https://waatbp.org

Home - WAATBP - 2024A Diversity Conference and Career FairHome - WAATBP - 2024 Where Are All the Black People 2024 Skip to content HomeAbout The Conference The Team Our Story Success StoriesPrograms Delta Brief Competition Spark A ConvoSponsorsThe One ClubShopAccount Login September 26 & 27 Presenting Partner: Thank you to all of our sponsors, speakers and incredible attendees for making WAATBP 2024 a huge success! SEE EVENT PHOTOS Shop The WAATBP Collection Shop Now Keynote Speakers Troy Millings & Rashad Billal Co-CEOs Earn Your Leisure Podcast The dynamic hosts of Earn Your Leisure, Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal were the keynote for the WAATBP 2024 Conference! Earn Your Leisure has revolutionized the podcast world by blending business insights with popular culture, providing listeners with a unique and engaging perspective on the world of business. With a community of 1.5 million followers on social media and 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, their influence and reach are truly remarkable. READ MORE Sessions Bringing together Black voices within the advertising community to celebrate success, highlight setbacks, and demand their rightful place at the table alongside their allies. Speakers Thank you to all of our incredible speakers who made WAATBP 2024 an incredible success! Enshalla Anderson Senior Director, Global Brand & Creative, Google Cloud Google Company Details Enshalla Anderson Enshalla’s career has taken her from Wall Street to management consulting to “agency land”—with stops along the way in New York, London, Istanbul, and Caracas. And now she serves as the Global Head of Brand Strategy and Creative for Google Cloud. Enshalla is passionate about building brand love for Google’s fast growing cloud portfolio. And strongly believes that the “B” in B2B Marketing doesn’t have to stand for boring. Enshalla earned her BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania, and her MBA from Harvard Business School. When not working, Enshalla is busy with her husband and two teenage sons, who shareher passion for Star Wars and Marvel. Nigel Sylvester Professional BMX Athlete Entrepreneur Company Details Nigel Sylvester Professional BMX Athlete / Entrepreneur Elesha Belke Director, Brand Marketing Capital One Company Details Elesha Belke Elesha is a community and corporate leader with experience bringing integrated marketing campaigns to life, developing industry leading volunteer and employee engagement programs, and working to infuse diversity and inclusion into every space she occupies. She currently leads People & DIB (Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Strategies for the Brand Marketing department at Capital One. Elesha is an active member, mentor, and past committee chair for the Richmond chapter of VOICES, Capital One’s Black Business Resource Group. Elesha is fortunate to have gained experience in the private and public sectors throughout her career. Driven by curiosity, Elesha feels most inspired by using strategic thinking, insights, creative problem solving, and broad perspective to deliver impactful results. Elesha has previously served in volunteer roles for the Boys & Girls Club, Cadence Theater, Richmond Autism Integration Network, Madison Urban Ministry, as well as Vice President of the Madison Network for Black Professionals. Elesha holds a BA and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She’s an avid traveler, outdoor adventurer (but not camping), and a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband and 2 dogs. Elijah Wells Founder/Host Late Development Company Details Elijah Wells Founder/Host of Late Development, a talent showcase featuring R&B vocalists. Shallon Thomas CoFounder & CEO T|W Tote Company Details Shallon Thomas Shallon Thomas is the co-founder of Thomas & Wynter R&D and the Chief Operating Officer of T|W Tote. His professional background includes an MBA from Washington Adventist University and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Shallon began his career as a quality engineer in the military defense industry and later served as a consultant for the US patent office. As an entrepreneur, he believes innovation and constant evolution are the secrets to his success. Alongside his business partner Sherika Wynter, his company T|W Tote has shipped luxury bags worldwide and partnered with companies like Capital One, Google, and The NBA’s player association. Shallon seeks to share his vision of servant leadership with the world and inspire others to start their entrepreneurial journey. Sherika Wynter CoFounder & CEO T|W Tote Company Details Sherika Wynter Sherika Wynter is the CoFounder and CEO of T|W Tote, a subsidiary of Thomas & Wynter R&D. Launched in December 2018, T|W Tote is a luxury short term carry company that strives to change how people view fashion and sustainability. Sherika’s background is in mechanical engineering and industrial design from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and University of the Arts, respectively. She has an extensive career in hardware and software product development, with over 15 years of experience in private sector and government affiliated companies. While running the R&D company, Sherika also teaches product management and strategy to professionals looking to transition into a new career, entrepreneurs looking to start/grow their businesses and enterprises looking to train their employees. Moses Foster President, CEO, and Founder West Cary Group Company Details Moses Foster A native of Farmville, Virginia, Moses earned a BA from Virginia Tech. Following a stint in the world of publishing in New York, Moses moved back to Richmond and joined Huntsinger & Jeffer -- an advertising and direct marketing firm -- as a copywriter. While there, Moses wrote campaigns for such clients as Hilton Hotels, SunTrust Bank and the American Red