Give Difference the Benefit of the Doubt: Interview with Doug Melville, Former Chief Diversity Officer of TBWA
Several years ago, I interviewed Doug Melville, then-Chief Diversity Officer of TBWA, in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Doug is currently the CEO of Jodie AI and is the author of the book Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America’s First Black Generals. Here is an excerpt from our interview:
Adam: What is something about you that would surprise people?
Doug: My first two jobs after college might surprise people. I started my career driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile as a ‘Hotdogger’. For 400 days I crisscrossed through 48 states in a 27-foot-long hot dog doing PR/Press for the brand. That led me (miraculously as my friends say) to my second job, the Assistant Tour Manager on Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time” tour. It was an amazing moment. I got to see the country for a second time, but this time with much better accommodations.
Adam: How did you get here? What failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Doug: I’ve been fortunate enough to have amazing mentors. People who believed in me, before I even knew I needed believing in. After touring, I was lucky enough to be mentored by Tommy & Andy Hilfiger, who really helped me understand the fundamentals of fashion, branding, music & culture. They showed me how to turn an idea into a business. They encouraged me to start a business before getting a full-time job – because that is the best way to create the vision of what you want to do in life. I experienced the “usual” challenges that business owners face: no safety net, learning as you go by trial and error, hoping you can cover payroll. You know, the basics. But Tommy and Andy were right; starting my own company allowed me the freedom to create and chase my passions. Five years later I was contacted by Magic Johnson’s office; he was looking to start a marketing company and tapped me to lead that effort. He really helped me understand diversity, urban America, the value of opportunity, and teamwork. TEAM: Together. Everyone. Achieves. More. He was like my Ph.D. professor.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Doug: Leaders don’t need to be the smartest people in the room, but they do need to be the most informed. To be an effective leader, it’s important to really listen, to be relatable, and to inspire rather than preach. Finally, leaders need to know what their unique superpower(s) are, and how to tap into them.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Doug: 1. You pay for what you don’t know. So take the time to be well-read. 2. Your [digital] reputation always precedes you when you walk in the room. Google yourself on a private browser so you’re aware of what everyone else can see. 3. Progress over PR. The more work we put in behind the scenes, the better. As a bonus tip, I ask everyone in a position of influence to give difference the benefit of the doubt, i.e. be open-minded about perspectives that might be unfamiliar or different than your own. When evaluating something or someone – give the preference to the unknown, the unfamiliar, and the diverse. It helps you grow as a person.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Doug: An executive once told me, “Spend more time with your fans who believe in you, and less time trying to convince the haters to get on your page. It’s important to go where you are celebrated, and not where you are tolerated. It’s a much better use of your time.”
Adam: What is one thing everyone should do to pay it forward?
Doug: Mentor someone. Formally, and also informally. It took a lot of people to get you where you are, so now it’s your turn to be an inspiration to someone else. I started as an intern, and if I hadn’t had great mentors in my life guiding and looking out for me, I can assure you I wouldn’t be here doing [this] interview!
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
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