really rewarding.

729

:

And the number of women who have

said to me, I wish I had this 10

730

:

years ago is like, really astounDeng.

731

:

And I will also say the number of men

who have just been so excited to be

732

:

allies, to do things, to sponsor, to tell

the women in their lives in ad tech to

733

:

check us out has really been humbling.

734

:

Tony Tidbit: That is awesome.

735

:

I love it.

736

:

I love anything.

737

:

Any, in, have you guys seen

any increases in terms of.

738

:

You know, pay equity, uh, power, is

it just more of more, just making

739

:

people aware of these situations?

740

:

Rebecca Deng: Well, what we would

like to do, cause this has been

741

:

our like first full year in the U.

742

:

S.,

743

:

what we would like to do moving

into the next year is really focus

744

:

on like some key areas where we

can make an impact really quickly.

745

:

So we have our own, um, collection

of speakers on our website, but then,

746

:

you know, you're out in the wild

and then you see like a manhole.

747

:

a panel full of men.

748

:

So like maybe there's an opportunity

there where perhaps, you know, we can

749

:

take our network and, and, um, let

those people know that, you know, we

750

:

have this pool of women available.

751

:

Um, we haven't really started collecting

stats like in terms of pay, but,

752

:

uh, in the new year, we would really

love to start doing some type of.

753

:

mentorship where we can create those

one on one relationships with people

754

:

so they can talk about those types of

things because so much of advocating

755

:

for yourself, especially, you know, when

you're a woman or you feel like you're

756

:

from an underrepresented group is wanting

to do it tactfully and, and knowing, you

757

:

know, that you're doing the right thing.

758

:

Exactly, exactly.

759

:

And you only get that from.

760

:

Um, you know, discussion from,

from mentorship, from one on one,

761

:

like understanDeng, like, can

you really ask for that much?

762

:

Can you really do that?

763

:

And then someone comes along

and they're like, yes, right.

764

:

And so we want to facilitate that.

765

:

Tony Tidbit: How can companies

or individuals get involved or

766

:

be assist, provide assistance?

767

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

768

:

So we have, um, a website called

the women in programmatic.

769

:

Um, you can attend our events

in New York, get involved.

770

:

We are just in the process of

opening a chapter in Denver.

771

:

We, we would love to go nationwide.

772

:

Uh, feel free to volunteer.

773

:

There's plenty of work.

774

:

Don't put a

775

:

Tony Tidbit: cap on it.

776

:

Right.

777

:

Don't, you know, we are going

to, we're going, we're going,

778

:

Rebecca Deng: we're going nationwide.

779

:

There we go.

780

:

Um, yeah, I mean, there are so

many women who are interested,

781

:

like you, you can feel the need.

782

:

Um, and that's what I would definitely

say, that like, there is need,

783

:

there is desire, um, and that in

and of itself is like what makes.

784

:

I'm going to be doing this work.

785

:

Exciting.

786

:

Tony Tidbit: Wow.

787

:

Wow.

788

:

Now exciting.

789

:

In talking about impact.

790

:

You became a finalist for

the Givsly award, right?

791

:

Which is a major award industry

award from the company called Givsly.

792

:

Talk a little bit about that.

793

:

And how did you feel

about becoming a finalist?

794

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah.

795

:

So it's so interesting because I went

to a awards dinner with one of my

796

:

colleagues and we were like watching

everyone go up and she turns to me and

797

:

she was like, Mary, my, my friend Mary.

798

:

And she's like, we should be up there.

799

:

And I was like, what do you mean?

800

:

And she was like, no, no,

no, I'm making a list.

801

:

And she was just making

a list of all the things.

802

:

And she was like, next

year you're applying.

803

:

I'm applying this.

804

:

We're all applying.

805

:

Yeah.

806

:

And I was like, okay.

807

:

Um, and then I actually heard about

the Givsly Award in our Women in

808

:

Programmatic Network WhatsApp group.

809

:

Someone just posted it in there and was

like, sign up, apply, nominate yourselves.

810

:

And I was like, okay, why not?

811

:

And, um, I kind of put it off,

put it off, and then finally,

812

:

like, you know, how it is, 3 a.

