2023 CORE 100

Most Influential Blacks Today

Available in Print and Digital Format.

 

Hubert Ira Davis Jr.

Hubert Ira Davis Jr.

Hubert Ira Davis Jr., a man of unparalleled skill and character, has impacted basketball as a player and a coach. Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Davis quickly established himself as a standout athlete, playing college basketball for the Tar Heels and helping...

Jennifer McDonald

Jennifer McDonald

In the heart of downtown Wichita, nestled within the grand Union Station, lies a treasure trove of finely crafted wines. Founded in 2016 by Jennifer McDonald, Jenny Dawn Cellars has blossomed from a dream into the city's very first urban winery, offering a selection...

Jennifer Ford

Jennifer Ford

Jennifer Ford, a Houston native, made history in 2004 when she opened the first Black-owned sneaker retail store in America, Premium Goods. Her store quickly became a hub for sneakerheads in Houston, and Ford was praised for building a community of people who shared...

Jesse Collins

Jesse Collins

Jesse Collins, Founder & CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, is a master of producing television's most memorable moments in music entertainment. With his impeccable taste and artistic flair, he has brought some of the most iconic musical stories to life through...

John Clay

John Clay

John Clay, a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, has been in the industry for 13 years, and his expertise is evident in the way he speaks with clients. Clay's vast experience has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National...

Judge Kali Morgan

Judge Kali Morgan

Judge Kali Morgan is the Presiding Judge of the 505th  Family District Court in Fort Bend County, Texas. Elected on November 3, 2020, she is the first African American judge to serve the Fort Bend County family courts. A native Houstonian, Judge Morgan received her...

Judge Elizabeth Emmanuel

Judge Elizabeth Emmanuel

In the heart of Fulton County, a new judge has taken her seat on the Magistrate Court Bench, and her name is Elizabeth Emmanuel. Judge Emmanuel is not just any ordinary judge, for her journey to the bench has been paved with hard work and dedication. Hailing from...

Juanita Jackson

Juanita Jackson

As you walk into Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 10, you can feel the presence of a judge who is not just there to preside over cases but truly cares about the people who walk through those doors. That judge is Juanita Jackson, a proud product of Houston's...

Joshua LeBlanc

Joshua LeBlanc

Joshua LeBlanc is not your average financial advisor. As a former baseball player turned wealth management expert, he brings a unique perspective and approach to his clients at Morgan Stanley. LeBlanc's journey to financial advising began on the baseball diamond. He...

Judge Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson

Judge Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson

The appointment of Judge Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court is a momentous occasion for the legal community and for all those who believe in the power of justice and equality. As one of the most respected and accomplished legal minds of our time, Judge...

Kenny Smith

Kenny Smith

Kenneth "the Jet" Smith is a name that needs no introduction in the world of basketball. Born in Queens, New York, Smith made a name for himself as a professional basketball player, commentator, and philanthropist. Smith's educational journey started at Archbishop...

Kiy Watts

Kiy Watts

Kiy Watts is a name that should be on everyone's radar as a business and human resources strategist with over 20 years of experience in various industries. Most recently, Kiy served as Vice President, People & Culture at the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena....

Krista Bourne

Krista Bourne

Krista Bourne is Chief Operating Officer for Verizon Consumer Group. In this role, she is responsible for the deployment of a fully-integrated omnichannel experience propelled by a keen focus on operational excellence. She leads a distributed team of passionate...

Judge Kristina Robinson

Judge Kristina Robinson

Judge Kristina Robinson is a remarkable example of excellence in the legal profession, education, and philanthropy. Her distinguished career, academic achievements, and philanthropic contributions have made her an inspiration to many aspiring leaders. Born and raised...

LaMonica Peters

LaMonica Peters

LaMonica Peters is a News Reporter for KTVU Fox 2, covering the South Bay. Before moving to the Bay Area in May 2022, she worked at CBS 8 in San Diego. Her work has been seen on CNN, ABC News Live, CBS News, and Spectrum News Network.   She was selected as a Knight...

Laolu Davies

Laolu Davies

Amidst Houston's urban development's fast-paced and ever-changing landscape, a unique housing project stands out. The new mixed-income development on Caroline Street in Midtown is not just another construction project but a beacon of hope for the base workforce, often...

Lashonda Johnson

Lashonda Johnson

LaShonda Johnson, CFEd®, brings 30 years of combined experience in financial education and services, entrepreneurship, corporate management, training and development, and business mentorship. Most recently, her passion for financially educating and empowering...

Laurie Robinson Haden

Laurie Robinson Haden

Laurie Nicole Robinson Haden is an award-winning lawyer and agent of change who truly embodies the 21st-century businesswoman. She has succeeded as the founder, president, and CEO of Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC). This non-profit organization advances women...

Laysha Ward

Laysha Ward

Laysha Ward is leading with purpose in the African American community. With 30 years of leadership experience at Target, Ms. Ward has made her mark in the corporate world and the communities she serves. As a C-suite executive, Ms. Ward has demonstrated an unwavering...

