2024 ForbesBLK Summit

Fantasia

Singer, Actress, Author and Entrepreneur

Grammy award-winning R&B singer, songwriter, award-winning actor and author, Fantasia Barrino first broke onto the scene in 2004, entering every heart and home, as the Season 3 winner of “American Idol”. In addition to her two Grammy Award wins, Fantasia has been nominated numerous times by the Recording Academy, NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Soul Train Awards, with two Billboard Music Award wins and four NAACP Image Award wins. Fantasia was recently recognized as one of Time100’s Most Influential People of 2024 and in 2023 was selected as one of the entertainment industry’s brightest stars by VARIETY for their “Power of Women” honor and featured as one of ELLE Magazine’s 2023 “Women in Hollywood.”

Reprising her Broadway role, in her major motion picture debut, Fantasia dazzled in the lead role of ‘Celie’ in Warner Bros’ modern adaptation of THE COLOR PURPLE, with the second-biggest Christmas Day opening in box office history. Produced by Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones, Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning timeless novel returned to the big screen for the first time in four decades, reimagined by director Blitz Bazawule, with a script by Marcus Gardley and music by Marsha Norman.

For her starring role in “The Color Purple,” Barrino was honored with the prestigious ‘Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture’ award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards ceremony and received nominations from BAFTA for ‘Best Leading Actress’ and The Golden Globes for ‘Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy’ as well as ‘Drama Movie Star of the Year’ from the People’s Choice Awards. The cast was recognized at the Critics’ Choice Awards Celebration of Cinema & TV with the Ensemble Award while garnering nominations from both SAG and the Critics’ Choice Association.

Fantasia followed her 2004 “American Idol” win with the release of her platinum selling debut album, Free Yourself and became the first artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart to debut at #1 with her first single I Believe. While Truth, the second single from the album, also claimed the #1 spot and remained for 14 weeks. Since the release of Free Yourself, Fantasia has gone on to release six additional studio albums, including her self-title sophomore effort Back to Me (2011), which featured the Grammy award-winning single Bittersweet. Fantasia’s fifth studio album The Definition of… (2016) debuted at #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and #6 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, with her first holiday album Christmas After Midnight (2017) accompanied by a sold-out holiday tour. Fantasia has enjoyed chart topping triple platinum and mulit-platform success since her 2004 win.

Fantasia’s success also crosses over into her work as an author, releasing her New York Times best-selling memoir Life is Not a Fairytale in 2006, which was made into a Lifetime movie of the same name, where she was seen starring as herself. Alongside her husband Kendall Taylor, she recently co-authored No Crowns in the Castle. Released in Spring 2022 by Worthy Books, a division of Hachette Book Group, Fantasia & Kendall share what a Godly marriage looks like, discussing their challenges and triumphs, while encouraging readers with faith-forward relationship advice.

After facing a host of real-world trials—from marital stress to professional and financial pressures, to their high-risk pregnancy and the premature birth of their daughter—Fantasia and Kendall opened up about their lives in their weekly ‘Taylor Talks’ YouTube broadcast.

Russell Westbrook

NBA All-Star and Entrepreneur

On the court, Russell Westbrook is a nine-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-Star MVP, and winner of the NBA’s 2016 - 2017 Most Valuable Player Award. Off the court, he is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and investor.

Inspired by his upbringing, Russell started the Russell Westbrook “Why Not? Foundation” in 2012, which is dedicated to supporting community-based education, family service programs and teaching kids to never give up when faced with adversity. The Foundation works around 3 pillars— education, mental health and workforce development for underserved youth. In partnership with the LA Promise Fund, Russell opened the “Why Not? Academy” for middle and high school students in South LA. The foundation has established 39 reading rooms in schools in Los Angeles and Oklahoma and sponsored school wide book fairs at each of those schools to make sure every child went home with a book to grow their own personal libraries.

As chairman of Russell Westbrook Enterprises, Russell brings together his relentless work ethic and his earnest pursuit to positively impact his communities. Russell Westbrook Enterprises connects Russell to the wider business world and is a vehicle to help Russell positively influence communities by providing products, services, resources and employment opportunities.

In 2016, Westbrook created Honor the Gift, a clothing brand founded on the belief that everyone has been blessed with a gift that should be shared with others. The brand pays homage to growing up in LA. Originally a direct to consumer line, Russel opened the brand's first brick and mortar store in LA in September 2022. Each year, the brand hosts a pop up in Paris during Men’s Fashion Week. Honor the Gift has released multiple collections and acquired a large following on social media. As an investor, Westbrook’s business portfolio spans different areas such as banking, technology, education, media and production.

Westbrook also served as an executive producer on the docuseries, “Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre” for the History Channel which was nominated for three Creative Arts Emmys. In 2021, Showtime premiered, “Passion Play: Russell Westbrook” a documentary about Westbrook’s life on which he also served as executive producer.

Stacey Abrams

Political Leader, Entrepreneur, and Author

Stacey Abrams is a political leader, business owner and New York Times bestselling author. A tax attorney by training, Abrams served eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Minority Leader, and became the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia in 2018 and 2022. Over the course of her career, she has launched multiple organizations devoted to democracy protection, voter engagement, tackling social issues, and building a more equitable future in the South. Committed to the pursuit of equity, she works to break barriers for young people, people of color and the marginalized through her work in the public, nonprofit and corporate sectors.

She currently serves as the Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics at Howard University and is a senior counsel to Rewiring America. Abrams is also the CEO of Sage Works Productions, Inc., an entertainment production company.

Jermaine Dupri

Songwriter, Producer, and Entrepreneur

With over 400 million records sold to date, Jermaine Dupri, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is one of the most successful producers in the music industry. He has established a prolific career as a hip-hop artist, award-winning producer, songwriter, author, DJ, and CEO of So So Def, which he founded in 1993.

Rather than impacting only one lane, Jermaine Dupri has changed the course of R&B, hip-hop, and pop throughout an illustrious career earmarked by some of the most recognizable hits of all-time. The GRAMMY® Award-winning iconic songwriter, producer, rapper, artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has powered game-changing and chart-breaking smashes such as Mariah Carey’s 6x-platinum “We Belong Together,” Usher’s 3x-platinum “Nice & Slow,” Xscape’s platinum “Just Kickin’ It,” his own “Money Ain’t A Thang” [feat. JAY-Z], and countless others. “We Belong Together” not only toppled the Billboard Hot 100 for the year, but it also emerged as “the song of the decade” and “fifteenth most popular song of all-time,” according to Billboard. It took home “Best R&B Song” and “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” at the 2006 GRAMMY® Awards. At the helm of So So Def Recordings as Founder, he has built a catalog of classic albums, including albums including Da Brat, the first solo female rapper to go platinum, debut and historic Funkdafied; Bow Wow’s double-platinum Beware of Dog; Jagged Edge’s double-platinum J.E.Heartbreak; Anthony Hamilton’s platinum Comin’ From Where I’m From; and more. Simultaneously, hehas launched JD’s Vegan as a mega-popular plant-based ice cream alternative available in major retailers such as Walmart. Plus, he notably stands out as the second rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame® following JAY-Z. Meanwhile, the GRAMMY® Museum paid homage to JD and So So Def with a dedicated exhibit entitled Jermaine Dupri & So So Def, 25 Years Of Elevating Culture. He has also appeared on-screen in the Aretha Franklin movie Respect, Hip-Hop Family Christmas, and Step Up. Speaking to his presence, Variety attested, “What isn’t recognized enough is his undeniable influence on the current cultural climate.”

However, he never stops setting the pace for the entire game to follow.

