They are power brokers with a purpose. They share a soaring entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering commitment to the culture. These talented and tenacious leaders are getting ahead while giving back.
Asa Sealy is a branding guru who wears many hats and measures success by aligning with his purpose. “Everything I do, whether it’s developing brand strategies through ThatBranding Guy consulting, executing campaigns at Aifos Agency, building retail solutions through Prnt Promo or helping Caribbean brands expand into the U.S. with Trade Trek USA, is rooted in the belief that business should not only create opportunity but also shape culture,” says Sealy.
Laurane Simon with Keller Williams Realty Partners SW is not your typical realtor. For Simon, it’s about more than finding a client’s dream house or finalizing a transaction; it’s about offering hope. Simon almost lost hope herself after facing numerous rejections on her own real estate journey. Those challenges, she says, ignited her passion to empower others through home ownership. “Seeing the expressions on clients’ faces and knowing your hard work set them on a path of building equity and wealth is very fulfilling,” says Simon.
Community, connection, and culture drive Rohan Sutherland, managing partner of the Genesis Media Group, a sports marketing and event production company that helps professional athletes bolster their image through programs and events that give back to the community. Sutherland, who also founded the BlackLuxe Picnic and Music Festival, says the event was created to celebrate Black excellence by spotlighting Black love, togetherness and history.
Jesse Coleman, founder and president of Video Mix TV, says the network’s mission to educate, inform and entertain has remained constant while evolving with technology and the needs of the community. The Hip Hop and R&B network, which Coleman started in 2000, airs music videos from all genres, as well as local and independent acts and localized programming. “When I was in college I wanted to work at BET and change the future of Black America,” says Coleman. “That same passion drives me today.”
Shenetria Moore, is an Army veteran who continues to serve her community as an entrepreneur and non-profit leader. Moore, founder of She Holdings LLC, a marketing, advertising, and promotion company also established Sha’s Community Initiatives, Inc. a non-profit organization that focuses on community outreach to veterans, seniors and Black males with the goal of changing the negative images surrounding them and fostering cross-generational mentoring.
For Richard McCulloch, partner and chief experience officer at Pink Studio Central, a brand strategy and video production firm, marketing is about connections, storytelling and purpose. The Howard University grad believes every voice matters and every story deserves to be told. “For me, marketing isn’t just a profession, it’s about building connections and fostering growth,” says McCulloch.
For Zahadonna Clark, founder of Pink Salon Suites, cosmetology isn’t just about making people look beautiful. For the Miami native it’s about teaching, marketing and building a business that empowers others to be the best versions of themselves by creating eBooks and educational videos for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ten years ago, Brooklynite Danielle Koping-Wade brought her banking expertise to Miami purchasing multi-unit apartment buildings for low and moderate-income residents. Combining her financial acumen with her mother’s experience in dry cleaning, she then established several successful dry cleaners. “It’s about making a difference where we plant seeds,” says Koping-Wade.
Some of the most highly respected brands turn to business storytelling coach and keynote speaker Andy Henriquez to make more of an impact and bolster their bottom lines. Henriquez has helped more than a thousand business owners around the world craft their signature stories. Giving back to the community is an integral part of his story which he does through an annual holiday toy drive for underserved youth.
Helping small businesses shine online is what Stellar Marketing and Business Solutions, LLC. is all about. The company’s founder, Tracy M. Thomas, has contributed to the growth and visibility of countless businesses across diverse industries. Thomas also serves as the communications and marketing manager for the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County. “Community involvement has always been at the cornerstone of my professional journey,” says Thomas.
