Igniting black excellence, leadership, and innovation

BlackStars is a platform dedicated to amplifying, connecting, and empowering a new era of leaders who embody the rich diversity and potential of the modern Afro-Diaspora.

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2,000+ Attendees
20+ Sessions
60+ Speakers/
Honorees
100+ Companies
Represented

THE SUMMIT

The BlackStars Summit convenes industry leaders, professionals and emerging talent across various sectors for two transformative days of learning, connections, and empowerment.

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THE GALA

A night of excellence and inspiration, the BlackStars Awards Gala is dedicated to honoring trailblazing African-American leaders at the forefront of innovation and transformation in their respective industries.

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Past speakers

2024 Speakers To Be Announced.

Mayor

Eric Adams

Mayor

New York City

Eric Adams

Eric Adams

Job title

Mayor

Company

New York City

Speaking on

Gala Speaker

Full Bio
EVP, Head of Branch and Small Business Banking

Sekou Kaalund

EVP, Head of Branch and Small Business Banking

US Bank

Sekou Kaalund

Sekou Kaalund

Job title

EVP, Head of Branch and Small Business Banking

Company

US Bank

Full Bio
CEO

Michele Thornton Ghee

CEO

Expectant Media

Michele Thornton Ghee

Michele Thornton Ghee

Job title

CEO

Company

Expectant Media

Full Bio
Executive Vice President, General Counsel

Doug Lankler

Executive Vice President, General Counsel

Pfizer

Doug Lankler

Doug Lankler

Job title

Executive Vice President, General Counsel

Company

Pfizer

Full Bio
Bronx Borough President

Vanessa L. Gibson

Bronx Borough President

Bronx Borough

Vanessa L. Gibson

Vanessa L. Gibson

Job title

Bronx Borough President

Company

Bronx Borough

Speaking on

Gala Speaker

Full Bio
Chair Americas Advisory Council & Managing Director

Duane L. Hughes

Chair Americas Advisory Council & Managing Director

UBS Financial Services

Duane L. Hughes

Duane L. Hughes

Job title

Chair Americas Advisory Council & Managing Director

Company

UBS Financial Services

Full Bio
Partner

Omosede Ogiamien

Partner

Deloitte

Omosede Ogiamien

Omosede Ogiamien

Job title

Partner

Company

Deloitte

Full Bio
Executive Director, Global Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

Franklin Reed

Executive Director, Global Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

TEKsystems

Franklin Reed

Franklin Reed

Job title

Executive Director, Global Inclusion, Diversity & Equity

Company

TEKsystems

Full Bio

Past honorees

2024 Honorees To Be Announced.

Principal and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

Elena Richards

Principal and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

KPMG

Elena Richards

Elena Richards

Job Title

Principal and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

Company

KPMG

Full Bio
Managing Partner, Detroit

Aaron Aboagye

Managing Partner, Detroit

McKinsey & Co.

Aaron Aboagye

Aaron Aboagye

Job Title

Managing Partner, Detroit

Company

McKinsey & Co.

Full Bio
SVP of Network Engineering & Operations

Edwige A. Robinson

SVP of Network Engineering & Operations

T-Mobile

Edwige A. Robinson

Edwige A. Robinson

Job Title

SVP of Network Engineering & Operations

Company

T-Mobile

Full Bio
Chairman, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

Rodney J. Taylor, M.D.

Chairman, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Rodney J. Taylor, M.D.

Rodney J. Taylor, M.D.

Job Title

Chairman, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

Company

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Full Bio
Chief Human Resources Officer

Kawanza Humphrey

Chief Human Resources Officer

VyStar Credit Union

Kawanza Humphrey

Kawanza Humphrey

Job Title

Chief Human Resources Officer

Company

VyStar Credit Union

Full Bio
SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility

Dennis D. Williams

SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility

Warner Bros. Discovery

Dennis D. Williams

Dennis D. Williams

Job Title

SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility

Company

Warner Bros. Discovery

Full Bio
VP, People eXperience & Technology

Evaristus Mainsah

VP, People eXperience & Technology

Amazon Ads & IMDb

Evaristus Mainsah

Evaristus Mainsah

Job Title

VP, People eXperience & Technology

Company

Amazon Ads & IMDb

Full Bio
EVP and Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion- US

Ron Taylor

EVP and Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion- US

Natixis Investment Managers

Ron Taylor

Ron Taylor

Job Title

EVP and Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion- US

Company

Natixis Investment Managers

Full Bio

Schedule overview

Day 1
Registration - All Day

VIP Welcome Reception

Conference Kick-off Party

Day 2
SUMMIT- All Day Sessions

BLACKSTARS SUMMIT
Sessions – TBA

BLACKSTARS CONNECT
A Networking Mixer

Day 3
SUMMIT + Awards GALA

EXPO & RECRUITMENT

BLACKSTARS AWARDS GALA
Honoring 30 BlackStars

Day 4
End of Conference

Closing Brunch

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Our partners

_Ronald Taylor

In my 22-year DEI career, I’ve attended and been part of many award ceremonies, galas, and fundraisers. BlackStars was by far the best one yet. I’m still buzzing. What the PanaGenius team has put together here will forever define the meaning of Black Excellence!

Ron Taylor

EVP and Chief Diversity Officer
Natixis
Jamila Abston

Thank you for this extraordinary celebration of Black Excellence! I am truly humbled to be one of the 2023 honorees, and I am inspired by all of the other amazing leaders in my cohort and those before me. Thank you again for your commitment to sharing the brilliance of our stories in such a powerful way!

Jamila Abston Mayfield

Partner
Ernest & Young
Sea_Nexus

It was powerful to see so many Black professionals across different industries. You had folks from tech, finance, law, healthcare…never before have I been to a conference like BlackStars! The synergy was amazing, talk about opportunities for client development, opportunity to mentor others and to be mentored. It was amazing!

Nexus Sea

Partner
O’Melveny & Myers
Tony Effik

I loved the spirit and energy of the BlackStars conference, as much as the professional organization, effortless style, and ideas and insights that were shared. It was a wonderful event with great speakers and a warm and collaborative atmosphere. Everybody there was there to win and help each other. And the organization was fantastic! There was a huge amount of joy, openness, and positivity.

Tony Effik

Managing Director
Google

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