Speakers

Most recently, Matthew led Consumer Insights for Prime Video’s successful launch of Thursday Night Football.

Matthew also consulted as the Principal of ConsumerSense, a Market Research and Marketing Strategy Firm. ConsumerSense has clients across Beauty Care, Media & Entertainment, QSR, Nightlife/Entertainment, Real Estate, and Technology. In addition, ConsumerSense also works with small businesses and entrepreneurs to meet their insights needs.

Matthew founded the Market Research function at BET Networks and developed the largest suite of African American consumer insights that exists today. He also led BET’s Creative Services function, resulting in the network’s first ever Emmy nomination. His work helped launch the largest franchise in cable history among African-Americans – The BET Awards. Matthew was named Market Research Executive of the Year by Target Market News and has received numerous industry awards, including being honored several times as one of the Most Influential Minorities in Cable by CableFax Magazine. Matthew also served as a member of the Emmy Voting Academy.

Prior to BET, Matthew worked at Procter & Gamble, where he led global research that resulted in CoverGirl Cosmetics becoming the category leader and also led the Western European Personal Beauty Care Research division. In addition, he led P&G’s HBCU recruiting efforts for several campuses.

Matthew Barnhill has a BS degree in Economics from North Carolina A&T State University and an MBA in Marketing from The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University and served on leadership boards for both institutions. He has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School, The Johns Hopkins University, and UCLA Anderson School of Management.

As a hybrid cultural anthropologist + strategist, Angel has spent his 15+ year career as a transformational change agent advising the Fortune 500 on how to create culture-forward advertising & marketing communications at organizations like Paramount Global, Samsung, Yum! Brands, The Coca-Cola Company and AB InBev.

Being a triple minority, Angel believes in ‘paying it forward’ to inspire the next generation of professionals and making the industry a more equitable one. He has shared his insights at ANA’s Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference, ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive & Multicultural Marketing, The United Nations, The Department of Defense and several other industry conferences, panels and podcasts.

Angel holds a Master’s in Media Studies from The New School and is an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design.

Her experience spans every facet of the entertainment distribution business including product go-to-market strategy, programming, content acquisition, consumer engagement, content marketing, partnerships, and executive producing.

As a purpose-driven leader whose held key roles for several Fortune 500 companies, Keesha is committed to advancing economic equity and inclusive representation in the entertainment industry at large. She has pioneered several first-of-its-kind product & content initiatives at Comcast, including launching and leading the company’s first ad-supported video service specifically centering Black viewers (called the Black Experience on Xfinity channel) where she also executive produced several original unscripted docu-series including The Black Beauty Effect, In Our DNA: Hip House and Affion Crockett Presents: Microphone Masters. Keesha also led the launch of Xfinity Odds Zone, the company’s first foray into Sports Wagering on X1 and leads the strategy for Entertainment bulk and MDU products.

She holds two master’s degrees from Columbia University focused on organizational behavior, race and culture making her uniquely-equipped to effectively manage robust teams, lead business strategy and oversee the end-to-end development and delivery of media and products that resonate with consumers across all backgrounds. Keesha is also deeply passionate about mentoring the next generation of professionals and advising them on their journeys to building a successful career, growing as leaders and actualizing their brightest potential.

Todd F. Brown is the founder and chief executive officer of Urban Edge Network, LLC, a Black-owned media company focused on serving 101 Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs). Prior to starting his firm, Todd was the chief executive officer of TheGrio, a former division of NBC News and the largest online media company geared toward African American audiences.

He also held executive and management board-level positions at Johnson Publishing Company, where he increased the digital footprint of Ebony, Jet, and Fashion Fair Cosmetics by investing in technology to enhance sales and audience engagement. Todd has extensive experience in corporate strategy, cultural transformation, management operations, and technology disruption.

He has held senior executive leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies including Comcast, Viacom, GE Capital, Comdisco, Capgemini, Dell, and HP. Todd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University and completed executive management programs at Harvard Business School and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

He is the ADA’s Chairman elect and was 2023 secretary/treasurer and served on the finance, investment, and board development committees. As a diverse executive,

Todd founded the Diversity Special Interest Group at the Project Management Institute, which now has seven chapters at historically Black colleges and universities.

