A Dose of Black Joy and Caffeine

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About God-is: Throughout her career, God-is has been a strategic executive who is responsible for better serving and engaging diverse communities through digital channels all around the world through brand marketing, campaigns with partners, and events and experiences. As a proud Black American woman hailing from the Bronx, NY, she is passionate about pairing an authentic community care approach with inclusive, culturally fluent marketing, community-integrated product and policy evolution and cultural insights to show there is value in all communities, and that they deserve to be recognized, respected and rewarded—not counted out.

As a marketing executive at Twitter for over 4 years culminating in 2022, she drove strategy to make sure that campaigns and programs were connective, inclusive and reflective of the communities Twitter served. Externally, she both established and built on Twitter's work in developing relationships and programs with community leaders, content partners, influencers, creators, partners and brands.

Prior to joining Twitter in 2018, God-is was Director, Inclusion & Cultural Resonance for VMLY&R. In this newly created role she focused on bridging strategic inclusive marketing and strategy with internal processes and policies to foster an equitable environment at the agency, and produce inclusive work outputs. Earlier, she held lead channel strategy roles at VMLY&R, global agency iCrossing, and Austin-based T3.

God-is has been profiled in digital trade and national publications Adweek, Ad Age, Marie Claire, Forbes, Digiday, Fortune, Campaign US, and The Drum. In 2018 she was named an Ad Age “Woman to Watch” and Adweek “Disruptor” for continuing to fight for representation and equity in the advertising industry. In 2020 God-is was recognized for her work at Twitter amplifying historically marginalized voices as #28 on the Root 100 Most Influential African-Americans list, BET’s Top 100 Most Innovative and Influential Business Executives, and by Fortune Magazine on their esteemed 40 Under 40 list of influential people in the technology category. In 2023 she was recognized by ColorComm as one of the influential 28 Black Women in Communications “Making History Now”. This same year she was also recognized by her hometown, the Bronx Tourism Council, and was inducted in the Bronx Walk of Fame for excellence in the field of marketing. In November 2023 God-is also was chosen to be inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s esteemed AAF Hall of Achievement Class of 2023, a prestigious honor representing an impactful and innovative career in marketing, advertising, and/or media.

In October of 2022 God-is joined The Walt Disney Co. as their first VP, Inclusive Marketing across all Disney streaming platforms and networks including content and IP across ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ where she is tasked with developing and leading strategies to connect with diverse audiences and amplify inclusive content.

In June of 2023 God-is joined Essence Ventures as their first-ever Chief Content Officer. Leading content strategy and connection with intersectional global audiences across all Essence Ventures brands including; Essence Publishing, Afropunk, BeautyCon and Essence Studios. As of 2024 she has been active as an independent consultant with top global brands and organizations around the world.

God-is is also a highly sought after keynote speaker and moderator who has spoken for several brands like Netflix and Spotify, and at international events such as The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, The Cannes Lion Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France, and Brandweek in Palm Springs, CA among many more. God-is resides in the greater New York City area with her husband and daughter

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About Rashan:

Rashan Brown aka Rush (The Mic) is a Spoken-Word Poet & Founder of poetry me, please. Founded in 2019, poetry me, please is a spoken-word poetry platform and content studio that provides a stage for artists across the world to showcase their talents through creative verbal expression.

Featured in Forbes, Time Out, PIX11, News12, NBC, Ebony, REVOLT & The Grio, poetry me, please is the largest poetry showcase in NYC. Averaging 500 guests per show, PMP is on the rise. 

Rashan’s voice & brand have partnered with the likes of the NFL, Eventbrite, LLoyd Banks, Harlem's Fashion Row, NY Independent Schools, the Big Four, Columbia Business School, Republic Records, Rupi Kaur, TIER, Microsoft, AfroTech and AfroFuture. Bringing the show to City Winery, The Cutting Room, SOBS and the iconic Apollo Theater where they sold out to a crowd of over 1,500.

The former STEM educator & Bronx native is committed to mentorship and community building. A board member of BUILD NYC, Rashan continues to be a mentor for students at his alma mater University at Albany, SUNY. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Rashan carries the values of the organization in this work. 

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More about Dante:

Dante Nicholas is a social media strategist, creative entrepreneur, and the founder of the R&B music curation platform YamsThePlaylist. From New Orleans and currently residing in Atlanta – Dante has worked in advertising and social media marketing for 10 years with clients ranging from Spotify and Netflix, to Essence Music Festival and Louisiana Tourism. His career passion has centered around strategically telling diverse Black stories. Dante is also a photographer who has worked with brands like Nike and Athleta. In late 2022, he created an Instagram page called YamsThePlaylist to spotlight R&B music and artists. In just a few short months, the Instagram page went viral and the official Yams brand was born. Today, the brand has over 350,000 followers across social media platforms. 

More about Deion:

Deion Thomas is a dynamic individual navigating the realms of finance by day and the world of mixology by night. With a firm foothold in the financial sector, he dedicates his 9 to 5 to managing the complexities of the business world. However, outside of office hours, Deion's passion for mixology takes center stage as he explores the art of crafting cocktails and experimenting with unique flavors.

