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Civil rights leader Rashad Robinson and actor Kendrick Sampson had a much-needed conversation at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024. During the fireside chat “We’ve Voted, Now What?,’” on Nov. 15, the two activists led a compelling discussion around post-election and reclaiming our power through infrastructure. Robinson served as the president at Color of Change for 13 years and is currently a board member of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation. With his expertise, Robinson shared his thoughts on what true power looks like for communities of color and the realities of who benefits from the lack thereof. “We have to get clear about power to know what we will do next,” Robinson shared. “When I think about power, I very much think about the ability to change the rules. Far too often, we mistake presence for power. Presence is visibility, awareness, retweets, shoutouts from the stage, etc. For example, we can sometimes think that a black president means that we’re in a post-racial world. Or when...
Sometimes, the perfect collaboration starts with genuine interest and collaboration. As founder and CEO of the award-winning ad agency Walton Isaacson, Aaron Walton’s career exemplifies the mastery of leveraging celebrity and influencer partnerships to elevate brands to new heights. Walton’s impressive portfolio spans iconic collaborations, from the Spice Girls’ November 1997 campaign with Polaroid to Michael Jackson’s enduring partnership with Pepsi. Most recently, he helmed Beyoncè’s partnership with Lexus during her “Renaissance World Tour.” Walton’s work on some of the most creative advertising campaigns has made him an expert in the field. He shared his keys to success with attendees during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference. “Something as a brand that is important, when you’re looking at connecting with a celebrity, you have to make sure that you do your homework and make sure your cultural values are aligned,” Walton told AFROTECH™ following his session “The Art of Brand...
Nothing is more significant in this life than the love of a mother. Renowned musician will.i.am took a moment to shed light on how his mother’s sacrifices led to his success today during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference, Nov. 13-16. The innovative producer, visionary artist, and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning music group Black Eyed Peas opened up about his humble beginnings in a session on the main stage titled “CollaborA(I)te: Empowering Creative Connections.” “I remember my mom was like, ‘Wait, put your clothes on. You go up here to get our food stamps. Sit in this line to get this cheese.’ When you’re in the projects, and that’s your reality, standing in line to get government services, and you’re there and you’ve got dreams and you’re like one day, I want to move my mama out of these projfts, and you come outside, and your best friend that you grew up with is no longer with you because he got shot and you want to dream different — that’s where I get ambition from.”...
After co-creating the beauty app Beautified, Hannah Bronfman recognized the importance of investing in startups, which are often the last to receive funding or the resources needed to scale. Today, she takes pride in her work as an angel investor, helping to advise and raise venture capital for budding businesses. As a former DJ, content creator, and now trusted angel investor, Bronfman’s desire to help companies achieve their goals by putting investments behind them began when she joined Annie Evans and Peter Hananel as a co-founder of Beautified. This app allows users to book beauty services, including haircuts, manicures, facials, massages, and more, with various salons and spas offered on the platform. Since the inception of Beautifed in 2013, Bronfman has also become an expert in marketing. She’s advised companies on building a strategic online presence well before the rise of today’s influencer-driven marketing landscape. In 2017, she became an investor. “I started actually to...
From one of the most impactful singles, “Where Is The Love,” to the catchy hit “Boom Boom Pow,” will.i.am has been an integral part of the music industry and still places a massive stamp on the world. As a member of the iconic music group Black Eyed Peas, the Grammy-Award winner has released many popular studio albums. Will.i.am has also played the role of record producer by working alongside other artists such as Michael Jackson, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few. Born William Adams, will.i.am grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He has always been encouraged to pursue music and stand out. His music career began in the eighth grade, performing with a group around the city. After becoming the Black Eyed Peas, their recognition continued to soar, which landed the group a contract with Interscope Records. The Black Eyed Peas released their first studio album, “Behind The Front” in 1998. With over 25 years in the music industry, will.i.am decided to expand...
