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This historic conversation series will feature Daymond John in one-on-one discussions with Black business leaders and cultural icons including Charlamagne tha God, Flavor Flav, Kelly Rowland, Rashad Bilal, and Troy Millings. Expect to learn, be inspired, and take actionable items away from these one-of-a-kind conversations.
CHARLAMANGE THA GOD
Lenard “Charlamagne Tha God” McKelvey is an entertainment mogul who has earned a reputation as one of the most authentic voices in media. As a Radio Hall of Fame inductee, best-selling author, in-demand TV personality, and producer, he is a singular shaper of culture.
An innovator and industry leader in audio, he is the co-host of iHeartMedia’s The Breakfast Club morning show, which drives millions of listeners and viewers daily on radio. Charlamagne expanded his collaboration with iHeart to create The Black Effect Podcast Network, home to multiple chart-topping podcasts and the first podcast network built explicitly for Black listeners. Alongside Kevin Hart, he is also the executive producer of scripted podcasts like Brokedown Prophets, Finding Tamika, Unleash for Love, and Summer of ‘85, which have won an Audie, Webby, and the prestigious duPont award. He is also the co-creator and host of the popular podcast The Brilliant Idiots with comedian Andrew Schulz. He recently launched the political podcast network Reasoned Choice Media alongside Angela Rye and Chris Morrow. The network’s debut show is the chart topping Native Land Podcast featuring Rye, Tiffany Cross and Andrew Gillium.
Charlamagne is the author of The New York Times Best Seller Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It and the best-selling Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me, and his most recent best-selling book Get Honest or Die Lying. His tremendous success as an author led to a partnership with Simon & Schuster Publishing, now home to his imprint Black Privilege Publishing, which has curated best-selling books such as Invisible Generals, My Black Country, Shallow Waters, and many upcoming new releases for 2024 and 2025.
Charlamagne is an Emmy-winning producer through his production company, CThaGod World. He has hosted several network TV programs, including the Stephen Colbert executive-produced Hell of a Week on Comedy Central. He is also the host of his YouTube interview series Out OfContext with Charlamagne Tha God.
Acting on his passion for mental health awareness, Charlamagne founded the Mental Wealth Alliance. The foundation works to destigmatize mental health in the Black community by expanding the pool of professionals in the health and wellness space. Additionally, he is an Ambassador for the Food Bank for New York City.
FLAVOR FLAV
Flavor Flav is the most iconic hype man in history and one of the most recognizable legends in entertainment. He is a musical prodigy who is proficient in fifteen instruments. He first burst onto the scene in the late ’80s, where he emerged as a co-founder of the legendary hip-hop group, Public Enemy. Possessing the most sampled voice in the history of hip-hop, Flavor Flav (along with his group) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2020. In addition to his culture-shifting career in hip-hop, Flavor Flav furthered his mark on the world with his foray into reality television, where he displayed an unparalleled penchant for breaking records. His reality television series, Flavor of Love, achieved a record-shattering 7.5 million viewers during its Season 2 Finale and was the highest-rated non-sports programming that year, and rated show for VH1 all-time. As he continues to perform with Public Enemy on the global stage, including the 2023 GRAMMY Awards, Flavor Flav has expanded his talents to the mediums of scripted television, feature films, narrative film, voice-over acting, podcaster, documentary production and book author.
KELLY ROWLAND
As a singer, actress, and television personality, Kelly’s eminence speaks for itself. Kelly’s rise to stardom began during her time as a member of Destiny’s Child , one of the best- selling girl groups of all time, which garnered countless awards, including three Grammys.
After the group disbanded, Rowland continued her success as a solo musician and won two additional Grammy Awards. She continued to make hits, including the 2002 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single “Dilemma” with Nelly, “When Love Takes Over” with David Guetta, and the solo hit “Commander.”
Kelly’s prowess goes beyond the microphone. As an actress, Kelly can most recently be seen as the star of Tyler Perry’s Netflix film, Mea Culpa, opposite Trevante Rhodes, and previously starred opposite Marsai Martin and Omari Hardwick in the Paramount feature, Fantasy Football . Prior to that, she starred opposite Marlon Wayans in the Netflix feature The Curse of Bridge Hallow, Bad Hair directed by Justin Simien, and the hit BET series American Soul. As a television personality, she was a judge on numerous competition shows, including The X Factor (both in the U.S. and U.K.) and The Voice.
