Collectively committed to fostering a culture of inclusion.
The mission which began in 2009 is finally coming to fruition, with a unique combination of neuroscience, immersive workshops, safe-space conversation and coaching.
The Adversity Group was founded by Julius Dunn, II as a systemic solution to the systemic discrimination. Together, Julius and his partner, Shameka M. Brown, are addressing the pervasive issues they witnessed during their 30 years of collective experience within the advertising industry.
Determined to provide holistic solutions for organizations within a notoriously inequitable industry, their programming creates proactive, open dialogue which didn’t exist prior to their arrival. Armed with empathy and compassion, Julius and Shameka (or JuMeka as they have been coined) make difficult conversations look easy and place sustainable change within reach.
Meet the Founding Team
Julius Dunn, II
Chief Executive Officer, Inclusion Strategist
Over the last decade, Julius has worked relentlessly to introduce innovative, grassroots initiatives to welcome the diversity needed within advertising and media in the 21st century. His creativity and programs have helped create a workforce which more authentically represents society and equal opportunity across gender, religion, socioeconomics and race. In 2017, he founded The Adversity Group, intent on delivering systemic solutions to dismantle systemic discrimination.
Julius earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. He has also served on numerous advisory boards within the advertising industry and the New York City Department of Education. He is a certified practitioner of the Team Diagnostic Survey (TDS) and the Neethling Brain Instruments® (NBI®) neuroscience-based assessment. In addition, Julius is also certified by the Academy to Innovate Human Resources (AIHR) within the HR Metrics and Dashboarding Certificate Program.
Shameka M. Brown
Managing Partner, 3CP Certified Executive Coach
As a 20-year veteran of the advertising industry, Shameka has shifted her creative focus toward executive coaching and leadership development. As “the only one there” for most of her ad career, she is now helping her coaching clients transform feelings of exclusion into inclusion. At the corporate level, she is also using innovation and her award-winning creativity to help tackle business problems like attrition and retention, one engagement at a time.
Shameka is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Syracuse University. She later earned her master’s degree from the VCU Adcenter and her coaching certification from Columbia University. Shameka has earned a certification in the Foundations of NeuroLeadership from the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI.) She is also a certified practitioner of the Neethling Brain Instruments® (NBI,) Team Diagnostic Survey (TDS) and the Hogan HPI, HDS and MVPI assessments.