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

CCO, HAVAS LYNX

Adan Romero

EVP, ECD - Razorfish (Publicis)

Walter T. Geer

CCO, Innovation North America

Kirby Porter

Chief Brand Officer, Unrivaled Basketball

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

Julius Robinson

CMO, Marriott

Jason Wagenheim

CEO, North America, Footballco

Kimberly Paige

CMO, BET

Steven Wolfe Pereira

Co-Founder, Alpha

Alvin Bowles

Co-Founder, Alpha

Kevin Johnson

CEO, WPP Media, Canada

Dollie Bishop

President of Production & Creative Development, The Black Effect Podcast Network

Jacqueline Woods

CMO, Teradata

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

Tremaine Emory

CEO & Founder of Denim Tears

Tamika D. Mallory

Bestselling Author

Tianna Madison

Olympic Gold Medalist

Heather Dowdy

Accessibility Catalyst & Tech Leader

Dr. Sophie Balzora

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

Damon Jones

Chief Communications Officer, Procter & Gamble

Celessa Baker

Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, Sephora

Danny Robinson

Chief Executive Officer, The Martin Agency

Simon Cook

CEO, Cannes Lion

Charisse Hughes

Chief Growth Officer, Kellanova

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

Jon Cook

Global CEO, VML

Cindy Gallop

Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn

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

Lena Waithe

Actress, Producer, and Screenwriter

Khari Motayne

VP, Engagement Strategy, CMI

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

Chairman & Founder, Clash Basketball

Mike Tollin

Filmmaker

Vanessa Rissetto

CEO and Co-founder of Culina Health

Vanessa Wallace

CMO, Fenty Savage

JoJo Simmons

Podcaster

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

Brand Architect

Roslyn Young-Daniels

Founder & CEO, Black Health Matters

Bethann Hardison

Fashion Industry Icon

AF Cortés

Founder & Creative Director, neuplot

Godfrey

Comedian

Channing Martin

Global Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer, IPG

Derrick Johnson

CEO, NAACP

Jerri DeVard

Founder, Black Executive CMO Alliance

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, Black Executive CMO Alliance

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

Ezinne Okoro

Global Chief Client Inclusion & Culture Strategy Officer, VML

Andre Gray

CCO, HAVAS LYNX

Dupé Ajayi

Founder, The Ajayi Effect

Dollie Bishop

President of Production & Creative Development, The Black Effect Podcast Network

Don Lemon

Journalist

Rob Reilly

Global Chief Creative Officer, WPP

Tope Ajala

Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Ogilvy

Jerri DeVard

Founder, Black Executive CMO Alliance

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