RASHAD BILAL
Rashad Bilal grew up in the financial services industry, taking a summer internship with his family’s Wealth Management, The Bilal Group LLC in 2005. He learned at a young age the importance of financial literacy and realized that he wanted to translate his knowledge into actions. After graduating with honors from The University of Hawaii in 2007, Rashad became a full-time associate with The Bilal Group in May 2003, culminating in his advancement to Vice President in 2009 and Partner in 2014.
In 2018, Rashad Bilal partnered with his lifelong friend Troy Millings to start an educational platform called Earn Your Leisure
(EYL). EYL has grown into one of the top business platforms in the world, with a top business podcast under its umbrella, a podcast network, and an online educational platform.
EYL gives behind-the-scenes financial views into the entertainment and sports industries, as well as highlighting backstories of entrepreneurs. EYL also breaks down business models and examines the latest trends in finance. EYL is a college business class mixed with pop culture that blends the two together for a unique and exciting look into the world of business. EYL has a community of over 1,500,000 followers on social media, and 1,500,000 YouTube subscribers.
Earn Your Leisure also offers an interactive educational resource through EYL University which is an online educational platform. Earn Your Leisure University is an online interactive community that includes over 100+ archived webinars covering a range of business, finance, and entrepreneurial topics. Subscribers to the platform have direct access to exclusive weekly webinars hosted by leading experts from a variety of different financial industries. Membership also includes access to a Private Investment Facebook group which includes a community of over 12,000 members, a book and movie club, bi-weekly interactive sessions covering the stock market with Troy Millings, and a monthly group financial planning call with Rashad Bilal.
Troy and Rashad founded The Earn Your Leisure Network. The Earn Your Leisure Network is a revolutionary network which gives rise to emerging and established content creators from the world of business, finance and entrepreneurship whose perspective, expertise and in-depth insight have been undervalued and overlooked. At its core The Earn Your Leisure Network ultimate purpose is to build as we climb as a community, highlighting collaboration over competition.
Lastly, EYL hosts live events across the globe which includes the biggest financial literacy festival in the world “Invest Fest”. Invest Fest is a first of its kind, in-person experience to combine investing, entrepreneurship, pop culture, and entertainment in a 3-day festival setting. Invest Fest includes a vendor marketplace for small businesses and live podcast stages with interviews from top entrepreneurs and celebrities. There are also live performances from top musicians, a food truck caravan and investing panel discussions and interactive events. Invest Fest was founded in 2021 with over 4,000 attendees and has rapidly grown with over 20,000 attendees at Invest Fest 2023. Some of the headlines in the past years have included Steve Harvey, Tyler Perry, Dan Cathy and Robert F. Smith.
TROY MILLINGS
Troy Millings was born in the home of Hip Hop, the South Bronx. From an early age, music influenced his education. His keen memory and ability to memorize lyrics translated into memorizing historical facts, equations, and literature. Those two passions would later mold the educator he is today. He taught for 16 years, beginning his teaching career in NYC Dept. of Education to most recently the CSD of New Rochelle.
In the midst of teaching, Troy led Operations Crossroads as Program Director, a summer youth program designed for students at the secondary level of education. The purpose of the program is to introduce students to financial literacy through culturally responsive education while providing them with opportunities to gain work experience through summer internships in career fields of their choice.
Realizing there was a need to expand financial literacy education outside of the traditional classroom setting, Troy and life-long friend Rashad Bilal came together to start an educational platform called Earn Your Leisure. Today,
Earn Your Leisure has grown into one of the top media companies in the world with its own podcast network, a top
business podcast under its network, and an online educational platform.
The Earn Your Leisure platform provides listeners with behind-the-scenes financial knowledge across entertainment and sports industries, while highlighting entrepreneurs’ backstories, breaking down business models, and examining the latest trends in nance. The podcast blends insights from a typical college business class with current popular culture, offering listeners a unique and exciting look into the world of business in a fresh new way. Earn Your Leisure has a community of over 1,500,000 followers on social media, and 1,500,000 YouTube subscribers.
JORDAN CHILES
Jordan Chiles is a globally recognized, nationally ranked gymnast and 2x Olympian.
