Adjoa B. Asamoah is a lifelong racial equity champion, multiple award-winning social impact strategist, highly sought-after political power player, and history-making policy architect.
She wears multiple hats, and debunks the outdated myth—you can’t master multiple trades. Known globally as The “CROWN Act” Champion, she conceptualized, developed the legislative and social impact strategies for, and leads the groundbreaking CROWN Act movement, in addition to having spearheaded the legislative victory to codify the nation’s first Office on African American Affairs.
A former adjunct professor who has taught African American Studies and psychology, Adjoa leverages cultural intelligence and behavioral insights to create meaningful systems change and develop winning campaigns. She was entrusted to serve as the Biden-Harris Campaign’s National Advisor for Black Engagement, and was then tapped to serve as the Black Engagement Director for the historic 59th Presidential Inaugural Committee.
A trusted advisor to local, state, and federal officials, Adjoa currently serves in yet another historic capacity as the first ever Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary. She develops and employs targeted strategies to dismantle institutionalized racism embedded in policies, and works to right historical wrongs and narrow the wealth gap.
She previously served as senior policy advisor in the Executive Office of DC’s mayor and is known for developing both high-profile and grassroots stakeholder coalitions to support policy change.
She has provided subject matter expertise as an appointee to numerous commissions, committees, and advisory boards including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the US Small Business Administration, DC Commission on African American Affairs, Temple University, DC Commission for Women, and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.! She has been appointed by multiple superintendents to the State Title I Committee of Practitioners, and has been elected chair for six consecutive years. She chaired the Democratic Party’s African American Leadership Council for 5 years, and is faculty at the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.
Named one of the most influential 100 Black people globally by EBONY magazine for her social justice work, Adjoa has also graced the special edition cover of the iconic publication. Her social capital and international network have resulted in her being asked to host events for cultural institutions like BET, and serve as a radio co-host on Sirius XM.
Adjoa earned degrees in African American Studies, Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned licenses as a behavior specialist, pupil personnel worker, and psychometrist, and she studied abroad at the University of Ghana. She is currently a doctoral candidate at The George Washington University with a plan to defend her dissertation this summer.
Over the last twenty years, Ashli has been a news reporter, an advocate for vulnerable children, a fundraiser and a nonprofit leader. She has a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, certifications in nonprofit management, and has raised money all over the country. As a life-long Tulsan, she is humbled and honored to champion the legacy of Black Wall Street by empowering Black entrepreneurs.
Some people go through their entire lives without disrupting the status quo and then you come across a unicorn who started college at 15 years old, decoded the genetic makeup of anthrax by 17, and disrupted a multi-billion dollar feminine care industry before 30. Arion Long is the self-proclaimed “Chief Estrogen Officer'' at Femly, a hi-tech feminine care company that she started in 2016 after being diagnosed with a cervical tumor linked to additives in popular products. Femly increases access to natural and organic hygiene products through a high tech dispenser found in restrooms at schools, hotels, hospitals and other organizations.
With bylines across major publications, Blake Newby’s love for beauty and style has catapulted her work across numerous platforms. Transforming her longtime knowledge of all things hair, makeup, skincare and fashion into a career where she wrote, conceptualized,and reported on everything encompassing the high-demand industry, the former Beauty & Style Director's voice now shines off the pages.
Nailing viral interviews with celebs such as Lori Harvey, Jack Harlow, Halle Bailey & Rihanna, just to name a few, her gift of gab now lands on her on the big stage and on the small screen. You can frequently catch Blake hosting major events such as CultureCon, as well as lending her expertise on shows such as Good Morning America, Access Hollywood and The Tamron Hall Show.
When she's not fully entrenched in the world of hosting and commentating, Blake serves as a the Venture Scout for Braintrust Fund, working closely alongside Kendra, Lisa and Ryan — proving that she truly is a 360° industry authority.
Bridgette L. Smith is the Founder & CEO of Founder Playbook®, a micro-accelerator for founders where we help women, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ founders become investor-ready, get access to capital & scale their business. She is also the Founder & CEO of Investor Playbook®, a micro-accelerator for investors where her popular Investing with ConfidenceTM workshop provide guidance and tactical education for women interested in investing in pre-seed to Series C startups.
