2025 Speakers

2025 SPEAKERS

Some of the most influential professionals in the industry will take the stage at BLACKWEEK as speakers on our panels, breakout sessions, and webinars, to talk about unlocking the economic power of culture.


Speakers

Speakers

Charlamagne Tha God

Cohost of The Breakfast Club, Co-Founder of The Black Effect Podcast Network & Southland Stories, and Founder of Black Privilege Publishing

Don Lemon

Journalist

Kenan Thompson

Actor & Comedian

Eddie Huang

Filmmaker, Actor, Chef

Joy-Ann Reid

Journalist, Author, Documentary Film Producer

Tanyka Renee Henry

Global Brand Strategist, Cultural Innovator, Founder, AI to the World

Daniel Porter

Founder, Overtime

Andre Gray

CAO, HAVAS LYNX

Adan Romero

EVP, ECD - Razorfish (Publicis)

Walter T. Geer

CCO, Innovation North America

Abran Maldonado

Co-founder, Create Labs

Dupé Ajayi

Founder, The Ajayi Effect

Kanene Ayo Holder

Educator, AI Strategist

Will Lucas

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Susan Jaramillo

CEO, Encantos

Islam ElDessouky

Global Vice President of Creative Strategy & Content, Coca-Cola

Jason Wagenheim

CEO, North America, Footballco

Kimberly Paige

C-Suite executive, Investor and Board Director

Steven Wolfe Pereira

Co-Founder, Alpha

Alvin Bowles

Co-Founder, Alpha

Jacqueline Woods

C-Suite Executive • Board Director • Author • Founder

Nadja Bellan-White

CEO, M&C Saatchi

Melodie Narain-Blackwell

President, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Inc.

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Psychologist, CEO & Founder of Therapy for Black Girls

Latham Thomas

Founder of Mama Glow

Shyra Smart

Chief Development & Strategy Officer, VOX Media

Kheri Holland Tillman

Chief Marketing Officer, Primo Brands

Shannon Womack

Head of Commercial Marketing, Delta Air Lines

Tamika D. Mallory

Bestselling Author

Tianna Madison

Olympic Gold Medalist

Dr. Sophie Balzora

President and Co-Founder, Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH)

Damon Jones

Chief Communications Officer, Procter & Gamble

Simon Cook

CEO, Cannes Lion

Danisha Lomax

EVP, Head of Client Inclusivity & Impact, Digitas

Brianne Boles Marshall

Diversity Media Strategy & Investment, General Motors

Joe Anthony

CEO & Founder, Hero Collective

Lola Bakare

Author, "Responsible Marketing" & CMO Advisor/Inclusive Marketing Strategist at Be/Co

Chris Foster

CEO, Omnicom PR Group

Shannon Washington

Chief Creative Officer + Partner, 11 Ounces

Cindy Gallop

Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn

Larry Miller

Chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board

Abiola Oke

Managing Director, ADISA

Sindé Chekete

CEO, Benin Tourism

Chereese Sheen

Journalist & Creative Producer

Charles Amuzie

Senior Director of Digital Content & Strategy, Color of Change

Alphonzo Terrell

Co-Founder & CEO, SPILL

James Francis

Founder & CEO, Sole AI | Author, Artificial Integrity

Warren Jolly

CEO, adQuadrant

Mic Fox

President, 8tiv Labs

Lisa Price

Founder & President, Carol's Daughter

Diamant Blazi

Basketball Player

Lucinda Martinez

Chief Marketing Officer at HarbourView Equity Partners

Monica Raye Simpson

Executive Director of SisterSong

Charlene Polite Corley

VP, Inclusive Insights, Nielsen Business Impact, Inclusion & Belonging

Imani Greene

Founder and CEO of AAmplify MEDIA

Anthony Ramos

Actor and Musician

Vanessa Sewell

Head of Monetization, Zip

Audrey Cochran

VP of Television and Digital Research, Urban One

Tracy Sturdivant

President & CEO, The League

Megan Garner

SVP, Sports, Ketchum

Shana Renee Stephenson

Chief Brand Officer, WNBA New York Liberty

Yvonne Bryant

Hemoglobinopathies Commercialization Head, Novo Nordisk

Alzo Slade

Emmy-Award Winning Journalist

Jordan Randall

Content Director, TikTok

Jaclyn Williams

Research & Insights Lead, TikTok

Eni Popoola

Creator

Joy Doyin Ogunneye

Global Innovation & Brand Comms Lead, Aveeno Body

Doug Rozen

President, Cadent

Mike Tresvant

Executive Vice President at Complex NTWRK

Brittany Sky

DJ, Host Personality and Beauty Creator

Crissy Spivey

SVP, Strategy, Burson

Tina Mulqueen

SVP, Digital Transformation, Burson

David Adelstein

Director of Talent & Learning Development, North America, VML

Courtney Cox

Associate Director of Creative Operations, Blavity Inc.

