SHOOT’s 65th Anniversary Reflections: Then, Now and Looking Ahead, Part 2

The Martin Agency’s CEO Danny Robinson chats with SHOOT as they celebrate their 65th anniversary.

"One of the most promising shifts in recent memory came in 2020 when the advertising industry, like many others, seemed to begin to acknowledge the deep inequities that had existed for decades. A wave of public commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion followed. Agencies began to rethink how they hired, who they promoted into leadership, which partners they collaborated with, and the stories they chose to tell. For a moment, it felt like real, systemic change was finally within reach. At The Martin Agency, that moment was energizing, not because it marked something new for us, but because it aligned with the mission we'd long embraced: fighting invisibility. For years, we'd been focused on bringing underrepresented voices into the industry and creating work that reflected a more honest and inclusive world. So, seeing the rest of the industry start to move in that direction felt hopeful. We thought that maybe the tide was finally turning. I was especially inspired by those who didn't just issue statements but built change into the core of their companies.

"Still, I worried the momentum wouldn't last. That the urgency would fade, the window would close, and the moment would pass before real change could take hold. Unfortunately, in many corners of the industry, that's exactly what happened. Recently, priorities have shifted, budgets have been cut, and national policies have impacted the 'movement. In some cases, hard-won progress was quietly rolled back.

"That's been disheartening-but not defeating," continued Robinson. "If anything, it's strengthened our resolve. At Martin, we know that fighting invisibility isn't a campaign or a moment. It's the long-haul work of reshaping our industry and the stories we tell to be more inclusive, more reflective, and ultimately, more powerful."