Cross. After leaving the firm, Moses moved to Capital One Financial, where he held several marketing positions, including Senior Director of Creative Development in the Brand organization. In 2007, Foster opened West Cary Group, a full-service marketing communications and advertising firm. Since that time, he has guided West Cary Group and its clients into an era of integrated communications innovation and growth, garnering such notable clients as Capital One, Luxottica, Amazon, Henrico EDA, the Richmond Airport, Fannie Mae, American Water, and Dominion Energy. Moses serves on the Executive AdvisoryCouncil to the Robins School of Business, the Board of the MCV Foundation, the Board of ChamberRVA, and the Venture Richmond Board. Foster was recognized in 2015 as the Mike Hughes Advertising Person of the Year and was inducted into the JA Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame in 2021. Andersen Cupid Senior Designer/Art Director Delta Air Lines Company Details Andersen Cupid Andersen Cupid is an award winning artist and designer currently working as a Senior Designer/ Art Director at Delta Air Lines. His artist features include Sotheby's, World Trade Center, Amazon, Link NYC, and many more. He has worked on creative projects at Delta ranging from Essence Fest to Ad Color and continues to lend his creativity on major brand partnerships and initiatives. Tan Paylor Brand Strategy Coordinator, Multicultural Marketing Delta Air Lines Company Details Tan Paylor Tan is a data-driven brand marketing professional with over 3 years of hands-on experience in developing and executing strategic marketing initiatives. Her passions in building brand awareness, driving engagement, and amplifying brand difference through multicultural acumen has helped drive success within multiple campaigns such as Issa Rae x Delta’s LAFW debut with The Runway Runway Collection, Essence Festival, and Art Basel Miami. Only a few years out of college, she shows a proven ability to leverage consumer insights and creative storytelling to deliver impactful campaigns and premium experiences to diverse demographics. Adrienne Lucas Head of DEI & Strategic Partnerships The One Club for Creativity Company Details Adrienne Lucas Adrienne Lucas is the Global Head of Strategic Partnerships & DEI at The One Club. As part of her role, Adrienne partners with brands and agencies throughout the US, and parts of Africa and Europe, to create programs designed to retain and increase the number of creatives of color in advertising. One of the largest programs under Adrienne’s purview is Where Are All The Black People (WAATBP), an annual diversity conference and career fair. WAATBP attracts up to 3500+ attendees and 60+ sponsoring agencies and brands including: Amazon, Capital One, and Mattel. Adrienne also spearheads the Creative Boot Camp initiative--a free weeklong program where college students of color create and present an advertising campaign for a real client. Adrienne holds a J.D. from NYU Law, a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Diversity & Inclusion Professionals Certificate from Cornell University IRL School. She is passionate about the arts, civil rights, and social justice. Aaron Francois Founder | Associate Strategy Director Black Visionaries | Laundry Service @ Wasserman Company Details Aaron Francois Aaron is a blerd, social media enthusiast, sneakerhead, and lover of all things DEI. As a multi-hyphenate creative, he leverages his passion for culture and strategic thinking to build brands across industries like CPG, tech and gaming. He’s also used this experience to become a resource to rising industry talent serving as a mentor for students, rising stars, and seasoned professionals alike. In and out of work, Aaron dedicates his time to developing infrastructures for the development & retention of diverse talent. In 2022, he launched Black Visionaries, a non-profit 501(c)(3) created to democratize access to resources and community for Black professionals across varying industries. Aaron’s love of community has translated into distinctive honors such as 2021 MAIPER to Watch, Mr. ADCOLOR 2022, the AD Club Rockstar award, and being the inaugural recipient of the 4A’s x McCann Worldgroup Billy Davis Award, as well as the“Right Hand” Plug Award. Joshua Kissi Director & Photographer Company Details Joshua Kissi Ghanaian-American Filmmaker & Photographer, Joshua’s work celebrates the vibrancy of communities through a cultural and historical lens. As one of the most sought-after photographers in America, his work has been featured in magazines such as Vogue, GQ, New York Times and his client list matches his A-level status with brands such as Nike, Beats By Dre and Google. John ‘JP’ Petty Executive Creative Director Wieden+Kennedy Portland Company Details John ‘JP’ Petty Philadelphia native, John “JP” Petty III is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of multiplatform storytelling company, 14th And Market and Global Executive Creative Director of Wieden+Kennedy Bodega the world-renowned advertising agency’s internal, social-first creative studio. As Bodega’s global executive creative director he oversees creative output for the likes of McDonald’s, Nike, Jordan Brand, Instagram, and Visa, and as a member of the Wieden+Kennedy Portland management team he helped grow teams and secure new projects and business; including co-leading a winning agency of record pitch for MLB. During his time at WKNY, JP helped launch Bodega and was also on the team behind the explosive McDonald’s “Famous Orders” partnerships with Travis Scott, J. Balvin, BTS, Saweetie and others, leading to the creation of numerous TikTok trends and an ingredient shortage around the country. The campaigned helped JP earn AdAge’s prestigious Creative of the Year honor in 2021. As a proud Lincoln University alum, he currently serves on the institution’s Board of Trustees and