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Career pivots are becoming increasingly common as people realize the power of not limiting themselves to one lane. This phenomenon has become particularly pervasive in the sports world, as many former athletes find themselves out of the game but adjacent to the sports they love through media, coaching, or front-office gigs. Former NFL wide receiver Nate Burleson is a shining example of a successful career pivot, his path fueled by prioritizing his mental health. Burleson is a Canadian-born television host who played for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions across 11 seasons. During his career, he completed 457 receptions with 5,630 yards and 39 touchdowns. However, his career hit a bump in 2008 when he tore his ACL, missing most of that season and struggling with his mental health. In Yahoo Life’s “The Unwind” series, Burleson shared the challenges he faced with depression during that time, highlighting his resilience in the face of adversity. “I realized how...
Black creators have been at the forefront of trends, and that will likely not end anytime soon. The interesting fact about their impact is that they have not always been paid or recognized for their contributions to the industry. From comedic skits to product recommendations, Black people have been at the center of culture — providing the entertainment and “up-to-date” information the world craves. Recently, Forbes recognized the work of some of these Black creatives. Not only have they been in their creative bag, but they have also overcome some systemic challenges and earned quite a bit of income in the process. Check out the list of Black creators that made the Forbes list.
Creatives make the world go round and The Creative Collective NYC (CCNYC) is proof of it. Birthed in the one-bedroom of founder Imani Ellis, the organization has quickly become a safe place for creatives of colors to thrive. “I invited a few friends over and we all went around the room, sharing what we were going through and what resources we needed to succeed,” said Ellis, who also serves as the VP of Communications for NBC Universal. “It felt so incredible to realize that there were other creatives of color experiencing similar experiences – and we left feeling inspired.” Despite her original dreams to keep the group small, it has since grown into an ever-evolving community that is home to both creatives and young professionals of color.
Retirement isn’t normally a high priority on young workers’ lists. But this 41-year-old single mother not only secured her bag but did so in the biggest way possible. CNBC has the story of Lakisha Simmons, who retired with almost $1 million in her retirement fund ($850,000 to be exact), having worked since she was 14-years-old. Although she comes from a working-class family, Simmons worked as an associate professor at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Between her full-time job and her side hustles, Simmons was able to bring in $150,000 in 2020. But Simmons had set a goal for herself: retire by the time she was 45-years-old. So, she deployed what’s known as the FIRE Method — “financial independence, retire early” — which is also popularly known as an extreme saving method. Simmons sold her home (to get rid of her mortgage of $2,400/month), cut down on all her expenses (switched to a prepaid cell phone plan, made meals at home), and saved $100,000 in the first year. “Simmons keeps...
It appears that another Black mogul is gearing up to possibly become the first Black majority owner of a National Football League (NFL) team. In January 2021, AfroTech previously shared that while the Denver Broncos going up for sale in the NFL offseason was initially pending, Robert F. Smith shared his interest in placing a bid on the team. By Feb. 1, the football team officially went up for sale — commencing the bidding war. Since then, a source close with Smith disclosed that the billionaire isn’t planning to make a purchase, according to Denver’s 9 News. “Robert’s priorities right now are on the fight for voting rights and economic justice rather than being…an owner of a team,’’ said the source. “He continues to be most focused on how he can best help underserved communities gain access to capital, healthcare, education, and the ballot box. Pursuing ownership of the Broncos is not on his radar right now.” With Smith reportedly stepping out of the possibility of making history,...
Last week, AfroTech reported that Byron Allen was poised to acquire Tegna in a deal worth $8 billion. Now, however, a new report reveals that the CEO of Allen Media Group has successfully raised $10 billion in a bid to acquire Tegna and engage in some debt management. Reuters is reporting that the deal Byron Allen has put together is backed by 14 banks and 10 investors, including Ares Management Corp, Fortress Investment Group, Oaktree Capital Management, and Michael Milken’s family office. “Ares is leading a $2.2 billion preferred equity investment in support of Allen’s financing package, another of the sources added. Tegna could choose a winning bidder as early as this month, the sources said,” reports the outlet. Byron Allen is said to be going up against investment firms Apollo Global Management Inc. and Standard General LP, but Allen is still poised to be the favorite winner, according to the report. However, New York Post reports that prior to Byron Allen raising the money...
Back in May, Spotify announced a monumental initiative designed to invest in and amplify the work of Black creators in music and beyond. Today, the streaming giant has teamed up with Black woman-operated creative agency FourTwo Creative to rollout a new campaign continuing the momentum of the new budding creator hub. Frequency Podcast Campaign — which features a two-part video series highlighting select Black creators who have chosen podcasting as their creative avenue — was created by both parties in an effort to spotlight a space where Black voices are moving the needle and becoming a dominant force in audio. “Podcasting is yet another medium that allows Black creatives to have a space where they can say what they feel and tap into audiences who can relate,” FourTwo Creative tells AfroTech. “It’s a medium that’s also a level playing field of creating one’s own platform—there are so many resources available that allow creatives to start with what they have and produce quality...
YouTube is broadening the horizon for creators. According to The Los Angeles Times, the social media platform has announced plans to open its very own theater in the Hollywood Park complex located in Inglewood, CA. The YouTube Theater is a 6,000-seat arena located next to the SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park set to open in August 2021. The new installment solidifies its place in the live event space. Just outside of the theater, people can get a glimpse of exclusive content created by YouTube influencers thanks to a 13-foot-tall digital screen. Set to serve as its own attraction, the digital sign will not only include upcoming concert dates of talent that will perform at the theater along with videos directly from YouTube creators, but it was also designed to allow pedestrians to see their movement and images reflected as sort of a giant fun-house mirror. Despite the fact that the theater can accommodate 3,400 to 6,000 seats, its design was built around making it feel more intimate...
