The business of being ICONIC!
In honor of Black Business Month, we’re celebrating the finest (and flyest) business founders who close deals, build brands, and execute winning strategies as the buzziest bombshells in the entrepreneur space.
As an award-winning visionary passionate about bringing creatives together, CultureCon and CultureCon Collective Founder & CEO Imani Ellis continues to redefine community-building with dynamic events where real conversations move the needle while fueling world-changers to keep going.
Founded in 2016 as the brainchild of creative sessions in Ellis’ Harlem apartment, CultureCon emerged as “the largest creative homecoming” dedicated to elevating tastemakers, change-makers, culture curators, and entrepreneurs through informative panels, workshops, networking experiences, and more.
“Our three pillars are: hustle smarter, building a life, and driving culture,” said Ellis in an interview with Business Insider.
“They’re very intentional that those are our three pillars, because we don’t want to just focus on hustle culture. We want you to hustle smarter, not harder. We also want you to build a life. Outside of work, who are you? How are you? Are you sleeping? Are you well?”
“Finally, it’s about driving culture, and acknowledging all the contributions that we have given to culture. For us, it really is about the holistic story. I don’t think everyone should be an entrepreneur. I also think that you can be an intrapreneur. You can make an incredible impact inside existing companies, and you need both to survive.”
Now in its 10th year, CultureCon attracts more than 10,000 creatives from across the globe for the marquee festival centered around conversation, connection, and community.
“You only go as far and you only grow as big as your community is willing to come,” said Ellis in an interview with USA Today. “If 12,000 people don’t come to CultureCon, it’s not the biggest conference for creatives.”
Earlier this summer, the bustling brand leveled-up again with CultureCon Cafe–a traveling pop-up night-cafe and networking event series designed for Black creatives, innovators, and professionals–which we had the pleasure of partnering with on its Chicago stop.
Have you ever attended CultureCon? If so, what was your experience? If not, will you be attending Oct. 3rd and 4th in Brooklyn this year? Tell us down below and enjoy our gallery of Founder Baes thriving in the business space on the flip.
Shaina Rainford, Founder & CEO of Bask&Lather