813

:

m.,

814

:

you finally do the submission.

815

:

And it's like, okay, I've done it.

816

:

Um, and I was just so excited

when it ended up working out.

817

:

And it was really Less about me, but

more of just a vehicle to talk about the

818

:

network, what we've been doing, but it was

one of those Situations that made it very

819

:

clear to me that like it's not just about

doing the work You got to talk about the

820

:

work and you got to put yourself out there

And I've had a couple of colleagues come

821

:

up to me and say oh like that nomination

was so cool Like how did you get it?

822

:

And I was like, well, I did it

myself and they're like, huh?

823

:

I'm like you too Can do that for yourself.

824

:

Tony Tidbit: Right, right.

825

:

What, so what category

were you a finalists in

826

:

Rebecca Deng: for rising rookies.

827

:

So people with under 10 years

of experience in the OR at

828

:

10 years of experience in ad

tech, just doing cool things.

829

:

Tony Tidbit: That's awesome.

830

:

That is awesome.

831

:

How did that make you feel?

832

:

Rebecca Deng: I was very proud of my team.

833

:

I was very proud of the recognition and

actually what it made me think about were

834

:

all of the things that we could be doing.

835

:

To, uh, promote the network even more.

836

:

Tony Tidbit: Mm-hmm . Like,

837

:

Rebecca Deng: you know, next time

around, we can think about ways that

838

:

we, from like a marketing content

perspective, are submitting the network.

839

:

Tony Tidbit: Right?

840

:

Right.

841

:

Rebecca Deng: How can I, you know,

the next time I get an opportunity

842

:

to apply for something, think about

passing that along to a colleague.

843

:

Right.

844

:

How can we rise, you know, the tides

of all boats with these opportunities.

845

:

Tony Tidbit: Right, right.

846

:

Well, number one, that's awesome.

847

:

Number two.

848

:

You're always thinking of,

you know, how to give back.

849

:

Sometimes it's good just to take a

deep breath and say, You know what?

850

:

I am making an impact.

851

:

You know, I, you know, the

things that I do bring to the

852

:

table, people are recognizing it.

853

:

Because if you don't, you

just got finished saying

854

:

something a minute ago, right?

855

:

That you had to learn it, you have

to, we all have to learn how to

856

:

advocate for ourselves, right?

857

:

Yeah.

858

:

But we also gotta sometimes Sit back

and smell the roses a little bit.

859

:

Enjoy it.

860

:

And enjoy it, right?

861

:

I mean, obviously people don't

want to do it because they don't

862

:

want it to go to their head.

863

:

I don't want to feel, you know,

that I'm, you know, this or that.

864

:

But no, the effort that you put

in, right, people recognize it.

865

:

Your company, TripleLift.

866

:

Recognizes it.

867

:

And so, and we'd fight our way up, right?

868

:

And then so when you get that

recognition, um, it's always

869

:

important to say, you know what?

870

:

I think I'm going to have a glass of wine.

871

:

I think I'm gonna, you know,

just like, wow, this is cool.

872

:

Right?

873

:

And there's nothing wrong with that.

874

:

So I love that.

875

:

So.

876

:

So you're, you know, when we think

of people of color in the ad tech

877

:

industry, uh, I don't know the

exact percentage, but it's low.

878

:

Okay.

879

:

Especially at the agency.

880

:

I mean, look at all sides, the

vendors, brands, and the agencies.

881

:

You broke in by going to

Cora and getting that.

882

:

I don't want to say internship,

but starting to work with brands

883

:

and stuff to that nature and it

opened your eyes that maybe this is

884

:

something I want to get involved with.

885

:

What advice would you give other young

people of color or just anybody in

886

:

terms of how to break into the industry?

887

:

And then more importantly, not just

breaking in, but making an impact.

888

:

Rebecca Deng: Yeah, I mean, I would say.

889

:

LinkedIn is your friend, know it well,

know who's on there, follow the trends.

890

:

So

891

:

Tony Tidbit: when you say LinkedIn is

your friend, what do you mean by that?

