Like most of us, the 2020 lockdown forced Chris and Fay Breedlove to reevaluate their relationship with travel. It had been a central part of their lives together since they met as law students at Howard University, leading them to over 44 cities in 15 countries over the course of their courtship and marriage. As they dreamt of revisiting some of their favorite destinations, Fay came up with the idea of creating a scent that captured some of the cities they had fallen in love with. “Fay’s initial thought for starting this whole business was that she wanted to get the scent of Singapore Changi International Airport, which is funny because that airport is a destination itself, and definitely analogous to Singapore as a whole,” Chris says. And thus, Terminal B, a luxury fragrance brand built around their love of travel, was born. The company itself is named after the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, with the letter B representing both the...

It’s no secret Issa Rae is rooting for everybody Black and things are no different this holiday season. Joining forces with American Express, Issa Rae will be curating the ByBlack Bazaar marketplace on Saturday, Dec. 11 in Downtown Los Angeles. “As a curator at the marketplace, in its simplest form it will be a great place to stop by and get a gift especially if you do not know what to get people because there will be a range of options,” Issa Rae shared exclusively with AfroTech. “It will also be a great way to establish community amongst business owners and allow owners to establish and forge relationships. You will see the family behind the business and you will see directly or hear about the history of these businesses. With online businesses, you don’t get the neighborhood store feel often. So, the Bazaar marketplace really excites me for that.”

Hollywood mogul Issa Rae is always rooting for everybody Black, and today is no different as she pushes for all Black-owned businesses to officially certify their brands through a newly-launched program. According to a press release shared with AfroTech, the producer and actress is supporting American Express and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.’s (USBC) joint effort to expand their ByBlack initiative with the launch of the “first national certification program exclusively for Black-ownership designation.” Photo Credit: American Express The free first-of-its-kind platform — which was designed as a directory for Black-owned businesses — will now offer Black business-owners the opportunity to easily obtain approved accreditation that their customers and other companies can trust when spending with them. “We are thrilled to team up with the USBC to expand the ByBlack platform,” Jessica Ling — senior vice president of Global B2B Marketing at American Express — tells AfroTech. “Seventy-five...

Best-selling author and journalist Elaine Welteroth is partnering with American Express to highlights small business owners , reports Forbes. In a newly launched video series podcast titled “Built To Last,” Welteroth is sharing the stories of Black business owners to discuss their personal journeys and the significance of minority-owned entrepreneurs. “I was really grateful to have the opportunity to partner with American Express on a project with purpose. Our missions were aligned in wanting to build a platform that educates and inspires the next generation of Black entrepreneurs while also encouraging continued patronage of the many Black businesses that need our support, now more than ever Built to Last dives into the stories, history and continued legacy of Black-owned small businesses that have shaped American culture,” said Welteroth. Thus far, the podcast has featured Pinky Cole, the founder of Slutty Vegan, CEOs Issa Rae and Hannah Diop of Sienna Naturals, Melissa Butler of...

American Express understands the fight for racial and gender equity across the globe is far from over, so it has announced another plan of action as part of its long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion. Today, the global financial service company announced that it plans to launch a series of internal and external initiatives and resources supported by a $1 billion investment toward “enhancing diverse representation and equal opportunities for its colleagues, customers and communities,” as reported in a statement . “American Express has a long-standing commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace that reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve,” said Stephen J. Squeri , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Central to this commitment is standing up against racism and eliminating barriers that have prevented people of all racial, ethnic and gender identities from having equal opportunities to pursue their aspirations. To build on the...

Glenda McNeal is the first Black woman to join the Executive Committee at American Express. According to Black Enterprise , over the years the President of Strategic Partnerships has lent her expertise across sales and client management, business development, and marketing and strategy at the financial corporation. Also, McNeal has overseen the relationships of Amex’s largest partners, including Delta, Marriott, Hilton, PayPal, and Amazon. In her new seat, McNeal will help Amex face COVID-19 and other challenges of the global economy. Furthermore, the committee is now represented by seven women, a record number for the company, Patch reports . “Having Glenda’s expertise and experience on the Executive Committee will be a huge asset for us,” Chairman and CEO Stephen J. Squeri said . “We will benefit from their diverse perspectives as we navigate through the challenges we face and position our company to win going forward.” McNeal’s storied career spans three decades. She is a Dillard...

When immigrants move to a new country, activities like finding a rental unit, getting good rates on loans and more can feel impossible without a credit history that’s easy to access. The team at Nova Credit, including Misha Esipov, Nicky Goulimis and Loek Janssen, discovered that this was a struggle for immigrants trying to move for a job or to attend school. Although it was originally founded as a research project by the three Stanford University grad students, it is now a company with backing from Index Ventures and General Catalyst. Nova Credit provides the solution that allows immigrants to share their credit history from their country of origin with financial service providers. This allows immigrants to access lenders, property managers and more. It opens the doors for access in ways that were extremely difficult or impossible before. It gives immigrants a fresh start and fewer factors working against them. The Nova Credit team has grown their reach to cover the credit...