Though the tech space is as snooze as it gets for some, AfroTech is anything but a stuffy tech conference. The vibe was set from the moment I entered the outdoor deck of The Line Hotel and was greeted by a tray of mimosas and friendly faces. There was a consistent excitement, camaraderie, and an overwhelming sense of pride throughout the day.
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Stay tuned if you're looking to be inspired by leading Black executives like Michele Ghee, the CEO of Ebony and Jet, and Detavio Samuels, the CEO of REVOLT Media.
“Partnership is great, but ownership is better.” - Michele Ghee, CEO of 'Ebony' and 'Jet'
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Michele Ghee hopped on the stage last Saturday and decided to preach. It's been a minute since I've joined an in-person sermon and my soul welcomed every second of it. Throughout the panel, Michele emphasized the importance of ownership. Oftentimes, we find ourselves so excited to be in the room that the bar is on the floor (yep, I'm talking to myself too).
When asked what advice she would give to empower creators and entrepreneurs to request ownership in business deals, Michele noted:
"Knowledge is critical. We have to know our worth. We are worthy of investment. We have to first know who we are, what we believe in, and what we offer. That will allow us to attract others that can help us on our journey to true ownership. That allows us an opportunity to make critical decisions about growth. That allows us to have a greater stake in revenue growth and reinvestment in our companies. We can walk in fear or faith. I chose educated faith!"
Michele's words are a reminder to elevate the bar beyond the limits we set for ourselves. Pushing past partnership to ownership is attainable, but we won't know unless we strive for it.
“People don’t believe us [Black women] the first time. Keep being right.” - Sherrell Dorsey, Publisher, and CEO of The Plug
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One of my favorite conversations of the day was chatting with Sherrell Dorsey, the CEO of The Plug - a subscription-based digital news platform covering Black innovation. Have you ever met someone with a commanding presence that spoke genuinely, passionately, and with the utmost grace - that's Sherrell. When asked about hurdles she feels are unique to Black women in tech, Sherrell mentioned, "People don't believe us the first time."
Oftentimes, it takes validation or sponsorship from white counterparts for Black women to be heard. If you're wondering how to combat this, Sherrell's answer is simple: "Keep being right."
“The future of media is the influencer.” - Detavio Samuels, CEO of REVOLT Media
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Detavio Samuels joined REVOLT Media in March 2021 hoping to make REVOLT the world's largest Black-owned media empire - an incredible goal. During the panel about the evolving topics surrounding Black media advertising, Detavio leaned heavily into the need for Black people to tell Black stories. Since Detavio joined REVOLT Media, he's helped pivot their content development strategy guided by the belief that the future of media is held by influencers. He encouraged influencers to call on the panelists with ideas knowing that the top media platforms in the world right now all belong to celebs and influencers. When asked about the value influencers and creators can bring to a big brand like REVOLT, Detavio mentioned:
"At REVOLT, the value they bring is themselves. Their unique lens. Their unique perspective. Their unique story. We just want to enable them to do it at the highest level possible."
Yes, the speakers dropped gems but my conversations with the AfroTech attendees truly kept me intrigued. From chatting with Kameale Terry and Evette Ellis, the co-founders of ChargerHelp! who are helping eliminate faulty EV charging stations across the nation and creating jobs in the process, to my conversations with Eric Coly, the owner of Ayana Therapy, a service that takes gender, race, and intersectional identities into account to address establish compatible relationships between therapists and the clients they serve.
Hearing the passion, the creativity, and the guts to go after millions of dollars in funding without a roadmap to follow - inspiring just doesn't cover it.
Featured image by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Blavity Inc/AfroTech
And listen, Mr. Bridgeman's portfolio is super impressive too, with a 12-year tenure in the NBA, to owning hundreds of Wendy's and Chili's franchises across the Midwest and the South, and then selling them in 2016 when he became a major distributor for Coca-Cola.
GiphyHis money is long and he brings it back to the community, which is a mood, a flex, and all the things.
From here, his daughter Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, enters the chat, as the Head Sis In Charge leading the revival of the publication. Additionally, she serves as chairwoman of the new parent company of Ebony and Jet, and has recruited Michele Thornton Ghee, formerly an executive at BET Networks and CNN, as the company's chief executive; Marielle Bobo, a former fashion director of Essence magazine, is Ebony's new editor-in-chief.
And man, does this team have some amazing things coming.
For one, they plan to add more full-time staff members and regular freelance contributors in the coming months.
Until last year, Ebony was almost a thing of the past forever. They had insurmountable debt, and the original parent company, Johnson Publishing, sold Ebony and Jet in 2016 for an undisclosed price to Clear View Group, a hedge fund in Austin, Texas. That ownership team cut staff, reduced office space and was accused of not paying employees on time. This resulted in Ebony being frowned upon by the National Association of Black Journalists.
Print editions are scheduled to come out four times a year, starting in 2022.
Eden Bridgeman Sklenar attends AfroTech Executive 2021 luncheon at The LINE LA on August 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
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Currently, Ebony has been operating digitally, and only creating digital copies. The official reboot began in March with daily articles and videos posted on its website, which came back to life after years of being idle. The site also offers digital magazine covers featuring portraits of the hip-hop artist Tobe Nwigwe, the writer and actress Lena Waithe and the NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns. Its September online cover shows the Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who plays Aretha Franklin in the biopic Respect.
For now, there are no (admitted) plans for Jet.
And they've entered a partnership with Bloomberg Media + more.
In a formal announcement, the two companies revealed that the collaboration would include amazing content such as original videos, news articles, a newsletter and cross promotion on social media. Bloomberg will also assist with the revival of the Ebony Power 100, an annual list of influential Black Americans, with an hour-long special scheduled for the cable channel Bloomberg Television in November.
Additionally, in a separate partnership with HarperOne, a division of HarperCollins, Ebony's book division will publish a memoir by Viola Davis next August.
In the end, Ebony wants you to give their new direction your support. Of the reboot, Sklenar says:
"You just have to look at today. The historic moment of an African American and South Asian woman vice president, to everything that happened in the past year, of voices being heard in a way that they haven't been before."
Ghee added:
"Because we acquired out of bankruptcy, we're a start-up, which is a curse and the beauty. We get the opportunity to take a historic brand and retrofit it."
A perfect new start to a community staple. Congrats to this team!
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Featured image by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Blavity Inc/AfroTech