892

:

Rebecca Deng: So just, well, first of all,

see who's talking, see what the trends

893

:

are, see what, you know, is going on from

a mergers and acquisitions standpoint.

894

:

Understand.

895

:

Tony Tidbit: I thought you

said murders and acquisitions.

896

:

Oh no.

897

:

Rebecca Deng: Mergers.

898

:

I

899

:

Tony Tidbit: watch ID all the time.

900

:

Same.

901

:

Okay.

902

:

Rebecca Deng: But just, I guess.

903

:

You know, I would say personally

what I have found to be the catalyst

904

:

of my success in terms of job

opportunities is just like really

905

:

having a pulse on where the market is.

906

:

So that is what I would say like longterm

career planning would be helpful.

907

:

I would say in terms of breaking

in, thinking about those.

908

:

I'm not going to say non traditional

opportunities, but you know, there

909

:

could be, um, particular programs

where, you know, companies do mentorship

910

:

opportunities where, you know, at Barnard,

um, we have, um, opportunities as alums

911

:

to like, Bring a student to work for a day

and I actually went to YouTube's offices

912

:

and spent the whole day trailing Barnard

alum as she was like running around

913

:

doing all these cool things and that

really opened my eyes to the different

914

:

opportunities So I would say, you know

doing things like that, but then like

915

:

when we think about like longer term

planning, you know I feel very strongly

916

:

anyone can have a job and like do a job

well but it takes like a level of like

917

:

planning and ownership to have a And you

just got to, you got to be strategic.

918

:

You got to be thinking two steps ahead.

919

:

You got to be thinking, you

know, short term, long term,

920

:

are you learning something?

921

:

Are you earning good money?

922

:

And if not, what from this

experience are you going to leverage

923

:

to get you to the next thing?

924

:

So it's not just about where

are you, but are you maximizing

925

:

every opportunity where you are?

926

:

Is there a learning

stipend at your company?

927

:

Are there opportunities for you to go?

928

:

You know, to add week to go to these

different venues where you can meet

929

:

people, where you can learn things,

um, you have to, you have to go on

930

:

the company wiki and you have to

make sure every stone is turned.

931

:

You really have to see what's available.

932

:

Right,

933

:

Tony Tidbit: right.

934

:

And, and the easy thing,

raise your hand, right?

935

:

Raise your hand.

936

:

Hey, I want to go there.

937

:

Hey, I want to check this out.

938

:

Hey, I want to learn more.

939

:

Hey, can I come over and learn

more about what you're doing?

940

:

Rebecca Deng: And I will

say like the number of.

941

:

Um, women executives who have told

me, you know, the difference they

942

:

see in men asking for things and

women asking for things is stark.

943

:

And she said, and it's usually the

men who are just like, interested,

944

:

passing, maybe the least qualified,

but they're asking for it.

945

:

Whereas there are women who are, you know,

totally poised to take these opportunities

946

:

on, but aren't putting themselves forward.

947

:

Tony Tidbit: Right.

948

:

Right.

949

:

Right.

950

:

Excellent point.

951

:

You know, I want to put a cap on our

conversation that we had in the middle

952

:

of this segment, when we talked about.

953

:

The uncomfortable feeling that

people of color have when they're

954

:

just trying to do their jobs.

955

:

And then all of a sudden,

like, did I hear that?

956

:

Or, you know, do they see me as an equal?

957

:

Or, you know, did I get this

promotion or did I get passed

958

:

over because of these issues?

959

:

Blah, blah, blah.

960

:

So the question I want to ask you is,

You know, what steps can companies

961

:

take to, you know, you just stuff is

talking about, and it's one of the

962

:

things I always believe playing chess,

not checkers, they can a couple of

963

:

steps ahead instead of being reactive

and waiting for something to come up.

964

:

So what could companies do to play

chess here when it comes to these

965

:

issues and making sure that their

employees, regardless of gender,

966

:

religion, sexuality, ethnicity, race.

967

:

to think about those things.

968

:

They can just move forward and

be the best person that they

969

:

can be within that organization.

970

:

What advice would you give?

971

:

Rebecca Deng: So I actually just read a

HBR article about DE& I and essentially

972

:

what it says is move the focus away from

people as in specific groups of people

973

:

and think about systems as a company,

when you do, you know, your recruitment.