With legendary basketball star Michael Jordan as her namesake, Chiles’ trajectory has, fittingly, been driven by athletic excellence. Her breakout performance at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games catapulted the athlete to a global stage, clinching the silver medal for Team USA, and solidifying her as the sport’s next breakout star. An outspoken advocate for body positivity and mental health for female athletes, Chilesspent the Fall of 2021 sharing her experiences and empowering audiences across the country in the post-Olympic “Gold Over America Tour.” In 2022, Jordan made history at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships as one of 3 Black gymnasts to top the podium for the first time ever. Now, Chiles has returned to compete at the elite level after wrapping up an incredible year as a collegiate athlete, winning 2 NCAA individual titles with UCLA in 2023, and has since partnered with the iconic sportswear giant as a Nike athlete. Jordan became known as Team USA’s ultimate hype woman at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where she led USA to a Team Gold.
LANÄN CLARK
Regional Director, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management
Lanän Clark is the Managing Director, Regional Director of Wealth for the Los Angeles / Orange County Region. Lanän leads the Long Beach, LA Whittier, Central Orange County, Huntington Beach/Brea, Manhattan Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, South Bay and Laguna Beach markets. She is an experienced financial services leader and coach with 20+ years of experience in wealth management, business development and practice management.
In her previous role as the Market Executive for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, she was responsible for a team of 120 financial advisors delivering wealth management solutions for clients at every stage of their lives, as well as building Merrill’s presence in the market. Her team managed a $16 billion portfolio for individuals and families, corporate and institutional.
She also served in the United States Navy Active Reserves for eight years, where she was awarded two Navy Achievement Medals and Navy Commendation Medal.
Lanän earned her Bachelor’s from the University of West Florida and has a Master’s of Business Administration from Webster University.
Lanän and her family reside in Mission Viejo, CA.
QUONTA VANCE
Executive Vice President, Pro and Home Services
As executive vice president, Pro and home services, Quonta (Que) Vance is responsible for the day-to-day execution and strategic direction of the Pro and home services pillars of Lowe’s business, with a focus on driving market share growth and delivering exceptional customer service. He joined Lowe’s in 2019.
Que has more than 25 years of retail leadership experience in the home improvement industry. In his most recent role at Lowe’s, he led the overall vision and strategy for Pro fulfillment, domestic and international transportation, parcel shipping, command center operations and final mile delivery as senior vice president, transportation and final mile. He has also served as senior vice president and general merchandising manager, building products, as well as division president, North division. Before joining Lowe’s, Que served as regional vice president, Mid-Atlantic regions for The Home Depot, where he also held district manager and store manager roles. Prior to Home Depot, he was an executive team lead with Target.
Que earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He serves on the board of the YMCA of Metro Charlotte and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council.
ERICA CARY
VP, HR Consulting & DEI
Erica is the Vice President of HR Consulting and Global Head of DEI at Hilton, where she drives the strategic development, alignment, and execution of global HR initiatives. She collaborates closely with the Global HR Centers of Excellence in Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Learning & Development, Compensation, and Benefits, ensuring a diverse and inclusive culture where employees thrive with purpose and passion.
Erica has been actively and continuously involved in DE&I efforts across many organizations. In her new role as Global Head of DEI at Hilton, she is eager to build on the strong foundation of the DE&I team, enhancing the connection between DE&I strategy and Hilton’s business objectives, talent, and culture.
With extensive experience in stakeholder partnerships, consultative skills, issue resolution, and proactive thought leadership, Erica has consistently delivered positive outcomes across Technology, Product Management, Digital, Global Operations, Information Security, and Data Analytics. Her previous roles with Neiman Marcus, Target, Best Buy, IBM Corporation, and Lockheed Martin have equipped her with a deep understanding of organizational effectiveness and cultural integration.
Erica holds an MBA and a Master of Science Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Prairie View A&M University. She has also served on the advisory boards of Oracle and FirstUp, bringing valuable insights to these organizations.
Outside of work, Erica is an interior designer, a full-time wife, mother of two, and part-time yogi.
KEITH HARRISON
AMDOS, GTP TMC
Keith brings more than 25 years of travel industry sales and distribution experience to his position as Assistant Managing Director of Travel Partners. In this role, he leads an Internation team of directors who represent Hilton’s global portfolio of 24 brands and over 8000 hotels to our travel management company (TMC) partners.