lives by the motto, “Get On. Put On.” Dionna Dorsey Co-founder & CEO The Creative Ladder Company Details Dionna Dorsey Dionna Dorsey is the co-founder and CEO of The Creative Ladder, a nonprofit connecting, elevating, and inspiring a more inclusive generation of creatives. Her love for creativity and community building began as a young child with a coloring book and has since grown into an entrepreneurial passion. She uses compassion, community, culture, empathy, and inspiring storytelling to support the next generation of creatives in their climb up the creative ladder. Co-founded by Ryan Reynolds, the non-profit offers leadership training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and career development resources for rising creative talent. She's also the founder of District of Clothing, a lifestyle brand encouraging progression, inspiring action, and supporting self-love. With apparel and accessory items for the sideline rejectors who awake with passion for progress and desire to make their dreams reality, District of Clothing is worn by the change-makers making change happen. Angela Benjamin General Manager, Equity Outreach Strategies Delta Air Lines Company Details Angela Benjamin Angela Benjamin is the General Manager for Equity Outreach Strategies at Delta Air Lines. Her work focuses on partnerships which dismantle systemic barriers and uplift underserved, underrecognized and underrepresented groups, in gaining traction toward improved wellbeing through education, upskilling and meaningful work, in the aviation industry and beyond. Over the past two decades of her career she has specialized in talent mobility and career development, including managing a global leadership development pipeline program at Danaher Corporation and leading numerous talent acquisition initiatives at Accenture. Angela is a proud alumna of Florida A&M University. Outside of work, in partnership with her husband Kwame, she enjoys spending evenings and weekends juggling the many activities of her three sons. Adrianne C. Smith Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer FleishmanHillard Company Details Adrianne C. Smith Adrianne C. Smith is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard, a leading global communications and marketing agency, and the founder of the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC), launched in 2018 to diversify the creative, marketing, communications, and advertising industries and provide marginalized communities access to global events. In 2019, she made history with her Inkwell Beach platform at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as the festival's first standalone diversity, equity and inclusion activation, and expanded it to Davos (during the World Economic Forum) in 2024. CC:DC’s Inkwell Beach pays homage to the historic site in Martha’s Vineyard. Adrianne is on the boards of the Reykjavik Global Forum and Harlem Business Alliance, was named ADCOLOR DEI Executive of the Year in 2023 and a ColorComm Circle Awards recipient in 2024. Chandra Guinn Executive Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging McKinney Company Details Chandra Guinn Chandra Guinn is the Executive Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at McKinney. A seasoned educator and advocate, she leads initiatives to foster a more equitable and inclusive workplace. She convenes the Agents of Change cohort, is executive sponsor for Chroma, the Employee Resource Group, leads community outreach efforts including work with HBCU, North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC), and the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice (PMC). Guinn is a passionate advocate for social justice and is committed to creating a positive impact in this industry and her community. She has spoken on international stages and moderated industry-wide sessions. Previously, she directed the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University. Since, she has sought to leverage her prior higher education experience to build bridges of opportunity for those outside or new to the industry as her success lies in helping others succeed. Andrea Djan-Krofa Director & Head of Africa Women in Marketing (WiM) CIC Company Details Andrea Djan-Krofa Andrea is the Director and Head of Africa for Women in Marketing (WiM) CIC, a global network founded in 2004 to support and elevate women in marketing, advertising, and communications. She leads WiM Africa, collaborating with organizations like the Unstereotype Alliance (ally member), the International Advertising Association (IAA) Africa Region, Unilever, Google, and Kantar. Through WiM Africa, Andrea fosters industry connections, promotes best practices, and celebrates achievements, paving the way for the next generation of marketers. Dr. Sizakele Marutlulle Brand Strategist and Creative Practitioner Marutlulle & C/o Company Details Dr. Sizakele Marutlulle Dr. Sizakele Marutlulle is a global executive and thought leader with extensive experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. She is the founder and CEO of a pan-African strategy and advisory practice advocating for Humancentric Creativism, a people-first approach to creativity. She advises leaders on designing inclusive futures and building high-impact brands. As a global speaker, she shares insights on future readiness, business reform, and diversity. She champions female entrepreneurship, having coined the term Fentrepreneur™ to describe women entrepreneurs with unique talents. Through workshops and coaching, she supports the growth of scalable, sustainable businesses globally, including in Africa, the UK, and the Caribbean. Sharita Frazier Sr. Art Director Delta Air Lines Company Details Sharita Frazier A seasoned creative with an unwavering passion for art direction, Sharita is driven by the pursuit of human truth behind every visual story. Born in Boston and now rooted in