Christiane Pendarvis is a growth-oriented brand president with over 25 years of experience leading direct-to-consumer and omni-channel retail businesses. Her career focus has been in retail general management and merchandising, running $250M to $1B operating businesses with Fortune 500 brands such as Old Navy and Victoria’s Secret. Known for her ability to translate insights into business strategies, she has extensive strategic planning, assortment development, digital commerce and retail operations experience; and has driven large scale technology infrastructure projects.
Ms. Pendarvis approaches all her roles with compassion, humility and empathy, driving profitable growth and shareholder value by unlocking the power of people and diverse teams. She sits on the board of directors for Hims & Hers (NYSE: HIMS) and Hootsuite (Chair – Nom/Gov, Member – Audit) and was previously on the board of Savage X Fenty. Ms. Pendarvis has been recognized in WWD’s 2023 Most Inspiration Women Leaders, WWD’s 2022 50 Women in Power and as a Top Woman in Retail by Women in Retail Leadership Circle in 2021.
Ms. Pendarvis was most recently Co-President at Savage X Fenty. Under her leadership, the company delivered 200% revenue growth in 2020, 80% growth in 2021 and successfully closed two financing rounds totaling $240M in 2021. She led an expansion into new product categories including Mens, Loungewear and Womens Activewear as well as the brand’s channel expansion into physical retail in 2022. Prior to Savage X, Ms. Pendarvis was with FullBeauty Brands, a leading direct to consumer multi brand apparel company, where, as SVP E-commerce and Marketplaces, she had P&L responsibility for 80% of the company’s $800M in annual revenue. She drove rapid growth of the marketplace channel, doubling the business in less than two years. Her scope of experience is wide, having managed women’s and men’s apparel, intimate apparel, beauty, consumer electronics and consumer packaged goods.
Energized by high growth environments, Ms. Pendarvis also has experience in start-ups and mid-tier companies. She excels in helping brands, teams and individuals grow and succeed in the face of rapidly changing industry dynamics. She currently sits on the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Digital Council and is Chairperson of the Women of Color Retail Alliance board. She also has a long history of non-profit board service (National Black MBA Association Cincinnati Chapter, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco and the Violet Torch Foundation).
Ms. Pendarvis earned a BA in Economics from Harvard University and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina (Consortium for Graduate Study in Management fellowship program). She is passionate about increasing diversity and representation in the fashion industry and dedicates her time to mentoring women of color specifically. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and identical twin daughters.
Davlyn Mosley is the founder of Namesake Skincare - the perfect answer for those looking to dermatologist approved skincare essentials specifically made for skin of color. The Tufts University graduate and former Marketing Tech Executive was inspired to create the brand based upon her experiences with her mother, a board-certified dermatologist and a desire to support the uniqueness of skin of color.
Namesake Skincare is powered by clinically tested ingredients and rooted in beauty routines passed down from mother to daughter. Originally from Washington DC, Mosley now resides with her husband and son in Los Angeles.
Dee is an entrepreneurial leader who leverages strategic and analytical thinking to find innovative solutions that scale businesses. The common thread throughout her career is the ability to drive growth by integrating a deep understanding of customers, operations and untapped opportunities. She is lauded for creating value, developing talent as a strategic asset and driving social impact. Drawing on her varied experience in food & beverage, retail, consumer products, advertising and banking, in 1995, she founded Robinson Hill, Inc. a concessions management firm specializing in retail and restaurants at airports and other non-traditional venues. Dee scaled operations while forging successful joint ventures and partnerships that now encompass over 60+ airport restaurants and retail stores. Brands and partnerships include Hudson Group, Frontera Grill, Ben & Jerry’s, Farmer’s Fridge, Potbelly and Lettuce Us Entertain You. As a former casino and video gambling industry regulator, she has deep expertise in compliance and governance.
Dee serves as a board director for Accel Entertainment (NYSE: ACEL), and as a member of the Nominating/Governance, Gaming and Compliance committees, Athena Consumer Acquisition Corp. SPAC (NYSE: ACAQ- UN) and on the Audit committee, and Wintrust Bank and its Audit and Risk committees. She is chairwoman of PGA WORKS and trustee of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America; and is a Senior Advisor to Golf Nation. Dee is a board member of the Committee of 200 and serves on the advisory boards of Revieve, AllCampus and Women Business Collaborative. Dee is also a member of EXIM Bank’s Council of Advancing Women in Business. Previous board experience includes the Illinois Gaming Board, Meridian Health Care, Kendall College, La Rabida Children’s Hospital and Fetzer Institute. As a highly engaged board member, she is committed to strategic growth, solution-based guidance and value creation. She has been recognized as a HistoryMaker, Chicago United Business Leader of Color, Private Company Director Magazine’s Director to Watch, WomenInc.’s Most Influential Corporate Director and Diversity MBA Magazine’s Top 100 Women of Influence. She received the Fellowship Open’s National Civic Award and was honored by AMAC with the Catalyst Award.