Kirk Franklin

Singer & Songwriter

Kirk Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer. After more than 30 years of countless hits and success at bridging Gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop music together, Franklin continuously creates a sonic compass for everyday culture and curates a moment whenever and however he can to keep the message of the Gospel moving forward. His latest album, “Father’s Day,” released in 2023, reflects his personal journey with 10 tracks themed around love, faith, and resilience. Notable singles like the GRAMMY-winning song “All Things” and “Try Love” showcase his bold and uplifting musical style. His collaborative ventures span iconic artists, and his 2022 album, “Kingdom Book One,” recorded at a correctional institution, garnered three GRAMMYs and other prestigious awards. Franklin’s impact doesn’t just stop at the charts. He works to promote the growth and development of young artists by hosting a summer camp for aspiring artists and musicians called Camp Lotus. And he supports non-profit organizations including, Compassion International and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While Franklin is committed to helping the community, he is also passionate about making sure that Gospel music continues to reach new heights and larger audiences. In March 2023, Franklin made history by spending 100 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Songwriters chart and becoming the first artist to reach the 100-week milestone on any Billboard songwriters chart. In addition to music, Franklin has his own channel, Kirk Franklin’s Praise, on SiriusXM and has executive produced several film and television projects including Kingdom Business on BET and Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas and Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas on Lifetime.

Ayana Parsons

Cofounder, Fearless Fund, Entrepreneur, and Leadership Expert

Ayana Parsons is an extraordinary entrepreneur, visionary executive, and charismatic speaker on an unwavering mission to drive global change through inclusive leadership and economic freedom. Her mission in life is to empower generations to reach their full potential, both professionally and personally. She envisions a world where there is a level playing field for all, a world where historically disadvantaged, underrepresented, and marginalized people can rightly take their places in the leadership ranks of business and have equal access to the best quality of life.

She has over two decades of experience as a venture capitalist, organizational consultant, corporate executive, and entrepreneur. Ayana leverages her deep expertise in consumer markets, business strategy, general management, enterprise leadership, board and top team effectiveness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion to help catalyze and drive peak performance in leaders, boards, and enterprises.

She is Co-Founder and General Partner at the Fearless Fund, the first venture capital fund created for women of color by women of color. The fund was formed in 2019 to eradicate the racial and gender disparities that exist in venture capital. Today, the fund has a diverse and dedicated team of committed professionals who have invested $30 million in more than 40 companies, driving substantial economic impact.
Ayana’s expertise paved the way for a remarkable career in leadership consulting. She held influential roles at firms like Heidrick and Struggles and as Senior Partner, Board & CEO Inclusion at Korn Ferry, where she spearheaded the firm’s global commitment to diversifying the ranks of leadership at the highest levels.

Prior to Fearless Fund and Korn Ferry, Ayana co-founded Yardstick Management alongside her husband, Dr. Ebbie Parsons. Yardstick eventually became the nation’s leading Blacked-owned management consulting firm, providing organizational strategy, DEI support as well as talent management expertise to hundreds of distinguished clients. In 2022, Yardstick was named Best in Business in Management Consulting by Inc. Magazine. The company was successfully sold to a private equity firm in January 2023.

As a testament to her commitment to diversity and inclusion at the highest levels, Ayana served as a cabinet member of Stanford University’s Clayman Institute for Gender Research where she provided invaluable thought leadership on closing the gender gap in corporate boardrooms and in the executive suite. She also served as the Global Head of Retail, Consumer Goods, and Lifestyle Industries at the World Economic Forum where she led the preeminent global discussions in Davos, Switzerland on all topics related to her respective industries.
A seasoned corporate executive, Ayana’s industry career spans sales, marketing, strategy, and general management roles at several of the world’s most admired companies including Philips, Pfizer, Kimberly-Clark, and Procter & Gamble.

Born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ayana attended Oral Roberts University on a Division I basketball scholarship and completed her studies at Florida A&M University, where she earned an MBA in Marketing. Ayana resides between St Maarten, Atlanta and coastal Georgia with her husband, Dr. Parsons, and two young daughters.

Mike WiLL Made-It

Record Producer, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Mike WILL Made-It is a Multi-platinum Record Producer, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist. He has been a leading force in Atlanta’s commercial rap supremacy for the better part of the 2010s, Mike WiLL Made-It began working with Gucci Mane as a teenager at the age of 17 and rode that momentum to establish and sustain mainstream presence with imposing productions for high-profile artists spanning Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop. Since topping the Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart for the first time with Kanye West, not a year has passed without a hit from the producer. He is behind lean, imposing hits by the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé, Rae Sremmurd, and Kendrick Lamar. Among his highlights are top ten pop entries with Lil Wayne’s “Love Me”, Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop”, Beyoncé’s “Formation”, Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles”, and Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” The last of which has won a Grammy for Record of the Year. Mike WiLL Made-It’s rise to stardom continued with him releasing an assortment of collaborative headlining projects, including albums such asRansom 2 and Creed II: The Album

Kitty Black Perkins

Former Chief Designer of Fashions and Doll Concepts, Mattel

“My goal has always been to seek opportunities conducive to my professional growth, which has enabled me to utilize my educational background experience and talent in the fashion and toy industry.”
Barbie is marking her sixty fifth anniversary in 2024, and for twenty eight of those years Kitty has wowed the world adorning the worlds most popular fashion dolls.

Kitty is a native of Spartanburg South Carolina, where she dreamed of one day becoming a commercial artist. One of seven children, Kitty was encouraged to dream big, by her talented father and loving mother.

Kitty’s dreams took flight when her aunt and uncle, gave her a trip to Los Angeles California as a high school graduation gift. After much convincing by her and her aunt, Kitty was given permission to stay and enroll in Los Angeles Trade Technical College, where she earned her degree in fashion design and tailoring. Kitty also attended Mary Webb Davis school of modeling in hopes of enhancing her product presentation, and self-confidence.

Kitty began her career as a fashion designer in the Los Angeles fashion industry. In 1971, Kittys first designing job was for “Miss Melinda of California”, where she exceled in teen dress designs. With hopes of growing as a designer, in 1972 kitty made the move from teen dress designs, to teen sportswear at “Debbie Ross of California” where she started to develop her skills even further with their high-end apparel. After two years in sportswear, in 1974 Kitty achieved recognition designing runway fashions for “A&O Couture”.

In 1976, Kitty was enticed by an ad in the California Apparel News. The ad called for experienced designers, with this marks her move to Mattel, where she would get her start in Barbie fashion design. The potential opportunity to design for the most famous fashion doll in the entire world was too much for her to resist, so… she went miniature.

Designs for Barbie entails a wide range of responsibility, in conjunction with coordinating product lines from inception through fruition.
Kitty has traveled the world in effort to partner with design companies for special projects. Benelton Barbie and friends was one of her most notable international collaborations.

In 1979, Kitty started designing the world’s first Black Barbie doll, and in 1980 Black Barbie hit the market, where Kitty and Black Barbie would gain notoriety and success among Barbie enthusiast. Black barbie was designed to resemble Black Women through their hair, skin tones an features in hopes that little Black girls wouldn’t feel limited on how they were portrayed in society, and realize that black is beautiful too.
In 1986, Kitty designed a line of African American princesses, Shani, Asha, and Nichelle.

In 1987, Kitty started her first black celebrity inspired collaborations with the introduction of the Brandy doll designed in the likeness of Brandy Norwood, “Grammy Award Winning” singer, Actress, song writer.

In 1989, Kitty collaborated with fellow Mattel designer Thomas Quinn on her second black celebrity inspired doll, Stanley Kirk Burrell known most popularly by his stage name, MC Hammer, “Grammy Award Winning” Rapper, dancer, record producer, and entrepreneur.
In 1990, after Kitty’s success with her two prior celebrity inspired dolls, she was honored to be able to design her third collaboration with “Grammy Award Winning” singer, and actress, Diana Ross.

Over the years, Kitty’s hard work and fashion genius has contributed to Barbies one billion plus fashions. Kitty’s creative impact as a Chief Designer has been recognized and pursued by some of the industry’s top magazines, Newspapers, books, tv commercials, and shows, as a result has earned her several awards and honors.