974

:

Where are you actually going?

975

:

Like, are you just putting

things up on LinkedIn?

976

:

Are you going to colleges?

977

:

Are you just going to a

certain subset of colleges?

978

:

Are you really maximizing your system

to capture all of the available

979

:

people who could do this job?

980

:

And so I think sometimes like switching

it from person or group based thinking to

981

:

systems, how do we maximize the system so

that, you know, in terms of the marketing

982

:

funnel, we're capturing as many people.

983

:

To work at our company or even

internally when you're thinking

984

:

about who do we send on this trip?

985

:

Who do we send here like for

these different opportunities?

986

:

How are you maximizing the pool

of people internally who feel like

987

:

they can take up this opportunity?

988

:

And I think that you know,

a lot of it is just about

989

:

access to opportunities and then

people feeling like they Can apply

990

:

like people feeling like they do belong

991

:

Tony Tidbit: right, right,

you know, so number one.

992

:

Thanks for that number two You

know, I learned this a long time

993

:

ago if I was and my mother taught me

this if I was Deaf, and I couldn't

994

:

hear my mother say, I love you.

995

:

I would know she loves

me by her actions, right?

996

:

So you don't have to say it.

997

:

It's by what you do that, you know,

there's an old saying, what you do speak

998

:

so loudly that what you say, I can't hear.

999

:

And I think a lot of times companies say.

:

00:50:21,015 --> 00:50:24,985

We're, we believe in this, so we

believe in that, and we're inclusive

:

00:50:24,985 --> 00:50:26,715

organization and this and that.

:

00:50:27,155 --> 00:50:29,695

And then they don't need to say those

things, they just need to do it.

:

00:50:30,285 --> 00:50:30,715

Right?

:

00:50:30,715 --> 00:50:32,145

And then people will see it.

:

00:50:32,155 --> 00:50:35,595

And, and look, there's a lot of companies

that are doing the right things.

:

00:50:35,845 --> 00:50:39,275

But, you know, I really appreciate

your feedback and, and your

:

00:50:39,305 --> 00:50:40,845

perspective on this as well.

:

00:50:40,845 --> 00:50:42,225

So, final thoughts.

:

00:50:42,225 --> 00:50:45,705

What do you want to leave the

audience today based on your

:

00:50:45,705 --> 00:50:48,715

journey, your background, and the

things that you're looking to do?

:

00:50:49,275 --> 00:50:49,875

Rebecca Deng: I think.

:

00:50:50,470 --> 00:50:57,430

Um, what I would say, um, best

advice that I have heard recently.

:

00:50:57,430 --> 00:51:01,090

So two things, an Obama interview

where he was actually chatting with

:

00:51:01,260 --> 00:51:05,370

someone about advice for people

in the workplace, like new grads.

:

00:51:05,710 --> 00:51:11,490

And he said, prioritize doing things like

actually saying what you're going to do

:

00:51:11,530 --> 00:51:16,110

and doing them, not just thinking, not

just, you know, waxing poetic, do things.

:

00:51:16,570 --> 00:51:21,170

Um, and then I actually was

watching an interview with Issa Rae.

:

00:51:21,755 --> 00:51:26,895

Where she talked about networking

and I think that it's so easy to

:

00:51:27,175 --> 00:51:30,865

say to people, especially people

who are early in their career.

:

00:51:31,135 --> 00:51:34,695

Network up, look for a mentor,

but it's so important to network

:

00:51:34,695 --> 00:51:40,405

across because like this group is

going to be your future cohort.

:

00:51:40,425 --> 00:51:43,905

This is going to be your cast of

co conspirators for the next moves

:

00:51:43,905 --> 00:51:45,085

that you make in your career.

:

00:51:45,085 --> 00:51:49,285

And it's just as important, you know,

to maybe know the hiring manager

:

00:51:49,285 --> 00:51:52,285

as it is to know the person who

will give you that referral, right.

:

00:51:52,575 --> 00:51:53,245

Long term.

:

00:51:53,255 --> 00:51:59,505

So I would say network, but

don't just, uh, Go up, go across.