Atlanta, her career has been defined by an insatiable curiosity and dedication to the craft. Throughout her career, Sharita has been at the helm of ideation, brand identity, leading teams to craft compelling brand experiences. Her journey began in traditional marketing agencies, such as Ogilvy, where she honed her skills in brand awareness, targeted messaging, and launching new brands and products. This diverse portfolio includes iconic names like Samsung, Holiday Inn Express, AT&T, Charlotte MLS, Lowe's, Under Armour, and Pernod Ricard. Currently, she manages a wide array of experiential programs for Delta Air Lines, with a particular focus on activations and events. Whether internally or externally, she ensures each experience is crafted to have impact, while forging genuine connections. Nik Reed Creative Director Wieden + Kennedy Company Details Nik Reed Nik is a Florida born, Brooklyn based Creative Director working every day to change the narrative around what it means to be a Florida Man. He has worked at Wieden + Kennedy for 6 years on brands like Bud Light, Jordan, Nike, The Brooklyn Nets, McDonald's, Team USA and most recently Delta. Brittany Gilzene Founder The Black Linkup Company Details Brittany Gilzene Brittany Gilzene is the Founder of The Black Linkup, a brand celebrating Black culture through exceptional events. With extensive media and advertising experience, Brittany specializes in audience strategy, ad tech, and media operations. As an Audience and Data Strategist, she drives data-backed strategies for brands under Coca-Cola’s portfolio, including Sprite and Fanta, focusing on audience segmentation and optimization. Brittany’s leadership of The Black Linkup has led to successful events, a strong social media presence, and solid client relationships. She holds an MBA in Marketing from Iona College and a BA in Digital Media from SUNY New Paltz. Cristian Palma Founder OFF THE CUFF Company Details Cristian Palma Cristian is a visionary entrepreneur who has made a significant mark in media, tech, and brand partnerships through his work with top companies such as Spotify, AFROPUNK, Vox Media, and NBCUniversal. He is the Founder of OFF THE CUFF, a creative content agency that amplifies the untold stories of emerging entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives through authentic conversations and live experiences, inspired by his grandmother's legacy. Since launching OFF THE CUFF, Cristian has had the honor of collaborating with industry giants like ESSENCE, TikTok, Samsung, Shopify, Meta, ADCOLOR, and MLB. His work has garnered attention in the press, including features on Pix11, SiriusXM, and dedicated spotlights from Shopify and Soho House, recognizing community leaders driving positive change. Cristian's work, rooted in love and appreciation, aims to inspire the next generation of leaders and honor those who shape our lives by giving them DJ SIMBAZILLA Zilla & Friends Founder/DJ Company Details DJ SIMBAZILLA SIMBAZILLA is a DJ, Event Curator, and Digital Marketer from Brooklyn NY. With a deep passion for music and a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences, SimbaZilla is a force to be reckoned with in the DJ and event industry. Whether it's a high-energy nightclub or a laid-back lounge atmosphere, SimbaZilla's talent and diverse musical range ensure an unforgettable experience for all in attendance. Believing that the world is full of amazing music, SimbaZilla's DJ sets span various genres including Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeats, Amapiano, House, Club, and Dancehall. Dabo Ché CEO CHÉ Creative Company Details Dabo Ché Dabo Ché is a creative entrepreneur and CEO of CHÉ Creative Industries. With over 25 years in advertising, Dabo has become an outspoken voice for representation and culture. Since launching, the agency has created award-winning work for L'Oreal, Martell, HOLOGIC, Comcast, EFFECTV, Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, and more. With far-reaching agency experience in General Market and Multicultural segments, Dabo has most notably led Spike Lee's SPIKE DDB and Steve Stoute's TRANSLATION creative teams. Dabo is also a founding partner of the industry event BLACKWEEK launching in October of this year and co-founder of Heir Loom, a new Black and woman-owned holding company in the advertising industry. Carol Tavarez-Scanlon Psychotherapist The Collaborative NYC Company Details Carol Tavarez-Scanlon Carol Tavarez-Scanlon is a psychotherapist with over a decade of experience in the mental health field. As a bi-lingual, bi-cultural therapist born and raised in NYC, Carol understands the complexities and ambitions faced by professionals, creatives and intellectuals alike. Trained at NYU’s Silver School of Social Work, Carol draws on professional expertise developed both in community settings, such as The Park Slope Center for Mental Health and Covenant House, as well as in the corporate world at Young & Rubicam. Carol draws on techniques across approaches including attachment theory, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as accelerated healing techniques, including EMDR and AEDP. Carol’s professional and life interests are wide ranging - she is a world traveller, enjoys horticulture, yoga, hiking and interior design. She lives in Westchester with her husband and never misses the chance to spoil her 10-year-old pitbull mix, Chui. Eric Mosley Founder Black Mat Yoga Company Details Eric Mosley Monty Browne VP, Group Creative Director Colle McVoy Company Details Monty Browne A previous D&AD and One Club Next Creative Leaders juror, Monty's advertising career has spanned 20+ years and has taken him from the US to Europe and back. With a good amount of his years in the industry focused on entertainment and sports, Monty has worked on the agency side at such places as VMLY&R and Endeavor's 160over90. Being an avid gamer, Monty has also