Caralene Robinson
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Chris "Gotti" Lorenzo
Chris "Gotti"
Lorenzo
Lorenzo
Speaker 2025
A true visionary and entrepreneur, Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo has spent over two decades shaping the landscape of music, entertainment, and business. Best known as the co-founder of the legendary Murder Inc. Records, Chris played a key role in launching the careers of iconic artists like Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Lloyd, cementing his status as a power player in the industry.
Never one to stay in one lane, Chris has had his hands in launching multiple businesses over the years, always staying ahead of the curve. As the founder of Add Ventures Music, a revolutionary music distribution platform, he’s helping independent artists retain ownership while scaling their reach and revenue—giving power back to the creatives.
His influence extends beyond music. With Clash Basketball, Chris has created a dynamic space that combines athleticism, entertainment, and competition, offering a new platform for both basketball talent and fans alike. Meanwhile, through ARC Films, he’s bringing authentic stories to the screen, building a bridge between urban narratives and cinematic excellence.
A true serial entrepreneur, Chris is constantly building. With several ventures already under his belt, he’s actively working on new projects that span across industries, continuing to expand his empire while staying rooted in community and culture.


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Mike Tollin
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Vanessa Rissetto
Vanessa
Wallace
Wallace
Speaker 2025
Vanessa Rissetto is a registered dietitian (RD) and the CEO and Co-founder of Culina Health, a revolutionary clinical nutrition care company created in 2020. Prior to starting this venture, she served as the Director of Dietetic Internships at New York University (NYU), where she led the clinical nutrition treatment for a diverse patient population and mentored early-career dietitians — many of whom now work at Culina Health.
Before changing careers and becoming an RD, Vanessa earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Fordham University and a master’s degree in marketing from NYU. Today, she seamlessly integrates her passions for business, entrepreneurship and nutrition as the CEO of Culina Health.
Under Vanessa’s leadership, Culina Health has raised $20 million in venture funding. Culina Health has become a leading trusted care provider for physician referrals, with patient outcomes consistently surpassing industry averages. She has also cultivated an all-female leadership team, who strives to make nutrition care more inclusive and accessible for everyone. A sought-after speaker, Vanessa is a frequent guest on the Today Show and has shared her expertise at investor and industry summits such as Rethink, Graham & Walker, and Tensility. Her insights have garnered national press coverage in publications including The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Vogue, Women’s Health, Shape, Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Prevention, PopSugar, Well+Good, Refinery29, INSIDER, and Allure.
Vanessa’s accolades extend beyond her entrepreneurial success. Recently honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the “Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs in 2023, ” she has also been recognized by Essence as one of the “Black Nutritionists Who Will Change the Way You Think About Food, ” by Byrdie as one of the “Dietitians Carving Out Space for Black People in the Nutrition Industry, ” and by NPR as “A Black Dietitian Wants to Close the Nutrition Gap. ” Beyond her professional endeavors, Vanessa is known for her love of Doritos, her commitment to her community, and her uncanny ability to remember people’s birthdays.


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Vanessa Wallace
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JoJo Simmons
JoJo
Simmons
Simmons
Speaker 2025
Joseph “JoJo” Simmons, Chief Brand Officer of 3isFor, is a cultural influencer, entrepreneur, and advocate transforming storytelling for social good. The son of hip-hop icon Rev Run of Run DMC, Simmons rose to fame on MTV’s Run’s House (2005-2009), an NAACP Image Award-winning reality series, and later starred in Growing Up Hip Hop (2019-2023). Transitioning from reality TV to purpose-driven leadership, he hosts 3isFor’s For Good Podcast, featured by Amazon Music and Spotify for its candid conversations on mental health and growth in Black and Brown communities, engaging listeners worldwide. As a Last Prisoner Project ambassador and advocate for community empowerment, he earned the 2023 Phoenix Arising Award from the Black Mental Health Alliance. With 552,000 Instagram followers, Simmons leads a global team crafting authentic brand experiences for purpose-driven brands spanning culture, community, and impact, leveraging his audio engineering studies at the Institute of Audio Research to ensure top-tier production quality. A devoted husband and father of two, he inspires action through his global platform.


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Monique Rodriquez
Monique
Rodriguez
Rodriguez
Speaker 2025
Monique Rodriguez, founder of Mielle, leads the fastest-growing Black-founded and woman-led beauty brand, celebrated globally for its quality, natural products catering to textured hair consumers. With a presence in over 90 countries, Mielle’s products are available in over 100,000 U.S. stores including Sally Beauty, Ulta, Target, and Walmart. Boasting a social media following of over 1 million Mielle Mavens, Monique’s strategic approach secured a groundbreaking non-controlling nine-figure investment from Berkshire Partners in 2021. In 2023, Mielle marked history with a significant partnership with P&G Beauty.
Monique’s industry impact is underscored by accolades such as the Glossy 50, WWD’s Power Players, and Fast Company Brands That Matter. Acknowledged for her leadership, she serves on Executive Leadership Advisory Boards for Hope Chicago and Building Better Futures. Her commitment to empowerment extends through the nonprofit Mielle Cares. Driven by faith and purpose, Monique imparts wisdom, education, and financial resources to support Black and brown communities.


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Dreka Gates
Dreka
Gates
Gates
Speaker 2025
Dreka Gates is an entrepreneur advocating for love and wellness who is converging culture, technology and intentional living. With over 3.2 million Instagram followers and 40+ million monthly views through her social media and including gaming. She’s cultivated a global audience drawn to her authenticity, empowering lifestyle content and commitment to holistic self-care.
As the founder of ventures spanning into Dreka wellness, eyewear and gaming into Fortnite with Envy, the Reality Tycoon Fashion game, she is pioneering new experiences that inspire balance, creativity and sustainable success. Her projects have sparked collaborations and product launches with musicians, celebrities and influencers.
While working on sex and love certifications, VITA Sex, Love & Relationship Coaching Certification, she, alongside her Fr8qu8ncy team and partners, has created her own augentic AI metahuman, DrekAi and is actively integrating her into emerging tech spaces and gaming. DrekAi is the first celebrity agentic AI, a type of autonomous artificial intelligence system designed to emulate, extend, or collaborate with Dreka’s persona, brand, or creative output — often in real time and across multiple platforms.
During Blackweek, Dreka is expected to share her journey of building impact-driven brands and experiences, empowering the next generation to lead with purpose, innovation and emotional intelligence in a rapidly evolving digital world.


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Nigel Sylvester
Nigel
Sylvester
Sylvester
Speaker 2025
Nigel Sylvester is a professional BMX athlete, creative visionary, entrepreneur, and philanthropist from Queens, New York. Known for pushing boundaries through his progressive riding style and viral content, Nigel made history as the first BMX rider signed to Jordan Brand, with instant classic sneaker collaborations including the March 2025 AJ4 “Brick by Brick” release and August 2025 AJ1 low “Better with Time”. He serves as the Creative Advisor for New Era and has worked with brands like MTA, McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz, Saratoga, David Yurman, Moncler, and Fendi, where he designed the brand’s first BMX bike. Nigel founded the GO brand, hosts GO Ride, an annual transnational bike ride, and launched the Nigel Sylvester Foundation to empower underserved youth through bikes, recovery spaces, and after-school programs. Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, Creative Collective, HYPEBEAST 100, Nice Kicks, and featured in ESPN’s Body Issue, his influence spans sports, fashion, and culture, with appearances on the covers of Footwear News, Wonderland, TMRW Magazine, Numéro, and PREME. He has also walked runway shows at Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week for Kid Super, Casablanca, Willy Chavarria, and Hermès.


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Mona Scott Young
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