The innovation of Black entrepreneurs is unmatched! As the CEO at Nēdl , the AI-powered search engine for live audio broadcast, Ayinde Alakoye knows a thing or two about creating processes that make our lives easier. Alakoye created Nēdl , to serve as a place where Black people could find their voices and ensure that it’s heard by the masses. “This is a product that is founded by Black people to give Black voices a platform,” shared Alakoye on the latest episode of Black Tech Green Money with host Will Lucas. Nēdl elevates Black voices across all sorts of channels and spheres so that we are heard. The live audio platform allows anyone to create a live call-in radio show that also transcribes, amplifies, and monetizes words as they are spoken. It also serves as an AI-powered search engine for live audio broadcasts. “I think the voice is the unique proposition,” said Alakoye as he explained the value of his product and why it’s so important for Black creators from all walks of life....
Believe it or not, Black culture is mainstream culture, but you wouldn’t know it sometimes by the way we are erased from receiving credit as trendsetters and innovators. In some cases, we are oftentimes disappointed — though not surprised — to see others profiting off of our contributions, but when it came to A’Ziah “Zola” King and her viral Twitter thread-turned-movie, she made sure she was always credited as the originator that sparked the first tweet-inspired feature film (yes, a Black woman did that). In 2015, King took to Twitter for a second time — after originally publishing the story on Tumblr and Twitter before deleting it — to share her wild and dangerous road trip story to Florida with strangers. What came of it was the greatest Twitter story ever told and a film adaptation at A24 that chronicled 148 tweets worth of friendship gone wrong, betrayal, stripping, sex trafficking and unbelievably real-life scenarios. The most important lesson from “Zola” is not the film’s...
We all know that creatives have been running the world, but now they can also run up a check thanks to technology! Creative industry leader and host of Claima (which is short for “claim a seat at the table”) Stories, Bimma Williams knows exactly what it means to be able to use technology to your advantage to claim a seat at the table. “It’s changed everything,” he told Black Tech Green Money host, Will Lucas. “I think back to the time of this creator kind of community that’s happening in the midst of creative economy.” He further explains that from his point of view, around 2010 and 2011, the world saw Facebook mature, Instagram began to come online and Twitter was already mature. He said people had pretty large followings but didn’t have a chance to really cash in from a monetization standpoint. “When you think about today and how those tools have really advanced to how you can literally have something like a Patreon account where you can get a subscription model going for yourself...
The nation’s first and only 24/7 Black news channel continues to thrive! According to PR Newswire, Black News Channel (BNC) has named media executive Vickie Burns as its new Senior Vice President of Content. The annoucement was made by BNC President and CEO, Princell Hair. “We are delighted to welcome Vickie Burns and her wide-ranging expertise to BNC,” said Hair in an official statement. “Vickie has demonstrated effective leadership and strong journalistic instincts throughout her career and will be a tremendous asset as BNC continues to evolve beyond linear broadcasts and into multiplatform offerings that are accessible everywhere content is consumed.” Burns brings on an extensive career which includes leadership positions at NBC, Tribune, and Scripps where she was responsible for overseeing newsrooms that serve communities in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. Her journalistic experience includes field logistics, production, program development, studio...
If you’re looking for a tech company that’s all about diversity and inclusion, look no further because Cre8te Technology is here! Serial entrepreneur , businessman, and philanthropist, Brandon McGhee formed Cre8te to bridge the gap between a concept and a product. Cre8te was built to foster innovation and partner with creatives to help them bring their ideas to life. “It all started when I studied under my mentor, a tech billionaire from Chicago,” shared McGhee in an exclusive interview with AfroTech. “I’ve always been a creative person and haven’t always had the resources needed to bring them to fruition and so my company Cre8te helps other creatives who’ve had the same sentiments.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cre8te (@cre8tetechnology) McGhee has always understands first-hand what it’s like to be a Black creative with limited resources but he’s now discovered that the same applies to Black founders. “I feel that other people say that they want to help but...
From media and entertainment to private equity and investments, Black billionaires are proof that despite the odds we can achieve true financial freedom. This year, Forbes released its 2021 Billionaires list with a record-breaking number of 2,755 billionaires making the cut — a jump of 660 from its list published one year ago. Even across age, geographic locations, industries and race, today’s incredible Black businessmen and women are still showing that it’s possible to overcome obstacles and join one of the most esteemed populations in the world. Of the many billionaires on the list, here are the world’s Black billionaires in 2021 who represent amongst the richest group worldwide. Jay-Z – $1.4 Billion Jay-Z broke the glass ceiling for Hip Hop as the culture’s first billionaire, but his fortune continues to grow on account of his many business endeavors. As AfroTech previously reported, much of his wealth stems from sales from Roc Nation, Armand de Brignac, his D’Usse cognac, music...
“Grown-ish” actress Yara Shahidi is making some grown moves of her own with her latest brand collaboration. The young Hollywood star has unveiled her newest partnership with adidas to curate a five-piece collection as an ode to her Black and Iranian roots, Harper’s Bazaar reports. “My first instinct was how do we honor the past in a way that also pays homage to the future,” Shahidi tells the outlet. “The one thing that I wanted people to take away was even though a lot of these details are specific to my own growing up and the things that impacted me, the entire campaign is about how we re-create our heritage. I’m constantly figuring out what it means to me to be Black and Iranian—it’s ever changing.” She also shared the news of her collaboration in an Instagram post captioned, “Y’all knew this was coming ? #collab.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yara (يارا) Shahidi (@yarashahidi) According to Harper’s Bazaar, the multi-hyphenate creative and mogul in the making...