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Dominique B. Fluker is a dynamic writer, editor, editorial strategist, speaker, moderator, aspiring screenwriter, and interior design storyteller based in Los Angeles. She currently is the Lifestyle Editor at ESSENCE Magazine.
She’s familiar with spearheading editorial strategy, video script curation, and influencer strategies to drive business results and brand awareness. Previously, Dominique served as SMB Marketing Manager at Instagram and Content Marketing Manager, Business Accounts, and SMB Growth at TikTok. Before joining Instagram and TikTok, she led consumer content at Glassdoor, voicing their B2C blog and amplifying employee stories within the Diversity and inclusion space. As a social media content and influencer strategist, Dominique produced high-performing digital content for powerhouse brands such as TIDAL, Adobe, AT&T, eBay, Air New Zealand, and more during her time at MWWPR, Edelman, and WeWork. Dominique consistently engages and inspires millennial women of color by profiling diverse public figures when she isn't supporting leading brands with data-driven digital storytelling.
She's created multicultural content for iconic web and print publications like ForbesWomen, Glamour Magazine, ESSENCE Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Business Insider, and more. As a culture and entertainment enthusiast, she's interviewed legendary celebrities such as Oprah, Toni Braxton, John Legend, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Robin Roberts, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Serena Williams, Regina King, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Elaine Welteroth, Tia Mowry, and more.
Since 2021, Dominique has found solace in curating physical spaces while creating a name for herself at the intersection of digital content curation and editorial storytelling. She believes interior design is an extension of thoughtful storytelling. With DBF Interiors, Dominique brings her burgeoning interior styling talents to other modern professionals like herself, committing to curating enjoyable, comfortable, and inspirational living spaces for her clients. She has been featured as an interior design expert in Apartment Therapy, Martha Stewart, Hunker, Architectural Digest, and more.
Dominique has a Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. At USC, she was a Charlotta Bass fellowship recipient, Cowan scholar, teaching assistant, and research assistant for New York Times bestselling author Anna Tubbs.

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Dani Jackson-Smith is an award-winning creative powerhouse who champions justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the industry and beyond.

Dani’s worn several hats over her career, ranging from her early days as a freelance videographer and reporter at WKBW ABC 7, covering events including the BET Hip Hop Awards and Rip the Runway. After college, she launched Street Knowledge Media with her friends in New York City, helping to launch the career of the late Nipsey Hussle.

Eventually, Dani moved home to Chicago, where she excelled at some of the world's largest agencies, including Leo Burnett, Havas, and Edelman. Most recently, as VP of Influence at Edelman, she led partnerships for brands including Starbucks, Noxzema, Del Monte, Barilla, and Pivotal Ventures. While VP of DEI & Multicultural Marketing, she developed cultural strategies for brands including Foot Locker and Church & Dwight. As a Sr. Producer, she produced experiences with Kellogg’s, Nintendo, and Samsung.

Dani has been recognized as the ADCOLOR Rockstar and Chicago Ad Federation Rising Star. She’s also won a Silver Addy and a Gold Clio for her brand production work. When she isn’t working, Dani volunteers as an auxiliary board member for Chicago’s oldest Boys & Girls Club, Off The Street Club.

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Trent Walters is a Brand Management Principal at TRG (formerly The Richards Group). This May he will celebrate 27 years at the agency. He’s a graduate of the University of North Texas. He graduated on a Saturday and started at TRG the next Monday.

Trent is an alum of the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), and he was also named to the inaugural class of the American Advertising Federation’s Top 25 Most Promising Multicultural Students, which led to his job at TRG immediately after graduation.

During his time at TRG, Trent has led and helped grow dozens of brands including AT&T, Starz, Scotts lawn care products, PGA TOUR Superstores, The American Cancer Society and the Southeastern Conference to name just a few. He’s helped the agency partner with groups like The Marcus Graham Project, the Dallas Independent School District, Project Unity, and other organizations as a key leader of TRG’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

In fact, last summer Trent partnered with his Atlanta-based client, Gas South and Clark Atlanta University to spearhead a one-of-a-kind internship for a deserving HBCU student. The student was able to do half of her summer internship on the “client side” with Gas South in Atlanta, and the other half on the “agency side” with TRG in Dallas, allowing her to see both sides of the marketing board room.

Trent recently published a novel called Exactly How It’s `Posed to Be which chronicles the decisions of three young men at fictional HBCU (Winton College) around dating, women and sex…and the consequences of these decisions. (Oooo!)

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Darryl Sharp Jr. is a well versed senior motion designer, currently lending his creative prowess to RCA Records. With a fervent passion for design, music, and culture, Darryl has cultivated a diverse background in the industry. His journey includes notable stints at advertising agencies such as 72andSunny and Laundry Service, where he honed his skills and contributed to cutting-edge campaigns with Beats by Dre, ESPN, and Activision. Venturing into the entertainment realm, Darryl made impactful contributions at renowned production companies like Funny Or Die, leaving his mark on comedic brilliance, and collaborating with industry giants Netflix and Warner Records. His unique blend of artistic flair and a keen understanding of the intersection between creative and culture trends has established him as a dynamic force in the motion design landscape.

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Jasmine Farooq is a Senior Brand Strategist, based in NYC. She has worked in brand planning and strategy for 4 years, having worked across a range of accounts in CPG, Health, and Retail – elevating DEI, brand purpose, and culture. She began her career interning at Deutsch LA, a role she earned through MAIP, a program created to enhance the talent and diversity in the Advertising industry. Since then, she has worked on Publix, Baskin Robbins, and AdventHealth at 22squared, and then made her way to VML, leading brand and multicultural strategy on Advil, Coca Cola, and AstraZeneca. Now, she recently started a new journey at Third Ear, a minority-owned advertising agency. Born and raised in South Florida, she comes from a Jamaican background, with a family full of cooks, singers, artists, and ultimately the best party crew. If you need any advice for Caribbean spots to check out in Miami, she's your go-to. When her laptop is closed, you can find her thrift shopping, perfecting her sewing skills, or feeding her sweet tooth at a cafe in the city!  

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Bennett D. Bennett (he/him) is founder and principal at brand and content development consultancy Aerialist, and the co-founder of talent advocacy nonprofit 600 & Rising. Through Aerialist, Bennett uses his multi-disciplined background as creative director, journalist, and content strategist to help future-forward brands create intentional, non-traditional campaigns and content. A career-long advocate of talent equity for media professionals from marginalized groups, he’s also carving out the next chapter of DEI with roles at 600 & Rising and as founding partner of the Allyship & Action platform. Bennett’s decade-plus in marketing and media have has included stints at Interbrand, BBDO New York, The Drum, Saatchi & Saatchi, and 22Squared—all shaping him into a hybrid creative/strategy director and innovation consultant. His most recent included a Cannes Lions’-winning campaign for Google, as well as work for Popeyes, Netflix, Varo, Bacardi, Mass Mutual, Black Voters Matter, and Amazon Prime Video. A 2013 MAIP Alum, Bennett’s been honored as a 2017 ADWEEK Young Influential and one of the 100 People Who Make Advertising Great by the 4As.

