Colette Phillips

In the 1980s, as I was preparing to launch my public relations agency, I had lunch with a white friend, a columnist for the Boston edition of Adweek. He was a veteran of the city’s PR world, and I wanted to get his perspective on whether he thought a Black-owned public relations and marketing agency would do well in Boston.

I’ll never forget his response. He looked me dead in the eye and told me, in no uncertain terms, that Boston was not a city that would be supportive of or welcoming… Show more

In the 1980s, as I was preparing to launch my public relations agency, I had lunch with a white friend, a columnist for the Boston edition of Adweek. He was a veteran of the city’s PR world, and I wanted to get his perspective on whether he thought a Black-owned public relations and marketing agency would do well in Boston.

I’ll never forget his response. He looked me dead in the eye and told me, in no uncertain terms, that Boston was not a city that would be supportive of or welcoming to a minority-owned business. Read on... Show less

Phillips, the public relations and marketing mogul who helms Boston-based Colette Phillips Communications as its president and CEO, thinks of herself as a “connector.” “The Includers” highlights the importance of such a position in DEI advocacy, underscoring the need for white men to play a connecting role when promoting people from underrepresented backgrounds into the C-suite. It is critical, Phillips said, for white men to “lead from behind” and let women and people of color tell them how to… Show more

Phillips, the public relations and marketing mogul who helms Boston-based Colette Phillips Communications as its president and CEO, thinks of herself as a “connector.” “The Includers” highlights the importance of such a position in DEI advocacy, underscoring the need for white men to play a connecting role when promoting people from underrepresented backgrounds into the C-suite. It is critical, Phillips said, for white men to “lead from behind” and let women and people of color tell them how to help dismantle racism and gender inequality in the workplace. Show less

ANTISEMITISM IS SPREADING across America like an unforgiving wildfire fueled by harmful tropes against Jewish people by misinformed celebrities, prejudiced politicians and bigoted neighbors in our community. Just days ago, an antisemitic slur was carved into someone’s car in Stow, Massachusetts. This brand of hate isn’t just spreading – it’s going mainstream. Read more ....

ON A BRIGHT and otherwise perfect afternoon at Fenway Park, just before the start of Sunday’s game, the PA announcer shared the news of Bill Russell’s passing. Many, if not most, had not yet heard.

As one commenter recounted, “The sound the crowd made was one I’ve never encountered before. Gasps of shock and surprise — mixed with a collective, momentary expression of pain and grief. Not a cry, exactly, but if loss had a sound, this was it.” He went on to describe the ensuing moment of… Show more

ON A BRIGHT and otherwise perfect afternoon at Fenway Park, just before the start of Sunday’s game, the PA announcer shared the news of Bill Russell’s passing. Many, if not most, had not yet heard.

As one commenter recounted, “The sound the crowd made was one I’ve never encountered before. Gasps of shock and surprise — mixed with a collective, momentary expression of pain and grief. Not a cry, exactly, but if loss had a sound, this was it.” He went on to describe the ensuing moment of silence as “long, sincere, and utterly quiet.” Read on .....

What a difference a generation makes. A half century earlier, Bill Russell had been mercilessly taunted by fans with racial epithets. Burglars spray painted the n-word on the walls of his home and defecated in his bed. When he reported harassment, the police would rarely lift a finger. Show less

If there’s one essential lesson America can learn from the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, it is that the only winners in this ill-advised referendum were the racists and xenophobes — those Brits who are anti-immigrant, anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic — and the far-right UK Independence Party. In the lead up to Thursday’s vote, UKIP members of Parliament made a series of racist remarks, encouraging the growing divide in the UK. These are the same tactics used by Donald Trump and his… Show more

If there’s one essential lesson America can learn from the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, it is that the only winners in this ill-advised referendum were the racists and xenophobes — those Brits who are anti-immigrant, anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic — and the far-right UK Independence Party. In the lead up to Thursday’s vote, UKIP members of Parliament made a series of racist remarks, encouraging the growing divide in the UK. These are the same tactics used by Donald Trump and his supporters. Show less

We Bostonians love lists. Who’s powerful, who’s rich, who’s promising?

Boston Magazine and the Boston Business Journal have turned rankings into a cottage industry. But these lists invariably showcase something we’re not so proud of: Just how white the establishment is here. Read more ...

America ranks 9th in the world, slightly ahead of Israel, a much smaller country, when it comes to women on corporate boards. According to the nonprofit organization Catalyst, women hold only 17 percent of corporate board seats and that figure has not changed in eight years. The Alliance for Board Diversity reports that white men account for 73 percent of the board seats of Fortune 500 companies, noting little change over the last decade.

White men could be the most important group to ensuring that diversity and inclusion truly works. By ensuring that they are engaged, interested and invested players in diversity and inclusion conversation America will forge a new normal.

Ask any successful person and they will tell you that networking is a key element in moving one's career forward. Your network is your networth. The art of developing powerful relationships can do wonders for one's career and business.

You are the president of your life. When it comes to your career and/or small business you can borrow a marketing page from corporate America. Each person regardless of age, title or the industry/business they are in, need to understand the importance of branding.