“Culture” has quickly become the marketing and advertising industry’s favorite new buzzword. It has become table stakes for marketers who want to prove to their clients that they understand how to make brands cool and relevant. But culture is not what everyone thinks it is, and during this keynote, Dr. Marcus Collins, Author, “For the Culture”, will help us understand what culture is, what it isn’t and most importantly what it takes to be a cultural marketing expert.

Keith Weaver and his wife Fawn Weaver have taken the spirits industry by storm, proving that Black consumers are not driving premium spirits growth as customers but as founders. In this fireside chat we will discuss how Uncle Nearest has gone from boutique bourbon brand to full blown spirits industry unicorn, surpassing 1 billion dollars in valuation. Keith will share how Uncle Nearest cracked the code and what’s next for the power house duo, who are set to take over the spirits industry.

John Hope Bryant is an author and economist focused on helping underserved communities close the wealth inequality gap. In this fireside chat, John will outline the current state of Black America, the economic crisis he is fighting hard to eliminate and what the Black community needs to do to ensure it can economically survive in a world that is becoming more financially polarizing.

Jonathan Mildenhall will sit down with his first boss Cindy Gallop to discuss how a kid from Leeds, has overcome adversity to become one of the most influential CMOs and marketers in the advertising industry. This candid conversation will unpack the challenges that marketers of color face in an industry where politics, cronyism and other factors impact the objectivity necessary for diversity to thrive. He will also talk about the big plans he has to help level the playing field in an industry that needs more bravery!

Award winning author of the book, “Stamped From The Beginning”, that became a must watch documentary on Netflix, Ibram X. Kendi will take Blackweek attendees on a historical rollercoaster ride of the history of racism and bias in America. Moderated by journalist and podcaster, Toure, this fireside chat, will seek to uncover the origin of bias in America and how it consciously and subconsciously impacts the opportunities people of color are afforded.

In today’s marketplace, diversity isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a financial one. Reflecting the diverse tapestry of the global audiences brands and businesses serve is your biggest asset when it comes to the bottom line. This lively and insightful session brings together brand leaders and marketers to better understand how to make an impact, and find innovation, connection and lucrative results along the way. Learn how cutting-edge companies are building diverse teams, and leveraging their impacts to spark innovation, foster creativity and drive growth.

Understand your audience: Dive deep into how a diverse team offers unparalleled insights into the black and brown demographics.

Building high-performing and inclusive teams: Unpacking the strategies and best practices for assembling teams that are not only diverse, but also bring a multitude of perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table.

Creating spaces that foster belonging: How to create a work environment where every team member feels valued, heard, and integral to the organization’s success. It’s not just about hiring; it’s about nurturing an inclusive culture to retain talent and raise productivity and impact for the long-term.

Decades of data bias and the lack of diverse data professionals has left the data available to advertisers absent of the cultural insights necessary to give advertisers the full picture. In this panel we will unpack the extent of this problem and what we need to do to create greater representation in the data necessary for brands to achieve greater impact in their programmatic investments.

Black founders in the United States have faced a decline in venture funding since 2021, with only 0.48% of all venture dollars going to Black-led startups in 2023. This is the lowest percentage in recent history, and is down from 0.74% in the first half of 2023 to 0.13% in the third quarter. This panel will unpack the conscious and unconscious bias that impacts founders and will uncover why Pharrel’s Williams, Felicia Hatcher, and Les Brun’s Ariel Investments are betting big on Black Ambition

Black women chief creative officers — that’s not something you say in a sentence every day. Well, these (three) women personify a movement in the advertising industry that is starting to gain momentum. In an industry where most creative campaigns are still driven by a White male psychology, what happens when you get a Black woman’s perspective? During this panel discussion, we will find out. Discussion topics to include: challenges Black women creatives face in advancement, getting their ideas heard, and what they bring to the table.

In 2024, 90% of all digital media investment will be made programmatically. However, there are very few diverse owned programmatic platforms. With more and more money being invested in programmatic advertising, its essential that we see the emergence of diverse owned ad tech companies. In this panel we will uncover the monopolies that exist in ad tech, the corresponding impact for publishers and what it will take for a diverse owned player to breakthrough.