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Kenya Parham is the Global Vice President of Community & Partnerships at SPILL, a next generation social platform founded that puts culture, and the people who create it, first. In her role, she is the voice of the SPILL community within the company and also forges partnerships and activations with media partners and brands.

Prior to joining SPILL, Kenya led her own Strategic Communications, Culture & Brand Strategy consultancy, The Legacy Firm, where she worked with major entertainment properties and production studios. She also served as a political strategist & fundraising specialist, where she counseled political organizations and candidates to ensure their viability for office. 

In addition, Kenya is a political and cultural TV commentator. Acknowledged as a Founding Ambassador of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Kenya has been honored with special recognition by the Los Angeles Urban League, California State Assembly and Senate legislative bodies. She was also named “Top 40 under 40 Change-Makers to Watch” by The Empowerment Congress.

Kenya lives in Southern California. She is @kenya on SPILL.

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Alex Tyree—artist, creative director and music curator, is in the continual pursuit of mastering the art of living. In between creating award-winning advertising campaigns, curating enriching music experiences, and writing his own songs, Alex credits his journaling and meditation practice as balance.

As founder and host of Feel the SPACE — an emerging music community + curation company centered in mystery & discovery through intentional experiences. We exist to re-inspire a sacred connection to music, our truest selves, and gifted music artists. Alex is excited by uniquely creating ways for each of us to feel more deeply connected.

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About: Kendra Oyesanya Willis is a multi-talented actress and entrepreneur. Kendra started her career as a professional dancer working with the industries top recording artist such as P. Diddy and the Bad Boy family, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Ciara, and many more. In 2017, she transitioned into acting booking her first lead role in the Lionsgate scripted series "Step Up" as Poppy Martinez airing on Starz.  Kendra is also the Co-Founder and creator of Krump Fit, a fitness program that incorporates Krump-inspired dance with high-intensity

cardio. 

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Etienne Maurice is an actor, content creator, and the founder of WalkGood LA, a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people together from all walks of life to fight for racial equity and heal in solidarity, through the arts, health, and wellness. Following the death of Ahmaud Arbery and ongoing racial and social injustice against Black and Brown people, Etienne recognized the need for community healing and founded the non-profit organization WalkGood LA in June 2020. The organization's extensive influence has garnered recognition from esteemed publications like the LA Times, CBS News, KTLA, LAist, and much more. Etienne's impact has been amplified through his partnerships such as the global campaign with Propel alongside Michael B. Jordan as well as an ambassador with On Running that is entering it’s 3rd year. Etienne has also created his very own sneaker with On that is being sold globally.

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About Jamilah:

A renowned cultural critic and writer with a focus on issues of race, gender, and sexuality, Jamilah Lemieux is a leading millennial feminist thinker, influencer, and game-changing media maverick. Her written work has been featured via a host of print and digital platforms, including Vanity Fair, the Los Angeles Times, the Nation, Essence, Refinery 29, Playboy, Self, Wired, the Guardian, Colorlines, the Washington Post and the Columbia Journalism Review. She is also a weekly contributor to Slate’s ‘Care and Feeding’ parenting column and co-host of the publication’s Care and Feeding podcast.  An important voice in the construction of the Black feminist blogosphere of the early twenty-first century, Lemieux formerly served as the Vice President of News and Men’s Programming for iOne Digital and as the Senior Editor for EBONY magazine She penned the forward for the Verso anniversary edition of Michele Wallace’s Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman and the 2017 re-release of Ann Petry’s Miss Muriel and Other Stories. 

A native of Chicago, Lemieux has provided news and cultural commentary for CNN, ABC, CBS, and MSNBC. She has been featured on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Desus and Mero, as well as Lifetime’s critically acclaimed, Surviving R. Kelly and Surviving R. Kelly 2: The Reckoning. She is currently working on her first book, Baby Mama’s Day: A Black Single Mother on Longing and Belonging (Roc Lit 101/Penguin Random House.)

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“There is no better story than life itself.”

Lewis Williams is EVP, Head of Brand Impact at legendary PR Agency Weber Shandwick. He has had successful careers at iconic agencies Leo Burnett and most recently Burrell Communications where he held the position of Chief Creative Officer. Having over 3 decades of Total Market and Multicultural consumer marketing experience, he’s partnered with CMO’s of some of the world’s best-known brands to create award-winning creative and drive strategic and emotional connections to their customers. Lewis has deep experience working in automotive, food service, beverage, technology, financial, entertainment and consumer goods. Among those that he has represented are Toyota, McDonald’s, Ancestry, The Coca-Cola Company, Google, U.S. Army, Walt Disney World, American Airlines, Disney and Procter and Gamble. Lewis has been recognized as one of Adweek’s Creative 100, The Ad Club of New York’s Icons, Rock Stars and Innovators, winner of creative accolades from The One Show, Communications Arts, London International Awards, Kelly Awards, New York Festivals, Clio Awards and serves on the Creative Review Committee for The Ad Council. He previous served as a PR Cannes Juror and was a juror member of Cannes Lions 70. Glass: The Lion for Change. He also was selected as an inaugural fellow for the Visiting Industry Professionals Fellowship at DePaul University College of Communications. Lewis is an advocate for significant representation for diversity in creative in the communications industry. As part of his commitment to diversity and mentorship, he is an instructor for The One School for African American students, sponsored by The One Club for Creativity.

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With special co-host Makisha Noël, Media Personality, Creator, Global Marketing Strategist | 2022 ADCOLOR® FUTURE, Black @ ADCOLOR, 2023 Legacy Miami 40 Under 40, Marcus Graham Project Alum

About Sheila:

Sheila Marmon has a passion for launching new businesses in the digital media industry and has created and led innovative platforms for over 20 years. With a focus on growth markets her expertise delivers meaningful ROI for creators, investors, and multinational clients. 

