In this powerful episode of Ink Blots, we sit down with Mark Robinson, award-winning author and advertising industry veteran with over 40 years at the most prestigious agencies on Madison Avenue. Featured in Fortune, Black Enterprise, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and hand-selected by Spike Lee to co-found Spike/DDB, Mark brings shocking, eye-opening, and often unbelievable stories from inside one of America's least diverse white-collar professions.
His groundbreaking book, Black on Madison Avenue, reveals the explosive reality behind the ad world's polished façade. Mark shares gripping and often humorous tales from his decades in the industry—including confrontations with military officials during a Venezuelan coup, clashes with international dignitaries, the kidnapping of an ad legend, and the creation of the first multicultural marketing holding company.
This episode dives deep into:
How Mark broke into the Madison Avenue elite
Why the advertising industry remains one of the least diverse in America
Behind-the-scenes stories Madison Avenue would rather keep hidden
The personal experiences that shaped Black on Madison Avenue
What real diversity and inclusion in advertising should look like
How storytelling can disrupt an entire industry
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in advertising, cultural commentary, media history, or the lived experiences of Black professionals in corporate America.
📚 Order Black on Madison Avenue on Bookshop.org
👉 https://bookshop.org/a/10588/9781736621530
✅ Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-Robinson/author/B0CSWJ7Q29
✅ Black on Madison Avenue — Official Website:
https://blackonmadisonavenue.com
✅ Author Website:
https://markrobinson-writing.com/
✅ Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mark_robinson.author/
✅ Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091754917832
#MarkRobinson #BlackOnMadisonAvenue #AdvertisingIndustry #MadisonAvenue #DiversityInAdvertising #InkBlotsPodcast #AuthorInterview #PublishingCommunity #AdvertisingStories #MulticulturalMarketing
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