I've had the opportunity to help Black to Business reimagine its brand and bring to life one its inaugural initiatives, Black Men Who Lead (BMWL). With me joining the team at the end of the pandemic, there was emphasis put on implementing IRL programming, a genuine tactic to reconnect with their community -- first generation black entrepreneurs.
From collaborations with brands like Scotch Porter, douxds, and Communitas America, we've been able to produce conversations with prominent leaders in the world of black entrepreneurship and creativity including the likes of Brandon Smithwick (Kickstarter), Anthony Edwards Jr.(EatOkra), Obie Omile Jr.(theCut), and Matthew Goins (Puzzle Huddle), just to name a few.
From developing kits for media and sponsorship to organizing speaker panels and fireside chats, my work over the past 3 years and counting, contributes to emerging brand recognition and growth for the entire Black to Business brand.
Building
Black Men Who Lead
From L to R: Aquaus Kelly (moderator), Brandon Smithwick (Kickstarter), and Toren Reaves (Adobe)
From L to R: Shaun Lyndda (moderator), Jairus Morris (SUPLMT), Anthony Edwards Jr. (EatOkra), and Jared Blake (Lichen NYC)
.png)
One of my favorite parts of this project is curating the 30 Black Men Who Lead. Similar to Forbes 30 Under 30 or CCNYCs Creative Class, this list highlights Black men in entrepreneurship, business, and community. Click HERE to to check the latest list in full and explore lists from the past.
When working with emerging brands like Black to Business, it can be a challenge to get the word out with limited resources. Luckily for us, the Black to Business Podcast is a great tool to reach our community. I was able to help the brand reach its 100K subscribers goal for 2023. This included writing copy for advertising - one-pager, media kit, sponsorship packs, podcast ads. I had to be creative in getting the word out about our projects.
The images above are from DC and NYC panels in 2023
The images above are from DC and NYC panels in 2023