John Hope Bryant
Founder, Chairman And CEO, Operation HOPE
The number one group starting businesses since the pandemic were black businesses…This is a moment, and we have to get serious about it because we literally model what we see—and we can do it all.”
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Panel
Click below to reveal each speaker’s insight.
People are less focused on things
and more focused on impact…Thinking about ‘how can I make sure these communities also benefit from the success I've had?’ That is the cultural shift that we're seeing.”
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TV/Radio Host, Entertainer And Entrepreneur
Nick Cannon
Be a self-motivator, a self-generator and a self-curator. Get into that mirror each and every day and tell yourself how amazing you are, how you can't be stopped, how you can do all things…Your power is self.”
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When you're doing disruptive things, when you're trying to change the world, everybody is not going to see your vision...Do it for you, don’t do it for everyone else, and those ‘nos’ will eventually become ‘yesses.’”
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Producer, Author And Entrepreneur
La La Anthony
Partner And New York Region Head Of PWM And Head Of Sports And Entertainment Solutions, Goldman Sachs
Nicole Pullen Ross
How do you win when all the odds are stacked against you?...Prepare for when your opportunity arises, so you're able to really take advantage of it and exploit it.”
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Former Professional Basketball Player, Philanthropist, Coach And Entrepreneur
Isiah Thomas
Chief Diversity, Equity
And Inclusion Officer, Google
Melonie D. Parker
It’s not about fitting, it's about adding. And if you add in, you can bring uniquely your expertise, your experience, your identity to a project, to a program, to the strategy.”
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General Manager, MCAPS Academy, Microsoft
Todd Minor
We [trained] folks who had nontraditional backgrounds, who didn't have college degrees. But they had perseverance, they had grit…When we birthed them into our sales organizations, these were some of the most successful, innovative employees.”
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Chief Diversity Officer,
AT&T
Michelle Jordan
One of the things we’re learning is the importance of supervisor support…you’ve got to leave the door open, you’ve got to leave seats at the table for other people to make sure that you’re pulling them along.”
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Bringing Energy To Equity And Inclusion
Panel
Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Lead, Coactive AI
Kevin Hill
I'd like us to be more proactive…to put the safeguards in place for jobs, for minorities and communities that look like us to make sure everyone can make the transition into this new technology space.”
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Founder And CEO, GoalSetter
Tanya Van Court
When there are black women or black people who are sitting in the seats leading this technology and leading these conversations, we are developing products that are truly going to advance our communities...AI is the exact same conversation.”
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Global Head Of Mailchimp Ecosystem, Mailchimp
Kenneth Chestnut
I think when you talk about AI, you talk about the…large tech companies, and how it’s benefiting enterprises. [But] I think there's a real opportunity to democratize AI for black businesses and small businesses.”
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Panel
NBA executives at the ForbesBLK Summit held a roundtable discussion on the inner workings of professional sports and how to improve diversity in the NBA’s executive ranks. (Photo credit: Jamel Toppins)
There is no failure that is ever final until you decide to quit…As long as I didn't give up on me, and a dream that I had, I would be just fine—and so would the business.”
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President And CEO, Storehouse
Tamira Chapman
The problem is that time is money…America's economy started 400 years ago, but African Americans’ economy started about 60 years ago with the Civil Rights Act—and we're rushing hard trying to make up time.”
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Founder And CEO,
The Steinbridge Group
Tawan Davis
I believe in the infinite possibilities of right now, because everything is coming our way…It’s my job—and all of our jobs—to make sure it’s dispersed in an equitable fashion…and that we don't lose our culture or our soul.”
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Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
Andre Dickens
Singer, songwriter and MC Mumu Fresh delivered a special opening performance during the 2023 ForbesBLK Summit.
Examining Corporate Strategies That Work For All Of Us
C.R.E.A.M: It’s Your Money
State Of Black Wealth In America
Leveraging The Future Economy Of A.I.
Decoded