Culture
Ovative Awards 2021 Scholarship in Partnership with The BrandLab
At Ovative Group, we are committed to being Champions of Change in everything we do; fostering a culture inclusive of all dimensions of difference, within and beyond our walls, to attract, inspire, and retain a diverse workforce. Ovative’s Champions of Change initiative focuses on three pillars: education, charitable giving, and services.
Charitable giving is a passion for many team members at Ovative, and through partnerships with global and local non-profits our team members give their time, energy, and dollars to help drive impact in our communities and beyond. Our partnership with The BrandLab, a Minneapolis-based non-profit that prepares diverse students for careers in the marketing industry, is one that allows us to make a significant impact. Through mentorship, internships, workshops, and more, The BrandLab provides students with the tools they need to find, receive, and thrive in marketing roles.
Along with becoming mentors and volunteering time and resources, Ovative has created an annual academic scholarship that grants $10,000 to a deserving student from The BrandLab. Each year, Ovative employees come together to raise the scholarship funds through employee-run events and fundraisers. A selection committee then works with The BrandLab team to distribute the application and evaluate applicants, resulting in interviews for the top three candidates. Each year we are blown away by the applications received and the inspiring individuals we get to meet—and this year was no different.
We had the pleasure of awarding our 2021 BrandLab Scholarship to Anaa Jibicho, a sophomore at Pomona College studying economics, media studies, and politics. We were inspired by Anaa’s drive and commitment to his education and community. Beyond graduating top of his class and attending a top university, we were amazed at his commitment to give back to this world. In 2017, as a sophomore in high school, Anaa found Didomi, a water bottle company that provides 10 years of water access to an individual in Africa with every purchase. Having experienced the water crisis first hand, this is a cause Anaa is very passionate about.
“When I came to the United States as a refugee, my parents were forced to give up everything they had back home to flee to America. For their sacrifice, they asked of me only one thing; to pursue my education, for that is something no one will ever take away from us. This scholarship not only reduces the financial burden of my family, but enables me to keep my most sacred promise; to gain the education needed to be in service to others. Now I can focus on learning and becoming the best student and the best person that I can be…I am so thankful for Ovative Group for giving me this opportunity and for making this process of pursuing my education that much easier.” – Anaa Jibicho
Ovative is a digital-first media and measurement firm seeking to transform the measure of marketing success. At Ovative, we are devoted to establishing foundational diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to drive sustained change. Learn more about our commitments on our Champions of Change page!
