Armstrong has demonstrated professional excellence within the Automotive industry for over 16 years. Armstrong joined General Motors in 2006 as a marketing intern with the Service Parts Operations (CCA) as an associate analyst with ACDelco & Goodwrench. She furthered her automotive career as the previous Business Planning Manager for General Motors’ Chair & CEO, where she was responsible for leading portfolio studies and the long-term growth strategy for the organization. She’s held several critical regional and sales assignments including supporting the Buick & GMC Dealer Network and its execution of the first-ever Black Friday Select Model 20% incentive program. In 2021, Armstrong was promoted to the Director of Diversity Marketing & Development. In this current role she leads the task of driving measurable business results for multicultural audiences in addition to human capital development initiatives to reskill marketing employees as modern marketers.

In 2023 Armstrong was named an honoree for The Michigan Chronicles – Women of Excellence and Black Enterprise 40 under 40. In 2022 Armstrong was appointed to the General Motors Inclusion Advisory Board, a participant in the Deloitte 2022 Rising Leader Collective, 2022 DBusiness Magazine 30 In Their Thirties, 2020 Michigan Chronicles “40 Under 40” Honoree and was featured in the Working Mother’s Magazine representing GM as the Best Companies for Multicultural Women.

An advocate for Multicultural Marketing and ensuring equal representation in the workforce, Armstrong has been on numerous panels and a guest speaker for events and initiatives such as the Kellogg Business School “CMO” Executive Education, Rainbow Push Automotive Coalition, AdWeek, ANA Global Day of Learning, GM African American Ancestry Network Celebration, and GM Diverse Media Summit.

A native of Flint, Mich., Armstrong holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Wayne State University, with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Gena Pemberton is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Omnicom Health Group (OHG).  In this role she is responsible for developing and driving forward the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for the network of agencies.  She joined OHG in October 2020, and has been driving Healthy Inclusion at OHG through attracting talent, training and development, and health equity initiatives.  Previously, she spent 13 years at Johnson and Johnson, where she held various Corporate Finance roles, including Director, Finance Leadership Development Programs and Finance recruiting.  Prior to that, she was with Motorola for 8 years.  She is also a dedicated volunteer and served as the President for the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc (NHAA) from 2018-2022.

Pemberton holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Hampton University, an MBA from University of Phoenix, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.  She is also certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).  She is originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and currently resides in NYC.

Sandra Graham-Mason is an innovative and purposeful leader, with approximately 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Known for creating patient centric solutions and driving innovative product and consumer launch strategies, Sandra delivers value for healthcare providers and patients alike.

An enthusiastic advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Sandra had led fully inclusive marketing outreach programs across her organization.
In recognition of Sandra’s leadership, she was honored as part of the 2024 MM&M Women of Distinction and in 2022 she received the Elite 100, Communicators Award in the Master Educator category for a DEI brochure highlighting the impact of skin cancer in people of color.

Sandra is committed to fostering inclusivity and improving patients’ treatment journey through impactful, strategic initiatives.

As Managing Director, Healthcare Industry Lead at Ketchum, Nicky provides stellar client experience across the consultancy’s pharmaceutical and biotech businesses. She brings 20+ years of experience in customer engagement and 10 years in healthcare, having led award-winning pre and post-launch campaigns in diagnostics, oncology, virology, neurology and rare disease.

A great day for Nicky includes deep collaboration with analysts, strategists, creative technologists and paid media planners to deliver next level consumer experience. She relishes in guiding audiences toward adoption through storytelling and dynamic influencer media.

Before joining Ketchum, Nicky ran the Experience team at CDMP, an Omnicom Health Group agency, and she led the Social Media team at MRM//McCANN, building best-in-class digital experiences in healthcare, telecommunications (Verizon) and casual dining (IHOP, Applebee’s).

In 2006, Nicky co-founded a digital communications shop that brought buzz-worthy campaigns to life, transforming the ways users engaged with government agencies (U.S. Census Bureau), consumer brands (Pepsi, Nike) and entertainment brands (Lady Gaga, Kevin Hart, Lionsgate Entertainment).

Nicky received her BA from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. She, her husband Al, and their dog Brick live in New Jersey, eagerly awaiting the return of their two adult children for holiday breaks.