:

00:52:00,135 --> 00:52:03,255

Tony Tidbit: Well, I'm glad you

and I networked together, right?

:

00:52:03,265 --> 00:52:04,705

And I'm glad you came in.

:

00:52:04,995 --> 00:52:08,885

And we are blessed that you shared

your perspective today on the Black

:

00:52:08,885 --> 00:52:10,495

Executive Perspective Podcast.

:

00:52:11,025 --> 00:52:12,625

So we want to thank you, Rebecca Deng.

:

00:52:12,905 --> 00:52:14,795

We wish you nothing but mad success.

:

00:52:15,025 --> 00:52:16,779

We're going to have you come back on.

:

00:52:16,850 --> 00:52:20,810

At some point down the road, so

you can share next when you become

:

00:52:20,810 --> 00:52:25,460

CEO or whether the case may be, you

know, well, when you like, ah, maybe

:

00:52:25,460 --> 00:52:27,100

I'll come to that, that podcast.

:

00:52:27,120 --> 00:52:29,110

We'll see, but love you a lot.

:

00:52:29,120 --> 00:52:29,790

And so excited.

:

00:52:29,790 --> 00:52:32,070

And I want you to stay right

there because you're going to

:

00:52:32,080 --> 00:52:33,540

help us with our call to action.

:

00:52:34,430 --> 00:52:34,960

Okay.

:

00:52:34,970 --> 00:52:39,380

So I think it's now

time for Tony's tidbit.

:

00:52:39,600 --> 00:52:45,870

So the tidbit today is always about

what we discuss, uh, in our episodes.

:

00:52:45,870 --> 00:52:50,120

And the tidbit is, and I quote,

leadership isn't about titles.

:

00:52:50,495 --> 00:52:51,815

It's about impact.

:

00:52:52,285 --> 00:52:57,975

True leaders empower others to rise,

innovate, and create lasting change.

:

00:52:58,445 --> 00:53:01,095

Success is not just about

climbing the ladder.

:

00:53:01,395 --> 00:53:04,985

It's about holDeng it

steady for others to follow.

:

00:53:05,465 --> 00:53:10,585

When diversity is celebrated and

equity becomes the norm, we unlock

:

00:53:10,645 --> 00:53:16,255

the power to transform industries

and inspire future generations.

:

00:53:16,775 --> 00:53:22,305

And so, so excited that Rebecca

Deng came on today and she expired

:

00:53:22,305 --> 00:53:27,235

us, uh, and we have a lot to look

forward to our future generations.

:

00:53:27,625 --> 00:53:32,365

So just a friendly reminder, don't

miss this week's Need to Know with Dr.

:

00:53:32,365 --> 00:53:35,425

Nsenga Burton on the Black

Executive Perspective podcast.

:

00:53:35,735 --> 00:53:36,045

Dr.

:

00:53:36,045 --> 00:53:40,925

Burton dives into the timely and crucial

topics that shape our community and world.

:

00:53:40,935 --> 00:53:44,085

She just keeps us up to

date on what's going on.

:

00:53:44,325 --> 00:53:48,935

So you want to gain insights and deepen

your understanDeng, visit Don't forget

:

00:53:48,995 --> 00:53:53,205

to check her out every Thursday on a

black executive perspective podcast.

:

00:53:53,455 --> 00:53:54,925

You do not want to miss it.

:

00:53:55,085 --> 00:53:57,105

So now it's time.

:

00:53:58,015 --> 00:54:03,455

For BEP's call to action, and for

those, if this is your first time, uh,

:

00:54:03,475 --> 00:54:07,765

listening or watching a Black Executive

Perspective podcast, our goal is to

:

00:54:07,765 --> 00:54:10,365

eliminate all forms of discrimination.

:

00:54:10,765 --> 00:54:14,925

And to achieve this, we've come

up with this acronym, and we want

:

00:54:14,995 --> 00:54:17,005

everyone to embrace it and do it.

:

00:54:17,005 --> 00:54:18,095

It's called LESS.

:

00:54:18,575 --> 00:54:20,845

L E S S.

