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← Back to IdeasRemembering Donna Pedro: A Legacy of Listening, Learning, and Leading
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news that Donna Pedro, our former Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Ogilvy, has passed away. Donna – a beloved leader, a tireless advocate, and a true pioneer in the world of diversity and inclusion – left an indelible mark on our agency, our industry, and countless lives she touched.
Donna joined Ogilvy in 2007, at a time when very few companies in our industry had dedicated leadership roles in diversity and inclusion. She was among the first to hold such a position, and she approached it not simply as a job but as a mission. She believed that diversity was not a "nice to have," but a source of creativity, strength, and progress—for individuals, for our company, and for the industry as a whole.
When she first joined, her initial mandate was to provide a clear, sobering, and candid assessment of what was required to make Ogilvy an industry leader when it comes to inclusion, and then to partner with leadership to make it happen. In the years that followed Donna championed programs that removed barriers, created opportunity, and celebrated difference. Under her leadership, the agency built employee networks, mentorship programs, and parental support initiatives that changed the everyday experience of working at Ogilvy. She launched training and coaching programs across departments, cities, and countries, codifying best practices and engaging across our portfolio of clients. Among her most significant and lasting contributions was her pivotal role in establishing Ogilvy’s U.S. Associates Program (now the Ogilvy Residency). For two decades, this cornerstone initiative has consistently cultivated the industry's best and brightest entry-level talent, proving instrumental in developing the next generation of high-performing, innovative thought leaders, and reinforcing Ogilvy's reputation as the teaching hospital for the industry.
But what set Donna apart was not only her vision but her profound humanity. She led with warmth, with compassion, and with conviction. She had a gift for listening deeply and for making people feel seen and valued. Her honesty was a guiding force, incisive yet always constructive. You never had to guess her stance; she would swiftly pinpoint the core of any challenge. This directness, however, was beautifully balanced by her deep appreciation for the intricate layers of humanity. She offered unwavering support to anyone willing to engage, learn, and evolve. This trust led her to take on the additional role of worldwide Chief Ethics Officer in 2017.
Over her fourteen years with Ogilvy, Donna served as the tireless architect of our evolving diversity and inclusion initiatives. She approached every policy, every practice, and every program with an unyielding commitment to improvement, elevating our people, refining our metrics, and ultimately, enhancing our results.
Donna’s legacy lives on in the culture she helped to build, in the countless people she mentored and the friendships she forged, and in the example she set for what true leadership looks like. Her passion for creating a more just and equitable world will continue to inspire us for years to come.
Our thoughts are with her family, her friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. We will miss her deeply, and we are committed to carrying forward the work she so passionately began.
And for those of us who did know her—if you love animals (especially cats and rescue dogs), California chardonnay, and a good pepperoni pizza, you'll always have a part of her with you.