As Founder + CEO of Mirror Digital, a digital media and publishing company, she helps leading brands tap into the fastest growing U.S. consumer base - multicultural and diverse markets. Sheila has executed over 1,000 digital campaigns in this space for clients including Amazon, AT&T, Comcast, Disney, Ford, General Motors, Macy’s, Procter & Gamble, SheaMoisture Universal Pictures, and Verizon among others. 

In addition to entrepreneurship, Sheila’s multi-faceted media career includes leadership roles in operations, new ventures, and finance at TimeWarner (now Warner Bros. Discovery), Morgan Stanley, and Essence Communications. 

Sheila has been featured in global publications including the Financial Times and was profiled in a cover story for Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine. Her board leadership includes serving as Chair for A Better Chance, Chair of the Digital Committee for the American Advertising Federation, and Chair of the Marketing & Strategy Committee for Cate School. She has received numerous industry and civic awards including being named a ‘Top Woman in Media and Ad Tech’ by Ad Monsters & Ad Exchanger and a Trailblazer by the Chamber of Commerce. The Mirror Digital team has also been a standout - the firm has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work ” by several publications including Ad Age and was recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies by Inc. Magazine. 

Sheila graduated with a B.A. from Princeton University, cum laude and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Steven F. Heuer.

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Perry Fair is one of the few people in Marketing and Advertising who has worked across virtually every level in the industry. He has experience in multicultural, traditional, digital, social, experiential, events, branded content, and entertainment. Perry has worked agency-side as President, Chief Creative Officer, and Chief Digital Officer during his career as well as a Global Head of Brand, Global Head of Creative, Head of Partnerships and Global Head of Production and Events as a client. 

In Entertainment, Perry led the creation of the pilot for "The Shop," on HBO as VP, Global Head of Creative at Beats by Dr. Dre. Perry developed branded content and entertainment properties as Head of Partnerships for Red Bull and Red Bull Media House North America. Led and created the first global campaign in over 4 years for Converse at McCann.

Perry has also written and sold a full-length feature, "The Four Horsemen," to Intrepid Pictures and Universal Studios.

 He is currently CCO of New Business and Global Director of Entertainment for McCann Worldgroup.

1. Follow us on social @doseofblkjoy and learn more about “A Dose of Support” from the 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies):
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Jacquelyn is a Social Impact professional and serves as Director of Programs at the 4A's Foundation in New York City. She oversees the advertising industry's premier talent pipeline program, the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), retention programs focused on Black and Latinx mid-level talent, VANGUARD and VANGUARD Latinx, and the 4A's Foundation's scholarships and awards. Jacquelyn is an alumnus of MAIP, and began her career in Corporate PR and Public Affairs. She is passionate about connecting brands to community, and drives projects from ideation to execution to make substantial impact. Her portfolio includes creating a 100% virtual, 12-week engagement experience for diverse talent to maintain access to the industry at the height of the pandemic, creating toolkits for over 400+ industry professionals outlining early talent engagement strategies, and executing a $1.5 million partnership with Spotify to design a professional development program for Black creatives.Jacquelyn is a California native, and holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Advertising from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from California State University, San Bernardino.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

"Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up".

With this conviction and attitude, Anthony is committed to servant leadership and advocating for DE&I. Anthony is passionate about creating dynamic work that amplifies black/brown voices and crafting stories with intention and honesty.Anthony is an Account Supervisor at Mischief @ No Fixed Address agency in Brooklyn!

His previous agency experience includes Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, OR, and Translation, LLC in Brooklyn, New York! He's had the pleasure of building brand campaigns for clients including NIKE, Amazon Music, WhatsApp, New Balance, Chili's, and more. Anthony's areas of expertise are brand marketing, social/digital marketing, activations, branded entertainment, client/talent/athlete management, and production.

His strengths include effective communication, project management, and connecting the dots.

Anthony is a 2020 ADCOLOR FUTURES member and served as an ADCOLOR Ambassador in 2023. He credits much of his entry into the industry thanks to the Marcus Graham Project. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. 

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Aaron is a Blerd, social media enthusiast, sneakerhead, and lover of all things DEI.
He was first exposed to the marketing industry via the 4A's MAIP program, and since then have worked across several verticals including retail, finance, gaming, and tech. Aaron takes pride in fusing cultural nuance and strategic thinking to build impactful, inspirational consumer-focused approaches. In addition to his day job as an Associate Strategy Director, he uses his platforms via social and speaking engagements to cover topics such as building a personal brand, creative strategy, and the future of social media.
In 2022,  Aaron founded Black Visionaries, a non-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission to democratize access to resources and community for Black professionals. The organization curated both virtual and in-person experiences for their community including their yearly event The Black Visionaries Brunch
Aaron’s love of community has translated into distinctive honors such as MAIPer to Watch, Mr. ADCOLOR 2022, the inaugural recipient of both the 4A’s x McCann Worldgroup Billy Davis Award & the “Right Hand” Plug Award.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Alicia helps transform global brands and talent into cultural icons through creating marketing strategies that help them impact and connect with their audience. She has led brand, engagement and social strategy for some of culture’s biggest brands including BMW, Roc Nation, Pepsi Co, The North Face, Samsung, AT&T and Pernod Ricard while working across Ogilvy, United Entertainment Group and most recently Translation where she currently serves as Group Strategy Director. 

Alicia is also the creator and executive producer of The Invisible Thread, a digital content series and community that shines a light on strategists of color to uncover how they've built culture's biggest and most beloved brands.
The Invisible Thread has proven itself to be not only a much needed in-depth look into business and strategy but also a key source of mentorship for strategists and creatives as they navigate their way throughout the field of strategy and the industry as a whole.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Tamika is a dynamic leader in the digital advertising and marketing   arena, boasting nearly two decades of industry expertise across diverse  roles - from publisher, agency, to client sides, within finance, communications, marketing and the majority, advertising sales - in global hubs such as London, Chicago, and her beloved hometown, New York City. 