:

00:54:21,095 --> 00:54:23,505

So Rebecca is going to

help us with this today.

:

00:54:23,505 --> 00:54:24,745

Rebecca, kick us off.

:

00:54:25,065 --> 00:54:26,675

Rebecca Deng: So the L stands for Learn.

:

00:54:26,805 --> 00:54:29,655

Educate yourself on racial

and cultural nuances.

:

00:54:30,225 --> 00:54:34,485

I think this is a great opportunity to,

you know, if you're questioning yourself,

:

00:54:34,515 --> 00:54:35,825

what you're doing, are you wrong?

:

00:54:35,825 --> 00:54:39,195

Are you saying the wrong thing

to give yourself some grace and

:

00:54:39,225 --> 00:54:43,425

to assume positive intent from

someone, if they want clarification.

:

00:54:43,565 --> 00:54:44,225

Tony Tidbit: Absolutely.

:

00:54:44,225 --> 00:54:46,475

And then the E stands for empathy.

:

00:54:46,795 --> 00:54:47,485

All right.

:

00:54:47,900 --> 00:54:51,070

Always be open to understand

diverse perspectives.

:

00:54:51,300 --> 00:54:53,810

And one of the things that's

very important, we want to make

:

00:54:53,810 --> 00:54:56,670

sure that we understand where

the other person is coming from.

:

00:54:56,670 --> 00:55:00,380

So after we've learned, now we

should have more, we should be more

:

00:55:00,390 --> 00:55:04,540

empathetic to what they go through and

have a better understanDeng because

:

00:55:04,540 --> 00:55:06,020

we've put ourselves in their shoes.

:

00:55:06,790 --> 00:55:09,980

Rebecca Deng: And the S stands for share,

share your insights to enlighten others.

:

00:55:09,980 --> 00:55:13,370

I think the Black Executive

Podcast is a perfect example of.

:

00:55:13,495 --> 00:55:17,675

What it means to share your experiences

so that people can hear about them

:

00:55:17,965 --> 00:55:19,415

and create more empathy for them.

:

00:55:19,495 --> 00:55:19,965

Tony Tidbit: Awesome.

:

00:55:19,965 --> 00:55:21,965

And then the final S stands for stop.

:

00:55:22,325 --> 00:55:25,495

You want to stop discrimination

as it walks in your path.

:

00:55:25,835 --> 00:55:29,485

So if uncle Joe says something at the

Thanksgiving table or the Christmas

:

00:55:29,485 --> 00:55:34,335

table or the Sunday table, and it's

inappropriate, you say, uncle Joe, we

:

00:55:34,335 --> 00:55:36,665

don't believe that we ain't doing that.

:

00:55:36,705 --> 00:55:38,505

And you stop it immediately.

:

00:55:38,765 --> 00:55:41,185

So if everyone can incorporate less.

:

00:55:41,550 --> 00:55:48,350

L E S S will build a more fair, more

understanDeng world, and we'll all be

:

00:55:48,350 --> 00:55:53,580

able to see the change that we want

to see because less will become more.

:

00:55:53,780 --> 00:55:53,990

Okay.

:

00:55:54,340 --> 00:55:54,990

How do you like that?

:

00:55:54,990 --> 00:55:55,200

Less.

:

00:55:55,200 --> 00:55:55,960

That was good.

:

00:55:55,960 --> 00:55:58,160

Oh, I thought, well, I appreciate that.

:

00:55:58,160 --> 00:55:59,770

I love it a lot.

:

00:55:59,770 --> 00:56:00,090

Right.

:

00:56:00,260 --> 00:56:05,210

And I hope you appreciated this episode

of a black executive perspective podcast.

:

00:56:05,540 --> 00:56:08,790

Please don't forget to go to our

website, sign up for our newsletter.

:

00:56:09,090 --> 00:56:10,400

Give us some feedback.

:

00:56:10,750 --> 00:56:11,970

Did you like Rebecca?

:

00:56:12,260 --> 00:56:13,130

Was she awesome?

:

00:56:13,130 --> 00:56:15,940

Did I, did I ask her all the questions

that you wanted me to ask her?