He has also served on nonprofit boards at Boulder Special Transit, Oklahoma University, and the University of Texas, and is an active member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Executive Leadership Council¹²³.

Intentionally staying on the women’s side of things, Chambers seeks to show girls and women world-wide, that their potential is limitless.

Chambers stands as an independent mixed-media journalist driving the success of ESPN’s Andscape and Bleacher Report’s HighlightHER, an explosively growing women’s sports platform. She consistently delivers a blend of news, highlights, user-generated content, and engaging interviews featuring renowned female athletes, all centered around the world of women’s sports.

As a direct result of her work,  Chambers has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Sports, 2021), Sports Illustrated’s 100 Influential Women in Sports (2022), Dawn Staley Excellence in Broadcasting Award (2022),  The CCNYC Creative Class (2022), For(bes) the Culture’s 50 Champions (2021), The Athletic’s 40 Under 40: Rising Stars in Women’s Basketball (2021), Footlocker’s Sole List (2021) and Yahoo’s Changemakers (2021). Chambers also released a special edition ball with Wilson Basketball in collaboration with the WNBA, which pays homage to Chambers’ upbringing and ideology.

Beyond her reporting and commentary, Ari Chambers is known for her advocacy work. She has been a vocal advocate for social justice, gender equality, and racial equity in sports. Her efforts have not only sparked important conversations but have also led to meaningful change within the sports industry.

In a field where breaking boundaries and making an impact is paramount, Ari Chambers stands out as a beacon of change, ensuring that the world of sports and sports journalism becomes more inclusive and reflective of the diverse voices and stories that make sports such a powerful cultural force.

As Senior Director of Market and Cultural Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, Denya partners with executive sales leadership to develop compelling narratives that resonate with target audiences, enhancing brand positioning and business outcomes. She also spearheads initiatives that identify monetization opportunities, leveraging Paramount’s rich content portfolio.

Denya’s career journey began after earning her MBA from Fordham University, leading to impactful roles at Comcast Networks and Univision, before joining Paramount. At Univision, she excelled in multicultural marketing, identifying key insights that unlocked revenue across platforms. At CBS, she led the Research & Insights team, optimizing strategies that directly supported $2 billion in ad sales and earned her recognition for innovation in ad effectiveness and audience insights.

In her current role at Paramount, Denya drives thought leadership initiatives that shape industry perspectives on multicultural marketing, audience trends, and inclusive business practices. Her work has reinforced Paramount’s competitive edge in an evolving media ecosystem, including the creation of the “Insights Intelligence Suite” and the development of inclusive marketing strategies post-merger.

Denya also serves as the President of the NAMIC New York Chapter, where she advocates for diversity and inclusion across the media industry. Through this role, she is committed to mentoring the next generation of professionals and fostering industry-wide cultural shifts.

Recognized as Woman of the Year by Seeds of Fortune in 2024, Denya continues to lead with vision and impact, contributing to the future of the media and advertising landscape.

In 2019, Rhonda’s portfolio was expanded to include leadership of Charter’s Community Impact function, which encompasses the company’s strategic philanthropic investments and employee volunteerism initiatives.

Prior to working with Charter, Rhonda served as a member of the Innovative Medicines Executive Committee for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC), where she was the Vice President and Head, US Diversity & Inclusion, and President of the Novartis US Foundation.

Since joining the telecommunications industry, Rhonda has received numerous awards including: the Diversity Advocate Award, T. Howard Foundation (2023);  Next Generation Leader Award, National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (2021); Inaugural Elite 100 Black Women Changing Corporate America, Diversity Woman Media (2021); Cablefax Most Influential Women in Cable (2019-2023); Cablefax Most Influential Minorities in Cable (2018-2023); and Leadership Advocacy and Excellence Award – Women in Cable Telecommunications (2018).

Rhonda also serves on the Boards of Directors for the National Organization on Disability and The Syndeo Institute, and is a member of the Corporate Board of Advisors for UnidosUS.

She received her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia Law School.

In her current role at Ally, Indya is responsible for leading and executing multicultural marketing campaigns including media strategy, cultural events, sponsorships, and content campaigns targeting diverse audiences. Her innovative approach and commitment to inclusion have significantly enhanced Ally’s brand presence and consumer engagement.

