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Maconomics CEO Ross Mac is financially empowering urban communities. While Ross Mac learned the value of money early on as a result of selling candy in third grade and through being raised by frugal middle class parents, he still did not have much understanding on the investment arena, credit building, or homeownership. Instead, the South Side Chicago native — with ties to Wall Street through his roles at Morgan Stanley and Grosvenor Capital — credits exposure for serving as his “greatest teacher.” During his freshman year at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, he saw a peer who was trading while in class. A week later, he jump started his portfolio and began educating himself on various tax hacks, he told Will Lucas on “Black Tech Green Money” podcast. His time on Wall Street was another turning point. “I remember seeing a managing director check his 401(k) and he had a couple million in there. So, now I’m starting to think about retirement. And so I think...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The question of who controls your data and how it’s used has been a topic of discussion since the dawn of the internet. The rise of social media giants like Meta and X has only heightened awareness and concern around data privacy. What happens when data collection goes beyond your age and interests to your genetic makeup? That’s the concern surrounding the recent news about 23andMe. As reported by AP News, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after former CEO Anne Wojcicki’s attempt to buy back the company’s assets fell through. Founded in 2006 by Wojcicki, Linda Avey, and Paul Cusenza, 23andMe was created to empower consumers with insights about their genetic makeup to inform health decisions. As reported by CTech, the company went public at a $3.5 billion valuation and was once valued as high as $6 billion. In addition to consumer-focused tests, 23andMe has contributed to genetic...
Anikitia Abram leads the first Black- and woman-owned candle-making studio in Middle Georgia, according to the Macon. She accomplished this feat in July 2023 with the opening of Pretty Lux Co., which offers candle, skin, and hair products that are “100% vegan, cruelty free, and created with minimal ingredients,” per its website. For Abram, that means using locally-sourced materials and remaining environmentally conscious during production. “Pretty Lux Co. is not just a business; it’s a movement toward greater wellness and understanding, providing a nurturing environment that supports both personal and communal growth,” Abram told the Macon. “This foundational inspiration continues to drive every aspect of Pretty Lux Co., guiding our mission to enrich lives through both our products and our educational initiatives.” Those initiatives encompass a focus on engaging the community in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through candle and skincare development. “By...
Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC) — considered the largest full-service Black-owned social justice fundraising firm — has announced new promotions within the company including appointments of Dr. Tashion Macon and Prof. Jennifer Jiles to its staff. According to a press release, Dr. Macon — an award-winning Marcom Strategist and Culturalis — has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing/Branding and Social Justice Strategy where she will utilize her wealth of knowledge in branding and marketing to lead this department. Additionally, Prof. Jiles — an award-winning integrated communications leader, writer, content editor, and producer — has moved up the ranks as the new Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Relations/Social Justice Strategy. “We are thrilled to advance the roles of these two outstanding leaders—BPC is poised for continued growth and market expansion—Dr. Macon and Jennifer Jiles both bring the commitment to quality, experience, and vision to...