Employee Spotlight: Celebrating the 4A’s Foundation VANGUARD Class of 2024

Each year, the 4A’s Foundation selects Black talent from some of the industry’s most accomplished agencies to participate in their VANGUARD program, designed to provide leadership development for the next generation of Black advertising leaders.

Selected by leadership for driving impactful work and having high ambition, Chandler Gilbert, Senior Account Executive, and Ingrid Nelson, Senior Art Director, have been chosen to represent Leo Burnett as this year’s VANGUARD Fellows.

The two will be exposed to mentorship, fellowship, sponsorship and coaching for the next nine months to learn skills and strategies that will help them become transformative leaders.  

Meet our new VANGUARDS in this new Q&A:

Q: Tell us a little bit about who you are and your role at Leo Burnett. 

Ingrid Nelson: I’ve been at Leo Burnett for six years, and I’m currently a Senior Art Director on the Altria account. I was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and I think of myself as a multi passionate “creatresse” who is passionate about art direction, sculpture, design and perfumery. 

Chandler Gilbert: First and foremost, I take pride in the fact that I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I learned a lot of lessons that got me where I am today growing up here. I am also a son, a brother, a father and a husband. My little guy is now 19 months old and getting bigger by the day. I started my career working in Major League Baseball for 3 different teams in their Community Relations Departments. I then pivoted to the agency world starting with Experiential Marketing eventually making my way to Leo Burnett, where I am now a Sr. Account Executive working on our Nature Made account. My role is to be an agency catalyst for implementing and achieving the client’s tactical plan by working with internal team members and clients to determine campaign objectives.  

Q: Take us back to when you learned you were selected as a 4A’s VANGUARD Fellow. What was that moment like for you (or what did this moment mean to you)? 

Ingrid Nelson: I was definitely a little bit surprised because I had just learned about the program a couple of weeks prior, and I never thought I would be selected as a candidate. It means a lot to be recognized in that way and I am grateful and humble for the opportunity and that the agency sees value to invest in me in that way. 

Chandler Gilbert: Initially, I was unfamiliar with the VANGUARD Program. However, after learning more about the program and realizing I was nominated by the agency, I felt excited because it sounded like a great opportunity. I am looking forward to this experience and taking advantage of every moment. 

Q: What are you looking forward to most by being a VANGUARD Fellow? 

Ingrid Nelson: I have already been learning a great deal from just the first session we had, so I can’t wait to see the growth and progress I’ll be making alongside the other fellows.  

Chandler Gilbert: I am looking forward to the networking opportunities and attending the various sessions that will help me foster my growth. I feel as though this program will arm me with the tools to continue to progress in my career. 

Q: What are some of your goals as being members of this year’s program? 

Ingrid Nelson: I do see myself as a leader, but I don’t often have the opportunity to express it, so I am looking forward to creating a path for my career and my future. My main goal is to show up with as much curiosity and enthusiasm as possible and soak up all the knowledge from this opportunity. 

Chandler Gilbert: I really want to take the knowledge I gain from this opportunity and apply it to my career. This will be a great accomplishment to speak of during my end of year review. I’d also like to develop and foster new relationships with other fellows.