Before joining Ally, Davis played a pivotal role in orchestrating and executing the first brick-and-mortar touchpoint activation strategy to boost brand visibility and sales at retail locations for Reynolds American. She also managed full lifecycle brand partnerships, agency engagement and activations for global sponsorship with the McLaren Formula 1 and IndyCar teams.

Indya’s expertise has been instrumental in leading and managing high-impact campaigns for renowned organizations such as the NBA, Procter & Gamble, and Ebony Magazine. Her work has consistently driven brand growth and elevated market share.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Indya holds a BA in Mass Communications from Johnson C. Smith University and an MBA in Marketing from University of Phoenix. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her son, traveling, volunteering, and exploring new restaurants.

She came most recently from Samsung Ads as Head of Partnership Solutions, North America, where she established the first sales office in Chicago, oversaw the CPG and Retail vertical sales teams and ultimately built a new function within the organization focused on the development of marketplace, vertical and custom solutions Prior to Samsung, April’s experience includes leading teams at location intelligence, AI/ML, big data and publishing companies, including ground zero startups and large global tech organizations.

With over 300 speaking engagements under his belt, he has captivated audiences across the country as an accomplished author, vocalist, and speaker. A prominent voice in the community, Rev. Dr. Dorsey has also been a fixture on KJLH 102.3 FM, the leading black-owned and operated radio station in Los Angeles, CA.

Dr. Dorsey launched The Dorsey Group, a firm dedicated to enhancing individual and organizational performance. Committed to their brand promise of Going Above and Beyond, The Dorsey Group partners with national organizations like NAMIC, Ingram Micro, and NeighborWorks America to develop sustainable strategies, cultivate competent leaders, and foster thriving organizational cultures.

A key component of The Dorsey Group’s offerings is Dr. Dorsey’s role as a sought-after mentor and executive coach. Leveraging his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, he helps clients achieve outstanding results and improved outcomes.

Dr. Dorsey is also the founder of the Fathers and Sons Speak Foundation, inspired by his influential book, “Fathers and Sons Speak.” This generational work chronicles his personal journey of reconnecting with his father after 28 years and advocates for healthy relationships between men and their families. With a mission to reach 100,000 men, Dr. Dorsey travels nationwide, delivering powerful presentations and engaging in speaking engagements.

His academic achievements include a Master of Divinity from the Claremont School of Theology, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California at Irvine, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Regularly consulted at the statewide and national level on community engagement, millennial outreach, and organizational improvement, Rev. Dr. Dorsey brings together faith and community leaders, law enforcement, and university officials to foster ongoing dialogue about change. He specializes in strategically engaging hard-to-reach communities, offering invaluable insights and strategies. He is a happily married husband and a dedicated father, deeply committed to his family and community.

While at the parks, she oversaw Disney Springs, Walt Disney World’s shopping, dining and entertainment destination; both Walt Disney World water parks; the resort’s sports operations, including ESPN Wide World of Sports complex; and the workforce management, operations training and business transformation teams. She took on the role in March 2020 and played a critical role in helping restart the 2019-20 NBA season in the “Bubble” at ESPN Wide World of Sports during the pandemic.

Prior to her stint with Disney Parks, Durant most recently served as senior vice president of ESPN’s College Networks, overseeing ESPNU, SEC Network and Longhorn Network, and was a central member of the cross-functional leadership team that successfully launched the ACC Network. Under Durant’s leadership, ESPNU and SEC Network achieved full distribution and she laid the groundwork for ACC Network to reach that same milestone shortly after her departure in 2020. Both SEC Network and ACC Network boast robust programming lineups developed under her guidance, and Durant was a key driver in the creation of the critically acclaimed TrueSouth on SECN.

Durant’s 24-year Disney and ESPN career features numerous honors, including making Sports Business Journal‘s 2019 Power Player list and Savoy Magazine’s 2020 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America. Durant was named a 2020 Multichannel News Wonder Woman, which acknowledges a group of extraordinary women in media for their commitment to enhancing the business, challenging the status quo and being an example for young leadership around the world. She was a Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business Award winner in 2020 and honored for her inclusion on the CableFax Most Powerful Women list (2017, 2018 – which featured Durant on the cover, and 2019), CableFax Most Influential Minorities list (2018 & 2019), and Sports Business Journal’s 40 under 40 in 2015.

