The marketing communications industry has historically lagged behind other business verticals in its inclusion of marginalized people, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities in their workforce. Despite the ongoing studies highlighting these inequities, and the ongoing pledges made by marketing C-suite leaders to rectify these issues, inequities in diversity, equity & inclusion persist. These problems are not exclusive to the marketing communications industry – these inequities are prevalent across all adjacent business categories, including, but not limited to, the entertainment industry, art, music, fashion, and tech. Part group therapy and part thought leadership, this session will feature four CUNY CCNY alums – an academic, a psychotherapist, and a content creator & DE&I advocate — all with marketing communications backgrounds – as they share best practices and frameworks to improve worker retention, mental health, and empower marginalized and underrepresented leaders in workplaces and industries that face similarly prevalent challenges.