Where Are All The Black People

SCHEDULE

Thursday, Oct. 16 Friday, Oct. 17

Thursday, Oct. 16

10:00 AM

Adrienne Lucas

Virtual WAATBP Intro

Opening remarks from Adrienne Lucas

10:15 AM

Kenisha Dennis, MPS

Ayanna Dutton-Diaz

Fatou B. Barry

Virtual AM Panel – Built After Hours: How We’re Reclaiming Creativity, Community, and Career on Our Terms

When the 9-to-5 doesn’t reflect us, we build in the 5-to-9. This panel explores how creatives of color are reclaiming career, community, and creativity after hours—and why purpose-led work is more than just a side hustle.

11:00 AM

Virtual Recruiting

1:30 PM

Lunch Break

14:00:00

Virtual Porfolio Reviews

4:30 PM

Danielle Hester

Sean Pitts

Dr. Akua K. Boateng, PhD

Norel Austin

Virtual PM Panel: Rest as Resistance: Protecting Wellness in Uncertain Times

In a time marked by uncertainty and exhaustion, this reflective session offers space for creatives to slow down, breathe, and reconnect. Through guided conversation and restorative practice, we’ll explore how rest itself can be an act of resistance — a reminder that creative brilliance begins with well-being.

Friday, Oct. 17

9:00 AM

Adrienne Lucas

Registration/Breakfast/Networking

Join us for continental breakfast and networking before opening remarks, the keynote, and pitch competition. Programming begins promptly at 9:30am/ET, so timely arrival is strongly encouraged.

The Gallery/The Living Room

9:45 AM

Chris Crawford

Keynote Address

Chris Crawford, CEO and Founder of Elite Media, will deliver keynote remarks on entrepreneurship, community engagement, and the importance of aligning values with action--investing in the community in real, tangible ways.

Main Stage

10:00 AM

Keep it 100 Pitch Competition

Join us at 10am/ET for the Keep It 100 Pitch Competition--a high-stakes showcase blending creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Watch six finalists, from our WAATBP community, pitch for $50,000, proving what’s possible when access and opportunity align. Come cheer them on and be part of an inspiring morning.

Main Stage

11:15 AM

Headshot Stations

Main Stage

11:15 AM

Portfolio Reviews

Living Room

11:15 AM

Ty Heath

Brandon Smithwrick

Davonte Anthony

Steph Ross

Lisa Vanterpool

Breakout Session 1A: Creators in Advertising: What Creators Need to Know to Work with Brands and Agencies

Creators have become some of the industry’s most powerful storytellers — but breaking into advertising takes more than just reach. This session gets real about what it takes to work with brands and agencies: how creators of color are driving culture, how to secure the right partnerships, and how to navigate agency life as a multi-hyphenate. Speakers will share lessons from experience — moving from freelance and underpaid work into creative team roles — and unpack where the next wave of opportunities is emerging.

Hub 1

11:15 AM

Brittany Allen

Damaune Journey

Khendrick Beausoleil

Breakout Session 1B: Playmakers: Where Creativity Meets the Business of Sport (72andSunny)

Hosted by 72andSunny — home of SportBeach — this session breaks down how creatives of color can connect their passion for sports to real career opportunities. Speakers from across the industry will share how they built their paths, what roles exist behind the scenes, and how creativity drives everything from brand campaigns to athlete storytelling. Attendees will leave with practical insights on navigating the sports world, building relationships, and positioning their talent within one of the most influential industries today.

The Forum (Main Room)

12:15:00

Alana Mays

Brandi Domingo

Breakout Session 2A: Position your Pivot (Capital One)

As creative marketers we spend so much of our time focused on how to position brands so the right people hear the right message to make the right decisions. In this session, we’ll focus inward on the brand that you likely know the best, but perhaps, can be the most challenging to market - YOU! In this season of change, join Capital One for this interactive session as we help you position your personal brand to support all of your career twists, turns, and pivots.

The Forum (Main Room)

12:15:00

Jayde I. Powell

Christina Westley

Dante Nicholas

Bashel Lewis

Breakout Session 2B: Creator to Creative Director: Turning Influence Into Industry Power (Spark A Convo)

Black creators are no longer just setting trends—they’re shaping the entire creative direction of brand storytelling. From TikTok to LinkedIn, from grassroots culture to global campaigns, these voices are redefining what it means to be a creative director in the digital age. This panel will explore how Black creators are building cultural relevance, influencing aesthetics, and steering brand narratives that resonate across communities. We’ll unpack why brands and agencies are increasingly turning to creators for strategy and storytelling—not just content—and how this shift is opening new doors for collaboration, leadership, and ownership.

Hub 1

13:00:00

Lunch Break

2:00 PM

Alex Lue

Randi White

Alexandra Hardwick

Carmella Glover

Breakout Session 3A: Beyond Resources: Why Impact is the Future of Employee Groups (a conversation with Day One Agency)

Community is powerful—but community that drives change? That’s impact. Employee Resource Groups have long offered community, but today, they’re being called on to do much more: to shape culture, advocate for equity, and spark systemic change across creative industries. But how do we move from internal support systems to outward impact? In this candid panel, leaders from Day One’s Employee Impact Groups, along with agency changemakers and community partners, will unpack what it really takes to build effective EIGs that serve diverse talent and drive progress. You’ll hear stories of both success and struggle, learn how these groups are influencing creative culture and business strategy, and walk away with real-world tools to strengthen your own communities—whether you’re a member, an ally, or a future leader.

The Forum (Main Room)

2:00 PM

Aaron Francois

Dante Simpson, Ph.D

Breakout Session 3B: Power Play: A Fireside Chat on Gaming, Creativity & the Culture Shaping It

This conversation will explore how Black creatives, brands, and advertisers can tap into the gaming ecosystem to drive authentic storytelling, innovation, and business growth. The conversation will highlight both creative opportunity and cultural influence — showcasing how gaming continues to shape the next wave of engagement across media and marketing.

Hub 1

3:00 PM

Tacai Dryden

Rich Tu

Shakira Polite

Marie Jean Baptiste

Breakout Session 4A – Building Creative Audacity (Spark a Convo)

Playing it small is costing us opportunities. This panel dives into language and strategies that silence self-doubt and transform imposter syndrome into creative conviction, because confidence is built through clarity, not clout

Hub 1

3:00 PM

Shenise Wigfall

Sequoyah 'DataBae' Glenn, MBA

Chasity Jones, MBA

Breakout Session 4B – But Did You Earn It, Tho? (Spark a Convo)

Sequoyah "DataBae" Glenn, Chasity Jones, and Shenise Wigfall discuss how authenticity is earned, not given. We'll offer an edgy & raw look at "playing the game," building a personal brand, and developing skills to showcase your true self.

The Forum (Main Room)

4:00 PM

Jason Rosario

Darla Price

Nichole Marshall

Chandra Guinn

Jeff Marshall

PM Panel – The Silent Exit (McKinney)

This session will address the more than 300,000 Black women who have been fired or pushed out of corporate America, and the broader removal of Black talent across industries. More importantly, it will ask: What do we do now? and highlight action-based solutions — from entrepreneurship to community strategies — to create sustainable paths forward.

Main Stage

4:45 PM

Announce Pitch Competition Winner(s)

Keep It 100 Winner Announcement After this morning’s live pitches, we’ll reveal the winner of the Keep It 100 Pitch Competition who will receive $50,000 in cash to bring their vision to life. See who’s taking home the prize. Presented in partnership with Elite Media.

Main Stage

Become A Partner