Sandra Graham-Mason
Sandra
Graham-Mason
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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.
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Nicky Battle
Nicky
Battle
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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.
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Dr. Sophie Balzora
Dr. Sophie
Balzora
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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.


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Rhonesha Byng
Rhonesha
Byng
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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.
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Damon Jones
Damon
Jones
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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.


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VALID vs. VALIDATION: WTF is a Cannes Lion Award, and Do I Really Need One?
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Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
3:40PM – 4:20PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators

Simon Cook
CEO, Cannes Lion

Andre Gray
CCO, HAVAS LYNX

Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
Let’s face it, everybody wants to win awards and be recognized for the work they do. However, the awards culture in advertising has a lot more implications than just acknowledging great work. Brands use your agency’s award history as way of determining your value. Executives want to work for agencies that have won, and they want to receive the type of briefs that allow them to create award-winning-worthy work. While this doesn’t sound bad at all, how does this affect diverse owned agencies, and executives who are fighting to get an opportunity to compete on a level where they can reap the awards of a Cannes Lion or an Effie? Is the awards industry inherently biased, does it inadvertently perpetuate bias, and how can it make itself more equitable? In this panel, Simon Cooke, CEO of Cannes Lion, will talk about the awards industry and the work he is doing to make awards work for everyone!
Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
3:40PM – 4:20PM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Dave East
Dave
East
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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.
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Premier Lunch Sponsored by Omnicom | OPRG
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Details
Date
Wed, Oct 16
Time
12:00PM – 2:00PM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Chef

Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
*This lunch for Premier Registrants is proudly sponsored by Omnicom | OPRG, located within the Premier Lounge.
This Blackweek lunch is proudly sponsored by Omnicom | OPRG. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Wed, Oct 16
Time
12:00PM – 2:00PM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Rooftop Lunch Curated by 8it
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Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
12:10PM – 2:10PM
Location
Rooftop
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Chef

Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
Lunch curated by 8it, NYC’s app for food pop-ups, drops and industry recos. 8it’s bringing Black culinary magic to Blackweek; today featuring Chef Brittney “Stikxz” Williams, a renowned NYC chef of Jamaican descent serving us a dish that celebrates the Jamaican diaspora, blending tradition with innovation. Download 8it, the simplest way to find the best food.
Herbed Quinoa Salad (chicken & veggie):
Spiced chickpea, fried shallots, goat cheese & coconut masala dressing
This Blackweek lunch is proudly sponsored by 8it. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
12:10PM – 2:10PM
Location
Rooftop
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Premier Lunch Sponsored by KUAMP
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Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
12:00PM – 2:00PM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Chef

Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
This lunch is proudly sponsored by KUAMP, an award-winning, independent, Black-owned pioneering creative production studio at the intersection of culture and innovation. Visit kuamp.com to learn more.
*NOTE: this lunch is for Premier Registrants only located within the Omnicom | OPRG Premier Lounge.
This Blackweek lunch is proudly sponsored by Kuamp. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
12:00PM – 2:00PM
Location
Premier Lounge
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013