Sophie M. Balzora MD, FACG is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and practicing gastroenterologist at the NYU IBD Center.

She is Founding President of the Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH), Chair of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and serves on ACG Institute’s Leadership, Ethics and Equity Center Advisory Board, the Color of Gastrointestinal Illness (COGI) Medical Advisory Board and Board of Directors, and on the Board of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni.

Dr. Balzora has been recognized and awarded nationally for her contributions to the field of medicine as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and health equity.

Rhonesha Byng is a visionary entrepreneur and media trailblazer who is transforming the landscape of millennial women’s empowerment and representation. As the Founder and CEO of Her Agenda, Rhonesha embodies the guiding principle encapsulated in her acronym N.E.S.H.A. – No one Ever Slows Her Agenda. This philosophy not only propels her own journey but also fuels the mission of HerAgenda.com, a digital media platform she established to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement for millennial women.

Her Agenda serves as a dynamic online platform that empowers millennial women with the content, community, and resources they need to excel in their careers and pursue their aspirations. Through this platform, Rhonesha’s vision provides a blueprint for success, offering women access to information, inspiration, and a supportive network to propel them toward their goals.

Rhonesha’s impact is underscored by her accolades and recognition within the industry. Her inclusion in Forbes Magazine’s prestigious 30 under 30 list in both media and dorm room founders categories highlights her profound influence and trailblazing spirit. ESSENCE magazine also hails her as one of 50 Founders To Watch, while NBCBLK and BET recognized her as part of their respective “28 under 28” and “29 People To Know” lists.

Beyond the realm of media, Rhonesha has made her mark as a powerful advocate for change. Her compelling voice has graced prominent stages, including The White House during the Obama administration. She has delivered impactful talks at Google and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where she discussed the importance of investing in diverse voices. Additionally, Rhonesha’s insights have been featured at Adweek NexTech, where she spoke passionately about creating a more equitable media landscape.

Her commitment to excellence has earned her accolades from the Associated Press and the New York Association of Black Journalists. Notably, her contributions as a field producer with NBC New York (WNBC-TV) were instrumental in securing an Emmy award as part of a team covering a breaking news story.

In her latest endeavor, Rhonesha co-founded the Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute (BOMESI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Black-owned media businesses. Through BOMESI, Rhonesha is at the forefront of a movement to amplify marginalized voices, foster awareness, and create lasting change. The organization’s mission to promote growth, self-agency, and accountability aligns seamlessly with Rhonesha’s unwavering commitment to empowerment and equity.

A true scholar and leader, Rhonesha’s educational journey as an alumna Posse Scholar led her to excel at Depauw University, where she attended on a full-tuition leadership scholarship.

With her visionary leadership, unwavering determination, and commitment to driving positive change, Rhonesha Byng stands as an exemplar of empowerment, innovation, and advocacy. Her legacy continues to inspire millennial women to shatter barriers, pursue their ambitions, and leave an indelible mark on the world.

Damon Jones leads efforts to ensure the world’s largest consumer goods company is recognized as one of the most trusted brands in the world. He leads a consumer-centric communications organization and an equality-focused citizenship agenda that span more than 180 countries.

The 500-person strong global communication discipline led by Jones advances P&G’s growth strategy while building and protecting the image and reputation of the world’s largest consumer goods company and its portfolio of nearly 100 industry-leading brands. The discipline includes influencer marketing, brand and corporate communications, digital and social media, stakeholder engagement, issues advocacy, and crisis management.

P&G and Jones have been well recognized within the CPG industry and beyond for their leadership in creative, advocacy-based campaigns that inspire dialogue and enable collective action in advancing equality for women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other under-represented groups. These programs have been broadly recognized for their creativity, inspiration, and impact – including multiple Silver Anvils, Cannes Lions, and Primetime Commercial Emmy awards and nominations.

As a key partner in the company’s efforts for driving socially responsible business strategies, Jones has helped lead some of the company’s most creative, impactful and well-recognized advocacy campaigns, including “Widen the Screen,” an award-winning initiative aimed at ensuring greater equity in film, television, and advertising. Through this work, P&G has helped challenge biases while driving meaningful change for consumers and communities around the world.