Some people are simply destined for greatness, and Texas native Bernard James Freeman, known to the culture as Bun B, may be considered one of them. As one of the founder members of the rap group UGK, Bun B has had a knack for storytelling for as long as he can remember. Today, his portfolio expands far beyond the title of musician. He wears many hats, including professor (he teaches a course on music and religion at Rice University), rapper, father, husband, and entrepreneur, to name a few. For him, the key to his success is his determination and preparation in any situation. As he was climbing the ranks in music, he credits a brutal rap battle beatdown as the reason he always showed up prepared. “I made it a note that nobody would ever be more prepared to rap in a room than I would be,” Bun B told Blavity co-founder and COO Jeff Nelson during an exclusive fireside chat at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 on Nov. 15. In the conversation, titled “Beyond Beats with Bun B: Innovation and...
Since August 2016, Nigerian-American rapper, director, and entrepreneur Tobechukwu “Tobe” Dubem Nwigwe has made an imprint in the music industry for his authentic “hood hymns,” visual storytelling, and integration of faith and family in his art. Nwigwe stopped by the AFROTECH™ Conference on Nov. 15 for the session, “Visionary Beats: Tobe Nwigwe on Visual Storytelling,” where he shared details about his creative process, the importance of living in your purpose, and how he wants to be a true example for his children and fans. Before Nwigwe became recognized as Grammy-nominated Best New Artist in 2023 and Webby Special Achievements award winner, he didn’t see himself as an artist growing up. The Houston, TX, native attended the University of North Texas and was on track to play for the NFL. However, after an unfortunate injury, he dove into different passions. Nwigwe told AFROTECH™ in an interview that he has always known who he is as a person. The originator just needed to figure out...
Beatrice Dixon has a piece of advice following the $380 million acquisition of The Honey Pot Company — It’s OK to take risks and try something new. Dixon captured the audience’s full attention during the Founder’s Summit session “Knowing When to Seize the Moment for Company Growth” at the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference on Thursday, Nov. 14, where she shared valuable business insights. “That doesn’t mean you have to stop doing your business, but that might mean you need to also have a job, or you may need to do something different,” Dixon shared. “I just think we’re going into a time of have and have-nots, and you don’t want to be on the side of the have-nots.” @afro.tech Honey Pot CEO Beatrice Dixon had everyone hooked as she shared business tips in light of Honey Pot’s $380 million acquisition. Keep your mind open and your notepads on deck📝 More to come AFROTECH Fam 🫶🏾 #blackintech #blacktechtok #TechEmpowerment #AFROTECH24 ♬ original sound – AfroTech In January, AFROTECH™ reported that...
As the Chief Marketing Officer for Mars Wrigley North America, Gabrielle Wesley leads a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, exemplifying how Black women can thrive in the C-suite. Originally born on the south side of Chicago, Wesley expressed during the AFROTECH 2024 conference panel discussion, “Fueling Ambition For Women On The Rise,” that her desire to join marketing started after watching the 1992 film “Boomerang,” starring Eddie Murphy and Robin Givens. “When I saw people who looked like me doing marketing, doing advertising, leading big brands, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Wesley’s first job was as an intern in financial services at Northern Trust. While there, she met a woman named Jackie, who became her mentor for her confidence, leadership, and her way to command a room. After the internship, Wesley held roles in brand management at both food and beverage corporations, General Mills and ConAgra. With 20 years of experience, Wesley has managed a variety of brands,...
Melissa Bradley set out on a mission to address the lack of financial resources available to Black founders in Washington, D.C., and ultimately surpassed even her own expectations in achieving this goal. She created a national organization called 1863 Ventures, a name that pays homage to the year of the Emancipation Proclamation, symbolizing the organization’s commitment to economic empowerment and social justice. 1863 Ventures has helped various businesses reach over one million dollars. Before her successful organization became a vast resource for many Black founders, Bradley had always had an eye for business. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Georgetown University in 1989, she received her master’s degree in business administration (MBA) in Marketing at American University in 1993. Bradley’s education prepared her to pursue a life of entrepreneurship, even if it included dealing with complex societal realities. On Nov. 14, during the session “Founder’s...