Mark Jackson

Mark Jackson

Mark A. Jackson is not only a former professional basketball player and successful commentator, but he is also an accomplished individual with a wealth of educational and philanthropic achievements. On the court, Jackson was a powerhouse. He played in the NBA for 17...

Melanie Boulden

Melanie Boulden

Melanie Boulden is President of the Stills Business Unit, Coca-Cola North America (CCNA). She leads CCNA’s Water, Active Hydration, Tea and Coffee businesses. Boulden joined the company in August 2019 as President and General Manager of CCNA’s Venturing and Emerging...

Norland James

Norland James

Norland James, a well-known and highly respected hotelier, has recently expanded his portfolio by opening a new hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Along with his wife, Dr. Amina, this power couple has amassed an impeccable portfolio. Choosing Memphis as a location was an...

Noah Harris

Noah Harris

In a year of great social and political turmoil, a young Black man from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has made history at Harvard University. Noah Harris, a 20-year-old junior majoring in government, has been elected as the student body president, becoming the first Black...

Rachel Baker

Rachel Baker

Duke basketball made a monumental addition to their program, welcoming Rachel Baker as their first-ever General Manager. As a former athlete herself, Baker brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the program, specifically in enhancing players' personal and...

Ran Carthon

Ran Carthon

Arandric Kornell "Ran" Carthon is a name that echoes across the professional sports world. A former pro football player, he has now made a name for himself as a dynamic and innovative executive with a passion for philanthropy and community development. Carthon's...

Dr. Reagan Flowers

Dr. Reagan Flowers

Reagan Flowers, Ph.D., is an innovator and early pioneer in enrichment education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). She is the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization CSTEM, which has impacted over 50,000 students in the United States...

Rodney Bullard

Rodney Bullard

Rodney Bullard decided to attend college at the United States Air Force Academy because they had a solid football program. He set a goal to become an All-American. When a knee injury ended his pursuit of playing on the gridiron, he went on to achieve All-American...

Roland Martin

Roland Martin

Roland Martin is an esteemed American journalist who has made his mark in the industry through his unwavering commitment to excellence, unrelenting pursuit of the truth, and unapologetic voice on issues that matter to black people. Born and raised in Houston, Texas,...

Ryan Coogler

Ryan Kyle Coogler is a filmmaker who has risen to the forefront of the entertainment industry with his unique storytelling abilities and dedication to advocating for underrepresented communities. Born in Oakland, California, Coogler's passion for filmmaking began at a...

Sadé Muhammad

Sadé Muhammad

Sadé Muhammad, the Director of the Representation & Inclusion Partnership at Forbes, is making waves in media and business. Her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion has been a driving force behind some of the most significant changes in the industry. As...

Samuel Bright

Samuel Bright

Samuel Bright is Chief Product & Experience Officer at Upwork. Bright is a senior operating executive with over 16 years of extensive experience scaling technology teams, businesses, and customer experiences. His career reflects a demonstrated track record of...

Samantha Tweedy

Samantha Tweedy

Samantha Tweedy is the inaugural President of the Black Economic Alliance Foundation–the nation’s leading organization harnessing the collective expertise and influence of Black business leaders and allies to build generational wealth for the Black community. Samantha...

Sandra Richards

Sandra Richards

Sandra L. Richards is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. She is Head of Global Sports & Entertainment and Segment Sales & Engagement with the Firm's Wealth Management division, based in Purchase, NY.  She plays a significant role in the growth of the GSE...

Savannah James

Savannah James

Savannah James, the distinguished and illustrious woman of our time, has made a name for herself as a paragon of excellence and achievement. Her educational pursuits have been nothing short of extraordinary, as she earned a degree in Communications from the...

Sereena Quick

Sereena Quick

Sereena Quick, a former federal probation officer and employee at Malvern Chick-Fil-A, has opened her own franchise location in North Philadelphia, writes Brian A. Saunders for Philly Voice. This makes Quick the first Black woman to own a Chick-fil-A in Pennsylvania,...

Sherree Burruss

Sherree Burruss

Sherree Burruss is a name that resonates in the world of sports journalism. She began her career in 2013 as a fill-in news anchor for ABC 17 KMIZ-TV in Missouri. She quickly shifted gears and joined the sports division in October of the same year, anchoring high...

Tiffany Johnson

Tiffany Johnson

Tiffany Johnson has led a varied existence, contributing to her business prowess. Born to working singer/songwriters, she came into this world as part of the music industry. Family friend and honorary godfather, legendary Chuck Landis, took her under his wing the day...

Suzanne Shank

Suzanne Shank

Suzanne Shank is President, CEO, and co-founder of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC, a full-service investment banking firm consistently ranked among the most active underwriters of publicly traded equity, investment grade corporate debt, and municipal debt...

Tiffany Cross

Tiffany Cross

Tiffany D. Cross is unafraid to shed light on truths, justice, and equality, establishing her as a leading voice in American media today. Cross grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she developed a passion for politics and social justice at a young age. She attended Clark...

Trayce Madre

Trayce Madre

Trayce Madre is a dynamic sales coach, inspirational speaker, and accomplished serial entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in the luxury industry. Her impressive track record speaks for itself, having made significant strides in various fields, including...