In 2019, Tamika became a part of Walmart history, joining to build their in-house advertising team from the onset. Tamika swiftly ascended to Team Lead/Associate Director within 18 months, showcasing a proven track record in driving revenue growth and establishing strategic partnerships that impact how millions of consumers experience shopping both online and offline. She manages a high-performing team, emphasizing a consultative sales approach with C-suite leaders, all while navigating constant change with ease. Tamika's core expertise lies in a crafting thoughtful, creative approaches, seamlessly collaborating with cross-functional teams in Merchandising, Marketing, Operations, etc. Her focus is on developing scalable strategic solutions for suppliers and ad agencies within Beauty, Personal Care, Health and Wellness, Household Chemicals, Baby, and the Pets category at  the Fortune 1 company.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Tamika is a caregiver within her large extended family, a first-generation Caribbean American, and  a Brooklyn, NY native. Despite her bustling life, she finds solace in satisfying her avid global travels where she recharges and finds  inspiration

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

In a world where evolution is happening at unprecedented rates, ingenuity and innovation are vital to the success of anything that wants to thrive. Aarian J. Forman is a forward-thinking innovator and problem solver. He is handily equipped with the necessary expertise to build leaders, solve complex issues, and create strategies that speak to a need. He is a respected voice throughout the United States on business strategy and process, leadership, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and marketing, to name a few.In a world where evolution is happening at unprecedented rates, ingenuity and innovation are vital to the success of anything that wants to thrive. Aarian J. Forman is a forward-thinking innovator and problem solver. He is handily equipped with the necessary expertise to build leaders, solve complex issues, and create strategies that speak to a need. He is a respected voice throughout the United States on business strategy and process, leadership, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and marketing, to name a few.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Carlin Dixon is an award-winning culture-first strategist with experience across brands like Hilton, The Mayo Clinic, and Brooklyn Film Festival. As Associate Director of DEI Strategy at global advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day\NY, Carlin works alongside agency leadership to create an equitable and inclusive environment for employees while ensuring the agency’s creative product tells diverse, equitable, and inclusive stories. He currently serves as a co-lead on the Alumni Engagement Committee for the ADCOLOR Advisory Board and has been recognized as a 2018 ADCOLOR FUTURE and one of “50 Rising Stars on Madison Avenue in 2021” by Business Insider. Carlin is a proud Midwesterner from Cleveland, OH, and holds a B. A in Media Production & Studies from Bowling Green State University, where he studied the intersection of media, race, representation, and culture.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Danielle E. Wilburn is a Director of Program Management at Meta, leading brand excellence and infusing technology and innovation across the portfolio of brands with over 3.45B users. She sets an environment for fearless creativity to thrive by bringing cultural insights, strategic and operational rigor and motivational momentum. With every initiative, she navigates a multi-functional marketing organization, influences decision-makers, and aligns stakeholders across the company. Prior to switching over to tech, Danielle worked at advertising agencies FCB, Leo Burnett, and Ogilvy & Mather, which all contributed to her becoming an impactful team leader and creative marketer across a range of industries. She has a proven track record of building brands and relationships that drive business growth for Fortune 500 companies including The Boeing Company, Unilever, Kraft-Heinz, Burger King, and Whirlpool Corporation.  

Danielle's recognition of the power of diversity has propelled her to be a change maker. Her sphere of influence spans beyond marketing to impact companies’ culture at large. She has influenced many organizations to be anchored in inclusion, empathy, empowerment and solidarity. Danielle has been steadfast in her quest to ensure underrepresented people have a seat at the table to be decision-makers. She sparks honest conversation and creates programming to foster meaningful change around recruitment, hiring, and retention of people of color in the communications industry.     

A natural born nurturer, Danielle lends her expertise as a mentor to anyone who asks and in some cases to those who don't. As an alum of the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP) and ADCOLOR FUTURES program, she is passionate about developing and giving back to young professionals. A testament to this was her receiving the Coalesce Chicago 2015 Champion of Growth award and the ADCOLOR 2019 Unsung Hero award. 

Danielle completed her B.S. and MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and currently resides in Atlanta, GA. When not working, you can find her on an island, sipping on whiskey gingers dancing to the beat.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Shawn Finnie is an entertainment executive with over a decade of experience and most recently served as the Executive Vice President, Member Relations and Awards to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He oversaw member relations, and global outreach for the organization’s global membership of more than 10,000+ artists, filmmakers and executives as well as overseeing Academy Awards processes for submissions, rules, and voting.

He has created, hosted, and co-produced various pieces of award winning content for the organization such as “Academy Dialogues: It Starts with Us”. Focused on race, ethnicity, gender, history, opportunity, and the art of filmmaking, these discussions featured high-profile figures such as Bryan Stevenson, Whoopi Goldberg, Lee Daniels, Lulu Wang, Eva Longoria, Roger Ross Williams, Delroy Lindo, Anita Hill, Geena Davis, and Ava DuVernay. In addition, he co-produced additional digital content series such as: Academy Greenroom, Academy Panels and Oscar nominee content.

Finnie launched Academy Affinity groups. This member led, staff supported group(s) were created exclusively for members to amplify the voices in the following communities: Black, Indigenous x Native American, Middle Eastern, West Asia North African, LGBTQIA+, Asian, Latinx, and AccessAbility. The focus of the groups is centered around community, advocacy, empowerment and education with the intention to create equity for all voices to impact systemic change.

Finnie’s focus is Community, Culture, and Connectivity. He is signed to United Talent Agency as a speaker and has collaborated with multiple organizations, communities, and leaders to speak and share personal experiences and initiate action-oriented conversations surrounding mental health, personal journey, and dealing with adversity. He is committed to ensuring that solid representation of diverse voices and backgrounds are included, engaged, and activated.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Jasmine Clennon is a global marketing manager at Meta, leading the Creators for Business workstream, which is focused on how businesses can unlock the power of creators on Meta platforms. She is responsible for driving the marketing strategy and activation of programs aimed at the business audience on how to best work with creators on Instagram to achieve their goals through inspiration and education. 

Jasmine has 13+ years experience in marketing research, ad sales strategy and client & consumer insights, spanning across print, television and digital industries. She has a demonstrated history in leveraging data-driven market research for campaign strategy.