As CEO of Robinson Hill, she deploys, allocates and manages assets, building necessary capacity vis-à-vis capital, talent development and training for successful market presence. Tailoring comprehensive go-to-market strategies for key audiences has driven business expansion. She spearheaded multiple capital development efforts to fund growth and penetration. Dee is also known for providing clear leadership and cultivating a mission consistent with organizational values. As such, she is recognized as an outstanding operator who drives sales, operational efficiency, innovation and management performance.
Prior to launching Robinson Hill, Dee worked as an Associate Product Director with Johnson & Johnson and subsequently with Leo Burnett. Prior to this, she worked as a commercial loan officer with AmeriTrust Bank and financial analyst with Northern Trust.
Throughout her career she has authored multiple articles featured in Forbes, WayMaker and Enterprising Women Magazine; and books Stirring Up Good Trouble Cookbook; Snap It! Leading Forward, Living Bravely; and the upcoming Courage By Design (publication date: November 2022). Her memberships include Women Corporate Directors, The Chicago Network, the Chicago Economic Club, and Illinois and National Restaurant Associations.
Dee earned an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business Building a High Performing Business Executive Education Program and coursework in Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application at MIT Sloan School of Management.
Lynn McKinley-Grant, MD, is a board-certified Dermatologist and graduate of Harvard Medical School. She was a Molecular Biology Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she conducted groundbreaking research on the skin protein, Filaggrin. She is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine and a Past President of the Skin of Color Society. She is the co-editor of the textbook, VisualDx: Essential Dermatology in Pigmented Skin and the author of numerous scientific publications and dermatology book chapters. The American Academy of Dermatology recognized her for innovative curriculum development in the Arts and Humanities.
Dr. McKinley-Grant has advised multiple skincare brands, including Glory and Ceylon, and most recently became the Dermatology advisor to Namesake, a skincare brand dedicated to the care of melanin-rich skin, founded by her daughter, Davlyn Mosley, Namesake was inspired by Dr. McKinley-Grant who brings extensive scientific experience to their formulations
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Founder and CEO of BrainTrust, is one of fashion and beauty’s most successful digital pioneers, not only for creating the social media footprint for Ralph Lauren’s fashion empire, but also as a co-founder of Digital Brand Architects, the first agency to manage “bloggers” as talent in 2009. Kendra is one of only 200 Black women ever to have received over $1M in investment for her first company. She has launched three companies herself; most recently her latest endeavor BrainTrust Founders Studio focuses on increasing inclusive economic opportunities for Black beauty and wellness founders providing mentorship, education, community and capital to help them accelerate their businesses and build sustainable growth. She is a long-standing business partner to Halle Berry and rē⋅spin by Halle Berry; a co-founder of BeautyUnited, a non-profit dedicated to driving DE&I in the beauty and wellness industry; and the host of Business of the Beat Beauty and Wellness Podcast. Kendra graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Communications and then received her MBA in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. She has an endowment at her alma mater for a Black female freshman student in the communications school to increase the number of Black students at the University.
Kim Baker is a New York-based commercial makeup artist and former Wilhelmina Model who specializes in working with celebrities and models. Kim's unique background and approach to beauty is what sets her apart from her peers. For 20 years, Kim was in front of the camera, beginning as a size 4 model and then in the early 90s became what was considered one of the pioneers in the plus size industry.
During that time, Kim was influenced by some of the best makeup artists in the industry - Fran Cooper, Reggie Wells, Quietfire, Kevyn Aucoin and Paul Star. Her very first makeup artist, at age 13, was the legend Way Bandy.
Kim learned early on the power of great makeup and a great makeup artist; so, when she met a makeup artist who was just starting her own line, and shared her philosophy about makeup, "Don't fall into trends-just play up your best features!" Kim began working for her company. That was 30 years ago, and the makeup artist was Bobbi Brown. It was from her experience there and years in the industry that Kim was able to secure opportunities as a full-time makeup artist.