She is a member of The Walt Disney Company’s CEO Diversity and Inclusion Council and sits on the executive committee for the board of directors of the T. Howard Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing diversity in the multimedia and entertainment industry.

Durant has previously served in a multitude of roles across ESPN, including as vice president, college sports programming and acquisitions, overseeing all of ESPN’s college sports relationships, rights acquisitions and programming. This included the inaugural College Football Playoff, NCAA Championships, football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic and high school sports. She was named vice president, programming & acquisitions in 2007, and managed ESPN’s relationships with the NBA, Major League Lacrosse, Major League Soccer, FIFA, UEFA, US Soccer and Olympic sport leagues. Durant played a significant role in the eight-year contract extension with the NBA announced in June 2007, which began during the 2008-09 season and included ESPN’s most-comprehensive digital rights package negotiated with any major professional sports league at the time.

After interning with ESPN in affiliate sales and marketing in the summer of 1998, Durant joined that department full-time in 1999 as a marketing coordinator. She rapidly advanced over the next several years, negotiating distribution agreements for the carriage of ESPN and Disney networks and services en route to becoming senior director, national accounts in October 2005. In February 2006, she transferred to the programming department as a senior director, programming.

Durant graduated in 1999 from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in marketing. Durant splits her time between Bristol and ESPN’s Charlotte office.

Jessica serves as a thought leader for Google Cloud executives, a thought partner with GCP CXO customers and partners on DEI & Culture, and collaborates with Google’s People Operations/HR counterparts in accelerating progress on our Google-wide DEI strategy in Cloud. Jessica has also been recognized as a global thought leader on DEI, organizational culture, and innovation, with some recent notable talks including being in conversation with Idris Elba (2024), Lin Manuel Miranda (2023), and Trevor Noah (2022) for Google Cloud, appearing on the Inclusive Leadership Network’s podcast, “Walk the Talk” episode on Closing the Tech Equity Gap, being featured on Seen @ Work podcast episode “Advice to DEI Practitioners,” in conversation with Vodafone’s CIO on Digital Pacemaker, and leading conversations on DEI, Responsible & Ethical AI, and the Future of Work in various Google hosted summits, forums and conferences.

Before Google, Jessica was NYU Langone Health’s Director for Diversity & Inclusion, the Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives (WEMBA) and the Senior Associate Director for Diversity for Wharton’s full time MBA program. While at Wharton, Jessica led the charge to enroll the highest number of underrepresented students in Wharton’s history. Additionally, she worked directly with Wharton’s Board of Trustee members to fundraise for fellowships that aimed to eliminate financial barriers for underrepresented candidates to pursue graduate education, resulting in the highest amount of fellowships fundraised for underrepresented communities. She’s also held numerous DEI related roles at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and Princeton University, all geared to increasing access and opportunity through advocacy, strategy development, policy reform, and program implementation that influences systems and leaders for equitable change. Jessica earned a Bachelor’s from Lehigh University, double majoring in Sociology and English, and a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Jessica is based in Google’s New York City, US office.

When Jessica isn’t at work, she is spending quality time with her husband, Oscar, and her four children Lluvia (11), Beau (8), Luna (5) and Sonny (3), which includes recreational and competitive sports, global travel, swimming, cooking and playing board games.

In January 2021, she was promoted to Chief of Staff, where she currently leads critical initiatives that drive operational excellence and strategic direction for the Association.

As Chief of Staff, Nilda:

• Leads strategic and operational initiatives;
• Directs cross-functional teams including operational oversight;
• Orchestrates complex project execution and;
• Oversees the NCTA Foundation.

Before her role as Chief of Staff, Nilda was Vice President of External Affairs at NCTA, where she played a pivotal role in state government relations, advocating for key policies and working closely with legislators and intergovernmental organizations.

Nilda is a proud graduate of Penn State University, bringing her commitment to leadership, operational excellence, and strategic insight to every role she takes on.

He is the author or co-author of three books, most recently Binge Times: Inside Hollywood’s Furious Billion-Dollar Battle to Take Down Netflix (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2022). Dade previously was on the editorial staff at Variety, Entertainment Weekly and the Associated Press. His freelance writing has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Canada’s Globe & Mail and he has contributed original scripts to the popular Wondery podcast Business Wars.