Before joining Meta over five years ago, Jasmine spent five and a half years at Turner (now known as WarnerMedia Discovery) working within Ad Sales Research, Integrated Marketing Research, and was heavily involved in the development of WarnerMedia’s initial audience targeting products. Prior to WarnerMedia Discovery, Jasmine was a Research Analyst at USA TODAY national newspaper. Jasmine began her career as a Marketing Research Analyst for Gannett New Jersey Newspapers, supporting print & digital efforts for five newspapers, three media websites and over 30 brands.

Jasmine is a former Advisory Board Member of both the Advertising Research Foundation’s Young Professionals Board (ARFYP) and the ADCOLOR Advisory Board (AAB). In 2020, Jasmine was named one of Adweek's CMO executive mentees. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Jasmine has a BA in Public Relations and Mass Communications from The Zimmerman School of Advertising at the University of South Florida. Jasmine hails from Pensacola, Florida, but recently relocated to Los Angeles with her daughter and husband after spending the past 11+ years in New York City.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Ghee is the Founder and CEO of Expectant Media. A Black Women Owned media company that connects clients to the diverse audiences that fuel their growth while elevating other Black Owned Media.

Ghee has worked for some of the most powerful media companies in the world generating more than a billion $’s in revenue. Including, the CEO of Ebony and Jet, where she helped revive the iconic brand, Allen Media Group, The Weather Channel, CNN, A&E, The History Channel and BET Networks. While at BET, Michele created and ran the first and only network for Black women: BETHer. Her mission is simple: lead people, transform communities and drive revenue.

Ghee has received many honors, authored three books and was honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from her alma mater, Golden Gate University. 

Ghee resides in New Jersey and is a proud wife of husband Tony and honored to be the mom of Taylor and Jordan.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Aaron Marshall is a copywriter/creative at BBDO NY, working on prominent global brands such as Bacardí, AT&T, and Dewar’s.

In his short but impactful time in the industry, he’s received recognition from One Show, Clios, Webby’s, Epica, ADC, AdWeek, AdAge and earned BBDO’s “Most Valuable People” award.

Living with a life-long stutter, he’s passionate about mentoring kids who stutter and advocating for the community to be accurately seen and heard worldwide— which has gained mainstream attention on NBC’s ‘Today Show.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Have you heard of Keesha Jean-Baptiste? If not, you're missing out on the chance to learn from an innovative and effective C-suite leader who made waves in the advertising, marketing, and media industry leaving a lasting impact felt beyond the traditional HR scope. Often described as "quietly fearless," having "a level of energy that never stops," and being "a true visionary and business partner," Keesha is a change agent inspiring the C-suite and other executive leaders. 

Her zeal and caliber are evident in her work, as she uses her purpose-driven approach to uncover insights that help organizations align their business strategy through their most prized assets, their people. It is due to her vision and unique perspective that her impact is felt during and beyond her tenure at Digitas, Wieden + Kennedy and Hearst Magazines. 

Born in Japan and raised in Virginia as the child of a military father, Keesha's childhood shaped her into a curious, open-minded, and adaptable individual. She earned a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication from Emerson College and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from James Madison University. She also serves on the board of directors for ADCOLOR. 

Most recently, Keesha's global perspective was further enriched during her time living in Switzerland, where she served as a deputy to the Global Chief People Officer at Richemont. Her experience in an international setting broadened her understanding of cultural dynamics in a highly complex organization. With Keesha's extensive experience, innovative mindset, and dedication to transforming organizations, there's no doubt that she will continue to succeed as she pivots out of the corporate world into leading her own practice called The LeaderSHIFT Method. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Keesha is a devoted mother of two children. She has a passion for travel, music, and dancing. Additionally, Keesha is an accomplished writer and has been a columnist for a women's magazine, showcasing her talent for storytelling. It is her ability to be vulnerable and authentic that adds to her magnetism. Currently, she is working on writing her memoir, adding another dimension to her multifaceted career. 

If you're looking for inspiration and guidance on how to transform your organization's people strategy, Keesha Jean-Baptiste is the person you need to know. But it’s not until you meet her in person that you realize the magnitude of her firepower, charisma and unwavering commitment to transforming organizations. Take the time to learn from her, and you'll be amazed at the results you can achieve.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

One of the most innovative and sought-out voices in diversity, equity, and inclusion, author Doug Melville has given three TEDx Talks and has been featured prominently in the media, including PBS NewsHour, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, TIME, The Daily Show, Forbes, and more.  A fifth-generation leader, Doug Melville’s family has worked under ten different presidential administrations to advance the safety, equality, and fair treatment of all Americans.  Throughout his career, he has served as the global head of diversity for a major luxury goods holding company and global top 10 creative agency. His first book, INVISIBLE GENERALS: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America’s First Black Generals (Simon & Schuster) debuted November 2023 as an Amazon #1 Best-Selling New Release, and has since become the subject of a PBS NewsHour Classroom Daily News Lesson. To learn more, visit DougMelville.com and follow @DougMelville on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Makisha Noël is a media personality, creator, and global marketing strategist. She has been gracing stages for 10+ years as a speaker and talent. From being tapped by the U.S. Department of State to speak on community building in Istanbul, Turkey for the Middle Eastern Partnership Initiative to presenting at the Annual ADCOLOR Awards in Los Angeles, California, Makisha's influence spans the globe. As a global marketing strategist, she has consulted on social strategy for brands from Samsung to Mastercard. Her strategies are applicable for businesses large and small, regardless of industry. From consulting on executive visibility as it relates to the personal branding of a CEO, to structuring sound POVs when a national crisis demands a brand’s social media response. She has a strong pulse on culture, coupled with a sharp ability to connect with diverse audiences, ensuring her contributions are consistently timely, relevant, and impactful. Makisha is a community builder as exemplified through The Living Room Project (LRP). Featured in South Florida's WLRN, the organization was started as a response to the then upcoming presidential elections in 2016 to build community through constructive dialogue and debate. Most notably, the organization partnered with Capital One Cafe in DC to strengthen their connection to the DMV's entrepreneurial community, through conversation on economic mobility. She also empowers and equips creators through Creative Culture Tribe (CCT). The platform exists to teach women of color creators and entrepreneurs the business of creativity in Miami and globally. With past partners and supporters such as PepsiCo, Boxed Water, KAZMALAJE, the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami and more, for the 2019 CCT Miami Summit, her team is planning for the 2024 CCT Miami Summit. Lastly, her first solo podcast, On The Move With Maki provides rich storytelling through long form content, sharing the intimate stories of multi-hyphenate creatives and world changers. She recently launched a new segment, The Sound Off, focused on music and media, as those industries move culture the most. Makisha is Haitian American and a global digital nomad who resides in Miami, FL where she was born and raised. She is a 2022 ADCOLOR FUTURE and 2023 Legacy Miami 40 Under 40 recipient.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Guaranteed is personal to us.