held positions as Creative Lead for Riot Games, Europe and Global Creative Director, Sports at 2K Games. Being an ally for better diversity in the ad industry Monty has also been a One School mentor and has been featured in Adweek's Profiles in Black Creativity for his work with AT&T. Monty currently serves as VP, Group Creative Director at Adweek's 2023 Mid-Size Agency of the Year, Colle McVoy. Alex Brueggemaan Director of Inclusion Strategy Arts & Letters Creative Co. Company Details Alex Brueggemaan Alex Brueggeman is an EDI practitioner & anthropologist. Alex’s passion for highlighting the voices of marginalized communities first led him to the U.S. National Park Service, where he worked as a field archaeologist, followed by the Historic House Trust of NYC. These formative experiences broadened his research and community-organizing skills and inspired him to explore the diversity of human experiences in creative fields and across traditional and digital marketing landscapes. Since 2018, Alex has developed EDI strategies & programs for creative agencies such as 72andSunny, FCB Global, and, currently, Arts & Letters Creative Co., where he is the Director of Inclusion Strategy. His unique approach to EDI centers on cultivating cultural humility through community. In addition, Alex’s deep understanding of complex cultural patterns has been instrumental in shaping creative campaigns for brands such as Smirnoff, Air Canada, Marriot-Bonvoy, and the NFL. Mandana Mellano Founder and President PEONY Talent Company Details Mandana Mellano A modern creative marketer, Mandana is the Founder and President of PEONY Talent; a high-touch boutique talent search firm working with some of the most famous agencies in the world. Connecting the dots between creativity, competencies, and human values, PEONY helps leading agencies, brands and publishers acquire talent in more meaningful ways. Neisha Tweed Bell Creative Consultant Next Level Up Company Details Neisha Tweed Bell Neisha Tweed Bell is an award-winning creative visionary with experience at global companies like Meta, Ogilvy, and Publicis, driving creativity, innovation, and inclusion. From launching Citi Bike to a VR experience for St. Jude to a global inclusive creative practice, Neisha’s commitment to people-first storytelling shines through the work she does and the way she works. Her community impact extends from mentorship to managing internship and enrichment programs, and beyond, earning her accolades such as a 2018 Essence Woke Woman, 2021 University of Florida 40 Under 40, and 2022 ADCOLOR Leader. Neisha's creative expertise is marked by a blend of strategic insight and an eye for culturally-connected storytelling, which she now shares as a consultant, coach, and creative director working with creative professionals from students to CCOs through her business, Next Level Up. Dotun Bello Senior Creative UnitedMasters | Translation Company Details Dotun Bello Bello is a Nigerian creative currently based in NYC. He started his advertising career in Lagos before moving to the US in 2015. He has worked on Guinness, Bharti-Airtel, Diageo, BMW, Xfinity, and Samsung, among many other brands. Bello is passionate about solving problems (or at least attempting to solve problems) and his favorite ideas present solutions from a fresh POV. He recently partnered with the One Club to create Lagos Creative Bootcamp, a free professional development program for advertising creatives based in Lagos, Nigeria. He spends his free time with his family, listening to battle rap and folding dough. Shannon Washington Global Chief Creative Officer GOTHAM Company Details Shannon Washington Creative, traveler, culturist—Shannon Washington is a busy woman. Currently, Shannon serves as Global Chief Creative Officer for GOTHAM, the global boutique creative brand in the McCann Worldgroup network of agencies. Shannon returned to GOTHAM in 2024 to craft the creative growth and expansion of the agency, from a legendary, 30+ year player in the beauty space, to a full-scale creative powerhouse for a new set of categories, brands and talent. Before GOTHAM, Shannon served as the US Chief Creative Officer, Connected Communications for R/GA US, the network’s largest and flagship region where she focused on reshaping the region’s campaign creative vision, fidelity and work culture. At R/GA, her intersectional and craft-centric style of leadership led to a renewed creative vigor in the office, resulting in an impressive set of wins to include a Webby Agency of The Year win, a #2 sport for AdAge’s A-list, and three impressive award seasons, with a net of campaign awards not seen since 2016. Business-wise, Shannon successfully led a host of winning pitches for Uber, Sephora and TurboTax, which was the second largest win for IPG in 2023. In addition, her approach has earned her three distinctive honors: Ad-Age CCO of The Year, The AdWeek 100 and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. Shannon joined R/GA after a stint in Los Angeles with Media Arts Lab, where she helped launch Apple TV+ and build a foundation for original content marketing in the Apple ecosystem, and at Deutsch Los Angeles where she led H&R Block. Previous to Los Angeles, Shannon was at Droga5 NY, where she led the culture-driven “I Am What I Make Up” relaunch of CoverGirl and the launch of You Invest with Chase. When she can, Shannon can be found actively adding to the discourse around the culture of leadership and inclusivity in advertising through paneling and public conversations. When she's not in front of a monitor, Shannon is working on adding another stamp to her passport or attempting to run a 10 minute mile. Shannon is a proud and loud graduate of Howard University and lives in New Jersey. Kaleeta McDade Global Chief Experience Design Officer VML Company Details Kaleeta McDade At VML, Kaleeta helps companies drive intimacy at scale while