With a career on both the distribution and supply sides of travel, Keith spent 6 years in global distribution and revenue management roles at Swissotel Hotels & Resorts and Raffles International, and he led global hotel supplier strategy and relationships at Travelport during his 13-year tenure there.
Keith has a passion for the travel industry, and outside of work, he enjoys spending time either at home in Chicago or traveling with his wife, his two sons, and his beagle.
CARMEN VERGARA
Director, Retail Merchandising
Carmen, a seasoned Director at Hilton Corporate, boasts over a decade of dedication to the company. She played a pivotal role in supporting her department’s transition of Hilton’s headquarters from California to its current location in McLean, Va. Carmen embarked on her professional journey early on, initially pursuing Culinary Arts before pivoting towards Hospitality/Business Administration. Her passion lies in crafting efficient processes to empower property-level teams in their daily endeavors.
Throughout her tenure, Carmen has spearheaded the procurement strategy for eight of Hilton’s latest brands. Additionally, she served as the primary global brand engagement liaison across Full Service, Luxury, and Lifestyle categories, ensuring cohesive support. This past year, she launched a new department, Retail Merchandising, within Hilton Supply management. Residing in Maryland with her family, Carmen thrives outdoors, indulging in activities like mountain biking and hiking. A certified master sommelier, she takes pride in curating an impressive wine collection housed in her cozy home cellar.
TAMIKA CATCHINGS
Former WNBA and Olympic basketball player
One of the most decorated athletes of all time, Tamika Catchings has left an indelible mark at every level of the game. Catchings is a 4-time Olympic gold medalist, 10-time WNBA All-Star, 5-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a WNBA Champion. Beyond her on-court success, she is known for her off-court professionalism and was a 3-time recipient of the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship award. In 2004, she launched the Catch the Stars Foundation, which empowers youth by providing goal setting programs that promote Fitness, Literacy and Youth development. Since her retirement from professional basketball, she added business owner to her resume as well. A true champion of the people, Tamika divides her time between family, business interests, broadcasting, corporate boards, and philanthropy.
SCHARRELL JACKSON
CEO and Founder of Leadership in Heels
Scharrell Jackson is a distinguished International Keynote Speaker, Global Executive Coach, and Celebrated Author with over 25 years of executive leadership experience. Renowned for her transformative impact across diverse sectors as Partner, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer, Scharrell has consistently delivered extraordinary results. Her innovative strategies have driven 25% year-over-year growth, elevated topline revenues from $3.5M to $400M, and achieved 95% staff retention while reducing operational expenses by over 25%, creating operational efficiency and delivering a Great Place to work culture.
As the CEO of STJ Consulting Services, she empowers leaders through her coaching and keynote speaking to rise above and achieve unparalleled success. Scharrell is a top-ranked executive coach, with over 40,000+ hours working with Csuite leaders and the architect of the proprietary “Endgame Excellence” methodology, a transformative framework designed for ambitious, accomplished leaders ready to elevate from success to significance. Her approach guides leaders in making precise, outcome-drive decisions, ensuring sustained high performance and remarkable clarity to strategically navigate the complexities of leadership that solidify their legacy.
As a captivating International Speaker, Scharrell electrifies audiences with her keynotes on transformative leadership and operational excellence. With over a decade of speaking engagements, her signature keynote, “High-Performance Leadership: The Power of Decision,” empowers leaders to make strategic choices with confidence and clarity. Additional popular keynotes from her celebrated High-Performance Leadership series include, “The Impact on the Bottom Line,” addressing the intersectionality of vision, leadership, performance, strategy and business success. “Conquering the Imposter Syndrome,” and “Self-Care: The Best Version of You,” amongst others, address the critical aspects of leadership, culture, and personal well-being and resonates deeply with professionals striving for authenticity, balance and confidence in their roles. Scharrell Jackson transforms the way leaders approach challenges and empowers them to take immediate action.
Scharrell is the founder of Leadership in Heels, a 501(c)(3) that not only delivers high-quality leadership speaking engagements, but provides transformative leadership training to underserved populations. Through powerful workshops, speaking engagements and community events, Scharrell empowers individuals to shift from survival to thriving, making Leadership in Heels a movement for lasting change.