April Showers

Founder and CEO

Afro Unicorn

April Showers is the trailblazing Founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn®, the first Black woman to launch a licensed character brand in 40,000+ retail stores with 25 product categories. Afro Unicorn amplifies representation and inspires empowerment, reminding women and children of color how unique, divine, and magical they truly are.

Ms. Showers is a lead-by-example creator who works to uplift, advocate, and inspire all to achieve greatness. As a multiple business owner, she focuses on fusing her passions with her life’s purpose to help other entrepreneurs on their journey.

She is a prolific speaker who has appeared on national broadcast and radio.

Devale Ellis

Actor, Author, & Entrepreneur

Devale Ellis is a former NFL player turned actor. Currently, he is a series regular on BET's #1 drama series, Tyler Perry's Sistas, the star of his very own #1 BET+ spinoff show, ZATIMA. He has appeared as guest star on Freeform's Everything's Trash and is a recurring guest star on AMC’s legal drama, 61st Street. He was seen as the lead in the highly rated OWN holiday movie, A Christmas Fumble.

Devale has had recurring roles on Will Packer's BIGGER, and Netflix's Emmy-nominated series It's Bruno, in addition to guest starring roles in primetime hits such as POWER, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Equalizer and more.

Devale is the creator of The Ellises social sitcom on YouTube and Facebook, which has garnered over 800MM views, and the co-host of Webby award-winning podcast, Dead Ass with Khadeen & Devale, an iHeart radio podcast he hosts with his wife, Khadeen, which has garnered over 20MM downloads and sold out tours. Their relationship book, We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want from Your Relationship, was released by Penguin Random House in February 2023 and has since gone on to become a New York Times Best Seller.

Lola Banjo

Founder & Creative Director

Silver & Riley

Lola Banjo founded Silver & Riley in 2019 as an ode to her passion for travel and style. Having lived in four countries and traveled to over 100 countries, she draws on her identity as a global citizen and a rich tapestry of cultural insights to shape the brand’s designs. Today, Silver & Riley operates as a luxury travel and fashion accessories brand with products Made in Italy at the intersection of style and function, retailing DTC, at Nordstrom and at Saks Off 5th.

Before fully dedicating herself to Silver & Riley, she enjoyed a successful corporate career as a Strategy Consulting Executive with Accenture and Deloitte, and was most recently at Salesforce where she was VP of GTM Strategy for M&A products as well as Global President of the firm's 10,000+ member Black ERG.

She is deeply committed to her community and dedicated to building a legacy brand that makes a positive impact in lives. She founded the brand's Buy 1, Give 5 program: Empowering Women initiative to aid underrepresented women entrepreneurs in starting, growing and scaling their business by awarding 5% of revenue as grants. In addition, she serves on boards that support underserved youth through technology education and champion corporate diversity and inclusion. Lastly, she is an avid photographer, a huge sports fan, and has never met a Belgian waffle she didn't love.

Ryan Williams

Founder and CEO

Cadre

Ryan A. Williams is the Founder and CEO of Cadre, the leading technology-driven real estate investment platform, established in 2015. After founding Cadre and under Ryan's leadership, Cadre revolutionized digital alternatives investing, creating the first platform to allow thousands of individuals to invest directly alongside institutional investors in more than $5 billion of quality real estate investments across the U.S. Williams, recognizing, the need for liquidity amongst individuals also pioneered the development of the industry’s first secondary exchange. Williams has led Cadre to forge investment partnerships with major institutions like Goldman Sachs, Blackrock, MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation and JP Morgan among others. Cadre has raised more than $170 million in corporate venture capital from investors such as Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, Founder’s Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Capital, Schusterman Family Office Investments and others while also successfully facilitating over $5 billion in real estate transactions, partnering with nearly 100,000 individuals and securing investments from foundations, endowments, pensions, and family offices.

Williams’ innovative approach fulfilled his vision of democratizing real estate investing, leveraging technology to grant access to previously exclusive investment opportunities for both institutions and individuals. Williams recently successfully led the merger of Cadre with YieldStreet establishing the industry’s largest digital alternatives investment platform with more than $10 billion in collective asset value while maintaining his role as CEO.

Williams is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and before Cadre, he launched and scaled several technology-driven companies. Williams was the first in his family to be accepted to Harvard College where he graduated with honors, and while an undergraduate founded a single-family real estate technology firm, investing in foreclosed homes in Atlanta, Georgia, and assisting previous owners in reclaiming their properties post-2008 financial crisis. In high school, he also established a successful sports e-commerce business.

After graduation from Harvard College, Ryan worked at Goldman Sachs in technology, media, and telecom investment banking, and later at Blackstone investing in the real estate private equity division.

Ryan has been featured on the cover of Forbes Magazine (2019), honored in Fortune’s 40 under 40, Forbes 30 Under 30, Business Insider’s Top 100 Global Leaders Changing Business, among others. Williams is a Board Member of Concordance, one of the leading national non-profits reducing the devastating cycle of reincarceration, an ambassador to All Star Code, a non profit aimed at increasing technological and coding expertise amongst Black and Brown youth, and a member of Bridge Street A.M.E. Church in Brooklyn, New York. He is a passionate advocate for economic self-determination among underserved populations, emphasizing the vital connection between social and economic capital.

Kneeland Youngblood

Founding Partner, Chairman & CEO

Pharos Capital Group

Kneeland Youngblood, is Founding Partner, Chairman, and CEO of Pharos Capital Group, a private equity firm that invests in value-based healthcare focused on improving patient outcomes, lowering the cost of healthcare and creating greater access for patients.

Mr. Youngblood has served in numerous roles both public and private including at the mayoral, gubernatorial, and presidential level. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton (with Senate confirmation) to the board of the United States Enrichment Corporation. The company provides low-level uranium to utilities around the world including negotiating the purchase of nuclear weapons grade uranium from the former Soviet Union. He served as gubernatorial appointee by Ann Richards and George W. Bush to the board of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, a pension fund for the teachers of the state of Texas. Additionally, he was appointed by Mayor Mike Rawlings to the board of the Dallas Employees Retirement Pension Fund and the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System Board. He also serves on the board of California Institute of Technology (Caltech), The Milken Institute, and is the lead director for Light & Wonder, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange gaming company. Finally, he was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

Mr. Youngblood is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and graduated from Princeton University in 1978 with an A.B in Politics/Science in Human Affairs and earned an M.D. degree from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School in 1982.

Khadeen Ellis

Actress, Author, Health Advocate, & Entrepreneur

Khadeen Ellis is an actress with credits on Tyler Perry's BRUH and Will Packer's BIGGER, a former weather and traffic and entertainment reporter, and co-host of the Webby-award winning podcast, Dead Ass with Khadeen & Devale. The iHeart Radio podcast discusses love, marriage, parenting and everything in between from a millennial perspective, and has garnered over 20MM downloads. Their Live Nation tour of the show has sold out venues across the US in Atlanta, New York, DC, Philadelphia, Texas, and New Orleans.

Khadeen is the co-creator and co-star of The Ellises social sitcom on YouTube and Facebook, which has garnered over 800 MM views, and is a 2-season alum of OWN's Black Love docuseries. She served as a keynote and panel speaker in large conferences, such as Essence and The Momference, on the topics of entrepreneurship, parenting and marriage. Her relationship book, We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want from Your Relationship, was released in February 2023 and has since gone on to become a New York Times Best Seller.

Khadeen is a graduate of Hofstra University’s School of Communications with a Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism and a Master’s in Speech Communication, Rhetorical Studies and Performance. A native Brooklynite, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Devale and their four children, Jackson, Kairo, Kaz and Dakota.

