Case Study:
Takeda DE&I Week

The Challenge — A universal sound for a global event

Takeda is a pharmaceutical company present in 80 countries and regions across the world. Among its diverse workforce of about 50,000 employees, you’ll hear over 30 languages and dialects spoken.

This broad, global reach provides great diversity within their organization, which inspired them to organize the first-ever Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, or DE&I week, a global event with a variety of guest speakers, debates, and open dialogues amongst Takeda’s employees.

As Javier Barrientos, head of U.S. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, put it “this week aims to create an environment where everyone can thrive, grow, and realize their own potential.”

They contacted OJC to bring this event to life with a unique sonic identity that would unify all participants through a universal language: music.

Our Solution — The musical ingredients for a bright future

The event’s core message of the week: “Our steps lead to a big impact.” OJC leveraged this as a starting point to create musical ingredients that served as a foundation for the sonic theme.

We chose string instruments for their great range of expression through warm and round sounds. These instruments created a strong sense of humanity and authenticity, cornerstones of Takeda’s global event.

Atop these sounds, we layered a mix of synth and a piano’s plucky high notes. Their bright and clear timber conveyed a sense of innovation and inspiration that reinforced a message of hope for a bright future within the organization.

The Result: A memorable musical footprint

The DE&I event was an immense success, with high visibility amongst the company’s top executives. Takeda embedded the sonic identity into key moments throughout the event, from a 12-minute long video to a series of audio cues that punctuated each virtual session.

This consistency in the event’s musical identity left a tangible auditory footprint that will continue to bring this annual event to life for years to come.