Her impact extends beyond the stage as a celebrated author. She coauthored Ubuntu: On Whose Shoulders We Stand, a poignant anthology by Dr. Tererai Trent, Oprah’s favorite guest. Scharrell shared her philosophy: “My life’s work is to embody humanity in every interaction, nurturing potential with heart and insight.” Scharrell will also be featured in the upcoming docufilm and anthology Hear Us Roar: Lion Edition, uniting voices of courage and resilience. Her work reflects her deep commitment to empowering others.
Recognized with numerous accolades, including AICPA’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting Award, the Orange County Business Journal’s Women in Business Award, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Remarkable Women Entrepreneur Award, the Executive Leadership Award, the Elevate Diversity Women in Leadership Award, and the Make a Difference Community Service award by the Leon Owens Foundation recognizing her for her remarkable business growth and innovation. Scharrell Jackson’s commitment to excellence and service is reflected in every aspect of her career, earning her recognition as one of Orange County Metro’s Top 21 Women of Courage for her significant contributions to both business and community.
Scharrell enlightens, empowers, and elevates leaders through incredible breakthroughs in every encounter. Her mission is to guide leaders through specific challenges, ensuring they not only sustain momentum but amplify their influence and impact. Her mandate is HIGH-PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP, and her promise is DECISIVE EXCELLENCE.
RAHEEM RICHARDSON
Personnel Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class & Founder of Riichfit
Raheem Richardson, originally from Newark, NJ, a proud Shaw University graduate with a BA in English and a minor in Psychology, has dedicated seven years to the United States Navy as a Personnel Specialist, aspiring to become and retire as a Naval Officer. He is also the founder of Riichfit, a fitness brand that aims to “Transform Your Lifestyle with Empowering Health Insights & Premium Sportswear.”
Currently working toward his master’s degree in Sports Management, Raheem has plans to open a state-of-the-art training facility where kids from all backgrounds can develop athletically and academically. The facility will offer sports training, tutoring, and mentorship for young athletes, with minimal financial burden on families. Supporting young athletes is a priority for Raheem, both through his business and his Naval service, where he also mentors’ younger sailors.
LAURA TAYLOR
Career Counselor Petty Officer 1st Class and Owner of Luxurious Escapades
Laura Taylor hails from the state of South Carolina. In 2023, she achieved a academic milestone by earning her Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and Management from Saint Leo University. Building on this foundation, she pursued and obtained a Master’s degree in Project Management from the same esteemed institution in 2024.
Ms. Taylor commenced her naval career aboard the USS George Washington, initially serving as a Seaman Apprentice. Demonstrating exceptional aptitude and dedication, she transitioned to the role of Boatswain Mate, where she honed her skills and made substantial contributions to the ship’s operations.
After five years of dedicated service on the USS George Washington, Petty Officer Taylor moved on to her next assignment in North Carolina. During this three-year period, she served in a recruiting capacity, which allowed her to further expand her experience within the Navy. Following this role, she made a significant career shift from Boatswain Mate to Career Counselor.
With eight years of service under her belt, Petty Officer Taylor has emerged as an ambassador for the Navy. She has initiated a movement aimed at enhancing the Navy’s presence on social media platforms, thereby aiding its transition into modern communication strategies.
As an entrepreneur with a proven track record of building a diverse portfolio of successful businesses, she is the owner of Luxurious Escapades, a premier travel agency, and serves as a brand ambassador, among other ventures. With a strong focus on entrepreneurial pursuits, she is deeply committed to the businesses she believes in and continues to expand her reach across multiple industries.
SARAH L. ALLEN
Naval Counselor Petty Officer 1st Class, CEO of Allen & Duffy Enterprises, LLC. and Co-Owner of Kinder Learning Childcare Center
Sarah L. Allen is a dedicated wife, mother, and active-duty service member in the U.S. Navy, where she serves as a hometown recruiter in Houston, Texas. She is the CEO of Allen & Duffy Enterprises, LLC, a trucking company, and Co-Owner of Kinder Learning Childcare Center, set to open in January 2025. Sarah is also the founder of “Realize Your Awesomeness,” a nonprofit committed to promoting awareness, prevention, and bystander intervention to address bullying for both adults and children.