:

00:56:15,940 --> 00:56:19,880

I didn't give us some feedback because

our goal is always to get better.

:

00:56:20,190 --> 00:56:25,090

You can follow or listen or watch a black

executive perspective podcast on link,

:

00:56:25,100 --> 00:56:30,400

excuse me, on, uh, YouTube, Apple and

Spotify or wherever you get your podcast.

:

00:56:30,650 --> 00:56:33,940

And you can follow a black executive

perspective podcast on LinkedIn,

:

00:56:33,940 --> 00:56:37,820

YouTube, uh, X, uh, Facebook.

:

00:56:38,075 --> 00:56:43,765

Instagram, and Tik TOK at a black

exec for our fabulous guests.

:

00:56:44,225 --> 00:56:46,475

And her nickname is rad R A D.

:

00:56:46,475 --> 00:56:48,765

I told her I wasn't going

to call it at Rebecca.

:

00:56:48,795 --> 00:56:52,015

Then we want to thank her for joining

a black executive perspective podcast.

:

00:56:52,025 --> 00:56:53,505

Guess what?

:

00:56:53,515 --> 00:56:55,515

We were able to talk about it with her.

:

00:56:55,775 --> 00:56:58,025

We learned about it today with her.

:

00:56:58,335 --> 00:56:59,305

We love you.

:

00:56:59,555 --> 00:57:00,325

And guess what?

:

00:57:00,445 --> 00:57:00,925

We're out

:

00:57:04,825 --> 00:57:07,405

a black executive perspective.

Show artwork for TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective

About the Podcast

TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective
Reshaping Leadership & Diversity in Corporate America
About the Podcast: "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" offers a deep dive into the corporate world through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by Tony Franklin, aka Tony Tidbit, this podcast shines a light on vital conversations around race, leadership, and diversity, fostering understanding and change.

https://ablackexec.com

Meet Your Host: Tony Franklin has over three decades of corporate experience and provides transformative insights into diversity and inclusion, making each episode a journey of learning and empowerment.

Why You Should Listen:
- Diverse Perspectives: Insights from a variety of voices on challenges and triumphs in the corporate sphere.
-Action-Oriented: Practical advice for advocating equity and allyship in the workplace.
- Educational & Empathetic: A focus on empathy and education to drive impactful change.

What to Expect: #BEPpodcast brings powerful transformations, empowering voices, addressing barriers, and delving into topics reshaping Corporate America. It's a platform uniting diverse voices and making a significant impact.

Stay Connected:
Follow @ablackexec on social media for insights and visit ablackexec.com for updates and additional content.

Listen & Subscribe:
"TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" is available on:
Apple Podcasts: https://ablackexec.com/apple
Spotify: https://ablackexec.com/spotify
YouTube Podcasts: https://ablackexec.com/youtube
Other Platforms: https://ablackexec.com/listen

Join us in transforming the narrative on race, leadership, and diversity in Corporate America. Your participation matters!

#BEPpodcast #TonyTidbit #CorporateDiversity #Inclusion #Leadership #RaceInCorporate #DiversityMatters #DEI

This podcast uses analytics and growth tools from Podder, Chartable, Podsights, and Podcorn.

About your host

Profile picture for Tony Franklin

Tony Franklin

Tony Franklin, the esteemed host of "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective," is a dynamic and insightful leader with over 30 years of experience navigating the complexities of corporate America. With a career marked by leadership roles across various industries, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the podcast. His journey is one of resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to driving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.

A passionate advocate for change, Tony initiated the groundbreaking "Conversations about Race" series in his workplace following the social unrest of 2020. This series laid the foundation for the podcast, offering a platform for open, honest discussions about race and the Black executive experience in corporate America. Through his engaging conversations with guests, Tony explores themes of adversity, exclusion, and implicit bias, while also highlighting the strategies that have helped break down racial barriers.

Tony's approachable style and depth of experience make him an influential voice in the DEI space. His dedication to fostering an inclusive environment is evident in each episode, where he provides actionable guidance for being a better advocate and ally. "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" is not just a podcast; it's a movement towards a more equitable corporate landscape, led by Tony's visionary leadership and empathetic voice.