Caroline A. Wanga is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ESSENCE, the No. 1 media, technology, and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities. She also serves as Chief Growth Officer for ESSENCE Ventures, parent company of ESSENCE. Wanga joined Essence Ventures, parent company of ESSENCE, as Chief Growth Officer in 2020 from Target Corporation, where …
Ahmir Khalib Thompson, known professionally as Questlove, is an American musician, record producer, disc jockey, filmmaker, music journalist, and actor. He is the drummer and joint front-man for the hip hop band the Roots. Questlove was born on January 20, 1971, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Lee Andrews, had enjoyed commercial success in the late …
Kanya King is an internationally renowned entrepreneur through her role as CEO, founder, and visionary, of the MOBO Awards. Kanya has displayed the rare drive and ambition needed to help take black music from the margins of British popular culture, made by disenfranchised artists, to the heart of the mainstream culture in the UK and …
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter, better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper and the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots, which he co-founded with drummer Questlove. As the Co-Founder of The Roots, actor, writer, producer, and creator, Tariq Trotter, aka Black Thought, has affirmed himself as one of the most prolific …
Hannah Beachler is one of the most electric Production Designers in Hollywood today. She didn’t realize her calling until she was sweeping the floors of a low-budget Lifetime movie. After walking onto productions across New Orleans, her breakout film was “Fruitvale Station,” followed by “Creed”–both alongside director Ryan Coogler. She went on to design the …
George Gachara is the Managing partner, Entrepreneur and Arts manager at HEVA Fund LLP. He leads a development and business exploration of the creative industries in East Africa and is providing leadership in creating long-term economic and cultural value in this dynamic sector. In addition to his work at HEVA, George is also a member …
Kenya Barris is a Writer, Producer, and showrunner. He was best known for creating the groundbreaking sitcom “Black-ish” (ABC, 2014-). Born in Inglewood, California in 1974, Barris’ family eventually relocated to a less impoverished neighborhood, when Barris’ mother earned her real estate license and his father was given a settlement for having been badly injured …
Joel Kachi Benson is a Nigerian documentary filmmaker and virtual reality content creator. He is passionate about stories, and has been making documentary stories for over a decade. In February 2018, he was introduced to the world of Virtual Reality, and became the first Nigerian filmmaker to use Virtual Reality technology for storytelling, when he …
Matthew Ohio is the founder and CEO of Industry Nite. He is a showbiz enthusiast, show promoter and businessman who started the Industry Nite in 2009 as an independent platform for artistes to showcase themselves. His iconic music show activation, Industry Nite, has been instrumental in platforming some of Nigeria’s biggest entertainment exports, birthing careers …
Pierre Thiam is a chef, author, and social activist best known for bringing West African cuisine to the global fine dining world. He is the executive chef and co-founder of Teranga, a fine-casual food chain from New York City that introduces healthy, casual fare directly sourced from farmers in West Africa. Pierre is also the …