Sarah’s educational journey began at Jack Yates High School in Houston ISD. She went on to earn a B.A. in Psychology from Saint Leo University and later obtained an MBA from the University of the Incarnate Word. Her passion for learning led her to pursue a BSN, further equipping her with tools to impact her family and community.
Sarah started her Naval career in 2006 in Norfolk Virginia aboard the USS Eisenhower, a nuclear carrier aircraft during this time she was deployed overseas. In 2010 she returned to Houston with a broadened perspective and interest in impacting the community that shaped her. Deciding to be a hometown recruiter allowed her to make a positive impact on the lives of others in the most fulfilling way by providing them with opportunities to change their lives. She worked her way up by enlisting everyone from high school students to medical doctors allowing her to go from recruiter in her profession to Director of recruiting leading a team of 27 recruiters in a territory from Houston to Louisiana. She has received awards for being Recruiter of the year for the US Navy for as a navy Commendation Medals. Sarah currently serves as the Director of the Marketing and Advertising department of the Navy Talent Acquisition Group Houston.
She is an active member of Junior League of Houston, Inc., The Junior League of Houston, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Sarah prides herself on being an advocate for those who are unable or too afraid to speak up for themselves. She is an Active member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc Through service projects, Jack and Jill of America creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth and development. Through lobbying, educational programming, dissemination of education materials, and the organization of community and charitable events, Jack and Jill have promoted the public awareness and interests of children including child development, child growth, child quality of life, childcare and the promotion of children’s rights. Of course, being a Texas Native, she serves on a rodeo committee. While Sarah has received numerous accolades, her greatest reward lies in empowering individuals and communities to realize their own potential, leaving a lasting impact on those around her.
CLIFF WORLEY
Head of Portfolio Marketing at Kapor Capital & author of Cliff Notes AI
Allen Cliff Worley is an accomplished marketing leader and growth advisor to startups. As Head of Portfolio Marketing at Kapor Capital, he provides strategic coaching to help VC-backed companies effectively go to market and scale customer acquisition.
Cliff is also the creator and author of Cliff Notes AI, a highly regarded AI newsletter that delivers the most essential and cutting-edge AI news without the fluff, keeping readers informed and up-to-date on the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.
Cliff serves on the boards of two esteemed organizations: The NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center, a non-profit that educates, innovates, and connects aspiring and current entrepreneurs, and VC Platform, the largest group of platform professionals in the venture capital industry, representing over 2,000 global firms managing $2.61 trillion in asse
MINEA MOORE
Global Head, Ecosystem Growth & Impact, Salesforce
Minea Moore is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the tech industry. As Global Head of Ecosystem Growth & Impact at Salesforce, she leads strategic initiatives for recruiting, training, and nurturing new talent and partner businesses to ensure customer success ultimately driving ecosystem growth and impact through the lens of equality.
Moore has held key roles such as Global Head of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability and Director of D&I Strategic Initiatives at Intel Corporation, where she made significant strides in advancing supplier diversity and setting ambitious goals for diverse business inclusion. Her professional experience spans Alliance & Channels, Global Procurement, Corporate Affairs, and Human Resources for Fortune 100 companies.
Moore holds an undergraduate degree in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University and an MBA from Babson College. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Colangelo School of Business at Grand Canyon University. Known as a “Corporate Entrepreneur,” she combines global thinking with an entrepreneurial mindset, coaching small businesses and helping leaders drive sustained growth through purpose-driven strategies and impactful business practices.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Moore is a proud mother of two daughters and a fur-son. In her spare time, she enjoys hot yoga, traveling, real estate investing, and watching Korean dramas.
Ryan L. Smith
Ryan is the Executive Vice President of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Ryan co-led the acquisition of Atlanta Life, the historic, minority-founded and -owned financial institution. Before his current role, Ryan was Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff of EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, where he led the company’s innovation, strategy, and corporate development activities. Before EquiTrust, he was the Director of Investments for Magic Johnson Enterprises, where he launched and led the Venture Capital practice in addition to his role as an Investor in the Private Equity practice, which included the acquisition of EquiTrust in 2015.