Gervonta Davis

Boxing Superstar

Gervonta “Tank” Davis is a professional boxer and a two-time super featherweight world champion, celebrated for his remarkable power and undefeated record. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Gervonta has captivated the boxing world with his electrifying performances and dedication to his craft. With a professional record of 30 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws, including 28 knockouts, Gervonta’s prowess in the ring is undisputed. Outside the ring, Gervonta is a committed entrepreneur and philanthropist, focusing on youth programs and community initiatives in Baltimore. His journey from a challenging upbringing to global boxing prominence is a testament to his resilience and determination.

Rajah Caruth

NASCAR Driver

Rajah Caruth drives the No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports and will pursue NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) championship honors alongside teammate Chase Purdy.

Caruth earned his first career NCTS pole position and victory on March 1, 2024 in the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The win positioned him amongst exclusive company including NASCAR Hall of Famer, Wendell Scott and current NASCAR Cup Series regular Bubba Wallace as one of three African American to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race.

Caruth raced full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2023, earning four top-10 finishes and coming home 16th in the division’s season-ending point standings.

The 21-year-old Washington D.C. native also raced part time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and earned a career/series best 12th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway. Caruth, was named the 2021 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award recipient in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, an award based on a driver’s final Weekly Series national standing and on-track performance, sportsmanship and community service. He is an alumnus of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program and a current senior at Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University.

Bukie Adebo Umeano

Investment Principal

Anthemis

Bukie is an Investment Principal at Anthemis, where she sources, evaluates, and executes early-stage deals across Fintech and embedded finance. Bukie constantly explores new and innovative applications for financial services and the ways that financial products intersect with several different industries.

Bukie began her career in consulting. She was a Strategy and Operations Consultant at Deloitte, helping organizations explore growth strategies like global expansion and digital transformation, and a Brand Strategy Director at Ogilvy Consulting, advising senior-level clients on brand positioning and go-to-market. She made her way into Fintech, by co-founding a credit-building business called Liza that was designed to help people build credit by formalizing loans between friends and family. Prior to joining Anthemis, Bukie was an investor at WomensVCFund where she invested in Series A and B businesses with women in senior leadership.

Bukie holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.

Dr. Sesha Joi Moon

Chief Diversity Officer, U.S. House of Representatives

Dr. Sesha Joi Moon [\see·sha joy moon\ | she/her/hers] is a globally recognized thought leader with 20 years of experience and expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

Dr. Moon most notably served as Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 117th and 118th Congresses. Prior to her congressional appointment by Speakers Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, and Mike Johnson, Dr. Moon enjoyed a career with the Office of the Secretary and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce — before concluding her tenure as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

In addition to completing executive education programs at Harvard University, Dr. Moon holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Old Dominion University, as well as a M.S. from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and B.A. in African American Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also a Senior Research Fellow with The Conference Board’s Engagement Institute and Senior Fellow of the Excellence in Government Fellowship Program with the Partnership for Public Service.

Dr. Moon, who was recognized at the United Nations as “100 of the Most Influential People of African Descent", is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and has served on the Board of Directors with the African American Federal Executive Association and Commonwealth of Virginia's Criminal Justice Services Board as appointed by the 73rd Governor of Virginia. She is also Executive Director of The JXN Project, which is a grantee of the Mellon Foundation's "Monuments Project.”
Dr. Moon was named "2023 Top 40 Under 40" by PBS NPR VPM’s Style Weekly and Axios named her and her sister, Enjoli Moon, as the second "Most Powerful Richmonders of 2022."

She resides in the Washington, DC area with her wife and cockapoo — but hails from Richmond, Virginia as the proud daughter of Dr. Michon Moon and the late August Moon.

Caden Harris

CEO

Caden Teaches

Modern day visionary, entrepreneur, author and speaker Caden Harris has amassed a wealth of knowledge despite his young age. Caden is a high school graduate at the young age of 13 years of age. Caden's supportive parents nurtured his natural gifts and helped him launch his first business at 7 years old. They encouraged him to write his first book at 8 and recently supported his dream of buying a 54 passenger bus. By 12, Caden had developed an exclusive insight towards financial literacy, created products to help teach kids financial literacy and achieved his goal of purchasing his first vehicle at only 10 years old. Caden converted his bus into a mobile financial learning center. He has been on the road visiting school with his bus and mission of teaching 500,000 kids about financial literacy. His business has been featured on Fox 5, NBC, Black Enterprise and several other publications.

This brand is created by a true change maker who is on the rise and preparing to help learners across the globe.

DeeDee Wright-Ward

CEO

Purpose Toys

DeeDee Wright-Ward is an African American Entrepreneur, Brand Expert, Business Development Exec., CEO of PURPOSE TOYS and CREATOR of award winning international doll line, NATURALISTAS, as well as LATINISTAS (the world's first all-Latina fashion doll line carried across major retail).

NATURALISTAS made history in 2022 as the world’s first all-Black (Black-owned) Natural Hair fashion doll line carried across major retail. With a mission to celebrate CULTURE while encouraging coily and curly hair kids to “Be Proud of Your Crown™”, NATURALISTAS are the world’s first and only “Dolls of CULTURE™” to celebrate not only the beauty, but the nuance of Natural Hair Culture.

A history maker in its own right, in 2022, PURPOSE TOYS became the world’s first Black-owned, CULTURE-driven toy company to serve as a “Pipeline to Major Retail for Toy Entrepreneurs of Color™”.

In its first year, PURPOSE TOYS not only culturally impacted toy aisles with NATURALISTAS, PURPOSE successfully delivered HBCyoU DOLLS (the world's first doll line designed to celebrate higher education, specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

Created by a Hampton University Alum, HBCYOU DOLLS is the first brand to be placed at major retail through the "Purpose Toys POC Entrepreneur Pipeline" . ...but definitely not the last.

In 2023 PURPOSE TOYS, under the leadership of Wright-Ward, continued making history with the launch of PURPOSE TOYS LATIN (the first and only dedicated Latino-focused toy division in the nation) . PURPOSE TOYS and PURPOSE TOYS LATIN would go on to solidify their place in history as not only CULTURAL behemoths, but a scrappy (independently owned) toy company that singlehandedly brought the nuances CULTURE back to toy aisles through the release of LATINISTAS.

And as the first and only Black-owned toy company to secure international distribution at mass, PURPOSE TOYS continues to expand its international celebration of CULTURE and nuance around the world.

With forthcoming expansion announcements, new innovations, new licensing partners and major plans for media, PURPOSE TOYS and PURPOSE TOYS LATIN remain pioneers and industry leaders in POC business advocacy and CULTURAL leadership, while remaining leaders of CULTURE-driven products and Natural Hair products for kids.

Derek Smith

Founder & CEO

Plug In Ventures

Derek Smith is the visionary behind Plug In Ventures, a dynamic accelerator and Founder Community tailored specifically for early-stage startups, led by Black and Brown founders in the emerging technology sector.

With a keen eye on the latest disruptive technologies, Derek is dedicated to guiding underrepresented talent and founders through the ever-evolving tech industry, ensuring they have access to its vast array of opportunities.

Under Derek's leadership, Plug In Ventures has flourished into a renowned emerging startup ecosystem spanning across Southern California, Atlanta, and New York. His strategic direction has paved the way for countless early-stage founders and investors to thrive within the Plug In Ventures ecosystem, fostering a landscape ripe with opportunity. Derek's responsibilities encompass overseeing revenue growth, operational efficiency, program development, and expansion initiatives.

Derek's passion for diversity and innovation extends to his active involvement in sourcing and identifying diverse-led, innovation-based companies in key hubs such as Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Derek finds fulfillment in his role as a father of two, and dedicates time to honing his golf swing and maintaining his fitness routine at the gym.

