This unapologetic father and businessman has proven that if you train a child in the way that they should go, you can get a return on your investment. LaVar Ball was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, as one of seven children. He was a young, prominent...

Joy White is a certified mindset and wellness coach for Black women, transformational keynote speaker, seasoned employment lawyer, and serial entrepreneur with almost two decades of experience spanning the C-suite, higher education administration, non-profit board...

Evangeline Mitchell was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated magna cum laude from Prairie View A&M University. She went on to earn her doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Iowa College of Law. She studied...

Roger W. Ferguson Jr. is the Steven A. Tananbaum Distinguished Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. Ferguson, a D.C. native, holds a BA, JD, and a Ph.D. in Economics all from the prestigious Harvard University. He began his career as...

Alexis Kerr is vice president of Mahogany, the beloved Hallmark brand that has built a relationship of trust with the black community by honoring, celebrating, and supporting emotional connections among black families, friends, and loved ones for more than 30 years....

Elizabeth Leiba has spent more than a decade in higher education, guiding her students in subjects such as literature, history, instructional design, anti-racism/DEI, and advocacy at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to her expertise as a professor,...

Dr. Kevin E. James serves as the 19th President of Morris Brown College, a historically black college founded in 1881 in Atlanta, Georgia. The institution is the only college in Georgia established solely by African American patronage. Dr. James became the college...

One of the most prolific home run hitters in all of baseball history, George Kenneth Griffey Jr., known as “the Kid” played for 22 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ken was raised in the clubhouse of the Cincinnati Reds, where his father (Ken Griffey Sr.) was a...

For more than 22 years, Keith J. Davis, Sr., also known as “MR. D-MARS,” has worked in advertising, marketing, media, and communication. As President and CEO of Vaskey Media Group, Inc., he has spearheaded campaigns for many local and national brands and many...

Certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace and a survivor of toxic work environments, Dr. Carey Yazeed uses her voice to educate, inspire and motivate executives in the banking and finance industry to develop purpose-driven companies through...

Michael Irvin, known as “the Playmaker,” was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is the 15th of 17 children born to Pearl and Walter Irvin. During his high school career, Irvin’s father would fall gravely ill, enlisting Michael to always take care of his...

Del Matthews serves as MLB’s Vice President of Baseball Development. He enters his 21st season in Professional Baseball, and 2022 will be his 7th in the Office of the Commissioner as VP. In his role, Matthews oversees the day-to-day operations of the MLB Youth...

Carter is regarded as one of the most prolific dunkers and three-point shooters the NBA has ever seen. Vince Carter was a sensational professional basketball player for 22 years, the longest career in the history of the National Basketball Association. Growing up in...

Daymond John, known as ‘The People Shark,’ is a successful entrepreneur, designer, investor, author, television personality, and motivational speaker. Hailing from the city of Brooklyn, New York, John grew up in the middle-class neighborhood of Hollis Queens. His...

Dr. Renee Denise Fowler's passion in life is to leave a lasting impact on the world. As an award-winning Author, International Speaker, Media Personality, Pastor, Entrepreneur, and Life Transformation Strategist, Dr. Fowler wears many hats. As she operates across the...

To bear the legacy of the Dallas Cowboys star comes an immense pressure to perform at an elite level every football game. Yet, even as a backup rookie quarterback, Dak Prescott was poised to take to the field with grit and tenacity. Born Rayne Dakota Prescott in...

Vaughn Crowe is a Managing Partner at Newark Venture Partners. Before joining Newark Venture Partners, Vaughn served as Managing Director at Wesray Social Investments, the investment arm of Ray Chambers' family office. While at Wesray Social, Vaughn led direct and LP...

Eddie George, a Philly native, was an ambitious young athlete who understood that having a strong work ethic and determination would help him accomplish his dreams. “Growing up in Philadelphia, football was everything…It was not only a passion, but it was also life.” ...

For over 13 years, the dynamic leader, change agent, and visionary, Martine DeVoe has garnered an impressive career path that looks perfect on paper and even better for those she has helped. With a people come first mindset and the confidence to succeed, DeVoe has...