Before joining Magic Johnson Enterprises, Ryan was an Investor at Bronze Investments, a venture capital firm focused on investments at the intersection of profitability and positive social impact. Before Bronze, he was an Investor at IMB Development Corporation, a New York-based private equity firm focused on building large-scale, minority-owned businesses.
Ryan began his career in investment banking and capital markets at Morgan Stanley, working on over $20 billion of equity and equity-linked public offerings. In addition to his private sector activities, Ryan co-founded Restoring Our Character (ROC), a national not-for-profit organization. He was also a member of the USC Marshall Venture Capital Fund Investment Committee.
Ryan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) and received his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER
Over the course of a career spanning 30 years, actor/comedian Cedric “The Entertainer” has solidified his status as one of the world’s premier performers on the stage, in film and on television.
Currently starring in and executive producing the CBS Television hit comedy “The Neighborhood,” Cedric is simultaneously co-starring in the hit TBS comedy “The Last O.G.”, opposite Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish. His other noteworthy television credits include the comedy series “The Soul Man,” which he co-created and executive produced through his production company A Bird And A Bear Entertainment; “The Steve Harvey Show, for which he received four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy; the sketch comedy series “Cedric the Entertainer Presents, which he starred in and executive produced and garnered the AFTRA Award of Excellence for; served as host of season 12 of the hit game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire; and was featured as the voice of Bobby Proud in the Disney animated series “The Proud Family”, for which he also earned an NAACP Image Award.
Cedric’s versatile film work spans genres from the comedic: highlighted by his memorable performances in the hit “Barbershop” franchise, starring in and producing “Johnson Family Vacation,” and “The Original Kings of Comedy” concert film which chronicled his record breaking Kings of Comedy Tour with fellow comedians Steve Harvey, D.L Hughley and the late Bernie Mac; to the dramatic with Paul Schrader’s critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated drama “First Reformed,” co-starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried. And his signature baritone voice has been heard in such animated hits as Disney’s “Madagascar” and “Planes” franchises, “Ice Age 2” and “Dr. Dolittle 2” among many others.
He will next be seen in yet another dramatic role portraying legendary civil rights activist and leader, Ralph Abernathy, in the upcoming feature film, “Son Of The South”, executive produced by Spike Lee and directed by Lee’s long-time editor, Barry Alexander Brown; “The Opening Act,” about a group of comedians trying to breakthrough in the stand-up comedy world; and will soon begin production of the sequel to his hit “Johnson Family Vacation,” for which he will once again star in and produce.
Never resting on his laurels and with stand up being his first love, Cedric continues to hone and perfect his craft performing live shows across the country on his own handpicked comedy dates, having recently wrapped a highly successful 4 year run on THE COMEDY GET DOWN TOUR with fellow funny men George Lopez, D.L.Hughley, and Eddie Griffin (2014 – 2018).
In July 2018, the actor and comedian was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Just months later, in December 2018, Cedric’s hometown of St Louis, Missouri named a street in his honor, Cedric The Entertainer Way, in recognition of his far-reaching career achievements and dedicated philanthropy through his Cedric the Entertainer/Kyles Family Charitable Foundation.
SPEAKER TBD
ANTHONY ANDERSON
Anthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian and game show host who is known for playing Louis Booker from Kangaroo Jack, Glen Whitmann from Transformers, Ray Ray from The Proud Family and Antwon Mitchell from The Shield. He also acted in Blackish, Hoodwinked, The Departed, Agent Cody Banks 2 and Scream 4.
RICK ROSS
With the levying stature of a goliath and the regal standing of a King, Rick Ross has lived up to his prophecy of being the “Biggest Boss.” The Miami Monster Mogul has evolved into not just hip-hop’s most respected and revered MC (in fact he was voted MTV’s “Hottest MC” of 2011), but as a label CEO and business entrepreneur, his resumé is as sterling as one of his platinum plaques.
God Forgives, I Don’t is Ross’ fifth solo album in six years, following in the recent success of five star acclaimed masterpieces Deeper Than Rap (2009), Teflon Don (2010) and classic team efforts with his Maybach Music Group, Self Made Vol. 1 and 2. By now, everyone that follows what Ross does, has been conditioned to expect nothing but a prolific output of the highest grade of music.
In a career that reaches new heights every year, God Forgives… is a milestone, the most anticipated rap project of all of 2012, as well as being the LP that will be the definitive work of art of the past decade.