When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during a preseason game ahead of the 2016 NFL season, the world ran with narratives about his decision. Today, he has a platform that is helping people who look like him share their stories. Taking the stage at the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference on Nov. 14, in Houston, TX, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback beamed with pride as he spoke to eager attendees about his platform Lumi, which uses artificial intelligence to provide marginalized creators with opportunities for independence so they can share the stories that oftentimes live in their heads with no place to go. Photo Credit: Benjamin Esakof “I’ve done the graphic novel. I’ve done a couple of children’s books, and typically, those processes from when a contract is signed to when it is released, is over two years,” Kaepernick told Brian Dixon, managing partner of Kapor Capital, during a fireside chat titled “AI’s Role in Revolutionizing the Future of Storytelling.” “Those projects need...
Aaron Walton is the CEO and founder of the award-winning ad agency Walton Isaacson. He is celebrated for his extensive work with renowned brands and celebrities, establishing himself as a true trailblazer in the art of collaboration. Walton began his career as a marketing executive for the food and beverage giant Pepsico and went on to create his own company, Aaron Walton Entertainment (AWE). He later sold AWE in 2002 to Omnicom Group’s DAS Division. This transaction resulted in Walton being appointed president of Omnicom’s Radiate Entertainment Group, driving exponential growth across numerous agencies. With his knowledge, Walton shared how he successfully created major opportunities to transform traditional advertising practices by embedding them with cultural insight and innovation. On Nov. 14, during the AFROTECH 2024 Conference, Walton spoke about challenging the practice of collaborating with the same people within the same industries. While aligning with brands for successful...
It’s a beautiful thing to be creative and paid. Black people drive culture around the globe. I t isn’t a secret. Yet, when it comes to the proper credit and compensation the conversation is strikingly different. In a recent study, MSL Group, a PR firm, revealed that there is a 35% pay gap between white and Black content creators, with the latter group making a significantly lower amount than their white counterparts in the content creation space. Day 2 of the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference kicked off on Nov. 14 with a discussion between creatives Imani Ellis, founder and CEO of The Creative Collective NYC, known for its annual CultureCon, and Shannae Ingleton Smith, co-creator of influencer agency Kensington Grey, for a discussion called “The Business of Creativity.” As founders, the pair have a firsthand account of life in America as content creators, and they’ve developed platforms that pour into Black creatives. Whether it’s through time and energy, resources, etc., they’re on a...
The AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference kicked off in Houston on Wednesday, Nov. 13, bringing tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders together for an unforgettable experience. Day 1 started with dynamic networking opportunities, engaging experiences and meaningful conversations, setting the tone for the week as attendees gathered at the Culture Park Stage, presented by Lexus, for music, wellness and community programming. On Wednesday, there was an opening ceremony featuring a marching band and a compelling address by Blavity Co-Founder and CEO Morgan DeBaun, who spoke on community, innovation and the future. The event concluded with a discussion from Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, focusing on “The Power of Our Now: Taking Ownership in AI and Our Rights.” One of the key issues DeBaun pointed to was the gap in funding stages, noting that Black entrepreneurs often struggle to make it past the early rounds of seed...
When it comes to AFROTECH™, think of its offerings like an Oprah Winfrey giveaway. Everyone gets a session. Although the conference has tech in its title, the annual convening is more than a gathering of tech professionals. AFROTECH™ Conference is a vibrant, inclusive event crafted for tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and professionals from all walks of life. On Day 2, Nov. 14, the agenda offers a deep dive into what attendees can expect from this year’s gathering. Regardless of your field, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s break down what to expect on Thursday. If you’re just arriving, head to the registration booths to get everything you need for a smooth experience. The Mall Of Opportunity The Expo Hall opens today, with resources and engaging experiences for all attendees. This year, the space is designed for you to connect with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge products, participate in hands-on workshops, check out sponsor booths, and stay ahead of industry trends...