Zoe Oli

CEO

Beautiful Curly Me

Zoe Oli is the 12-year-old CEO of Beautiful Curly Me, an Atlanta-based Toy and Media company on a mission to instill and inspire confidence in young girls. Along with a line of beautiful black dolls and empowering puzzles, Zoe is also the author of several children’s books.

Zoe has been featured on various platforms including Good Morning America, Black Enterprise, Forbes, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. She is a Time & Nickelodeon Kid of the Year Finalist and the world’s youngest black TEDx speaker.
A 7th grader who loves reading, art and all things STEM, Zoe has made it her mission to give back and for every doll purchased on beautifulcurlyme.com,one is donated to a young girl in need.

Zoe speaks regularly at conferences, schools and corporate events. She is passionate about inspiring young people to dream big and pursue their goals and recently co-founded Youth Mean Business, a growth accelerator for Youth Entrepreneurs (ages 11-17).

Thomas Walker

VP, Global Consumer Insights

eBay

Thomas Walker is VP, Global Consumer Insights at eBay. He has over 20 years experience in the tech and retail industries, offering deep expertise in global market strategies. He joined eBay in 2017, and is responsible for ensuring the company’s strategic decisions are guided by a rich and holistic base of market and consumer insight. Prior to eBay, Thomas spent five years in various leadership roles at Kantar Group, including two years as Managing Director of the Nigerian business. He also spent 14 years serving as a trusted advisor to C-level execs to drive growth of billion dollar business sectors for IBM, Microsoft and Coca-Cola.

Thomas is an active member of eBay’s Communities of Inclusion (COIs), leading the launch of the newest COI this year and working with the DE&I team to ensure that eBay is a richly diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work, buy and sell. He’s also deeply passionate about the role that family plays in the lives of people of African descent, and spends a lot of his time serving others in the community to build healthy marriages and strong families.

Erica J. Bolden

Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and People Analytics

Mercedes-Benz USA

As Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and People Analytics for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), Erica J. Bolden designs talent management and community outreach initiatives to strengthen Mercedes-Benz Group AG’s global DEI commitment. This includes structuring employment, data analysis, dealer network development, marketing, and philanthropic initiatives for the U.S. and Canada that execute overarching diversity, community, and social engagement strategies. As an experienced DEI executive, Erica has over 20 years of experience implementing global change management and programming strategies.

Erica is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she earned a B.A. in Speech Communications and a B.A. in Spanish. She is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) and serves on various committees and boards including American Council on Germany’s German-American Working Group on DEI; CNBC Workforce Executive Council; Board of Trustees for Meals on Wheels Atlanta; Board of Directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta; GA Diversity Council; and National Diversity Council’s National Coalition for Racial Justice and Equity. Most recently, she was featured in Savoy Magazine’s list of 2023 Most Influential Executives in D&I as well as their 2019 Most Influential Women in Corporate America; recognized in ELLE Magazine as a 2021 Empowered Women honoree; and presented the 2020 Diversity Leadership in Action Award by Career Mastered Magazine.

Anthony Brock

Cofounder & Head of School

Valiant Cross Academy

Anthony Brock is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and a graduate of Sidney Lanier. He has received two degrees from Alabama State University and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of West Alabama. The Autauga County school system employed him for 13 years. During that time, he served as a Head Football Coach at Prattville Junior High, an At-Risk Specialist for the Autauga County Board of Education, Assistant Principal at Prattville Elementary School, and Principal of the Second Chance Alternative School. Anthony Brock was also the last Principal at St. Jude Educational Institute in Montgomery. He is also the Founder of the Brother2Brother and Sister2Sister Mentoring Program, which still meets regularly in Autauga County.

Mr. Brock serves on the Alabama Leadership Council for the Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund, the Board of Directors at The Mercy House, and Prattville Y.M.CA, the Alabama State University Continuing Education Policy Council, and he is currently a member of the Alabama Independent Schools Association State Board of Directors. He is also a proud graduate of Leadership Alabama Class XXIX.

The Montgomery Advertiser awarded Anthony the Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for Central Alabama, the Montgomery Alumni Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. have recognized him as the Citizen of the Year, the Beta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. awarded him with the Community Hero Award and the Citizen of the Year Award, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated awarded him the Community Leader of the Year Award, and the First Congregational Church in Montgomery recognized him and his brother with the "Rosa Parks Day Dismantling Racism Award." He was selected as the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Alabama Black Achievers Gala sponsored by Regions Bank in Birmingham. The Alabama Power Company also selected Anthony as an Alabama Bright Light, and he was recognized as a member of Alabama State University's "50 under 50" Inaugural Alumni Class. Anthony received the Montgomery Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Living Legend Award for Black History Month. Forbes Magazine and the Yass Foundation recently identified Valiant Cross Academy as the recipient of the prestigious Million Dollar Yass Prize. The Yass Prize is known as the, "Pulitzer of Education”. Anthony has also recently been selected as a Contributing Writer for Forbes Magazine.

He is the Co-Founder with his brother Fred and Head of School at Valiant Cross Academy. Since opening in 2015, Valiant Cross Academy has been showcased in local print publications, WSFA "Making a Difference" report, WAKA's "What Right With Our Schools" report, recognized by the USA Today as "A Community That Thrives Program," and Valiant Cross received the 2017 Community Service Award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Valiant Cross was also recently selected as one of the State of Alabama's Bicentennial School's. He is also the co-author of the book "Fruit" and the Executive Producer of the PBS documentary "Fruit," which details his career as an educator and mentor. Anthony and his scholars from VCA recently were featured in Bryan Stevenson's HBO Documentary True Justice, and CNN News has done a feature on the school.

He is an active member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Montgomery, serving as a Steward, Men's Usher, Men's Chorus, and Youth Church Leader. Anthony is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He is married to D'Tanja Brock, and they have two beautiful daughters, Noah and Jonah.

Dr. Hassan A. Tetteh

CEO

Human Care Technologies and Author

Dr. Hassan A. Tetteh is the Founder and CEO of Human Care Technologies. He is a retired US Navy Captain and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and adjunct faculty at Howard University College of Medicine. He was selected an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar by the National Academy of Medicine. He founded and previously led a Specialized Thoracic Adapted Recovery (STAR) Team in Washington, DC, and his research in organ transplantation aims to save lives.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Tetteh received his BS from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh, his MD from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, his MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, an MBA from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, and an MS in National Security Strategy with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence from the National War College.

Tetteh received the Doctor of Science (honoris causa) degree from the SUNY Board of Trustees in 2019. He completed his thoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Minnesota and advanced cardiac surgery fellowship at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Tetteh is the founder and principal of Tetteh Consulting Group, creator of The Art of Human Care® book series, and a best-selling author of several books, including Gifts of the Heart, Star Patrol, and The Art of Human Care. Tetteh is board certified in thoracic surgery, general surgery, and clinical informatics, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association, and a Patron Member of the Academy of American Poets.

Tetteh received the Alley Sheridan Award by the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education, was named a TEDMED Front Line Scholar, and is a TEDx speaker. He’s an alumnus of the Harvard Medical School Writers’ Workshop and Yale Writers’ Conference and lives near Washington, DC, with his wife, son, and daughter.

Christina Lewis

Founder

Beatrice Advisors

Christina Lewis is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, ecosystem-builder, writer, and podcast host who is passionate about using creativity and perseverance to empower people to live their best lives and be a positive force in the world. She is the Founder of Beatrice Advisors, a wealth management firm delivering high-quality financial services and exceptional value to a new generation of wealthy families and individuals, BFO21, and Vice Chair of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation. Christina is also the Executive Producer of "Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?" (WSWG), a feature film based on the life of her father, Reginald F. Lewis. That film is currently in development led by Charles King of MACRO.

