Honouring the Communities That Help Us Thrive: Inside Our Pre-Black History Month Kick-off

Last night, nearly 30 Black women working across advertising, communications, marketing and media and beyond came together at the PubMatic offices to open Black History Month the JOT way - by celebrating the communities that allow us to thrive.

The brief for the evening was simple. Honour the people and the collectives who open doors, hold space and lift as they climb. What unfolded was warmer, louder and more connected than any brief could capture.

As one of the slides on the screen reminded us, in the words of Taraji P. Henson: “If we don’t support each other, who will?” That question sat at the heart of everything that followed.

Setting the Table

Every great evening starts long before the first guest arrives. Nadine Leighton, one of JOT’s founders, was instrumental in bringing the night to life at PubMatic: setting up the connection with PubMatic, and on the night the space, the tech and the gift bags so that everyone who walked through the door felt expected and welcome.

As guests arrived, the room filled with the sound we love most at JOT: hugs, introductions and “it’s so good to finally meet you in person.”

Voices from the Community

We were honoured to hear from two women who know first-hand what community can build, both interviewed by yet another JOT founder Collette Phillips.

Matilda Egere Cooper, founder of Fly Girl Collective, shared her story and the journey of building a community of her own. Her energy set the tone for the evening, and the Q&A led by Collette Philip that followed showed just how much her words resonated.

Elizabeth Anyaegbuna, JOT founder, then led a conversation on the role community plays in our careers: the collectives that carry us, the people who advocate for us, and why creating our own spaces matters so much. It was honest, generous and exactly the reminder the room needed.

Finding Your People

With the talks done, it was time to turn inspiration into connection. We kicked off the networking with a session designed to do one thing well: help people find their people.

Rather than leaving connection to chance, we invited the room to share what they were really there for. Some were thinking about their next career move. Some were building something outside the day job. Others were looking for collaborators, clients and creative partners.

Within minutes, the room had changed. Strangers had become names, names had become conversations, and the conversations carried on over food long into the evening.

Lead With Your Story

A special thank you to Beatrice Ngalula Kabutakapua, who generously gifted copies of her book Lead With Your Story to our guests.

It felt like the perfect gift for the night. So much of what JOT stands for is about making sure Black women’s stories are seen, heard and valued, and nobody tells those stories better than we do. We can’t wait to hear what our lucky winners take from it.

It Takes a Village

Nights like this don’t happen by accident. They happen because people show up for each other.

Thank you to founder Samantha Lewis, and key supporter Chandra Craigg, whose input into the night kept everything running smoothly, from welcoming guests to capturing the moments we’ll be looking back on for a long time.

Thank you to PubMatic for opening your doors and giving our community such a beautiful space to gather. Thank you to the brands who filled our gift bags: Here We Flo, Naturally Tiwa, EO Cultured Waist and Lovecorn. Every guest went home with a little something extra, and a few new favourite brands to support.

And most of all, thank you to everyone who came. You made the room what it was.

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What Comes Next

This is why we do it. To create spaces where Black women are centred, not sidelined. Where stories are shared honestly. And where one conversation can become a collaboration, a friendship, or an open door.

Black History Month has only just begun, and we’re carrying last night's energy into everything that comes next.

Want a seat at the table? If you’re a Black woman working in advertising, communications, marketing or media, and beyond, we’d love to hear from you. Find out more about becoming a JOT member, or say hello at hello@joinourtable.co.uk.

See you at the next table.