What is Blackweek Connect? It is a targeted event developed for future business leaders, dedicated to bridging the gap between up-and-coming talent and decision-makers in the advertising industry. Designed specifically for students, junior-level executives and job seekers, this day offers invaluable opportunities for learning, networking, and career development, setting the stage for the next generation of leaders in advertising.

Event Highlights
Welcome Keynote: A short, inspirational address to kick off the day, setting the tone for growth and professional success.

Master Classes: Engage in short, impactful master classes led by Chief Creative Officers (CCOs) and Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) from top advertising agencies. These sessions will dive into practical skills and strategies needed to succeed in the advertising industry.

Professional Development Sessions: Gain hands-on experience and advice on critical aspects of advertising, from branding to campaign execution. These sessions will provide attendees with career insights, actionable skills, and mentorship from industry leaders.

Thanks to our Blackweek Connect Business Expo participants: Amy Anaiz Photography, Freckles Juice, Harlem Chocolate Factory, Plain Sight, Luxe Photobooth Houston, In Earnest, Sheila Gray Collection, Tinky Poo, Urbana Tree, Camille Rose, Mokamoto, BIPOC Filter, Mommy Look, BLK & BOLD.

As the tech industry continues to shape the future of work, innovation, and global economies, the importance of diversity and inclusion has never been more critical. This panel will explore how intentional, thoughtful, and strategic efforts to build inclusive cultures within tech companies can foster creativity, drive innovation, and lead to sustainable success.

Leading experts in technology, business, and diversity will share insights into the practical measures that companies can take to design more inclusive work environments. Discussions will focus on the importance of diverse leadership, equitable access to opportunities, and how technology itself can be leveraged to create positive social change. Panelists will highlight case studies of organizations that have successfully embraced diversity by design, offering attendees actionable strategies for integrating inclusion into the very fabric of their corporate cultures.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, executive, or a tech professional, this session will provide valuable insights into how diversity is a fundamental element in designing the future of tech and driving economic growth.

Black Americans watch more TV and consume more media than the rest of the population. Yet, they remain one of the most underrepresented groups on TV—from the lack of doctors on the big screen to the lack of representation in advertising—and this is affecting the community in more ways than you may think, including its overall health. This panel will discuss the role entertainment plays and the impact it has on shaping healthcare perceptions and health disparities, particularly in the Black community.

Peloton rode into everyone’s lives, ushering in new realities of what at home fitness and self care would be. What made Peloton different is how it built community around its brand. At the core of the Peloton community are its instructors, who are with you anytime and anywhere, be it first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day, or after work to help you meet your personal fitness goals. In this fireside chat between Walter Geer, Peloton Instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts, and Peloton Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Weinberg, we’ll discuss how Peloton built a diverse influencer army of instructors and a thriving community, and how its instructors have become brands and influencers in their own right.

At a time when many companies are pulling back from DE&I initiatives, Sephora is doubling down on its investment by continuing its work around ensuring diverse representation, expanding partnerships, and strategically aligning its brand with inclusive cultural narratives. Join us for an engaging fireside discussion with Sephora’s Celessa Baker, Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, and Danisha Lomax, Head of Client Inclusivity and Impact at Digitas, where they will discuss how Sephora’s commitment to economic inclusion is reshaping the beauty industry and supercharging the brand’s growth.

This discussion will explore:
– Sephora’s strategic DE&I initiatives: Including its commitment to the Fifteen Percent Pledge and the impact of Sephora’s Racial Bias in Retail Study.
– The evolving role of brand partnerships: How leveraging collaborations helps the retailer authentically connect with diverse communities.
– Business outcomes: Sephora’s commitment to inclusion is not just a social imperative, but a business strategy that enhances brand loyalty and drives revenue.

Wondering what it actually takes for companies to stay the course on inclusion? P&G marketing and media leaders demonstrate how they have elevated equality and inclusion as essential, enduring elements of business growth and operationalized winning through diversity as a strategy for success across the enterprise. Join this interactive conversation to understand how to shift the conversation from “resilience” to “returns.”

Challenging times often reveal people’s true colors, and today is no exception. In an era where self-preservation tends to prevail, we’re witnessing a decline in moral values across industries. Why is it so difficult for professionals to consistently demonstrate courage? In this fireside chat, Sundial CEO Kirk McDonald will delve into the systemic and ethical challenges plaguing the advertising industry and explore the urgent need for more courage and accountability.

100% of US population growth comes from diverse consumers. Diverse consumers have a combined spending power of over 5 trillion dollars. The statistics that support marketers’ prioritization of diverse audiences are irrefutable. Yet, there is still a significant disparity in investment in how these audiences are prioritized by most Fortune 500 companies. With CMOs’ time being so finite, how do they make sure they have the information needed to make diversity a business driver? In this presentation, BECA Founder & CEO Jerri DeVard will lead a discussion on what best practices CMOs and market leaders should incorporate to ensure they are maximizing, prioritizing, and right-sizing diverse audiences within their total addressable market. From shaking up their supplier base, to how to incorporate new forms of insights gathering, to the growing importance of being culturally relevant, this talk will unpack the principles on how to make DE&I a competitive advantage for CMOs.

In this important conversation, our panelists will explore the future of diverse-owned media. Topics of discussion will include challenges in securing a fair share of RFPs, balancing scale versus impact, the impact of ad blockers, data bias, rising benchmarks for competition, and the double standards that limit the operational scope of diverse-owned companies. This conversation will address the challenges, biases, and obstacles that must be confronted to ensure the survival and growth of the media industry’s diverse segment.

Anyone with a check book can invest. And they do. And it helps. But being invested means more than that. It takes consistency, care, and concern for how that investment is used and for those that investment impacts. In this candid conversation, Tarshena Armstrong, Director of Diversity Marketing & Development at General Motors, firesides with REVOLT CEO Detavio Samuels on the necessity of supporting sustainable growth and fostering equitable representation for diverse-owned media and marketing companies.