Previously, Christina was Founder and Acting CEO of Giving Gap (formerly Give Blck) a nonprofit database of Black-Founded charities which she conceptualized in June 2020 and shepherded to becoming a nationally-recognized platform that has channeled over $2.7 million dollars to Black causes around the United States, receiving major grants from Microsoft, Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation and Goldman Sachs. She is also the Founder of All-Star Code, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young men of color acquire financial independence and social mobility through the power of code and technology education.
Christina’s work has been featured by the Obama Whitehouse, Inc., The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, PBS, and Fortune.

In the early years of her career Christina was a professional journalist, and spent five years at the Wall Street Journal, covering design, luxury homes and commercial real estate. Her first full-time job was as a police reporter for The Stamford Advocate where she won an investigative journalism award for an in-depth report about unfair practices around police-involved car accidents.

Christina graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in French and American History & Literature. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and three wonderful children.

Michael Proman

Managing Director & Partner

Scrum Ventures

Michael is Managing Director and Partner at Scrum Ventures, where he's played an integral role in the growth of the Bay Area-based firm and development of their first vertically-focused fund in the sports and entertainment space. Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Michael helped establish Sports Tech Tokyo, a large-scale community of global sports tech startups, and continues to support early-stage companies through both advisory and mentorship. Prior to Scrum, Michael worked with Coca-Cola and the National Basketball Association (NBA) before starting (and ultimately exiting) OptionIt, a startup providing consumers enhanced convenience and flexibility when making purchasing decisions. Michael is a native Minnesotan and currently resides in the Twin Cities.

Denise Young

Author and former CHRO, Apple

Denise Young recently closed a brilliant two-plus-decades career as a cocreator of Apple’s retail store experience, ascending to VP level under Steve Jobs and as the first African American to rise to C-level at the company, reporting to CEO Tim Cook as the worldwide HR Chief, and the company’s first VP of Inclusion and Diversity. Post Apple, Denise served as the second Executive in Residence at Cornell Tech, advising new and future tech leaders of the importance of humanity and digital inclusion. She advises HBCUs, arts organizations, academic institutions, and individual leaders on talent and culture. Denise currently serves as board chairperson of SFJAZZ, the premier arts-presenting organization in San Francisco, boasting a global membership and the only freestanding building in the world to exclusively serve jazz. A director/trustee for designer Thom Browne and a vocal artist, writer, and producer herself, Denise espouses the concept her former CEO Steve Jobs spoke about, that it is the intersecting of technology, humanities, and the arts that makes the heart sing. A 2022 recipient of the American Composer Orchestra’s Creative Catalyst Award alongside composer John Adams, Denise has been named a “Most Powerful Woman” by Ebony and Black Enterprise, named one of the “100 Most Influential in Silicon Valley” by Business Insider, and was featured in Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women” issue.

Cam Kirk

Photographer & Entrepreneur

Cam Kirk, notable photographer, has worked with prominent Hip Hop artists including Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Outkast, Migos, Future, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane and more. In recent years, Cam has expanded his talents to commercial and branding photography and has worked with leading Fortune 500 companies including Coca Cola, Nike, Airbnb, Meta, Budweiser, NFL and NBA. Cam is the Founder of Cam Kirk Studios, a 7,000 square ft photography studio for creatives used to advance their skills, market themselves and network which has become a staple within the Atlanta creative community averaging over 500 appointments a month. He is also the founder of Collective Gallery, a record label-like agency for photographers, the first of its kind featuring over 1000 creatives across the country.

Dr. Angelica Geter

Health Equity Scientist and Expert

Impactful Collaboration

Dr. Geter is a highly sought-after speaker and advisor. She is the City of Atlanta's former Chief Health Officer. Under her consultancy, Impactful Collaboration, she provides guidance to corporations, small enterprises, and governmental agencies, aiding in the progression of health equity research, strategic planning, and organizational transformation. Dr. Geter's expert counsel has notably influenced national guidance, programs, and interventions.

Dr. Geter has shared her knowledge through television, magazines, podcast interviews, op-eds, and national and international conferences. The Technical.ly DC Culture Builder of the Year has been widely recognized for her expertise and featured in several media outlets, including Essence Magazine, Yes Magazine, CNBC News, MSN, and Black Enterprise.

Dr. Geter’s contributions to the public health field have earned her multiple accolades, including being named to Morehouse School of Medicine’s distinguished “Top 10 Under 40” list, named a Trailblazer to Black Female Therapists “Top 25 in Mental Health and Wellness” list, and being inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Public Health Hall of Fame in
2023.

Geter earned a Doctor of Public Health in Health Behavior and a minor in Biostatistics from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mississippi College.

Jessica Taylor

National Director

Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women

Jessica Taylor is national director of One Million Black Women, the first-of-its-kind comprehensive investment in Black women to help drive economic growth, leveraging the firm’s commitment of $10 billion in direct investment capital and $100 million in philanthropic support to impact the lives of at least one million Black women by 2030.

Prior to her current role, Jessica was national director of 10,000 Small Businesses, one of the firm's signature philanthropic initiatives that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing education, support services and access to capital. Jessica joined Goldman Sachs in 2014 as a vice president and was named managing director in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, Jessica was an executive director at the New York City Department of Small Business Services, where she led commercial revitalization and disaster recovery programs during Mayor Bloomberg’s administration. While in this role, she was selected to participate in the 25th cohort of Coro Leadership New York. Before that, Jessica served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala. Earlier in her career, she led a variety of youth development and community health projects across US cities including Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, DC.

Jessica earned a BA in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia in 2006, where she was a four-year letter winner and two-time all-conference winner in softball. Jessica earned an MPA from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in 2012.

Tyrome Baisden

Cofounder & Head of Ventures & Innovations

Colture Holdings

Tyrome “Ty” Baisden is an Atlanta native turned Los Angeles-based visionary who is empowering underrepresented communities and helping them unlock their true potential by leveraging their intellectual property. A Psychology graduate of Georgia State University with a Master’s in Sports Management, Ty is the Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Ventures and Innovation at Colture and boasts an impressive and diverse equity portfolio of companies spanning multiple industries from music to tech.

Ty is renowned for his no-nonsense approach to business and his innate ability to identify the "next big thing." With a wealth of marketing expertise and an impressive track record of results in business and music, Ty is a true millennial trailblazer who is years ahead of his time. Putting people before profits, this music mogul has not lost sight of what matters most.

In Ty's eyes, ownership is a fundamental right that every person should be entitled to when it comes to their art or business, especially in the music industry. He firmly believes that ownership should be leveraged and maintained for the next generation, and he has helped artists and entrepreneurs achieve their dreams by teaching them the Colture method of how to do build companies around their intellectual property in music and beyond, that operate globally.

Ty is a risk-taker who has traveled the world and consistently bet on the underdog and won. His unique approach to business has cultivated an environment that nurtures talented individuals and transforms them into successful business owners capable of operating on a global scale.

Yelitsa Charles

Founder & CEO

Healthy Roots Dolls

Yelitsa never had a doll that looked like her growing up. The one time her parents gave her a black doll, she burst into tears because it wasn’t the “pretty one”. Since then, Yelitsa has made it her goal to make sure that no other children feel the way she did about her own appearance growing up.
Yelitsa has gone from not knowing how to do her own hair at the age 21 to teaching young girls all about their own.


Since starting Healthy Roots Dolls, Yelitsa has graduated from RISD with a BFA in Illustration and a concentration in Gender, Race & Sexuality. She has won the Startup Stampede, New Voices Fund Pitch competition, participated in the Backstage Capital Accelerator program and was awarded the first Main Street Ventures Wendy S. Lea Female founders Grant. In 2019, Healthy Roots Dolls took First Place and People's Choice at the Quicken Loans Detroit Demo Day.


She is a 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 Honoree and to date, Yelitsa has raised $1,500,000. Healthy Roots Dolls is helping thousands of parents provide their children with a product that makes them feel seen and beautiful. Yelitsa’s mission is to make sure everyone loves their healthy roots.