After her dad faced a series of heart attacks and a two-week stay in the hospital, our founder Jessica McGlory heard what millions of Americans are told every year: that he was recommended to enter hospice. Hospice was new to her, but the difficult experience she and her family went through is what led her to create Guaranteed. Together, we’re here to make difficult moments easier by providing the best care experience possible—one she didn’t get to have with her dad.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR.⁠ ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Ayanna Jackson is the SVP, Global Inclusion Strategy for FCB, leading the next chapter of the global network’s inclusion mission. As a member of the Global Leadership Team, Ayanna is tasked with working across global offices and departments to expand FCB’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives. She works to bring greater scale, impact and connectivity to FCB’s inclusion efforts around the world and further evolve FCB’s industry-leading strategic framework for integrating DEIB into its Workforce, Workplace and Work. She joined FCB from the American Advertising Federation (AAF), where she served for over 7 years, as EVP, DE&I and Advertising Education. As the leader of the AAF’s Mosaic Center for Multiculturalism, Ayanna oversaw the development and promotion of new programs and services aimed to recognize and develop diverse talent and promote broad and realistic portrayals of multicultural communities. These programs include the Most Promising Multicultural Students Program, HBCUs for Advertising, and the Mosaic Awards.

Ayanna began her advertising career in media, starting at The Washington Post in DC and then moved on to The New York Times, where she spent 14-years on the publication’s business side as Advertising Account Manager for the Department Store vertical.

Ayanna resides in Maryland, but will let you know she’s a proud Louisiana native. She’s also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., cooking enthusiast, has completed eight half-marathons and is profiled in the university textbook, “Principles of Strategic Communication.”

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

Nicole Godreau approaches her corporate and community-driven work through the lens of inclusion and empowerment to shift culture. As a Global Creative Strategist at Spotify, Nicole develops ideas worth talking about for brands by uncovering human truths through cultural insights.

Recently, she was named one of “The Top 50 Black Marketers To Watch” by the African American Marketing Association, as well as recognized as one of the Hispanic Executive's NextGen Collective 2023 30 Under 30 award recipients.
Nicole serves on the ADCOLOR Advisory Board and is honored to be a Cannes Young Lion Academy Alum, Ad Club of NY Fellowship recipient, ADCOLOR Future Alum, AAF Most Promising Multicultural Student, and Emma Bowen Foundation Alum. Her work has been featured in AdWeek, and she has moderated panels at industry events such as “Where Are All the Black People”. She holds a B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Ithaca College.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries)

A first generation American by way of Ghana, Paanii is a charismatic and driven leader. He is currently a Brand Director at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, working on the Nike account.

His passion is to help people realize their full potential; in their personal lives or professional careers. He lives by the mantra “Be the best you, that you can be”. To fulfill his passion, Paanii is an active mentor to aspiring marketers and advertisers.

In 5 years at the agency, he has led and contributed to numerous large projects ranging from Olympics campaigns, championship celebration ads, brand campaigns, and city takeover initiatives. His projects have won many awards from a Cannes Lions Grand Prix to an Emmy. His relentless work ethic is attributed to never being comfortable and leading by example.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries.)

Dr. Graves joined the Brandcenter as executive director in 2018. He brings 25+ years of creative, business, and executive leadership experience, having worked with some of the world’s leading global brands (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, MasterCard, Visa, GE, and M&Ms, to name a few). His work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including Cannes Lions, a Grand London International Award, a Grand Clio, and a D&AD Graphite Pencil. Vann also serves as the Dean of the Cannes Creative Academy.
Graves’ military experience contributes to his approach to leadership; he puts a high value on collaboration and commitment to support innovation and high-quality creative work. Prior to the Brandcenter, he served as a Chief Creative Officer at J. Walter Thompson; EVP, Global Executive Creative Director at McCann New York; VP, Creative Director at BBDO New York; and CoFounder at FL+G, a full-service branding agency in Denver.
A Fulbright scholar, Graves holds degrees from Howard University, the Pratt Institute, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ⁠ADCOLOR⁠. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries.)

Adrianne C. Smith is SVP/Senior Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard. Prior to joining FleishmanHillard, Adrianne was named the first Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity at WPP. Adrianne is also the Founder and Visionary of the Can: Diversity Collective, a non-profit organization created to provide access and exposure to young adults of color and under-represented communities to global thought leadership conferences on advertising, marketing, creativity, economics, innovation and technology. In 2018, she launched the first iteration of the Diversity Collective, the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) (http://www.cannesdiversitycollective.com/) which provides rising stars in the advertising and creative industry the opportunity to attend and participate in the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2019, she made history by creating the first stand-alone Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Beach in the festival’s 66 years of existence and named it Inkwell Beach – Cannes (http://www.inkwellbeachcannes.com/) after the historic beach on Martha’s Vineyard. In January 2024, she launched the Davos Can: Diversity Collective’s – Inkwell Beach – Davos during the World Economic Forum., making history again by building the first activation committed to conversations on the global impact of diversity, equity and inclusion. Adrianne is on the Advisory Board of the Reykjavik Global Forum and has been recognized as an Outstanding Mentor by the Diversity Action Alliance, a Game Changer in the Quantum Leap category during the She Runs It Game Changers Awards and the 2023 ADCOLOR DEI Executive of the Year.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries.)

