As part of Women’s History Month, Bri Olson, Director of Operations at BlackTruck Media + Marketing (BTM), was honored to serve as a panelist at AMA Detroit’s MarketHER event. The panel explored a critical and timely topic: inclusive marketing in 2025. While many brands want to embrace diversity, the execution can often fall short, or worse, come across as disingenuous. Bri brought her expertise in public relations, corporate social responsibility, and crisis communications to the table, offering a clear-eyed look at what it takes to market inclusively and authentically. We took a few minutes to catch up with Bri after the event to recap the highlights.
What Is Inclusive Marketing—and Why Does It Matter?
“Inclusive marketing,” Bri explained, “is more than just representation in your ads—it’s about pairing your message with authentic action.” From ensuring your campaigns reflect real diversity to making bold moves, such as acknowledging past missteps, inclusive marketing requires brands to walk the talk.
Bri emphasized that it starts with finding the right lane: understanding whether a cause or message aligns with your brand’s mission, values, and ethos. Once that foundation is clear, internal alignment is critical. Before going public with any campaign, ensure your internal programs support the message. Diversity efforts must be reflected not just externally but within the workplace, the company’s leadership, and the day-to-day experience of employees.
Best Practices for Inclusive Marketing in 2025
Here are a few key takeaways from Bri’s discussion on building truly inclusive campaigns:
- Check Your Internal Alignment: If a cause doesn’t align with your brand’s values or if your internal practices don’t reflect what you’re promoting, it’s better to hold back or work internally before going public.
- Collaborate Across Teams: Work with internal stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) to craft messaging and strategy that resonates and avoids tokenism.
- Avoid Performative Activism: Not every good deed needs to be a campaign. Sometimes the most powerful statements are the actions taken quietly, simply because they’re the right thing to do.
- Stand in Compassion, Not Just Frustration: Bri reminded the audience that in today’s climate, it’s easy to be angry, but the best inclusive work comes from a place of empathy and professional advocacy.
A Real-World Example: Miller Lite’s Open & Proud Campaign
One campaign that Bri is especially proud of is the Miller Lite Open & Proud Campaign, which she contributed to early in her career. This initiative supported the LGBTQIA+ community through a well-rounded strategy that centered authentic inclusion.
Miller Lite hosted town halls across the country, giving LGBTQIA+ individuals a platform to share their experiences. These insights were used to develop a comprehensive training guide that distributors could use to educate bar and restaurant staff on inclusivity. This wasn’t a one-off marketing splash; instead, it was a campaign driven by impact and community collaboration.
Why Culture Comes First
As a first-generation female college graduate, Bri learned early that hard work doesn’t always result in equal pay, particularly for women in male-dominated industries. These lived experiences fuel her passion for advocating gender equity in the workplace.
At BTM, she’s found a home where people come first. From sponsoring women to attend marketing and tech conferences to small but meaningful gestures, such as ensuring women’s safety when traveling for work or stocking the restroom with feminine hygiene products, BTM embodies the values it promotes externally.
“Inclusive branding begins with inclusive leadership,” Bri says. “If your internal culture doesn’t reflect the values your brand promotes, your audience will see right through it.”
Final Thoughts
Inclusive marketing in 2025 is about more than checking boxes—it’s about intentionality, integrity, and impact. Bri Olson’s insights from the MarketHER panel remind us that every brand has the power to make a difference, but only if it commits to action behind the message.
Interested in how inclusive marketing can elevate your brand? Connect with our team at BlackTruck Media + Marketing to learn how authenticity and strategy can drive real results.
