Source: Joy Malone / Getty
You might’ve heard the new slang phrase “standing on business” in recent times — the power of social media, man! — but there’s one brand that’s already been doing that and then some for the past five decades and counting: Black Enterprise.
Since publishing its first issue back in 1970, the veteran business media model of Black Enterprise has served our community rather well for generations at this point, and is still doing their editorial duty to continue the legacy that late entrepreneur Earl G. Graves Sr. (1935 – 2020) once envisioned for our culture. Through his son, the equally business-savvy Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., the mission lives on and looks to be ascending gracefully for the foreseeable future.
We saw that firsthand last weekend at the company’s annual ’40 Under 40′ gala in New York City (December 10) to honor its class of 2023, a mixed group of Black creatives that range from sports, entertainment and science to music, media and — you guessed it! — the beat on Black biz.
RELATED: Little Known Black History Fact: Earl ‘Butch’ Graves, Jr.
Setting up shop at The Altman Building, a longstanding venue in the heart of Chelsea, Black Enterprise‘s 40 Under 40: Class Of 2023’ gala brought out a variety of faces from in and out of our culture. Regardless of any apparent physical differences though, one thing that was shared amongst attendees, honorees and event-throwers alike was an appreciation for how far Black media has come and an excitement for where it’s headed. Standout guests included hip-hop veteran Jeezy and celebrity stylist Ty Hunter, who while both are well over the age of 40 were there to help put the spotlight on those who did make the cut. Full list by category below:
CREATIVE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Quinta Brunson – Actress, Writer, and Producer
Devale Ellis – Actor, NY Times Bestselling Author, and Podcast Host
Kiari ‘Offset’ Cephus – Grammy-Nominated Musician, Global Influencer, Philanthropist, and Fashion Icon
Ziwe – Comedian and Author of ‘Black Friend: Essays’
Ernest Dukes – Founder and CEO, The Nottingham Agency
FASHION AND BEAUTY
Winnie Harlow – Supermodel and Founder, Cay Skin
Nancy Twine – Founder and CEO, Briogeo Hair Care
Sergio Hudson – Fashion Designer and Founder, Sergio Hudson
Olamide Olowe – Founder and CEO, Topicals
Laquan Smith – Designer and Founder, Laquan Smith
SPORTS
Nicole Lynn – Agent and President of Football, Klutch Sports Group
Angel Reese – NCAA Champion and Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Women’s Basketball NCAA Championship
Antonio Depina – Founder, SCOUTZ
Sanya Richards-Ross – Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder, MommiNation
Andre Tyler Iguodala – NBA Champion, Entrepreneur, and Investor
TECH & STEM
Aisha Bowe – Founder and CEO, STEMBoard and LINGO
Everette Taylor – CEO, Kickstarter
Dasia Taylor – Scientist and Founder and CEO, VariegateHealth
Alex Wolf – Tech Philosopher
Netta Jenkins – CEO, AeroDEI
BUSINESS
Olajuwon Cooper and Earl Cooper – Co-Founders, East Side Golf
Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon – Co-Founders, SQUIRE Technologies, Inc.
Kwame Onwuachi – Chef, Author, and Restaurateur
Derrick Hayes – Founder and CEO, Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks
Tarshena Armstrong – Director of Diversity Marketing and Development, General Motors
FINANCE
Rashad Bilal – Co-Founder and CEO, Earn Your Leisure
Megan Holston-Alexander – Partner, Head of the Cultural Leadership Fund, Andreessen Horowitz
Anthony O’Neal – Speaker, Author, and Podcaster
Terance “DJ Tao” Takyi – Managing Director, UBS
Mathilda Lambert – Vice President of Community and Business Development, JP Morgan Chase
MEDIA
Lindsay Peoples Wagner – Editor-in-Chief, New York Magazine’s The Cut
Rachel Lindsay – Author, Attorney, Media Personality, Podcaster, and Speaker
Chris “Speedy” Morman – On-camera host, journalist, and executive producer
Arielle “Ari” Chambers – Women’s Sports Journalist & Advocate and Founder, HighlighHER
Jonathan Rab – Founder, Watch The Yard
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT
Justin Pearson and Justin Jones – Tennessee State Representatives
Maxwell Frost – U.S. Representative, Florida’s 10th Congressional District
Brandon Scott – Mayor, Baltimore
Maya Penn – CEO, Global Activist, Animator, and Filmmaker
Ambre Stanford – U.S. Head of CAA Social Impact, Creative Arts Agency (CAA)
Congratulations to all the honorees in Black Enterprise’s 40 Under 40: Class of 2023! Take a look below at a photo recap of some of the event’s standout guests:
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