Speakers include a diverse line up of leaders from Marketing, Media, Tech founders.

BLACKWEEK, a new economic forum in New York City from October 15-18, aims to drive greater economic impact for diverse businesses, creators, and founders. The forum will provide corporate leaders with insights into the growing viability of diverse audiences. BLACKWEEK has announced its first wave of speakers for the inaugural event. Given the founders’ endemic connection to advertising, the initial wave of speakers is predominantly from the marketing and media industry, but the conference aims to announce additional professionals, experts and artists from a variety of complementary industries. “We are striving to bring together the most diverse group of thought leaders, professionals, academics, creators, founders and technologists committed to inclusivity as a way to create greater financial equity and impact,” says Joe Anthony, co-founder of BLACKWEEK. 

The first wave of speakers is highlighted by advertising industry luminaries and brand leaders like Jonathan Mildenhall of Rocket Companies, DeLu Jackson of ADT, Erica Taylor of Genentech, Amber Guild, CEO of McCann NY, Jon Cook, CEO of VML and the incomparable Cindy Gallop. Complementing these industry stalwarts are entrepreneurs like Keith Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest and Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition. Blackweek estimates over 40 speakers participating in this year’s conference. The full list of BLACKWEEK’S first wave of speakers is listed below.  

Dr. Marcus Collins, Author, For the Culture

Jonathan Mildenhall, CMO, Rocket Companies

Felecia Hatcher, CEO, Black Ambition

Keith Weaver, Co-Founder, Uncle Nearest

Amber Guild, CEO McCann

Hill Harper, Candidate for US Senate

Cindy Gallop, Founder, MakeLoveNotPorn

Shannon Washington, Chief Creative Officer, McCann

Kaleeta McDade, Global Chief Experience Design Officer, VML

Alia Kemet, CMO, Shipt

John Passmore, CEO & Founder, Latimer

Arturo Nuñez, Former Apple, Nike, NuBank, Board of Directors Estee Lauder and Abercrombie and Fitch

Jon Cook, Global CEO, VML

Katie Williams, CMO, Haleon

Stephanie Jacoby, SVP Global Marketing, Smirnoff

Dr. Erica Taylor, Ph.D. Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Genentech

Kirk McDonald, CEO, Sundial Media Group

Les Brun, Chairman and CEO, Ariel Alternatives

DeLu Jackson, EVP/Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, ADT

Ross Martin, President, KNOWN

John Hope Bryant, Founder, Operation Hope

Larry Adams, Founder, XStereotype

Aaron Walton, CEO, Walter Isaacson

About Blackweek 
BLACKWEEK is a new economic forum and marketing conference launching this Oct. 15-18th in NYC. BLACKWEEK was created to disrupt the current conversation around DE&I by empowering diverse and nondiverse professionals with information, ideas and insight to find common ground in their mutual pursuit of the immense economic impact that lies within diverse communities and their respective influence on global commerce.

About Hero Media 
Hero Media is a 100% Black-owned media network and data-powered ad tech technology company, committed to creating the media company of the future.   Hero Media offers advertisers a variety of digital media offerings that include cutting-edge ad tech tools, access to creators, innovative media brands and access to a network of over 200 diverse-owned publishers. At the core of our media offering is Hero One, our ML-powered DSP. Hero One is the first Black-owned DSP that leverages AI to remove data bias from advertising.