A night of inspiration paying tribute to a diverse group of accomplished young leaders for their outstanding achievements and contributions.
The lavish soiree was held at The Altman Building in New York City and included guests like celebrity stylist and author Ty Hunter and Love and Hip Hop star Paris Phillips.
Following welcome remarks from Black Enterprise President/CEO Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., multi-platinum recording artist and entrepreneur Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins kicked off the night with a fireside chat with Black Enterprise Deputy Digital Editor Selena Hill about his thriving music career and transition from a street hustler to a multimillion-dollar businessman.
Source: Recording artist and entrepreneur Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins and BE Deputy Digital Editor Selena Hill (Photo Credit: Kevin Jean-Jacques for Black Enterprise)
“I think that you live and you learn. If you get burned by a stove, you learn not to put your hand back on the stove,” said the Grammy-nominated rapper.
“When you’re evolving and you’re starting to have the success, and you’re walking into these different rooms, and meeting these different people, you’re on this path and you’re having this ‘Tony Montana moment’. [However,] you’re still dealing with the same emotion that you dealt with when there was betrayal.”
Source: Multi-platinum recording artist, author, and entrepreneur Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins walks the red carpet at the Black Enterprise 40 Under 40 Honoree Reception (Photo Credit: Kevin Jean-Jacques for Black Enterprise)
Source: (L-R) Selena Hill, Khadeen Ellis, Ernest Dukes, and Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr. (Photo Credit: Kevin Jean-Jacques for Black Enterprise)
SCOUTZ founder Antonio Depina was presented with an award in the Sports category. In the Tech category, Aisha Bowe, the founder and CEO of STEMBoard and LINGO, Netta Jenkins, CEO of Aerodei, and Dasia Taylor, scientist, founder, and CEO of VariegateHealth™ were also in attendance to receive their honors.
The Business category honorees included Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, co-founders of East Side Golf; Tarshena Armstrong, director of Diversity Marketing and Development at General Motors; Derrick Hayes, founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, and Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant, co-founders of SQUIRE Technologies, Inc. attending to receive their honors.
Earn Your Leisure co-founder Rashad Bilal hit the red carpet and stage to receive his award within the Finance category. He was joined by Mathilda Lambert, vice president and community manager at JPMorgan Chase, Megan Holston-Alexander, partner and Head of the Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreessen Horowitz, and Anthony O’Neal, speaker, author, and podcaster and Terance “DJ Tao” Takyi, managing director at UBS.
Source: (L-R) Sidnee Michelle, Terance “DJ Tao” Takyi, Mathilda Lambert, Rashad Bilal, Megan Holston-Alexander, and Anthony O’Neal (Photo Credit: Kevin Jean-Jacques for Black Enterprise)
Women’s sports journalist, advocate, and Founder of HighlightHER Arielle “Ari” Chambers was present to accept her honors within the media category along with Watch The Yard founder Jonathan Rabb. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and U.S. Head of CAA Social Impact at Creative Arts Agency (CAA) Ambre Stanford attended to accept their award within the Political and Social Impact category.
See the full list below.
CREATIVE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
· Quinta Brunson – Actress, Writer, and Producer
· Kiari “Offset” Cephus – Grammy-nominated Musician, Global Influencer, Philanthropist, and Fashion Icon
· Devale Ellis – Actor, New York Times Best-selling Author, and Podcast Host
· Ernest Dukes – Founder and CEO, The Nottingham Agency
· Ziwe – Comedian and Author of Black Friend: Essays
FASHION AND BEAUTY
· Winnie Harlow – Supermodel and Founder, Cay Skin
· Sergio Hudson – Fashion Designer and Founder, Sergio Hudson
· Olamide Olowe – Founder and CEO, Topicals
· Laquan Smith – Designer and Founder, Laquan Smith
· Nancy Twine – Founder and CEO, Briogeo Hair Care
SPORTS
· Antonio Depina – Founder, SCOUTZ
· Andre Iguodala – NBA Champion, Entrepreneur, and Investor
· Nicole Lynn – Agent and President of Football, Klutch Sports Group
· Sanya Richards-Ross – Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder, MommiNation
TECH & STEM
· Aisha Bowe – Founder and CEO, STEMBoard and LINGO
· Netta Jenkins – CEO, Aerodei
· Dasia Taylor – Scientist, Founder and CEO, VariegateHealth™
· Everette Taylor – CEO, Kickstarter
· Alex Wolf – Tech Philosopher
BUSINESS
· Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper – Co-Founders, East Side Golf
· Tarshena Armstrong – Director of Diversity Marketing and Development, General Motors
· Derrick Hayes – Founder and CEO, Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks
· Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant – Co-Founders, SQUIRE Technologies, Inc.
· Kwame Onwuachi – Chef, Author, and Restaurateur
FINANCE
· Rashad Bilal – Co-Founder and CEO, Earn Your Leisure
· Megan Holston-Alexander – Partner, Head of the Cultural Leadership Fund, Andreessen Horowitz
· Mathilda Lambert – Vice President, Community Manager, JPMorgan Chase
· Anthony O’Neal – Speaker, Author, and Podcaster
· Terance “DJ Tao” Takyi – Managing Director, UBS
MEDIA
· Arielle “Ari” Chambers – Women’s Sports Journalist & Advocate and Founder, HighlightHER
· Rachel Lindsay – Author, Attorney, Media Personality, Podcaster, and Speaker
· Chris “Speedy” Morman – On-camera Host, Journalist, and Executive Producer
· Lindsay Peoples – Editor-in-Chief, New York Magazine’s The Cut
· Jonathan Rabb – Founder, Watch The Yard
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT
· Justin Jones and Justin P. Pearson – Tennessee State Representatives
· Maya Penn – CEO, Global Activist, Animator, and Filmmaker
· Brandon Scott – Mayor, Baltimore
· Ambre Stanford – U.S. Head of CAA Social Impact, Creative Arts Agency (CAA)
Source: Black Enterprise