“Without exaggeration, you just don’t hear this high of quality or precision of music,” Ross says about his opus. “I’ve mastered the art of devising classic albums, but this by far exceeds my prior excellence. I owe this to the fans and I owe it to myself to be the undeniable best.”
God Forgives… has a seamless blend of party hits and street certifiable bangers surrounded by Ross’ passionate reflections on life and articulation of his journey to be a billionaire. On one of the lead cuts, “So Sophisticated,” Ross hammers down heavy-handed statements with a delivery as graceful as Michael Jackson’s penny loafers lighting up the streets in “Billie Jean.” Meanwhile “Touch N You” features multi-time Grammy Award winner Usher and caters to the women who have crowned Ricky Rozay as one of the most yearned for sex symbols in all of entertainment.
“Three Kings” feels like Ross’ coronation into legend status as he is joined side by side by the man who has garnered the title of Greatest Rapper of All-Time, Jay-Z and the Greatest Producer of All-Time, Dr. Dre.
Like every up and coming MC, Ross — influenced by Golden Era b-boys that reigned supreme in the late 80s — just wanted to be heard during his introduction into hip-hop in the late 90s. While the desire and the artistry have been Ross hallmarks from career commencement, he had to learn the fine of art of structuring record contracts as well figure out a way to market and promote himself to the public when his former record labels couldn’t.
Ultimately, Rick Ross’ time didn’t come until over a decade after he started professionally. He only needed one song to break through. 2006’s “Hustlin” which went from being a relentless street anthem to a pop culture catch phrase still used today, earned Ross a record deal with Def Jam, and became the catalyst for his debut LP Port of Miami. That album debuted number one on the Billboard charts as did Trilla which came less than two years later.
And while his core fans already were familiar with the superlatives or Rick Ross the artist, in 2009, we got to know how strong of man the music Kingpin was. Highly publicized rap battles and controversy over his street cred that started at the end of 2008, none of it mattered by the spring of the next year when 2009’s Deeper Than Rap dropped. The few that ridiculed had no choice but to jump on the bandwagon, when Ross elevated himself with refined raps and musical soundscapes, all the while never worrying about public misperceptions about his past. While other albums may have sold slightly more, 2010’s Teflon Don overshadowed every LP from any genre that year. It was the album you heard coming out every car, the album that dominated DJ’s playlist and the album that catapulted Ross to international superstardom.
Building on the next level of his fame, Ross’ hunger wasn’t satiated. He knew it was his golden opportunity expand his Maybach Music Group. In late 2010 MMG went from boutique imprint to a full-fledged label, with the signings of Wale and Meek Mill as the cornerstones of the roster. Stalley and Omarion have since joined his core and have helped make MMG the most beloved brand since Jay-Z had Roc-A-Fella records 10 years ago. In early 2012, Ross released a free mixtape containing an album’s worth of new material called Rich Forever. The popularity from the body of work was so fervent, Ross toured in the U.S. and overseas in support of the new set of songs and Rich Forever has since went on to be the most downloaded mixtape ever. Now with God Forgives I Don’t, Ross has his sights set on a brand new goal: to be the biggest boss and artist of all-time.
“When my career is done, people will look back at everything I’ve contributed, and not just speak my name in high regard with the best of the best artists, but they’ll also compare my contributions with the greatest executives ever such as Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Clive Davis and Jimmy Iovine.”
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
4X NBA Champion, Sports Analyst, DJ, Philanthropist, and Investor
Born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 6, 1972, Shaquille O’Neal is considered to be one of the most dominant basketball players in NBA history. At 7 ft 1 in tall and weighing 325 pounds, Shaq’s larger-than-life personality and powerful athleticism have resulted in worldwide adulation and one of the most passionate fan bases in sports and entertainment.
Shaquille O’Neal’s off-court accolades rival his athletic accomplishments, having found success in acting, music, television, gaming and as an entrepreneur. Currently, Shaq is an analyst on Inside The NBA, on the board of Papa John’s Pizza in addition to being partner and investor in numerous other businesses.
Philanthropically, Shaquille’s relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of America dates back to his youth in New Jersey. As a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, he has been participating in campaigns with the non-profit company for the past 15 years.