An award-winning creative, Courtney Richardson is currently Creative Director at Droga5 where she leads creative direction for iconic brands and icons including Sean Combs, Combs Enterprises, The Africa Center, Hennessy, Chase Sapphire and more. She credits her early beginnings watching her uncle direct music videos for the Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, & Master P with igniting her passions and creative intuitions.

Formerly Creative Director at PAPER Magazine, it was there she led original ideas and disruptive thinking for brands like Nike, Samsung, Hulu, HBO, VH1 and others; while working with celebrities including Zendaya, Issa Rae, Megan Thee Stallion, Lena Waithe, Taraji P. Henson, Tiffany Haddish, Laverne Cox, Michaela Coel, Colin Kaepernick and more. Recognized and inducted into the 2022 Creative Class of Black thought leaders by The Creative Collective as a ‘Culture Shifter,’ Courtney was named 2021’s ‘Creative of the Year’ by ADCOLOR & The One Club and was recently honored as a ‘Trailblazer’ by the Black Women in Media Awards, alongside esteemed social justice activist Dr. Bernice King and Grammy-award winning singer Deborah Cox.

She has been featured by outlets including CBS Morning News, EBONY Magazine, AdWeek, Refinery29, Bustle, PopSugar and more. Her creative thinking has also been praised and sought after by none other than the one and only, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

Courtney’s life goal is to uplift humanity, particularly marginalized communities. She truly believes in radiating self-love and spreading positivity. The world needs more, so she aims to put forth that philosophy first in everything she does.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries.)

Tiffany Hardin is an award-winning executive marketer, investor, and educator. Hardin is the CEO & founder of Gild Creative Group (GCG), an influencer marketing agency delivering strategy for brands that desire meaningful influencer/talent integrations for campaigns on and offline. She is known to help create and share culturally relevant stories to build meaningful connections that drive trust, awareness, and impact. Some client work has included brands such as Hulu, Onyx, Black Girl in Om, Victoria's Secret, Airbnb, WeWork, Microsoft & Target.
As an early pioneer in the mid-00s of the influencer marketing industry, Tiffany has been at the forefront of social branded content helping lead curious brands on the power of leveraging talent-driven platforms. As a “culture A&R,” Tiffany can trend forecast to see the waves of culture shift and support her clients in anticipating the wave versus reacting or getting caught in the rip tide.
Tiffany's commitment to educating and creating pathways for the next generation of mindful leaders is illustrated in how she shows up in and for her industry in classrooms and media. Hardin has taught Capstone and Partnership courses at NYU's Tisch and Stern Schools, guest mentored and lectured at AWS Impact Accelerator for Women, and been a featured lecturer for Billboard's Music Industry Essentials Online Certificate Program. She is also a powerful speaker, contributing to stages at SXSW and Adcolor & Advertising Week. Further, she advocates for those seeking an alternative to “hustle culture,” providing the professional development curriculum and lifestyle brand Conscious Hustler™. Currently, Tiffany is building a tech startup, Represent, to support creators at every stage of their careers, leveraging tech-enabled tools and an expert marketplace of professionals.
Additionally, Tiffany has served as a Board member, advisor, or member of community organizations like AdColor, Harlem's Fashion Row, Heal Haus, Be Well Schools, YWCA, and Nashville Repertory Theater.

(Season 8 is in partnership with ADCOLOR. ADCOLOR champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries.)

Louis Carr has been with BET for 37 years, serving as the President of Media Sales for the  last 21 years. During his tenure with the company, Carr has transformed the multicultural  space for some of the world's biggest brands and stimulated over $10B in advertising  sales. Through strategic partnerships with corporations like Procter & Gamble, Unilever,  McDonald's, General Motors, Facebook, Apple, and many more, he has been a guide  and a consultant on opportunities that exist within black and brown communities.  Through his deep understanding of linear TV, digital and social platforms, he has made  BET Networks the number one brand and choice for Black consumers. Carr's mantra,  "Be led by data and insights," has driven BET to have the largest repository of information  on Black consumers than any other media company worldwide. His understanding of  this data has inspired him to create content and messages that help marketers sell  products and services and help them become good corporate citizens.  

In addition to Carr's stellar professional career, he has had a long-term commitment to  young people and his community. Carr founded the Louis Carr Internship Foundation  (LCIF) 20 years ago to help improve diversity in corporate America through paid  internships. The foundation has provided 270 paid internships, in which 62 alumni now  have full-time jobs within the industry. Staying true to his commitment of giving back,  Carr launched his latest brand called WayMaker. He purposed this initiative to help  provide direction, wisdom and inspiration to people wanting to grow their life and  change the world. Through the quarterly WayMaker Journal and other avenues, the  umbrella brand offers insight from subject matter experts across a wide range of fields.  He has also created WayMaker Mens’s Summit (formerly known as The Blueprint Men's  Summit) and The Blueprint Connect Podcast, which bring together some of Black America's high profile thought leaders to educate Black men in the areas of Finance,  Health, Careers, Relationships, and Entrepreneurship.  

Carr has authored two books, Dirty Little Secrets and Little Black Book: Daily Motivations  for Business and Personal Growth. He openly lays out his blueprint to greatness, covering  much-needed topics like Leadership, Culture, Strategy, Vision, Success, and Diversity.  

Most recently, Carr was inducted into the 2023 Advertising Hall of Fame and awarded  the Chicago Advertising Federation Silver Medal Award. Carr has also been recognized  by theboardiQ as a Top 100 Hall of Fame African American and was named one of the  Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine. He has served on more  advertising industry boards than any other African American. He held seats on the  International Radio and Television Society (IRTS), the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB),  the Advertising Council, and the American Advertising Federation (AAF).  

He currently serves on Cedar Fair’s Board of Directors, Drake University’s Board of  Trustees, and The United States Track and Field Foundation (USATF) Board.  

Mr. Carr attended Drake University on a full athletic scholarship and received a B.A. in  Broadcast Journalism. He has been happily married for 37 years. For more information,  visit iamlouiscarr.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @iamlouiscarr  and Louis Carr on LinkedIn.

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