In 2006, Kim received her big break - working for Hollywood A-Lister Tom Cruise and actor Ving Rahmes for the Mission Impossible movie press junket. And the rest is history ... working with everyone from NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, songstress Toni Braxton and singer John Legend to actress Dakota Fanning and radio personality Angela Yee, to name a few, as well as on the countless TV shows including America's Next Top Model.
Today, Kim has turned her passion for beauty into working with everyday women and has created a cosmetics line to enhance that "special something" she believes everyone has that makes them beautiful - her favorite feature, their personality.
Liz Jenkins is the COO of Hello Sunshine, a media brand and premium content studio dedicated to female authorship and storytelling across all platforms. Liz joined the company in 2018 as its CFO. During her time at Hello Sunshine, she has been responsible for establishing and overseeing finance, business affairs, physical production, music and operations as well as facilitating the growth of the company’s business, including their Scripted, Unscripted, and Direct-to-Consumer businesses — all of which put women or girls at the center of each narrative and project.
Previously, Liz served as the Head of Strategic Ventures for Sony PlayStation and Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Media Rights Capital where she developed and implemented innovative distribution models, strategic partnerships and new businesses across film and television. She began her career at GE and Credit Suisse.
Liz received her M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Stanford University. Liz serves on the Board and chairs the Audit committee of Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), is Chair of the Board of GLAAD and serves on the Board of Baby2Baby.
Mark Carter is a veteran media executive, strategist and executive producer who works with the C-suites of leading quality journalism and content brands to cultivate measurable multi-platform success. These clients have included The Economist, The New Yorker, The Marist Poll, and The Atlantic, where, for three years, Carter produced a groundbreaking video collaboration between The Atlantic and The NewsHour on PBS. As part of his work, Carter routinely collaborates with leading CMO’s to create breakthrough media programs.
Carter also created The Diverse Future program with support from the Ford Foundation and the Knight Foundation. The initiative focuses on expanding diversity at the highest levels of management at leading media companies and in the communications sector. The initiative is focused on mentoring and promoting talented and rising executives and journalists of color. Carter partners with the Arthur Page society for the Diverse Future Communications program.
From 2008 to 2012, Carter served as the Executive Director of the Committee of Concerned Journalists (CCJ) where he created the Media Industry Leaders Summit, an off-the-record series of retreats that assists leading media company executives with strategy, at a time of unprecedented change in the news and information business.
Earlier in his career, Carter was the chief strategist for CNN where he served as Vice President for Strategy and Assistant to the CEO and sat on the Managing Board of CNN for several years. Carter also worked with Hearst as Vice President for Broadband and Internet at its online subsidiary Women.com.
Carter graduated cum laude from Harvard University, and later studied at HBS as a Nieman Fellow. He began his career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Carter is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations where he was co-chair of the diversity committee in the 1990s. He also served on the Board of the Nieman Foundation for Journalists at Harvard for several years. Carter serves on the Board of the Yard, an arts presenting organization on Martha’s Vineyard.
As a leader within Commercial Banking Diverse Segments group, Moses works to be a source of key information and lead generation for B/AA owned enterprises as well as incorporate thought leadership into our customer outreach, cultural events, and marketing efforts.
Natasha Wilson is a graduate of Rutgers University-Newark, where she pursued her bachelor’s in economics with a minor in Business Administration.
After graduating with honors, Natasha began a remarkable career in the haircare industry. As a marketing executive for a UK based brand, she quickly established herself. In this role, she facilitated successful partnerships with iconic brands like Barbie and Juicy Couture, amplifying the brands reach and impact.
However, Natasha's love for cosmetics beckoned her back, and she transitioned to beauty. Today, she thrives as a brand manager for Glamazon Beauty, a pioneering cosmetics company known for its cutting-edge products and commitment to excellence.
Natasha's passion for the beauty industry extends beyond her 9-to-5 endeavors. She is an avid participant in beauty events and conferences, where she engages with industry experts and fellow enthusiasts, continuously enriching her knowledge and seeking innovative approaches to further elevate Glamazon Beauty's standing.
Nicole L. Streeter is mom to a very energetic Mastiff named Raiders; a huge theatre buff and investor and part of a Tony-award winning production team; an award winning home winemaker and studying toward a Masters in Wine; and an avid traveler. She is also an active nonprofit board leader, currently serving as the Chair of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC – a performing arts corporation that just experienced its highest grossing season yet; and she previously served as the Nom/Gov Chair of a Head Start education nonprofit.
