SATURDAY, february 19TH

(All times are in Eastern Standard Time)

9:00aM - 9:10AM: Welcome and opening remarks

  • April Weathers and Cyril Straughn-Turner, AASU Conference Co-Chairs

9:10am – 10:10am: Opening Keynote Address: Leslie Brun

  • Leslie Brun, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Ariel Alternatives

  • Moderated by Henry McGee, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

10:10am – 10:25am: BREAK AND NETWORKING

10:25am - 11:25am: PANEL Session #1

Arts & Beauty: Black Is Beautiful: Celebrating Black Entrepreneurship in Beauty

  • Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Founder and CEO, BrainTrust Founders Studio 

  • Keta Burke-Williams, Co-founder, CEO Aspen Apothecary

  • Aishetu Fatima Dozie, Founder & CEO, Bossy Cosmetics Inc.

  • Ayo Ogun, Founder & CEO, Soultanicals

  • Moderated by Chelcie Taylor, HBS AASU Class of 2022

Entrepreneurship/VC: Betting on Black: Improving Access to Capital for Black Founders

  • Kwame Anku, Chairman & CEO, Black Star Fund

  • Christa WIlliams-Collett, SVP and Investing Principal, Citi Impact Fund

  • Abbey Wemimo, Co-Founder, Esusu

  • Moderated by Temi Olonilua, HBS AASU Class of 2023

11:25am – 11:45am: BREAK AND NETWORKING

11:45am – 12:45pm: PANEL Session #2

Public Sector: Buying Black the Block: How Do We Revitalize Our Communities?

  • Tawan Davis, CEO, The Steinbridge Group

  • Gregg Bishop, Executive Director, Social Justice Fund, Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation / Former Commissioner of Small Business Services, NYC

  • Jerika Richardson, Senior Vice President, National Urban League

  • Moderated by Hasoni Pratts, Harvard Kennedy School MC/MPA Candidate

ETA: Demystifying Entrepreneurship through Acquisition: Alternative Paths to Ownership & Wealth Creation

  • Anthony Walker, Managing Partner, Next Coast ETA

  • Brandon Lovell, Principal, The Lovell Fund

  • Mia Jackson, CEO, Vital Care Industries

  • Moderated by Laetitia Tiani Vessah, HBS AASU Class of 2023

12:45pm - 1:45pm: LUNCH AND NETWORKING

1:45pm - 2:45pm: Fireside Chat: Dr. Danielle Allen

  • Dr. Danielle Allen, Harvard University Professor and Author of Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus

  • Moderated by Tsedal Neeley, Harvard Business School Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration and Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Research Strategy

2:45pm – 3:00pm: Black New Venture competition winners announcement

  • Kwesi Acquay, Black New Venture Competition Chair

3:00pm – 3:15pm: BREAK AND NETWORKING

3:15pm – 4:15pm: PANEL SESSION #3

Media: Representation Across the Content Creation Value Chain

  • Yasmine Pearl, Agent, United Talent

  • Ade Patton, EVP, CFO, HBO Max

  • Adia Matthews, Vice President, Hulu Brand Partnerships & Synergy, Disney Streaming

  • Moderated by Lanita Patton, HBS AASU Class of 2023

Business Leadership: Agency in Adversity: How to Harness Your Leadership Power

  • Patricia David, Head of Diversity (Retired), JP Morgan

  • Payton Iheme, Head of Public Policy, North America and Latin America , Bumble Inc.

  • Craig Robinson, Chief Growth Officer, Industrious

  • Moderated by Maya Brooks, HBS AASU Class of 2023

4:15pm - 4:30pm: presentation of alumni award winners

  • Trailblazer Award: Kwame Owusu-Kesse

  • Bert King Service Award: Simisola Nwogugu

  • Kenneth Powell Professional Achievement Award: Paris Wallace

4:30pm – 5:30pm: Closing Keynote: Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter

  • Beny Ashburn & Teo Hunter, Co-Founders, Crowns & Hops Brewing Co.

  • Moderator by Monique Burns Thompson, Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

5:30PM - 5:35pm: CLOSING REMARKS

  • April Weathers and Cyril Straughn-Turner, AASU Conference Co-Chairs