The Next Generation of Inclusive Leaders: Inside the 2025 AMA Diversity Leadership Institute

What happens when you bring together college students from across the country, real-world marketing challenges, and a round of putt-putt? You get an unforgettable experience and a glimpse into the future of inclusive leadership.

In June, AMA kicked off the 2025 Diversity Leadership Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business. Twenty students from historically underrepresented backgrounds (including many first-generation college students) came together for a four-day leadership program focused on tackling real-world diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) challenges in marketing across industries.

Catherine Van, AMA PDX’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility was invited to help facilitate discussions and share career advice with the cohort, setting the tone for a week of growth, collaboration, and bold ideas.

Throughout the week, students 

• Explored the history and role of marketing in society

• Tackled contemporary marketing issues through an equity lens

• Engaged in intergroup dialogue around identity and social justice

• Collaborated on ethical solutions to real-world leadership challenges

• Reflected on how personal identity shapes leadership

• Built professional connections with faculty and industry experts

• Practiced taking up space, leading with confidence, and working across differences

They even created thoughtful marketing strategies in response to a business simulation rooted in real DEIA challenges. In a short amount of time, they were able to put together thoughtful, data-driven presentations that were sharp, insightful, and full of heart.

These students are future leaders and changemakers in the making!

Undergraduate students with full-time enrollments, who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+, or have documented disability are eligible to apply.

Applications for the 2026 Diversity Leadership Institute will open in the fall.

Learn more here.