Affectionately and professionally known as Jolivette, he is a multi-award-winning actor, published author, and an ordained minister of the gospel, among many other things. A man amongst men who lives by four scriptures and a code. Matthew 6:33 (But seek ye first the...

The prominent visionary and matriarch of the Knowles family is an outspoken social justice activist, entrepreneur, fashion designer, and philanthropist. While she is the mother of megastars Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, she is a celebrity in her own right. Knowles,...

Mia Wright is a powerful speaker, who encourages others with uplifting messages, relevant life stories, and life skills that apply in both the faith-based and industry sectors. Her messages are inspiring as well as encouraging. With a call to action, she elevates...

Ursula Burns is a veteran of corporate evolution, the first African American woman to serve as CEO and chairman of a Fortune 500 company. Born in the public housing projects on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Burns had a dream of becoming an engineer. She was...

In 2003, Marques Ogden was drafted into the NFL as an offensive lineman. After five years of playing in the league, he decided to retire and pursue a career in construction and contracting. Growing up in a single-parent home with a father that inspired perseverance...

DeMaurice F. Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) and the longest-serving director in major league sports. This exceptional leader has proven to be a master negotiator in his role as the Chief Executive Officer...

Kelli Stewart was born in Atlanta and raised for most of her life in Oglethorpe County, a rural community just outside of Athens, Georgia. Although both parents were not a consistent fixture in her life, Stewart’s Grandmother, Ms. Amy Lou Faust, provided a stable and...

Derek Gaskins excels in turning successful brands and businesses into billion-dollar enterprises. With over 20 years of experience, he has developed expertise in multiple fields, including marketing and merchandising. He also exceeds expectations in multimedia...

Reginald Hudlin comes from a long lineage of black excellence. The son of two educators, Hudlin was raised in East St. Louis where his family would instill the value of education. After graduating from Assumption High School, Hudlin would go on to attend the...

Dr. Tana M. Session is an award-winning International Speaker, Best-selling Author, and Certified Executive-level Performance Strategist. Her path to success was not without difficulty. It started out with being born into the New York City foster care system, where...

The iconic Tina Turner is simply the best. Known as the “Queen of Rock n Roll,” Turner, with a career that spans five decades, was the frontwoman in the rhythm-and-blues sensation Ike & Tina Turner Revue before launching her successful solo act. Born Anna Mae...

Rosalind “Roz” Brewer continues to blaze new trails in corporate America as one of two Black females serving as a Fortune 500 company CEO. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Brewer is the youngest of five children who would be the first generation of her family to attend...

Doug Glanville is a rare talent both on and off the baseball field. Glanville, a Teaneck, New Jersey native grew up a Phillies fan just miles away from the stadium where he would play most of his major league career. His major influence was from his father, a native...

Sherwin David “Wood'' Harris is known for his role as Avon Barksdale on the HBO crime drama The Wire. A Chicago native, Harris played basketball for Northern Illinois University while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts. Appearing in several off-Broadway...

When Deion Sanders announced that he had persuaded (Class of 2022) No. 1 overall recruit and two-way phenom Travis Hunter to de-commit from Florida State and join him at Jackson State, a historically black college and university in the deep south, it sent shockwaves...

Alexis “Fly” Jones is a producer turned television personality. Showcasing her skills behind and in front of the camera, Jones utilized her platform to inspire confidence in her followers - no matter their age. Embodying her brand’s mission, her achievements represent...

Jalen Rose has always been able to give people what they want. Hailing from the city of Detroit, Michigan the young guard would make a powerful statement on the basketball court. He would use his childhood to fuel his competitive drive. Rose, a left-handed player, was...

Chris Michel, the Americas Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Bloomberg LP, has significant experience leading talent management programs in multinational organizations. His extensive familiarity with global diversity and inclusion matters, in addition to the proven...

Rhonda Smith, the current Executive Director of the California Black Health Network, is passionate about eliminating health disparities and driving change within underserved communities and communities of color to achieve health equity. As a master networker,...

This fearless and highly respected former New York City prosecutor knows no bounds. Star Jones is known for her candor, confidence, and uncanny ability to decipher legal and social justice issues. Her understanding of the law and eloquent presence has earned her...