Boys, Men, Positive Masculinity, And Why It Matters To Marketers


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Wed, Oct 8

Time

9:15AM – 10:00AM

Stage

Breakthrough stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Founder & CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn

Speaker

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Speaker

Nothing found.

We’re hearing a lot right now about a crisis of masculinity, the ‘male loneliness epidemic’, and the issues impeding boys’ growth and progress. Cindy Gallop, founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn, shares with the Blackweek audience why this matters in marketing, especially for marketers whose target is women; the opportunity for brands to help solve this as good business; and the new cultural channels for doing so (including streaming – get the inside track on Cindy’s experience teaching as a professor at Kai Cenat’s Streamer University).

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


Black Health is Black Wealth


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

4:15PM – 5:00PM

Stage

Impact stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Founder & CEO, Black Health Matters

Speaker

CEO and Co-founder of Culina Health

Speaker

President & Founder, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Inc.

Speaker

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

Moderator

Nothing found.

This conversation will explore the deep ties between financial well-being and physical health, addressing the economic cost of health disparities, how preventive care functions as financial planning, and why investing in health is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term wealth.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by ABGH. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


To Doula or Not to Doula: Rethinking Maternal Care


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

2:35PM – 3:20PM

Stage

Impact stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Founder of Mama Glow

Speaker

Executive Director of SisterSong

Speaker

Founder & President, Carol’s Daughter

Moderator

Nothing found.

Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women—a crisis rooted in systemic inequities. In this moving talk, maternal wellness advocate and doula Latham Thomas explores how the growing embrace of doulas is reshaping maternal care and offering a pathway to saving lives. With stories from the front lines of birth work, she reveals why having a doula is more than a trend—it’s a vital intervention that centers women’s voices, restores trust, and reclaims agency in one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Thomas makes a powerful case for reimagining maternal health so that every woman, especially Black women, can give birth with dignity and thrive beyond it.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


Silent Warriors — The Black Male Healthcare Crisis


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

3:30PM – 4:15PM

Stage

Impact stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Founder & CEO of Music World Entertainment, Brand Architect and Author

Speaker

Vice President and US Country Head of Culture and People Experience, Novartis Pharmaceutical

Moderator

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Speaker

Nothing found.

Music executive and entrepreneur Matthew Knowles brings a deeply personal perspective to the urgent conversation around Black men’s health. After surviving his own battle with breast cancer, Knowles has become a passionate advocate for awareness, early detection, and proactive care. In this intimate fireside chat, he opens up about his journey, the stigma that too often keeps Black men from seeking help, and the collective work needed to confront a health crisis that claims far too many lives. His message is clear: protecting our health is protecting our future.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Novartis. We deeply grateful for their generous support and steadfast commitment to advancing critical health conversations, all in service of their mission to improve and extend lives.


The Black Family on Film


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

2:30PM – 3:15PM

Stage

Breakthrough stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Filmmaker

Speaker

Author

Moderator

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Speaker

Nothing found.

Trailblazing filmmaker Mara Brock Akil has long pushed Hollywood to expand its vision of Black life. With her record-breaking Netflix series Forever, she shattered stereotypes by centering the story of an affluent Black family—challenging the limited narratives that too often dominate film and television. In this intimate conversation with author and activist Jodie Patterson, Akil reflects on her creative journey, the cultural impact of Forever, and her mission to evolve how Black families are portrayed on screen.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


Asians Got Next


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Wed, Oct 8

Time

11:15PM – 12:00PM

Stage

Impact stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Filmmaker, Actor, Chef

Speaker

CEO & Founder, Hero Collective

Moderator

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Speaker

Nothing found.

Chef, writer, and cultural provocateur Eddie Huang has never shied away from challenging stereotypes or pushing boundaries. From his groundbreaking work as a host on Vice TV to his storytelling across food, film, and television, Huang has helped carve space for Asian voices in mainstream culture. In this candid fireside chat, he reflects on his journey, the shifting landscape of representation, and why Asians are claiming their rightful place at the center of pop culture’s next chapter.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


Rise of Citizen Journalism


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

10:15AM – 11:00AM

Stage

Impact stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Journalist, Author, Documentary Film Producer

Speaker

CEO, Omnicom PR Group

Moderator

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Speaker

Nothing found.

In an era where anyone with a smartphone can break news, traditional media and grassroots voices are colliding in powerful ways. MSNBC’s Joy Reid sits down with Chris Foster, CEO of OPRG, to explore how citizen journalism is reshaping public discourse, challenging institutions, and redefining trust in information. Together, they’ll unpack the opportunities and risks of this shift—and what it means for the future of storytelling, accountability, and democracy.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by OPRG. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


From the Block to Broadcast: Holding on to Your Voice While Scaling Your Reach


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

3:30PM – 4:15PM

Stage

Breakthrough stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Actor & Comedian

Speaker

CMO, SHIPT

Moderator

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Speaker

Nothing found.

From neighborhood stages to Saturday Night Live’s iconic platform, Kenan Thompson has built a career defined by both longevity and authenticity. In this inspiring talk, he reflects on how Black creatives can expand their influence without losing the essence of where they come from. With warmth and wit, Kenan shares lessons from his journey—how to navigate bigger stages, balance mainstream success with cultural responsibility, and ensure your voice remains your own. This is a story about resilience, ownership, and the power of staying true to your roots while speaking to the world.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


Amplifying the Culture: The Power of the Black Effect


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

11:15AM – 12:00PM

Stage

Breakthrough stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Cohost of The Breakfast Club, Co-Founder of The Black Effect Podcast Network & Southland Stories, and Founder of Black Privilege Publishing

Panelist

Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of aWLCo

Panelist

EVP of Multicultural Sales

Moderator

Nothing found.

The microphone is no longer reserved for the few—it belongs to everyone. In this provocative talk, cultural commentator Charlamagne Tha God unpacks the explosive rise of podcasting and the democratization of media, where everyday voices compete with legacy institutions for our attention. What happens when everyone becomes a pundit, a personality, a platform? With humor and sharp insight, Charlamagne explores the power and pitfalls of this new ecosystem—how it’s amplifying diverse perspectives, reshaping influence, and redefining truth in real time.

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by iHeartMedia. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.


Navigating Today's Changes & Challenges


Sponsored by

Month: August 2025


Details

Date

Tue, Oct 7

Time

10:15AM – 11:00AM

Stage

Breakthrough stage

Address

Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

C-Suite Executive • Board Director • Author • Founder

Speaker

C-Suite Executive, Investor and Board Director

Speaker

CEO, M&C Saatchi

Speaker

Vice President, Global Marketing & Media, The Procter & Gamble Co.

Speaker

Founder & CEO, BECA

Moderator

Founder & CEO, BECA

Moderator

Nothing found.

Corporate Board Director and Former Teradata CMO Jacqueline Woods, C-Suite Executive, Investor and Board Director Kimberly Paige, M&C Saatchi CEO Nadja Bellan-White, and VP of Global Marketing & Media at The Procter & Gamble Co. Eric Austin join Jerri DeVard, Founder and CEO of BECA, for a candid conversation on driving growth in a climate where language is shifting, DE&I is under fire, and the corporate lexicon itself can become a battleground. How can today’s leaders stay authentic, resilient, and impactful while navigating these high-stakes changes?

This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by Shipt. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.