In her day job, she is a strategic leader with over 20 years of fiscal governance, regulatory, compliance, risk management and legal experience. She has advised boards and bodies, in both the private sector and the government sector, including a regulator. She is currently the Chief Legal Officer to the local legislative branch of government in Washington, DC. In that role, she advises the Chairman and the other 12 elected officials on the legality of all approved legislation, including the District's $19+ billion dollar budget legislation. Previously, she served as the Chief Legal Officer to the Education Regulator for charter schools, where she advised the appointed Board on the sector's $800M budget, as well as advised on compliance and risk management issues to both the regulator and the 68 nonprofit corporations that ran charter schools at the time.
During the pandemic with the loss of her last parent, she began investing in ventures in industries that mattered to her as a way to create generational wealth. She targets growth companies, and companies looking to scale in industries she has an affinity for such as wine & spirits; theatre; GovTech; Education; and SaaS companies. To date she has invested in Athena Alliance LLC; How Women Invest Fund I; 1863 Ventures Fund; TLT Solutions - Amadoras del Vino and Tru by Hilton Redlands, CA; and in theatre: A Strange Loop LLC; A Strange Loop London LLC; GRACE the Musical; TopDog UnderDog; Madagascar; and coming soon Little Girl Blue (a Nina Simone story). She is also a member of the Angel Investment Group – Georgetown Alumni Investment Network.
Sade Cole is a wife, mom of two and a serial entrepreneur, who started her first business at the age of 21. A true passion of the beauty and hair industry, she ran a successful hair extension business until recently in March 2023, launching her patent-pending new venture, The Grip CombTM.
Designed to improve upon the silk press styling experience, The Grip CombTM is a revolutionary attachment that sticks to your straightener and allows you to get salon- quality hair without any fear of getting burnt fingers or wasting money on melting combs.
When not innovating and launching businesses, Sade loves to spend time with her family with travels to Dubai, UK, Italy and Jamaica
The Leagues Group provides access and unique experiences through its member based organizations. We understand that community is where minds, interests and purpose connect to support and equip individuals, while building meaningful relationships. Our organizations provide opportunities and experiences for members to thrive holistically while celebrating what we have in common and embracing the intersectionality.
ONE X LEAGUE is our private social league for Black women executives and founders. Members engage in shared experiences within our verticals: Arts & Entertainment, Leadership, Philanthropy, Wellness, Wealth, Entrepreneurship, and Luxury Travel. https://onexleague.com
ONE NEXT LEAGUE is our private professional league for emerging Black women interested in insight and guidance from Black women executives and founders, in the areas of Career, Wellness and Entrepreneurship. https://onenextleague.com
Tonya Lewis Lee is a producer, film director, writer, entrepreneur, and women’s health advocate, delivering meaningful content that resonates with marginalized communities for over twenty years. Her work often explores the personal impact of social justice issues, health and wellness. Most recently, Lee co-directed and co-produced the documentary AFTERSHOCK, now streaming on Hulu, which examines the Black and Brown maternal mortality crisis in America. The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, winning the Special Jury Award for Impact for Change, and continues to garner rave reviews and noteworthy press. As a film and television writer, producer, and director, her work has spanned family-friendly features like The Watsons Go to Birmingham as well as the episodic series She’s Gotta Have It, streaming on Netflix. Lee also produced Monster, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and is streaming on Netflix.
In 2007, Tonya became the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health’s infant mortality awareness campaign, A Healthy Baby Begins with You, which ignited her lifelong passion of advocating for better health outcomes for all women in the United States, especially women of color. Through the campaign, Tonya produced the film Crisis in the Crib: Saving our Nation’s Babies. This work led Tonya to embark on her journey as an entrepreneur to create Movita Organics, a premium vitamin supplement brand, to continue the conversation with women about accessing healthy outcomes and provide them with a high-quality resource to aid their well-being and overall vitality.
An acclaimed author, Lee created books, including Please, Baby, Please, that have entertained children and young adults throughout her career.Lee has been featured in notable outlets including ABC’s Nightline, CBS Mornings, New York Magazine’s The Cut, ESSENCE, VOGUE, and more. She is the mother of two adult children and lives in New York City with her husband, Spike Lee.
