Vita M. Harris is an industry veteran who understands the creative craft and what’s needed in order to continue to push our industry forward. With her eyes trained sharply on the future, Harris has developed evolving tools and frameworks that help the organization produce award-winning work for both new business and legacy brands. She’s also worked on top brands like Walmart, Beiersdorf, Kraft/Mondelēz, Verizon and American Express. What’s more, she works hard to cultivate the next generation of industry stars. “If I can’t walk out of the advertising industry having left it a better place for those after me,” she says, “then my work is in vain.” The fact is, although there are many more improvements to be made, Harris has already changed things for the better. A powerhouse of inspiration, she mentors students and professionals, helps clients and the industry embrace change, and campaigns heartily for underrepresented groups in the field and in the work for which we have great responsibility. A fierce leader for diversity, equity and inclusion, Harris wears many hats and each one is focused on progressing the industry and moving creative forward.

Harris has devoted her enthusiasm, skills and energy to FCB since joining in 1996. Since then, she has earned numerous accolades, including pocstock’s Future of Black America Top 50 list, Adweek’s annual list of “Women Trailblazers,” the 4A’s “100 People Who Make Advertising Great,” and recognized by the Advertising Club of New York Foundation in its “Icons, Rock Stars & Innovators” celebration. Vita also received the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri and the ADCOLOR Legend Award. She has been listed as one of Black Enterprise’s “Top Women Executives in Marketing and Advertising” and featured in their “Power” Issue.

Vita serves on the board of the 4A’s, ANA Educational Foundation, NYWICI and is a member of The Ad Council’s Campaign Review Committee. She also judges the Effie Awards, Clio Awards, The One Show, the Advertising Research Foundation David Ogilvy Awards, the ADCOLOR Awards and the IPG Inclusion Awards. In 2019, she was selected to serve on the inaugural Creative Strategy Jury at Cannes Lions.