As the first CDO for Comcast Cable, Loren also serves as a key partner to the company’s leaders and the broader Human Resources organization, with an eye toward establishing frameworks for DE&I accountability and serving as a driver of employee training, career development, and education. Loren brings 20 years of Human Resources experience to this role. She joined Comcast and the cable industry in 2000 as Human Resources Generalist for the Charles County, Maryland location. Since then, she has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Vice President of Human Resources for the Comcast Beltway Region’s more than 3,000 employees across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.

Loren received her bachelor’s degree in labor relations and a Master of Labor Relations from Rutgers University. She recently completed Cornell University’s Diversity & Inclusion Program and earned her Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification. In addition to her work at Comcast, she is an active member of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and a graduate of WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, as well as a graduate of the Women’s Executive Leadership Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

Loren is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia’s DEI Committee. She is an active member of the Northern Virginia chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and the Ways & Means Committee Lead. She has served on the boards for Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She was named one of “the most influential multi-ethnic executives in the industry” by Cablefax’s Diversity List in 2021, 2022 and 2023, as was recognized on Cablefax’s 2022 and 2023 Most Powerful Women in Media and Broadband lists.

Loren is the proud mother to three beautiful children and wife of a U.S. Veteran.

Prior to taking on the role of President in February 2021, Jones served as Senior Vice President, NBC News and MSNBC. In this position, she spearheaded cross-platform breaking news and major events for both networks, including coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, and the networks’ Decision 2020 coverage including presidential debates, town halls, primaries and special election nights and forums. Jones simultaneously led MSNBC’s dayside and weekend news programming, where she managed hours of live reporting and newsgathering backed by the journalism of NBC News. Jones executive produced the most-watched Democratic presidential debate in history during the 2020 election cycle.

Jones has won two Emmys, three Edward R. Murrow Awards and was honored with the RTDNA 2022 First Amendment Award, which recognizes journalists and news executives who make major contributions to protecting First Amendment freedoms. She has been honored with leadership awards from the National Action Network, the National Urban League, ColorComm and the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications.

She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, a board member of the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism, a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Milken Institute’s Executive Women’s Circle. In 2019, Jones was inducted into the Hampton University Scripps Howard Journalism School Hall of Fame, an honor acknowledging her outstanding work in the journalism industry. She also received the inaugural Media Leadership Award from Montclair State University for the significant national impact she has made in the media industry across platforms and genres. Jones received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Media-Arts Broadcast from Hampton University, where she has launched a scholarship in her name.

In her role, she drives sales growth and revenue by enabling collaboration and partnership with the company’s divisions and care teams, responding quickly to emerging needs, fostering sales innovation, and driving Comcast’s omnichannel strategy. She also sets the strategic vision to deliver a superior customer sales experience through people, processes, tools, and technology. At Comcast, Marge has held various positions in Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service/Care Operations across all three national divisions and HQ.

During her 20+ years at Comcast, Marge has been responsible for creating and launching some of the biggest initiatives at the company, including the Black Experience Channel on Xfinity, a first-of-its-kind, curated destination of Black content, and the Jurassic World Rule Your Future with STEAM Initiative, designed to help students explore, prepare, and propel themselves into the careers of the future, reaching over 700,000 students. Most recently, Marge is helping to bring Comcast’s latest products to life, including Now TV Latino, the best value in Spanish language streaming.

Marge has been recognized by numerous peers and colleagues as an industry leader and a top woman/minority in business. She was one of only 30 candidates selected for the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communication’s (NAMIC) Executive Leadership Development Program and was named one of CableFax’s “Most Powerful Women in Cable.”

She is a graduate of Peirce College, an active member of CTAM, and an Executive Advisor on the WICT Board Philly Chapter. Marge is also a graduate of WICT’s prestigious Betsy Magness Leadership Institute as a Class of XVII fellow, the Comcast Woman Leadership program at Wharton University, and most recently, the CTAM Executive Program at Harvard University.

She works with clients and agency partners to help leverage the power of diverse and inclusive audiences as a growth engine for the future.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal, Carla spent over 25 years in consumer marketing and strategy, where she helped deliver profitable growth for global consumer product businesses. Carla worked at Colgate Palmolive, Nabisco Foods, Nestle Foods, and Andersen Consulting.