Helen Adeosun

Founder & CEO

CareAcademy

Helen Adeosun is CEO and Founder of CareAcademy, a care enablement platform providing high-quality, state-approved training for home care and home health organizations. CareAcademy has skilled over 600K caregivers and works with 2,500 employers. She was named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list in 2020, one of Ten Outstanding Young Leaders by the Boston Chamber of Commerce in 2021, and a winner of EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year New England Award and one of the Boston Globe’s inaugural Tech Power Players 50 in 2022. Adeosun serves on the board of the Caregiver Action Network and is a frequent industry speaker, a fierce champion of home care, and an advocate for the direct care worker. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame and obtained an EdM from Harvard University.

Barry Givens

Founder & Managing Partner

Collab Capital

Barry Givens is the Founder and Managing Partner of Collab Capital, a VC fund investing in Black founders solving consequential problems with technology. They focus on areas where gaps exist along racial and socio-economic lines. Currently Barry also sits on the board for Invest Atlanta where he serves as the Treasurer and Chair of the Economic Development Committee. Prior to Collab, Barry was the Managing Director for Techstars Social Impact and he founded Monsieur where he invented an automated bartending system that exited in 2017. Barry graduated from Georgia Tech in 2008 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering where he also became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Stacey McBride Irby

Doll Designer & Diversity Consultant

Stacey was a Project Designer at Mattel for 15 years. At age 22 she was given the opportunity by Kitty Black Perkins to design Career, Feature and Seasonal Barbies, Fashions, and Play sets along with Disney Princess Dolls. Barbie inspired her dream of being a fashion designer. Stacey was blessed to fulfill her dream, to design for the icon. While at Mattel, she was recognized for designing the first Sorority Barbie celebrating AKA’s Centennial Year. In 2009 she created the So In Style African American line of Barbie dolls, as a positive reflection of her daughter and friends in their community.

Stacey took a leap of faith, resigned from Mattel in 2011 and co-founded her own doll company. The One World Doll Project’s Prettie Girls are a Multi-Cultural line of Dolls, designed to represent diversity while empowering girls to be Positive Respectful, Enthusiastic, Thoughtful, Talented, Inspiring and Excellent. This prompted Stacey to found Stacey’s Women of Tomorrow 501 (c) (3) non-profit, a program to inspire and build the self-esteem of our girls. In 2019 as she created “I am U” dolls, reminding girls that they are Uniquely Beautiful. Stacey continues to role model for the youth by giving them reflections of themselves, motivating to pursue their dreams, expanding on a new toy line.

Stacey’s motto is: “A Happy, Inspired Childhood Creates Happy, Inspired and Powerful Women.”

Stacey has appeared in several national, international publications and broadcasts.

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Stacey resides there with her high school sweetheart, husband Jimmie Irby, son and daughter.

Kai Cunningham

Cofounder & Managing Partner

Limited Ventures

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Kai attended the McDonogh School, before graduating with a
degree in Finance from Villanova’s School of Business. Cunningham began his career on the Trading Floor
at Goldman Sachs in New York City where his group managed relationships for the firms top 60
institutional clients across all asset classes before moving to Private Wealth Management in Los Angeles
where his team managed over $2B for ultra-high net worth clients.

He started Cunningham Capital, a family office focused on educating athletes, entertainers, and cultural influencers and helping them invest in early, growth, and late-stage venture capital deals.

At 26, he co-founded Limited Ventures a multi-family office backed by the Forbes Family, the Rockefeller Family, and the Costa Family for athletes and entertainers which features multiple alternative investment funds including, a $150mm Venture Capital Fund & various strategies across real estate and acquiring stakes in sports teams that is dedicated to closing the wealth gap by helping the culture co-invest with the billionaire families of the world, making him one of the youngest founders and managing partners of a fund of that size in the country. He has helped over 100 athletes and entertainers among other partners invest , create venture capital funds and structure their own family offices. He has participated in deals such as Airbnb, SpaceX, StatusPro, Turo, Lime, Zilch, Luminous, Vaunt, Lime, Coinbase, Pinterest, Lyft, DapperLabs,Proto, Impossible Foods, Kraken, Wish, Jackpocket, Theragun, ZenWtr, Snackpass, and NoBull.

Cunningham was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital for 2023 and has been featured in
Forbes, ESPN, and Wharton for his work in the space. He has also been a featured public speaker around
the world including multiple countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Andre Dickens

Mayor of Atlanta

Andre Dickens is the 61st Mayor of Atlanta, a proud native of the city and a graduate of Atlanta Public Schools. Since taking office in January 2022, he has been committed to Moving Atlanta Forward through a focus on public safety, youth empowerment, affordable housing, and neighborhood investment—while upholding a culture of integrity within city government.

Mayor Dickens envisions “One city with one bright future”—a safe, connected, and equitable Atlanta where every resident can thrive.

During his first term, he launched Atlanta’s first-ever investment in early childhood education, reestablished the Pothole Posse, created the Nightlife Division to curb crime at problematic venues, and successfully led the effort to prevent the city’s de-annexation.

Before becoming mayor, Dickens served two terms as a citywide Atlanta City Council member. He championed initiatives around public safety, transportation, housing, youth development, and senior services. He chaired the Transportation Committee and played a key role in creating the Department of Transportation, establishing the BeltLine Inclusionary Zoning policy, and launching the $40 million Housing Opportunity Bond.

He also sponsored the Atlanta Youth Commission, co-created the BeltLine senior housing rehab program, and introduced the Teen Midnight Basketball League—an initiative combining recreation with life skills and education workshops.

Dickens holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University. His professional background includes over a decade as an entrepreneur, including co-founding City Living Home Furnishings, which became a multi-million-dollar business.

He also served as Chief Development Officer for TechBridge, where he co-founded the Technology Career Program to train and place unemployed and disadvantaged individuals in tech careers. At Georgia Tech, he helped lead diversity initiatives that boosted academic performance and graduation rates for Black male students.

A man of faith and community, Mayor Dickens is a deacon at New Horizon Baptist Church and has served on boards including the Atlanta BeltLine, Invest Atlanta, TechBridge, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. He’s also an alumnus of Leadership Atlanta, Diversity Leadership Atlanta, and other civic programs.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, attending church, listening to live music, traveling, and cheering on Atlanta’s sports teams.

Tamira Chapman

President & CEO

Storehouse

Tamira Chapman is a visionary entrepreneur and accomplished attorney who has paved the way for success in both the corporate and business worlds. As the founder of the successful Storehouse portfolio, she has built 3 thriving e-commerce businesses that have collectively earned over $150 million, captured the #1 market share, and earned a remarkable 97% customer retention rate. In recognition of her achievements, Storehouse was named the 8th fastest growing woman-owned company in the world by J.P. Morgan Chase and the Women President’s Organization in 2022.

Tamira has made a significant impact in the field of E-commerce and marketing, serving as a pioneer in Ford Motor Company’s global E-commerce marketing and social media strategies. Under her leadership, she established the first-ever social media center of excellence for marketing and advertising programs at Ford and developed the legal strategies to manage and promote the company’s brands. She also provided invaluable legal counsel as Ford acquired several startups, ensuring consistency in all companies’ social media, advertising, benefit plans, and other relevant legal compliance.

Tamira’s expertise extends beyond e-commerce, as she has earned her JD degree from Wayne State University and worked as an associate attorney at Miller, Canfield, Paddock, and Stone. During this time, she represented Fortune 50 companies in software, data licensing, distribution, and technology agreements, worked on high-profile intellectual property cases, and represented numerous entertainers. She also helped her clients protect their intellectual property, manage their businesses, and develop their brands.

