Keisha M. Vaughn

Keisha M. Vaughn
Vice President, Human Resources; Chief Diversity Officer
Draftfcb Advertising
New York City



In her highly accomplished career in human resources, Keisha Vaughn has served diverse sectors, from the federal government to the financial services industry. Her current position as vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer at Draftfcb Advertising Worldwide is filled with excitement and welcome challenges. “Being adaptable and able to see various perspectives from diverse individuals helps me build bridges in the advertising industry, just as it did in financial services and will do in any other industry I might one day enter,” Vaughn says.

Vaughn joined Draftfcb in 2007, a year after it was formed from the merger of Foote, Cone & Belding, to revitalize the firm’s diversity and inclusion agenda and introduce best-practice HR and organizational development initiatives. “I am unwavering in my belief that fostering an atmosphere where everyone is considered an equal contributor is not only good for employees, it’s good for business,” she says. Before joining Draftfcb, she served as vice president of human resources at Lehman Brothers, Miller Publishing Group’s Vibe and Spin magazines and JPMorgan Chase. Mentored by the late John Joseph Moakley (D-Mass.), she became a personnel benefits administrator for the U.S. House of Representatives, and later as a congressional aide for the late Larkin Smith (R-Miss.).

Vaughn, who holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from the University of Michigan and expects to complete a master’s at Columbia University in 2014, is now setting her sights beyond the United States as Draftfcb expands globally. “I am intrigued by partnerships between non-profits and corporations and foundations…focusing on the development of economies in Africa. In Africa, there are really strong democratic countries working to become more stable economies and democracies. They are looking for partners to help them jumpstart and take them to the next level. I would like to be a part of that,” she asserts.