Carla is an active participant in NBCUniversal’s and the larger industry’s Hispanic and Multicultural initiatives. She manages the division’s partnership for ANA/AIMM, where she serves as Co-Chair for their Influence, Impact & Communications Track as well as helps manage the development of their Cultural Insights Impact Measure (CIMM). In addition, Carla champions the NBCUniversal and Ad Council partnership as well as the division’s Empowerment & Inclusion Council, while serving as a mentor for several team members.

Carla received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her MBA from the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University.

He is currently the EVP, Head of One Solution — the branded entertainment, branded content, integrated marketing, strategic partnerships and pr award-winning division within the largest black-owned and black-targeted multimedia company in the country (Urban One). Under Jeff’s leadership, he has propelled the One Solution team to an unprecedented 55 awards/accolades, inclusive of Best Branded Content Studio two-years in a row (2018-2019), across top industry organizations inclusive of The Telly’s, AdColor, NAMIC Vision Awards, REGGIE Awards, Webby’s, Digiday and more.

Prior to this role, Kia served as Senior Vice President, HR Business Partnerships, where she was responsible for leading HR business consulting and service delivery functions for Cox Communications.

Painter joined Cox in 1998 as a part time HR Assistant in Cox Hampton Roads after completing undergraduate studies. During her 25 years with the company, she has risen through the ranks and led people functions throughout Cox regions and markets in the Southeast notably in Virginia, Florida, and Louisiana. In 2015, she moved to Atlanta to establish Cox Communication’s employee experience, employee engagement, and organization design practices for the company.

She is the recipient of various industry awards including:

• 2023 CableFax Most Powerful Women
• 2023 CableFax Diversity List
• 2023 WICT SE Inspiration Woman of the Year
• 2023 WICT SoCal Leadership, Education and Advocacy
• 2022 Mae Douglas Leadership Award
• 2022 NAMIC Next Generation Leader Award
• 2021 Horizon Woman to Watch Award, The WICT Network Southeast
• 2021, 2020, 2019-CableFax Diversity List.
• 2014 Top 40 under 40 by Multichannel News Magazine.
• 2011 NAMIC Luminary Award for up-and-coming industry executives

Kia also serves on several industry and academic boards, including:

• President, C2HR
• Director-at-Large, The WICT Network
• Member, The Emma Bowen Foundation
• Member, Clark Atlanta Consort Institute

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Development from The George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University.

When she is not here at Cox looking for ways to create career opportunities and experiences for our employees, she spends her time reading and looking for new things to learn.

She is a native of Norfolk, Virginia, and currently resides in Powder Springs, Georgia.

On the Insights and Cultural Intelligence team, David’s work sits at the intersection of culture and marketing, developing insights to craft, shape and inspire Paramount’s advertising partners on how to tap into the cultural zeitgeist.

David holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Journalism School in Culture Criticism and is a guest lecturer at Rutgers University. He also serves as the Youth Alumni Chair at the Penn Club of New York.

With over 15 years of leadership experience in the corporate and retail sectors, she has specialized in talent development, enhancing employee experiences, and enriching company culture.

Jameka currently serves as Head of Events and Experiential at Amazon Music, where she leverages her visionary leadership and strategic acumen to amplify and grow the Amazon Music brand. As a global speaker and leader, she is recognized for her ability to create best-in-class brand marketing campaigns and experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide. In this role, Jameka forges meaningful connections globally with Amazon Music customers, stakeholders, and music enthusiasts, driving engagement and expanding the brand’s reach.

Perrette is spearheading the global rollout of Max, the company’s unified streaming platform, now available in the US, Latin America, and European markets, with more launches planned in additional territories, including Asia. Additionally, he oversees Warner Bros. Discovery’s gaming and interactive entertainment business, which includes WB Games’ successful game development and publishing operations for such titles as Mortal Kombat, Hogwarts Legacy, and Batman: Arkham Knight.

Perrette most recently served as President and CEO of Discovery Streaming and International, a global leader in real life entertainment with worldwide distribution in both television and emerging digital platforms. Prior to joining Discovery, Inc. in 2011 as Chief Digital Officer, he spent 11 years with NBCUniversal, ultimately serving as President, Digital and Affiliate Distribution. During that time, he played a leadership role in creating and developing Hulu, including serving on its Board for several years.