Tamira’s remarkable achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including being named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Michigan and Ohio, #4 on the Women 2 Watch list in 2022 by J.P. Morgan Chase and the Women Presidents’ Organization, an Enterprising Woman Award, the MCAA Rising Stars Award, and inclusion in Crain’s 40 Under 40 list of the highest achieving Detroit community leaders. As a board member of several organizations and corporations dedicated to advancing innovation in business, Tamira continues to leave her mark on the world.

Tamira is a philanthropist at heart, dedicating her time and resources to raising millions of dollars for nonprofits in the U.S. and providing resources and support to villages and a primary school in Uganda. In her spare time, she enjoys advising businesses in the development of E-commerce and manufacturing programs, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs, and engaging in global philanthropy.

Jabari Young

Senior Writer & ForbesBLK Editorial Lead

Forbes

Jabari Young is a senior writer at Forbes and covers sports business for Forbes.com's SportsMoney section. Previously, he covered sports business at CNBC ranging from professional league media deals, sponsorships, labor agreements, and athlete portfolios. Before joining Forbes, Jabari also worked at The Athletic and San Antonio Express-News covering the Spurs and NBA. A Philadelphia native, Jabari graduated from Temple University in 2008 where he majored in journalism and communications.

Ali Jackson-Jolley

Assistant Managing Editor

Forbes

As an Assistant Managing Editor at Forbes, with a focus on DEI, Ali Jackson-Jolley oversees initiatives aimed at diversifying recruiting and hiring in the newsroom and cultivating a pipeline of diverse business journalists at Forbes and beyond.

Prior to this, she dedicated her career to driving policy and cultural change surrounding inequity. On Capitol Hill, in her role as a legislative staffer, Ali worked with the Women’s Congressional Caucus, tackling issues involving women and underrepresented groups and enacting reform in government, business, and education.

In addition, she worked as a government relations advisor on the National Women’s Business Council, a non-partisan federal advisory panel created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

Over the past decade, Ali has worked as a journalist focused on issues related to race, ethnicity, diversity, and society for a wide range of outlets. Most recently, she worked as a communications professional at New York Medical College, where she cultivated an emerging body of diverse editorialists and thought leaders for the college.

Ali earned both her BA in government and her MBA from the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

Liane Jackson

Senior Law Editor

Forbes

Liane is an attorney, journalist and lecturer with experience across law, business, television and print news. Prior to Forbes, she served as assistant managing editor and columnist at the ABA Journal, the flagship national magazine of the American Bar Association, and she worked for more than a decade as a reporter and anchor for local and national television news outlets.

Liane stay active in law through pro bono work, and teaches legal ethics at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law and Medill School of Journalism.

Ayisha Miracle Mendez

Community Manager, ForbesBLK

Forbes

Ayisha Miracle Mendez is the Community Manager for ForbesBLK. In this role, she is focused on fostering spaces where innovation, collaboration & professional development can thrive. She manages communications, establishes Forbes’ presence on social media, vet’s members, acts as a liaison to chapter leads, and coordinates opportunities that harness the talents, skills, & capabilities of its members.

Terri Broussard Williams

ForbesBLK National Advisory Board Member

Terri Broussard Williams has built her career on a solid reputation as an authentic, courageous, and impactful change agent. Throughout her journey as an award-winning corporate lobbyist, non-profit executive, and public speaker, Terri has transformed public and community service into a professional art form, positively impacting the lives of millions of people. During her two-decade-plus career as a lobbyist, Terri realized her dream of creating significant, community-shifting outcomes. Her most distinguished accomplishments include passing key pieces of legislation, such as The Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act. She achieved this game-changing career milestone as part of an all-female lobbying team at the promising age of 27. As one of Austin Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in Central Texas, Terri’s commitment to creating meaningful, groundbreaking, and systemic change is clear. Having worked for household brands such as Amazon, American Heart Association, and Edward Jones, Terri has established herself as a respected leader in corporate and nonprofit sectors, driving impactful initiatives and advocating for positive social change. She also provides inspirational and philanthropic leadership to advisory boards, including the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Engagement, the Louisiana State University Diversity Advisory Board, and the LBJ School of Public Policy – Women’s Campaign School Advisory Board. Terri continues to “pay it forward” with thought leadership around change as the founder of the Movement Maker platform www.movementmakercollective.com. Terri graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master’s of Non-Profit Leadership with an emphasis on social impact strategy. As the student commencement speaker and winner of the Excellence in Social Impact Award, she demonstrated her authenticity as an approachable, courageous, and refreshing thought leader fully capable of inspiring her classmates to create change and turn moments into transformative movements. Previously, Terri graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Social Impact Strategy Executive Education Program, where she served as a Teaching Fellow, and received a Graduate Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is also a member of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board. Terri also served as the inaugural instructor for the Social Justice Graduate Certificate Program at The Bush School and Center for Non-Profits and Philanthropy at Texas A&M. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and is the proud chair of The Reilly Center for Public Affairs and Media National Advisory Board.

Randall Lane

Chief Content Officer & Under 30 Founder

Forbes

Randall Lane is the Chief Content Officer of Forbes Media and editor of Forbes Magazine, responsible for editorial content across all platforms. Since returning to Forbes in 2011, he has helped the magazine and Forbes.com reach peak levels of readership. He created The Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy and the Under 30 Summit, the world’s greatest convening of young leaders and entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining Forbes, Lane cofounded two media companies, launching over a dozen editorial brands, including P.O.V. (Adweek’s “Startup of the Year”), Trader Monthly and Dealmaker. Lane began his career at Forbes in 1991, and served as reporter, staff writer and Washington bureau chief.

Lane sits on the board of directors of Global Citizen, as well as three boards affiliated with his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.

Seth Cohen

Chief Impact Officer

Forbes

As Chief Impact Officer, Seth guides the Forbes team in transforming its audiences into global communities and initiatives that advance prosperity, opportunity, and inclusivity. Seth also works across the Forbes editorial and business teams to identify and implement creative ways that Forbes can partner with a diverse range of businesses, philanthropic partners, and NGOs to achieve positive social impact through entrepreneurship and action.

Before joining Forbes, Seth had over 20 years of experience at the intersection of philanthropy, business and impact. Seth is the founder of Applied Optimism, an entrepreneurial global impact consultancy that has worked with some of the world’s leading philanthropies and media brands. Prior to Applied Optimism, Seth spent over seven years as the Senior Director of Schusterman Family Philanthropies, a global foundation focused on empowering young adults and igniting entrepreneurial solutions to complex social challenges. At Schusterman, Seth oversaw a range of philanthropic initiatives in the US, Europe, and Israel, including the development of REALITY, a global travel experience that focused community building and leadership development. Prior to Schusterman, Seth had a 13+ year career as a highly recognized corporate attorney, most recently a partner at the international law firm of Holland & Knight.

Mike Federle

Chief Executive Officer

Forbes

Mike Federle is the Chief Executive Officer of Forbes, one of the world’s most instantly recognizable brands and one of the largest media companies by audience.

Under Mike’s direction, Forbes continues to expand its product portfolio and its reach. Today, Forbes, which is synonymous with “success” in almost every country around the world, engages 140 million people across every platform every month – the most in its 105-year history.

Mike has accelerated Forbes’ digital transformation efforts and led the company to its most successful years on record. He works closely with his management team and employees at all levels to set corporate strategy and nurture a #OneTeam culture that fosters innovation and allows the brand to quickly pivot in a rapidly changing marketplace.

With 30+ years’ experience in the media business, he has successfully guided multiple companies through the constantly evolving industry. Mike previously served as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Forbes in 2011, he was a Co-Founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Techonomy Media Inc. He has held top positions at major media brands, including as Publisher of Fortune magazine, Group Publisher of the Time Inc. Business & Finance Network that included media properties such as Fortune, Money, Business2.0 and CNNMoney.com.

Mike is a Director on the Board of Forbes Media LLC, Board Chair of Marketplace Advisor and serves a board advisory role to Desknet Inc and Hub Culture.