Written by: Mariah Isom (@ma.riahh)

Janice Bryant Howroyd – Founder & CEO, ActOne Group
Trailblazer and business mogul Janice Bryant Howroyd made history as the first Black woman in the U.S. to own and operate a billion-dollar company. As the visionary behind ActOne Group — the largest minority woman-owned employment agency in the nation — she has transformed the staffing industry through a focus on inclusive hiring, mentorship, and global workforce solutions. Her leadership reflects a powerful blend of entrepreneurial excellence and deep commitment to expanding opportunities for others, especially in underrepresented communities.

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Thasunda Brown Duckett – President & CEO, TIAA
Thasunda Brown Duckett is a powerhouse in finance, currently serving as President and CEO of TIAA, making her one of the few Black women at the helm of a Fortune 500 company. A former CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, Duckett is driven by a mission to close the racial wealth gap and advocate for financial literacy and equity. Her leadership at TIAA continues to reshape how the financial services industry supports underserved communities and fosters generational wealth.

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Cheryl McKissack Daniel – President & CEO, McKissack & McKissack
Carrying on a legacy that spans over a century, Cheryl McKissack Daniel is the fifth-generation leader of McKissack & McKissack, one of the oldest Black-founded architecture and construction firms in the U.S. A Howard University–trained civil engineer, she oversees major public and private development projects, from airports to educational institutions. Under her leadership, the firm is not only building infrastructure — it’s building history, community impact, and a diverse future in construction.

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Aisha Bowe – Founder & CEO, STEMBoard
Aisha Bowe is redefining what leadership in STEM looks like. Once an aerospace engineer at NASA, she is now the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, a thriving tech and engineering consultancy ranked on the Inc. 5000 list. Her passion for education led her to launch LINGO, an ed-tech company aimed at making coding accessible to youth. Bowe is an advocate for diversity in tech and a shining example of how innovation and education can go hand in hand.

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Imani Ellis – Founder & CEO, CultureCon
Imani Ellis is the force behind CultureCon and The Creative Collective NYC, two platforms that have become essential spaces for over 100,000 creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs of color. Her mission is clear: to elevate diverse voices and foster community within the creative industry. Through storytelling, events, and networking, Ellis has built a movement that champions authenticity, representation, and professional growth for the next generation of cultural leaders.

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Sade Lythcott – CEO, National Black Theatre (Harlem)
At the helm of the National Black Theatre since 2008, Sade Lythcott has transformed the institution into a national beacon for Black performance and storytelling. As both an arts leader and Emmy- and Tony-nominated producer, Lythcott is committed to using theater as a tool for cultural expression, empowerment, and social change. Her leadership continues to solidify the theatre’s role as a vital hub for creative excellence in Harlem and beyond.

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Sharmadean Reid – Founder & CEO, BeautyStack
British entrepreneur Sharmadean Reid is disrupting the beauty industry through tech innovation with her platform, BeautyStack. Designed to empower beauty professionals by streamlining bookings and business operations, Reid’s work sits at the intersection of beauty, entrepreneurship, and technology. Her forward-thinking approach continues to open new doors for women and creatives seeking financial independence and digital transformation in the beauty service space.

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