Perrette received his B.A. from Hamilton College.

She has a successful track record with industry leaders such as JPMorgan Chase, Comcast NBC Universal, Starz and others. Lucia is a recognized subject matter expert in multicultural and inclusive marketing and cross-cultural communications, with numerous successes and several industry awards, including the EMMA and ANA Excellence in Multicultural Marketing.

Lucia has championed Diversity and Inclusion initiatives throughout her career, leading Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and supporting D&I programs across various sectors. She is an active member of her professional community, serving as a leader and mentor for The Venture Mentoring Team (The VMT), the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT), and others. At Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF), one of South Florida’s largest non-profits serving the needs of new immigrants, she has served as Chair of the Marketing Committee and Chair of the Board of Directors.

Multilingual in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, Lucia’s diverse and progressive career path has provided her with a broad-based and global perspective. She holds an MS in Broadcast Administration from Boston University and a BS in Mass Communication from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Venezuela. Lucia has advanced her knowledge by completing NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, a Digital Marketing Professional Certificate from the American Marketing Association (AMA), and a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. More recently, she completed the AI and Analytics for Strategic Marketing Certificate at the University of Miami.

Lucia is currently the Principal and Senior Consultant at her own boutique consultancy, 7Circles – Strategic Marketing Solutions, where she customizes strategic marketing and communications programs to drive measurable business growth and increase brand visibility. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Professor of Digital Marketing at Boston University’s College of Communication.

Lucia is an active member of the Boston University Alumni Council (BUAC) and the BU College of Communication DEI Advisory Committee, where she actively mentors students and young alumni. She lives in South Florida with her husband, Angel, and daughter, Ana Lucia.

He is a board member for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a member of the board of advisors for Hedley May. Over his 20-year career he has worked in Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Asif has been credited with impactful global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activities and programs across organizations, that have created a strong sense of belonging for all and resulted in truly diverse workplaces. He has been key in building synergies between internal and external D&I efforts within organizations, ensuring diversity and inclusion is embedded in all elements of a business, resulting in innovative, creative and inclusive products and services.

He is a Multi-Award Winning Diversity and Inclusion expert with a proven track record in D&I, Sustainability and Social Impact, being listed as one of the most influential Global D&I Leaders by Hive Learning, the CIPD’s Top 20 Power list and a LinkedIn Influencer. He is winner of numerous awards including the highly commended Head of Diversity Award at the European Diversity Awards and was honored with an MBE in 2017 by the Queen and granted the freedom of the City of London in 2016.

A graduate of Georgetown University with a B.S. in International Economics and the University of Texas at Austin with an M.A. in Public Policy, she began her career in brand management at Procter & Gamble Latin America, where she led marketing for brands like Ariel, Downy, and Pampers in Central America and the Caribbean.

Marissa spent a few years as a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting, leading change initiatives and communication consulting for Public Sector clients. She also spent time as a political consultant, contributing to the communication strategies of key campaigns in Texas and Mexico. In 2003, she took a role in marketing at Pepsico’s Frito Lay North America Division. During her 18-year tenure at Pepsico, Marissa led numerous brand marketing initiatives and national campaigns for globally renowned food and beverage brands like Doritos and Pepsi. She also held roles in shopper marketing and sales for key PepsiCo retail customers like Walmart, Target, and Costco.

In 2017, Marissa led a cross-functional Hispanic Business Unit –winning Industry Recognition for work to engage Latinos in key brand initiatives. She went on to lead marketing for brands at Frito Lay North America, including the coveted relationship with the NFL. She won several Reggies, Sports Clios, and a Grand Prix Cannes Lion for her work on Cheetos, Doritos, and Tostitos brands. In 2021, Marissa was recognized by Adweek as one of the Most Powerful Women in Sports for elevating the footballwatching occasion with the NFL and Frito Lay partnership. In 2023, Marissa and her team won a Sports Emmy for the “She Runs It” Superbowl campaign featuring star flag football player Diana Flores.

In addition to her full-time marketing position, Marissa serves on the Board of Directors of Consolidated Communications, a leading broadband and business communications provider that serves wireless and wireline customers across rural and metro communities. She is a new member of the Board of Directors of AIMM – Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing. She also serves as a board member on the North Texas Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation and The Melville Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of minority children in Dallas. She has a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and resides in McKinney, Texas, with her husband Juan and 19-year-old daughter Gabriela.

