Shakira Akinjobi’s Post

Juneteenth falls right in the middle of one of the world's most famous and largest creative festivals, Cannes Lions! For the advertising and creative world, there is no getting around it — it’s the busiest and most festive time of year for our industry. So what happens when you need to work through an important holiday? Earlier this year, our team spoke with the DEI team at Cannes about creative ways to honor Juneteenth when you still have to be on and connected for the international festival. One idea was working with brands like Because Of Them We Can, whose main focus is to shine a light on Black History and to share stories of the world's first. What better way to honor the spirit of Juneteenth than celebrating the first creatives that paved the way so people of all backgrounds can attend Cannes, and achieve success in our industry. How are you honoring Juneteenth at/during Cannes? Do you have any other ideas? Please share in the comments so we can continue the conversation.

Today is Juneteenth, an impactful day across North America for reflection, remembrance and celebration. From science, business and law, to sport, art and entertainment, Black communities have always and continue to make significant contributions to the fabric of our continent. For the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles, supporting links between Black communities across our continent is a priority. Two of our major programs include: The Black Music Managers program, within the Canadian Creative Accelerator (CCA) – Trade commissioners from our consulates in Los Angeles and New York joined forces to create the Black Musing Managers program in collaboration with Breaking Down Racial Barriers to build capacity and to facilitate introductions to the principal actors in the industry, paving the way for partnerships between Canadians and Americans. The Black Tech Express program, which supports Canadian startups founded or led by Black Canadians seeking venture capital in Southern California. The startup accelerator is focused on Los Angeles, offering high-intensity services to high-growth tech companies led by Black entrepreneurs interested in expansion, capital and commercial opportunities in Southern California and beyond. Check out this video on the Black Music Manager Program!

⚪ Last call for an experienced cohort of mentors (music professionals, both creators and executives) to apply to be mentors for the we.grow x POWER UP (PRS for Music) Mentoring Program and coach future industry leaders. ✦ The mentors must have a deep understanding of the barriers faced by Black music professionals and extensive experience within your area or a specialist skill set. ✦ Mentors are matched with mentees based on experience, aims, needs, background and requirements by a panel of mentoring experts. ⚪ We provide training, a guidance handbook, access to 2x mentorship managers and £175 as a nominal gesture of gratitude for the mentors’ time. ✦ POWER UP is an ambitious, long-term initiative which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, and addresses anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector. If you can commit to 2hrs per month, head to our blog to register by the 31st of January. 👇 https://lnkd.in/dRigXXeP

In this segment, Nkem Oghedo is talking about the Adá marketplace platform specifically. One thing I love about what she's sharing here is: Adá shifts power to its vendors by enabling them to set their own prices. If you're looking for Black History Month team-building programming for your team that puts the money and the power in the hands of Black entrepreneurs, check out Adá! Looking for other types of programs to support your team? Or want to do more than one? I'd love to chat!

#beyondtheblack our annual event is here! March 20-21 #finance #Close #AR #intercompany Whether you are a seasoned financial veteran or starting your journey, come along as see why we are the market leader in financial automation!

If you're looking to educate yourself and support locally black owned businesses this Juneteenth, check out this article with a list of celebration events happening around the Twin Cities today: http://spr.ly/6044gEcAk "Juneteenth should really be a rallying call for all of us to think about the meaning of freedom, particularly regarding African Americans, as well as to the nation and the rest of the world."

What are you personally doing as a leader to support black talent? Cephas Williams is an inspiration to us all investing not just his own time (that he could spend with his own kids) but also his own 💵..but let’s be honest he shouldn’t need to as there should be more businesses that are willing to invest in greater equality. If you’re a leader in a business in the ad industry and you have a presence in #CannesLions this year, please think about supporting Cephas with his mission to create more opportunities for black talent. The very definition of leadership below.. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

“As many of you know, we received over 1,000 applications which was both overwhelming and inspiring, each showcasing remarkable achievements and aspirations. After many days and hours of review, we have come to a decision on the 50 people going. This has been a very difficult decision to make and please remember this is bigger than Cannes. The presence of the 50 that will go to the festival with us represents a much bigger idea and community. This decision was incredibly difficult due to the overwhelming number of great applications we received. It’s also deeply disheartening when we consider how deserving everyone was alongside the fact that I’ve had to do this with minimal support from the industry. However, the change I’m driving is greater than the resistance I’m facing. I questioned how much I give myself to this work when I heard my son cry real deep tears the other day because I wasn’t able to spend more time with him that evening, I reflect and think perhaps I’ve given too much of myself to this cause, but I remember what I wrote in Letter to Zion and how far away we are from the world I described to him in that letter. Across the last 3 years I have put over £90,000 of my own money into this work, I will now have taken over 100 Black people to the festival and supported their career growth in various ways. I’ve committed this money to not only see more Black people at the festival, but to see our people better connected across the industry. Last night I sent a further £35,000 from my savings to make this trip happen. I explain this not to be thanked but to be understood, when you see me in Cannes, understand what I stand for. My presence there carries a much greater meaning, my interest in seeing this change comes from a real place, because I care, because like many other leaders, I said I would commit to the change. This is why I put my money where my mouth is, this is not a competition for me neither is it a flex. This is a real message to the industry and its leaders. That message is simple, if you really turn over millions in profit, if you really have decision making power and if you really want to see the experience and trajectory of Black people change across the industry, don't just watch me, back me. Can we turn this 50 to 500? If I could take more people I would. But I can only afford to take just under 5% of those who applied. As much as we can only take 50, this is far from a competition, this is about a much bigger message to the industry and I seriously value everyone who has applied themselves to the work I do and this process. It’s not about individual success, it’s about collective growth and systemic change.” Follow The Black Network / Together We Are Stronger If you would like to support the work click here - https://lnkd.in/eegZMFDn

Hey Friends! I’m gearing up for an exciting week, and I want to ensure you're part of it! OI've been on a remarkable journey within the world of natural products, particularly those crafted by talented Black artisans. This journey has been more than just learning; it's been a life lived, a craft honed, and a path paved with both trials and triumphs. It wasn't until countless conversations with many of you that I realized I had gathered something truly special, something that could help numerous individuals achieve their aspirations in the realm of taking their products that they were initlly just creating for friends and family to the mainstream. So, this week, I'm opening up and sharing these invaluable insights with you. Get ready for a treasure trove of wisdom and practical tips coming your way. Make sure you keep an eye on your notifications because what's about to unfold is going to be nothing short of transformative! If you're as excited as I am to dive into this journey and discover how natural product creators can elevate their game, drop a comment below with "excited." 🚀 Years ago, I recognized a need for more natural products, especially those handcrafted by Black artisans. That led me to create a space, the BLK + GRN platform, where we could showcase our talents, make toxin-free products accessible, and uplift Black creators. However, as time went on, I noticed that many incredible creators lacked access to the tools, resources, and support needed to take their businesses to the next level. So, this week, I'm doing something special—I'm sharing a wealth of knowledge across all my platforms on how natural product creators can take their products to the big leagues. Get ready to be inspired and informed. It's time to take that next step in your journey!

Desta: ... a catalyst for change, weaving together the threads of history and modernity to amplify the voices of Black leaders and artists alike. Listen to the playlist: https://lnkd.in/gkQyqa3Z