harnessing the power of innovation, design, data, and technology. Her twenty years of experience span numerous industries and geographies, holding notable leadership and creative roles with Google Brand Studio, Apple, Sapient Shanghai, Deloitte Digital, and Ogilvy. Kaleeta has a proven ability to drive impact for brands, helping them shape a creative vision that deepens customer relationships across every stage of the engagement lifecycle. Her influence and leadership shape how customers around the world experience some of the largest brands in retail, sports, beauty, and health. Her work has been revered by major clients such as Costco, Nike, Apple, Google, WNBA, LA Rams, Verizon, AT&T, Wells Fargo, NY Life, and The Coca-Cola Company. Kaleeta is bridging creative storytelling into storyliving across VML’s client portfolio. Joy Ekuta Co-founder, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer Retrospect Studios Company Details Joy Ekuta Joy Ekuta is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at Retrospect, a Black-owned creative strategy, design, and research company that builds culture-forward experiences for evolving, globally-mindful brands. Having supported companies at their earliest stages to more established teams, Retrospect works with brands to align their ethos to commercial and cultural impact. As an MIT Alum and former Researcher and Operations Leader in the tech industry, Joy is passionate about working in spaces that sit at the intersection of people, technology, and culture. Her professional experience has included roles that span research, program management, and recruiting at startups and enterprise organizations (Pinterest, Two Sigma, Humu, Exos Financial). She has also been a serial entrepreneur, successfully co-founding 2 other organizations (Hostowambe, ImpactLabs) to date. She resides in Washington, D.C. and enjoys cooking, dancing, and traveling in her free time. Teddy Johnson Co-Founder + Strategy Director Overture Company Details Teddy Johnson Teddy is a Central Florida transplant who hails from Brooklyn, NY. Having a mother in the airline industry incited her passion for travel and a deep reverence for learning about other cultures. She has since created a career around a love of cultural connection and elevating brands. Her intuitive capabilities enable her to uncover and implement unique solutions based on trust and empathy, utilizing innovative strategies that create value. Teddy is married to a charming Bronx-native, and they are raising their three children in the Sunshine State. Tahira White Co-Founder, President 19th & Park Inc. Company Details Tahira White Tahira White is a multi-disciplinary creative entrepreneur. Developing environments rooted in vision, positivity, and opportunity, Tahira’s keen insight helped her to identify voids and solutions in creative spaces as an emergent voice for the under-recognized and under-sourced. Over the last 15 years, Tahira’s journey has propelled her to the position of Co-Founder and Executive, commanding three companies: 19th & Park, a trailblazing creative marketing agency, 1Park9, a 360 production studio, and Wercflow, an AI-driven marketing productivity tool. All holding clientele portfolios of renowned brands including Apple, Nike, P&G and many more. In between running businesses, Tahira commits her time to empowering today’s younger generation to contribute directly toward the betterment of their lives and communities through civic engagement, entrepreneurship and other pillars. Oyinkan Olojede Co-founder, Head of Design FourTwo Creative Company Details Oyinkan Olojede Oyinkan Olojede is a founder, brand strategist and designer based (mostly) in New York. The Brooklyn-born, Johannesburg-raised Nigerian brings a global perspective to her work as a multi-hyphenate creative with over 8 years experience in media and agency settings. Her interests lie in doing work that prioritizes the individual behind the customer, and speaks to the importance of community—both online and offline. In 2020 Oyinkan co-founded FourTwo Creative, a full-service creative agency building culturally relevant brands and creating authentic touchpoints with Black consumers with the power of storytelling. Oyinkan has ideated, pitched and produced campaigns for major brands—Spotify, Nike, Uber, and Disney among them. Oyinkan holds a B.A. in Psychology & Economics from New York University and has done coursework in PR and Marketing Communications. Amanda Stewart Marketing Leader & Entrepreneur LL Studios Company Details Amanda Stewart Amanda Stewart is a dynamic marketing professional celebrated for her ability to craft compelling brand narratives and drive transformative growth. Her diverse career spans technology, media, and entertainment, with roles at Yahoo!, NBC Sports, Combs Global, Vevo, and Endeavor. Through these experiences, Amanda has refined her skills in brand marketing, product development, and storytelling, consistently inspiring high-performing teams to achieve their objectives. She is also the founder of Lou Lapel, a sustainable fashion brand recognized by W Magazine and WWD. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Business Marketing from Bradley University and a Certificate in Fashion from Parsons School of Design, Amanda blends creative insight with innovative strategies. Committed to pushing marketing boundaries and shaping industry trends, she also mentors students and early-career professionals, supporting their entrepreneurial and career growth. Bryan Burke Head of Brand Narrative & Art Direction Timberland Company Details Bryan Burke A Texas native now based in Brooklyn, NY, Bryan Burke is a creative director and marketing strategist with a passion for culture-based storytelling. A graduate of Morehouse College’s film and media department, Bryan has worked with influential brands like Highsnobiety, Ralph Lauren, Jordan Brand, and Timberland. He has dedicated himself to crafting authentic narratives that connect deeply with diverse consumers, pushing brands to engage in meaningful and consistent storytelling. Chukwukere Ekeh Brand Partnerships and Business Development Coinbase Company Details Chukwukere Ekeh I’m Chukwukere Ekeh, dedicated to using my gifts of encouragement and creativity to empower others. As an executive and marketer, I passionately uncover human-led insights, crafting impactful campaigns, content, and partnerships. My work resonates deeply, driving both emotional connections and profitable outcomes. Kenny Lloyd Director of Culture & Innovation VCCP Company Details Kenny Lloyd Kenny Lloyd, the Director of Culture & Innovation at VCCP US works diligently to amplify the agency both internally and externally. Kenny has a diverse advertising background transforming legacy brands such as Tiffany & Co. to introducing culture forward platforms within tech brands such as Apple. He is extremely passionate about progressing his community forward and shining a light on the inequalities within advertising; ensuring to uplift the next generation of marketers. Donna Dei-Baning VP, Head of Audience & Insights Carat Company Details Donna Dei-Baning Amera-Rime Lulu, MPS Senior Art Director Edelman Company Details Amera-Rime Lulu, MPS Prof. Javier Garcia Assistant Professor The City College of New York Company Details Prof. Javier Garcia Jonina Bullock Assistant Account Executive Edelman Company Details Jonina Bullock Jonina is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned her degree in Advertising and German Language. Currently, she works at Edelman, where she is an Assistant Account Executive for US New Business. Prior to her tenure at Edelman, she worked for Delta Air Lines in their Brand Experience and Service Recovery divisions. Carla Anderson Associate Creative Director Upwork Company Details Carla Anderson Carla Anderson is a seasoned creative director based in the DMV area, boasting over a decade of experience in creative development for brands of all sizes. Renowned for her leadership and team-building skills, Carla excels in nurturing talent and driving creative strategy. She is a fervent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, committed to fostering safe and equitable work environments. Carla's passion for creating impactful, inclusive brand narratives has made her a respected voice in the industry, continuously pushing the boundaries of creativity while championing the importance of diverse perspectives. Obele Brown-West President Tracer Company Details Obele Brown-West Obele is an award-winning marketing innovator recognized by Campaign US, Adweek, Ad Age, Chief Marketer, PRWeek and AdExchanger. With over 20 years experience, Obele is the first President of Tracer—a data intelligence platform for businesses and marketers—leading the global executive team. Tracer is backed by investors including S4 Ventures, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Vaynerchuk. Prior to Tracer, Obele led Tinuiti’s 800+ commerce, media, analytics, lifecycle, influencer and creative specialists as Chief Solutions Officer. Under her leadership, Tinuiti became the first independent agency to win Microsoft Global Agency of the Year and the first with exclusive Reddit and TikTok partnerships. Obele is an Executive member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and The Ad Age List. Obele sits on boards for Goodlife Clothing, Gifting Brands, Stop Soldier Suicide and I Choose The Ladder. Sequoyah “DataBae” Glenn, MBA Founder & Principal 924 CoOperative Company Details Sequoyah “DataBae” Glenn, MBA Award-winning marketer Sequoyah Glenn, MBA, known as DataBae and Queen Quoyah, uniquely blends analytics and creativity in her 12-year advertising career. She pioneered research, driving successful campaigns for global brands. In 2019, she founded the relationship-focused Black Marketers Coalition and established National Black Marketers Day in 2022. She co-founded CultureMRx for Black insights professionals to network and develop skills. Active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and several non-profit organizations, she mentors students, speaks at conferences, and serves on the University of South Florida's Customer Experience Certificate program board and AMA Atlanta board. Sequoyah embraces lifelong learning through empathy, kindness, and stepping outside her comfort zone. Rashad Bilal CEO Earn Your Leisure Company Details Rashad Bilal Rashad Bilal grew up in the financial services industry, taking a summer internship with his family’s wealth management firm, The Bilal Group LLC, in 2005. He learned at a young age the importance of financial literacy and realized that he wanted to translate his knowledge into action. After graduating with honors from The University of Hawaii in 2007, Rashad became a full-time associate with The Bilal Group in May 2008, culminating in his advancement to Vice President in 2009 and Partner in 2014. In 2018, Rashad Bilal partnered with his lifelong friend Troy Millings to start an educational platform called Earn Your Leisure (EYL). EYL has grown into one of the top business platforms in the world, with a top business podcast under its umbrella, a podcast network, and an online educational platform. EYL gives behind-the-scenes financial views into the entertainment and sports industries, as well as highlighting backstories of entrepreneurs. EYL also breaks down business models and examines the latest trends in finance. EYL is a college business class mixed with pop culture that blends the two together for a unique and exciting look into the world of business. EYL has a community of over 1,500,000 followers on social media, and 1,500,000 YouTube subscribers. Earn Your Leisure also offers an interactive educational resource through EYL University, which is an online educational platform. Earn Your Leisure