Daniela Rosario

Associate Creative Director, VML

Wendi Dunlap

EVP, Growth Analytics, Mediabrands

Josh Ott

Head of Revenue & Strategic Growth, The Shade Room

Julee Wilson

Beauty Editor-at-Large at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Award-winning Storyteller & Brand Consultant

Julian Golfarini

Multicultural Consultant

T.D. Jakes

Founder and Chairman of TD Jakes Group, Founding Pastor of The Potter’s House

Omar Goff

President, Mielle Organics

Abena Boamah-Acheampong

Founder & CEO, Hanahana Beauty

Akunna Cook

Founder & CEO, Next Narrative Africa

Tiffany Bender-Abdallah

Head of Special Projects, Afrofuture and Founder of Harlem to Homeland

Chika Uwazie

Co-founder, Afropolitan

Jeff Meza

EVP, Head of Branded Entertainment & Integrated Marketing, Urban One

Lena Waithe

Artist, Writer, Witness

Khari Motayne

VP, Engagement Strategy, CMI Media Group

Michelle Rice

President & CEO of TV One

Jay Williams

Journalist

Karina Dobarro

EVP & Managing Partner of Multicultural at Horizon Media

Cori Murray

EVP of Editorial Content at Ebony Media

Caralene Robinson

CMO, Global Citizen

Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo

Co-Founder of Murder Inc. Records

Mike Tollin

Filmmaker

Vanessa Rissetto

CEO and Co-founder of Culina Health

Vanessa Wallace

CMO, Savage X Fenty

JoJo Simmons

Podcaster

Monique Rodriquez

Founder & CEO, Mielle Organics

Dreka Gates

Founder of Dreka

Nigel Sylvester

Professional BMX Athlete

Mona Scott Young

CEO, Monami Entertainment

Detria Williamson

Co-Founder, Alt Future

Mara Brock Akil

Filmmaker

Mathew Knowles

Founder & CEO of Music World Entertainment, Brand Architect and Author

Roslyn Young-Daniels

Founder & CEO, Black Health Matters

Bethann Hardison

Fashion Industry Icon

AF Cortés

Founder & Creative Director, neuplot

Godfrey

Comedian

Dabo Ché

Founder, CHÉ Creative

Chelsea Miller

Co-Founder, Freedom March NYC

Channing Martin

Global Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer, IPG

Detavio Samuels

CEO, Revolt

Carole Diarra

Global Vice President Marketing, UGG

Derrick Johnson

President & CEO, NAACP

Jerri DeVard

Founder & CEO, BECA

Tru Pettigrew

Author, Activist, Former Chief Diversity Officer, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kaleeta McDade

Global Chief Experience Design Officer, VML

Amber Guild

CEO, McCann New York


Steering Committee

Steering Committee

Aba Blankson

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, NAACP

Shannon Womack

Head of Commercial Marketing, Delta Air Lines

Matt Scheckner

Chairman, Advertising Week

Rob Reilly

Global Chief Creative Officer, WPP

Jerri DeVard

Founder & CEO, BECA

Katie Williams

CMO, Haleon

Alia Kemet

CMO, SHIPT

Gary Vaynerchuk

Chairman, VaynerX and CEO, VaynerMedia

Cindy Gallop

Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn

Arturo Nuñez

CEO, Brand Strategist

Amber Guild

CEO, McCann New York


Moderators

Moderators

Marion E. Brooks

Vice President and US Country Head of Culture and People Experience, Novartis Pharmaceutical

Brandy Stone

Executive Vice President, Havas Formula

Jeff Marshall

Global Chief Inclusion & Impact Officer, Burson

Ezinne Okoro

Global Chief Client Inclusion & Culture Strategy Officer, VML

Andre Gray

CAO, HAVAS LYNX

Dupé Ajayi

Founder, The Ajayi Effect

Don Lemon

Journalist

Rob Reilly

Global Chief Creative Officer, WPP

Nicky Battle

Managing Director, Health Care Industry Lead, Ketchum

Eric Austin

Vice President, Global Marketing & Media, The Procter & Gamble Co.

Tope Ajala

Global Culture Strategist & Host

Monique Nelson

Executive Chair and Acting CEO of UniWorld Group Inc., Co-Founder of Blackweek

Nicky Sparrow

EVP of Multicultural Sales, iHeartMedia

Jerri DeVard

Founder & CEO, BECA

Gabrielle Shirdan

Founder, Kitchen Table

Joe Anthony

CEO & Founder, Hero Collective

Chris Foster

CEO, Omnicom PR Group

Kaleeta McDade

Global Chief Experience Design Officer, VML

Alia Kemet

CMO, SHIPT

Arturo Nuñez

CEO, Brand Strategist