As a 2024 NYC TV Week Award class recipient, Telly and Faxie Awards winner, Camille attributes her passion for creating meaningful audience-brand connections to her diverse background. Born in Chicago, Camille’s Haitian- American background and early introduction to entertainment and television fostered a desire to drive inclusion through impactful storytelling. She attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a Business Marketing major with a concentration in French that provided the opportunity to obtain several Marketing and Public Relations roles. Equity and inclusion are close to her heart, both personally and professionally. She’s also a proud small business owner and member of NAMIC and WICT, advocating for Black and Brown equity and inclusion.

Beyond work, Camille loves to travel, whip up new recipes, master roller skating, and mentor the next generation of media leaders. She is currently based in Washington, DC.

Essence Ventures brands include ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities; Afropunk, the multi-medium platform that uplifts and unleashes Black expression and individuality now and in the future; BeautyCon, the experiential and content focused platform that aims to transcend the aesthetic of attraction and enable an individualized empowered existence and experience on what beauty is; and Essence Studios, a production studio and original content hub focused on authentic Black story-telling, story-making, story-sharing, and story-doing. Caroline joined Essence Ventures as Chief Growth Officer in 2020 from the Target Corporation, where she served as Chief Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. She began her 15-year Target career in supply chain, serving in a variety of transformational leadership roles, including modernizing Supply Chain, Business Intelligence, and Digital and Strategy capabilities. Prior to Target, she held several roles in the non-profit sector. A self-proclaimed cultural architect with a passion for constructing, deconstructing and reconstructing organizational culture, she champions and inspires authenticity and thrives in innovative environments. With a background in corporate and community leadership, her career expands over several disciplines and capabilities including youth development, grant-writing, community organizing, supply chain, human resources, equity, culture and media. Caroline has worked her way up from entry-level positions to the highest of senior leadership roles and is passionate about modeling what she teaches. Her “real-talk” delivery, witty thought leadership and unmitigated perspective on authenticity as a differentiator for individuals and organizations, make her a highly sought-after keynote speaker, equity strategist, thought leader, and community influencer. She unapologetically believes that who each person is, is non-negotiable and is often quoted saying, “Who you are is who you are. If you cannot be who you are where you are, you change where you are not who you are.” In 2020 she co-founded WangaWoman LLC., whose mission is to “Democratize Authenticity.” Among other accolades, Wanga has been awarded the “Anthem Award” for Business Leader of The Year – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Steve and Majorie Harvey Foundation “Helping Hands” Award, and the For(bes) The Culture AfroFuture Award. She has two honorary doctorate degrees from her alma mater Texas College and Dillard University, respectively. She has been previously named Top Executive in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise and recognized by Savoy as one of the Most Powerful Women in Corporate America. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC,) the American Airlines Community Council, and the McDonalds MultiCultural Marketing Advisory Council. She is a former member of the Talladega College Board of Trustees, previously served on the Intersectionality, Culture, and Diversity Advisory Board for Twitter and served as co-chair of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Diversity & Inclusion Initiative. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas College, a Historically Black College/ University (HBCU,) is a Kenyan citizen, and her life’s greatest accomplishment is her daughter, Cadence.

He leads cross functional teams dedicated to innovating and optimizing the infrastructure that supports Google’s vast array of enterprise solutions. He has been instrumental in the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance these platforms and ensure they meet the evolving needs of Google businesses. Clif brings over 15 years of experience in product management, product marketing, customer support, and strategic planning to the role, with a proven record of success for some of the world’s top brands.

Prior to joining Google, Clif held pivotal positions at Amazon, Charter Spectrum, Starz and Comcast, where he spearheaded the development and delivery of services driving company performance and customer satisfaction. Before that, he served as a NATO officer.

He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, UCLA, and Cornell. Outside of work, he is passionate about youth and empowering the disadvantaged. He sits on the board of directors for the Mountain Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that delivers integrated health and human services to rural mountain areas of Colorado. He is also an advocate for children with Autism, and engaged in United Methodist Church ministries. In his free time he enjoys making music and spending time with his wife and three children.