At This Ad Agency, Interns Are Indispensable

A paid internship program focused on underrepresented talent helps Barker put out its best work.

- BY BRIAN CONTRERAS

At Barker, a New York City-based creative agency, staff diversity is viewed as a competitive advantage, not just a social justice concern. The company, with average annual revenue of $14 million over the past five years, partners with Building Leaders and Creators, or BLAC, a nonprofit that aims to increase Black representation in marketing through 12-week paid internships. For participants, it’s a foot in the door of an industry that in the past has struggled with diversity. For Barker, it offers a wellspring of new ideas and sensibilities that flow straight into client projects.

“It really makes the workplace better, which then makes the work better,” says Barker CEO Mary Beth Weil. “Especially in a creative industry, you have to be able to find your inspiration in your culture and what you surround yourself with.”