A recognized thought leader, Jones has joined agenda-setting conversations at Cannes, CES, Bloomberg Equality Summit, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation National Town Hall and more. His work has been recognized with numerous awards spanning equality and inclusion (EBONY Power 100, National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation’s Corporate Leadership Award), communications and marketing strategy (ANA NYC Communicator of the Year, PRWeek Power List, SABRE Award) and creative (Cannes Lions, Silver Lions), among others.

A trusted advisor to the C-suite, Jones has a proven track record of leveraging reputation and relationships to drive brand and business success. During his 20+ year career with P&G, Jones has had responsibility for a diverse set of geographic, organizational, and product portfolios – with assignments in Boston, Geneva, London, and Singapore – leading local, regional and global businesses.

He is known as a catalyst for positive social change within P&G and in the external community, acting as strategic advisor to numerous educational, cultural, and advocacy organizations.

Praised for his lyricism and raw storytelling, and blessed with a loyal New York following, Dave East is one of the most promising rappers on the scene today. Born and raised in Harlem, he was inspired by older generation East Coast rappers ranging from Notorious B.I.G. to Styles P, Jadakiss, Cam’ron, and Big Pun. After a college basketball stint, Dave’s attention gravitated full time to music. Starting in 2010, an array of highly praised mixtapes earned him widespread recognition in the hip-hop community. His seventh mixtape, 2014’s Black Rose caught Nas by surprise, resulting in Dave’s signing to Nas’ Mass Appeal imprint.  Subsequent mixtapes Hate Me Now (2015) and Kairi Chanel (2016, named for Dave’s daughter), boasted a collective guest list topped by Nas, Styles P, Pusha T, Jadakiss, 2 Chainz, Fabolous, Cam’ron, Beanie Sigel, Rico Love, and The Game, to name a few.  Kairi Chanel led off with the storytelling visual for “Keisha” followed by “Type Of Time”, with over 12 million combined YouTube views to date. After nabbing a spot in the notorious XXL Freshman Class of 2016, Dave arrived on the Def Jam roster late that year.  He finished out 2016 by joining Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nas, and Aloe Blacc for “Wrote My Way Out” on the critically acclaimed The Hamilton Mixtape.  Dave was next heard on “Gold Digger” featuring A-Boogie, from Def Jam’s Direct Deposit Vol. 2 comp­ilation (February 2017).

Dave’s 13-track Def Jam debut mixtape EP Paranoia: A True Story (August 2017) took off with the single “Perfect” featuring Chris Brown, whose video boasts over 40 million combined YouTube views to date.  The Paranoia 2 mixtape followed in January 2018.  It was supported by a 10-minute short film, “The Hated,” a gritty drama centering on two childhood friends who get caught up in the street hustle that eventually lands one of them in the Rikers Island lockup.  Dave’s profile was amped considerably on his 23-city cross-country “Paranoia 2 Tour” of the U.S. in January-February 2018.  He then jumped into the ring for Beloved (October 2018), a mixtape collabo with invincible Yonkers MC Styles P.  The project spun off a single, “We Got Everything,” whose video starred both MCs.  Dave segued into headlining his 23-city “Get It How I Live Tour” of the U.S. in November-December 2018.  In addition to The Hamilton Mixtape, Dave is featured on over 20 tracks with A-listers 2 Chainz, Fabolous, Trey Songz, Styles P, Meek Mill, fellow Harlem mc Smoke DZA, and Pvrx, to name a few. 

2019 was a landmark breakthrough year for Dave East, with the November release of his first full-length album, Survival (including “Alone” featuring Jacquees; and “Godfather 4” featuring Nas); his starring dramatic portrayal of Method Man in the 10 episode fic­tion­alized HULU mini-series Wu-Tang: An American Saga; the launch of his  D2C Store at https://shop.daveeastmusic.com; and the Survival Tour Part 1 in November-December, with sold-out dates in the U.S., UK and Europe.  August 2020 brought the Karma 3 mixtape, sequel to Karma (2017) and Karma 2 (2018).  The 15-track Karma 3 and its successor, the 23-track Karma 3 Deluxe marked the tenth anniversary of Change Of Plans (2010), the mixtape that started it all for Dave East.