The One Club Partners with CultureConAs Part of “Career Essentials” WAATBP 2026 Event

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New York, NY – In light of the challenging job market for entry level talent, The One Club for Creativity announces a shift in its long-running WAATBP career fair to focus exclusively on direct career support, and a new partnership with this year’s CultureCon, the largest annual festival for creative professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, and influencers who are building fulfilling careers, lifestyles, and culture.  

This year’s two-day WAATBP event kicks off on October 2, 2026 across two floors at The One Club headquarters at 450 West 31st St in New York.  The jobs-focused “Career Essentials” format includes in-person portfolio reviews, “Ask HR Anything” recruiter meetings where attendees can have frank discussions and get actionable advice on interviewing, and networking opportunities, all designed to deliver direct value to young creatives.

“One Big Idea” creative brief competition

On October 3, 2026, the action shifts to the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Duggal Greenhouse stage of CultureCon, where WAATBP will hold the “One Big Idea” creative brief competition.  The competition is open now for public entry, with the top three finalists advancing to a live finale to present their ideas.  

Top industry creatives judging the “One Big Idea” brief presentations will be Pum Lefebure, The One Club for Creativity Board Chairperson and Co-founder, CCO at Design Army, and fellow Board members Jimmy Smith, Chairman, CEO, and CCO at Amusement Park Entertainment, and John 'JP' Petty III, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, 14th And Market.  In addition, the CultureCon audience will serve as the fourth judge, letting their preference be known in real time.  

After the three finalists pitch their brief idea live on stage, the winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, as well as one-year membership to The One Club, mentor sessions with a One Club Board member, and the opportunity to help bring their winning idea to life. 

In addition to adding an engaging element of creative competition to CultureCon, the brief will also drive awareness of The One Club's mission to support the global creative community, and the nonprofit organization’s deep career readiness expertise to the festival’s large audience.

To make WAATBP accessible to young creatives, tickets are priced at an affordable $15 for One Club members, $20 for non-members.

“This partnership is rooted in something we care about deeply, which is democratizing access," said Imani Ellis, CEO and Founder of CultureCon. "The One Club shares our belief that talent is everywhere, but the opportunities to cultivate that talent need to increase. We're excited to join forces to empower the next generation of creativity, and to make sure the doors that opened for us keep opening for them.”

"The One Club and CultureCon each bring something unique to the creative community,” added Adrienne Lucas, Director, Strategic Partnerships & Programs at The One Club.  “We have spent decades investing in creative excellence and career development, while CultureCon has built one of the most influential platforms for creators and entrepreneurs. Through this partnership and the creative brief competition at its center, we're creating new pathways for talent to showcase their work, gain visibility, and connect with careers they may not have known were possible."

To make WAATBP accessible to young creatives, tickets are priced at an affordable $15 for One Club members, $20 for non-members.  

Originally established as “Where Are All the Black People”, WAATBP has over the years broadened its mandate to become the leading annual gathering to address and correct the lack of diversity within the ad industry, bringing together all voices to celebrate successes, examine challenges, and take their place at the table alongside their allies. 

WAATBP 2026 is made possible in part through the support of corporate partners Capital One, Ogilvy, and WiP, with others to come. 

For more information and to register, please visit the WAATBP website.

The One Club for Creativity – home of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE) awards, ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club TDC competition and scholarships,  ADC Young Guns, Young Ones Student Awards, Next Creative Leaders, ONE Creator Lab, WAATBP Essentials career fair, Portfolio Night, Creative Week, and more – is the world’s foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community. Revenue generated from entries to its global awards shows goes back into the industry to fund programs that support industry access, creative education, professional development, and enhancement of creative careers around the world.

Event details, including pricing and race-day logistics, are subject to change. LEVELUP in NYC recommends checking the official registration page for the latest information before attending.

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