University is an online interactive community that includes over 100+ archived webinars covering a range of business, finance, and entrepreneurial topics. Subscribers to the platform have direct access to exclusive weekly webinars hosted by leading experts from a variety of different financial industries. Membership also includes access to a Private Investment Facebook group which includes a community of over 12,000 members, a book and movie club, bi-weekly interactive sessions covering the stock market with Troy Millings, and a monthly group financial planning call with Rashad Bilal. Troy and Rashad founded The Earn Your Leisure Network. The Earn Your Leisure Network is a revolutionary network which gives rise to emerging and established content creators from the world of business, finance, and entrepreneurship whose perspective, expertise, and in-depth insight have been undervalued and overlooked. At its core, The Earn Your Leisure Network's ultimate purpose is to build as we climb as a community, highlighting collaboration over competition. Lastly, EYL hosts live events across the globe which include the biggest financial literacy festival in the world, “InvestFest.” InvestFest is a first-of-its-kind, in-person experience to combine investing, entrepreneurship, pop culture, and entertainment in a 3-day festival setting. InvestFest includes a vendor marketplace for small businesses and live podcast stages with interviews from top entrepreneurs and celebrities. There are also live performances from top musicians, a food truck caravan, investing panel discussions, and interactive events. InvestFest was founded in 2021 with over 4,000 attendees and has rapidly grown with over 20,000 attendees at InvestFest 2023. Some of the headliners in the past years have included Steve Harvey, Tyler Perry, Dan Cathy, and Robert F. Smith. Troy Millings CEO Earn Your Leisure Company Details Troy Millings Troy Millings was born in the home of Hip-Hop, the South Bronx. From an early age, music influenced his education. His keen memory and ability to memorize lyrics translated into memorizing historical facts, equations, and literature. These two passions would later mold him into the educator he is today. He taught for 16 years, beginning his teaching career in the NYC Department of Education and most recently with the City School District of New Rochelle. In the midst of teaching, Troy led Operations Crossroads as Program Director, a summer youth program designed for students at the secondary level of education. The purpose of the program is to introduce students to financial literacy through culturally responsive education while providing them with opportunities to gain work experience through summer internships in career fields of their choice. Realizing there was a need to expand financial literacy education outside of the traditional classroom setting, Troy and his lifelong friend Rashad Bilal came together to start an educational platform called Earn Your Leisure. Today, Earn Your Leisure has grown into one of the top media companies in the world with its own podcast network, a top business podcast under its network, and an online educational platform. The Earn Your Leisure platform provides listeners with behind-the-scenes financial knowledge across entertainment and sports industries while highlighting entrepreneurs' backstories, breaking down business models, and examining the latest trends in finance. The podcast blends insights from a typical college business class with current popular culture, offering listeners a unique and exciting look into the world of business in a fresh new way. Earn Your Leisure has a community of over 1,500,000 followers on social media and 1,500,000 YouTube subscribers. Earn Your Leisure also offers an interactive educational resource through EYL University, which is an online educational platform. Earn Your Leisure University is an online interactive community that includes over 100+ archived webinars covering a range of business, finance, and entrepreneurial topics. Subscribers to the platform have direct access to exclusive weekly webinars hosted by leading experts from a variety of different financial industries. Membership also includes access to a Private Investment Facebook group which includes a community of over 12,000 members, a book and movie club, bi-weekly interactive sessions covering the stock market with Troy Millings, and a monthly group financial planning call with Rashad Bilal. Troy and Rashad founded The Earn Your Leisure Network. The Earn Your Leisure Network is a revolutionary network which gives rise to emerging and established content creators from the world of business, finance, and entrepreneurship whose perspective, expertise, and in-depth insight have been undervalued and overlooked. At its core, The Earn Your Leisure Network's ultimate purpose is to build as we climb as a community, highlighting collaboration over competition. Lastly, EYL hosts live events across the globe which include the biggest financial literacy festival in the world, “InvestFest.” InvestFest is a first-of-its-kind, in-person experience to combine investing, entrepreneurship, pop culture, and entertainment in a 3-day festival setting. InvestFest includes a vendor marketplace for small businesses and live podcast stages with interviews from top entrepreneurs and celebrities. There are also live performances from top musicians, a food truck caravan, investing panel discussions, and interactive events. InvestFest was founded in 2021 with over 4,000 attendees and has rapidly grown with over 20,000 attendees at InvestFest 2023. Some of the headliners in the past years have included Steve Harvey, Tyler Perry, Dan Cathy, and Robert F. Smith. 2024 Partners PRESENTING PARTNER PLATINUM LEVEL CHAMPION LEVEL ADVOCATE About WAATBP Partner With Usenusen-US1727916223https://waatbp.org

သင့်ဆိုဒ်ကို တည်းဖြတ်မလား။

သင်ဘာလုပ်နေပါလဲ?